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Gofinland Blog - All about how to travel to Finland, how to get around, and what to see and what to do.
Finland Destinations, Finnish Culture

An international experience in Rovaniemi

Minh’s experience in Rovaniemi

This is the story of Minh, who has been living in Rovaniemi for almost 6 years. The blog post has been done in co-operation between Gofinland and Lapland University of Applied Sciences. Minh is one of the winners in our blog post competition which was organised within the Degree Programme in Tourism. The students are aiming for a Bachelor Degree education and they will be the future professionals in tourism. Read Minh’s story below!

”No one has ever become poor by giving” – Anne Frank.

”This sentence has been on the Diary of Anne Frank for over more than half of a decade, and over the courses of time, things have changed. But still, it holds true in every situation and every case, that when you think about it, it never runs out of style. Not everyone can be generous, but it is good enough, that our beautiful nature has granted us such beauty with great generosity.”

Rovaniemi Winter Landscape

Winter landscape in Rovaniemi.

Minh’s story in Rovaniemi

”I have lived in Rovaniemi myself for almost 6 years now, and one thing that I love most about this place, is how amazing the winter sceneries can be. Every winter, the snow falls like crazy, the temperature drops down quicker than a dog running in the street and the nights are longer than the days. On a bad day, Rovaniemi could be cloudy and blue-y and snowy, but on a sunny day, it is another story.

The sun shines so brightly through the trees, and everything surrounding you is covered with snow. It is usually super cold when the sun shines so bright here in Lapland, and it’s true! It was -20 when I took the picture above. But on days like that, a hiking, small or big, is worth it all.”

Viewpoint scenery in Rovaniemi.

Watching the gorgeous landscape from a viewpoint. This scenery is just 2 kilometers from the center of Rovaniemi.

Why to go hiking or enjoy the nature?

Because the views are just priceless. The Lappish scenery in Ylläs and Rovaniemi offer untouched nature. The untouched winter nature pays off the exhaust and tiresome, and at the end of the day, you can only be wowed by the nature in front of you, next to you, or behind you! So no matter how low the temperature can be, just get out and try! The hiking will keep you warm, but when you stop, the body will stop producing extra heat and you might get a bit chilly.

Tips for a hiking trip:

  • Put many clothing layers below (The bottom layer should be the one to keep the warm, and the top layer is the one to keep you away from the wind).
  • Don’t leave too much open skin especially during winter, as you will lose most of your body heat through the open skin. So remember to wear gloves, hats and scarfs!
  • Bring some hot drinks (such as coffee or tea) and some easy food like chocolate bars or different kind of nuts for resting during the hike.
  • If you are into photography, bring your camera of course. Remember to have extra battery, as the cold can make it quicker to shut down your camera.
  • Finally, have the best attitude you can have! After all, you are hiking to enjoy and relax, not to get grumpy.
  • Take some proper shoes (hiking shoes for longer trips/colder weather) and warm jacket or wool shirt for resting. When you stop walking and stop for a lunch, remember to put on some extra clothing!
  • Always know where you are going. In Finland, it’s quite easy to get lost in the woods so remember to observe where you are going and preferably bring a map and a compass with you.
  • If you’re going for a longer trip, remember to book you accommodation in advance!
Rovaniemi campfire and coffee

Warm drinks and warmth from the campfire – it keeps you going.

Seeing snow for the first time in Rovaniemi!

”I come from Vietnam where we don’t have any snow at all, this landscape has always been wowing me every time I see it. I didn’t see much snow when I was a kid, and when I looked at the TV screen, showing all these movies that have these beautiful snow scenes on it, I couldn’t help but wishing that one day, I would get there to feel the snow by myself and I did it. 6 years are more than enough to get used to it, but the feeling remains exactly the same: Still the same kid who can get super excited and jumpy when a breathtaking wintery view was right in front of his eyes. Only this time, it was no longer a TV screen. It was for real!”

Lapland snow nature

Mesmerized by nature and the amount of snow in Lapland.

Hiking in Rovaniemi as a foreigner

”The hiking trails that I did wasn’t too challenging, as it was only for small hiking walk. But challenging or not, getting myself into the nature was refreshing. I remember so vividly that feeling, when I was in the middle of the forest, completely alone, with only the sound of my foot steeping in the snow. The feeling was euphoric. My head was lifted off from all the stress. For the first time of this season, I had the time to truly enjoy the winter the way it was. No other people around me, no computer or ringing phone nor  sound from the cars. There was me, standing, mingling into the nature and catching my breath.

I realized how I love this landscape and I want it to be this way forever. For me this is my sanctuary. In here all my weariness and woes from my every day’s life get buried deeply into the snow and what’s left of me, is peacefulness. That’s how generous the nature has been to me, and to us, and we can give back, by appreciating its kindness.”

Campfire and hiking in Rovaniemi

Warming up before heading out again! Campfire always captivates and offers warmth for weary trekkers.

Blog Post competition with Lapland University of Applied Sciences

This blog post has been written by the winner of our blog post competition. Gofinland organised a competition among the students of Lapland University of Applied Sciences. The students are studying tourism in international degree programme. In the future, they will be the professionals in International Tourism.

You can read our second post later in March from Isabella Borgogni. She is sharing her inspiring experience in Finland.

Our winner, Minh Hieu Nguyen wrote a great article about how hiking. Minh’s insight gives aid how to relax in nature and improve your wellbeing.

 

March 5, 2018by Eetu Ollikainen
Finland Destinations, Finnish Culture

Sebastian’s trip to Finnish nature and cottage culture.

This is the story of Sebastian’s journey to Finland and our wonderful culture where nature and spending time in summer cottages are essential .

Straight after arriving in Helsinki we got our rental car and drove north. Ahead of us was a 10 day journey through the southern part of Finland. My expectations of this beautiful country were fulfilled immediately after leaving the city and entering the remote nature of Finland. We drove for around 3 hours north, one hour was driving on a gravel road straight into the forest until we reached our cottage directly at lake.

Enjoying natural Finland BBQ and cottages

A Finnish BBQ in the forest.

After a day of hiking and exploring the area we finished the day by making a campfire on a hill with views over the lake. To be honest, I couldn’t imagine a better place for a fire. The nature and the remoteness of that place even made it more beautiful. A cold beer and some sausages on the stick really made a perfect evening.

Finnish nature and lakes in Repovesi

Amazing view on the National Park of Repovesi

After leaving the remote cottage behind, we made our way to explore Repovesi National Park. In the park there are a lot of hiking trails and some great views over lakes and forests. There are also some campgrounds, where families spent the night. Unfortunately we didn’t bring our own tent, so we had to leave the park at dawn to sleep in our B&B.

roadtrip in Finland surrounded by nature

Roadtripping in Finland

After another night at a campfire at the B&B Pinus in Mäntyharju, we made our way more north to Koli National Park where we stayed on a farm for 2 nights. The view from the top of Koli National Park was even more breathtaking than the views we saw before. After a good day of hiking, we had one of the best burgers ever at Kolin Ryynanen, close to the park.

Sunset in Finland shining down on lakes and cottages

Scenic sunset in Finland.

On our way to the West Coast we stopped at another cottage directly at a lake. As many times before in Finland we were all by ourself. We took out the paddle boat for a sunset cruise before sitting at the warm campfire again.

View from lake to cottages in Finland

Lovely view from pier. Time to jump in!

The west coast was a bit disappointing. There was no road directly at the sea and we missed our days at the lakes so much, that we headed back inwards on our way back down south to Helsinki.

Helsinki City overview in Finland

Helsinki City overview.

Our last couple of nights we spent on an organic farm with an awesome breakfast. Holidays in Finland is pure nature and relaxation. If you want a lot of action, this is the wrong place. But if you are looking for untouched nature and wilderness, this is one of the best places I have visited so far.

Helsinki is a charming capital, with lots of good bars, restaurants and great cultural activities. I liked Finland so much, that I came back a couple of months later to see it in autumn. The weather was more moody but definitely as beautiful as in summer.

Sebastian made a short video while exploring Finland. In the video Sebastian experiences the Finnish nature and cottage culture at the fullest.  It’s worth checking out. Sebastian creates fantastic short films about traveling in different locations and takes quite spectacular photos while traveling!

You can follow Sebastian in Instagram: sebpic_

February 9, 2018by Eetu Ollikainen

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