It’s possible you’ll not consider it, however Levi, Finland is not only a ski resort within the winter. Summer time in Lapland is simply as stunning!
The Levitunturi mountain affords breathtaking 360° views of Lapland and slopes in all instructions even in summer season and fall. Better of all, Levi is a real paradise for energetic individuals and households within the hotter months as effectively!
Sadly, this isn’t so well-known outdoors Finland. However now you realize, and you may sit up for a terrific summer season trip in Levi.
Expertise summer season in Levi with mountain biking and mountain climbing! Uncover the most effective routes for inexperienced persons and superior bikers, expertise the journey of the bike park or hike by means of breathtaking surroundings. There may be additionally rather a lot to find for households with young children.
In our article you’ll be taught all concerning the companies within the village, the place to remain and how one can get to Levi.
So seize your mountain climbing boots or mountain bike and let’s go!
After studying this text, you’ll have all the knowledge that you must make your summer season trip in Lapland unforgettable. And who is aware of, you may even meet a reindeer in your manner by means of the Finnish wilderness.
Our Finland skilled, Hendrik, visited Levi along with his household in the summertime.
Right here is an outline:
Levitunturi – “Fjell of Levi” in Finnish – is an imposing mountain in Southern Lapland, standing alone and proud.
When you climb just a few hundred meters, you might be rewarded with a wide ranging view of the encompassing panorama: the spectacular Pallas Mountains to the northwest, the Ylläs Mountains some 35 kilometers to the west, in addition to lakes, small fjells and numerous forests. On the foot of the mountains lies the charming village of Sirkka, which serves as a base for journey and exploration.
Take the gondola up the mountain, the place you may both race down the summer season toboggan run or discover the realm on one of many many mountain climbing trails.
A real paradise for nature lovers and explorers!
Mountainbiking in and round Levi
Not solely does Levi have a well-known bike park, which I’ll speak about later, however there’s additionally loads to find for many who aren’t essentially in search of the adrenaline rush of downhill using.
With a big community of mountain bike trails that permit for adventurous day rides on single trails and thru picturesque forests, much less risk-averse bikers may also discover their cash’s value.
For my check, I attempted the Levi Tunturi Path, a roughly 18km route that circles Mount Levitunturi, and I used to be actually impressed with the wonderful upkeep of the path. Some could really feel it’s extra like a freeway than a path, however I’ve seen many trails which have destroyed the character round them because of the excessive variety of guests.
From my expertise I can say that effectively maintained trails are a lot better for the surroundings in these conditions.
Particularly for younger mountain biking inexperienced persons, these trails supply a secure manner to enhance their off-road abilities.
Skilled riders may also have enjoyable doing the loop round Levitunturi Path in competitors model and testing their pace. However there are various different trails within the space, akin to a experience to Ylläs and again, or exploring the lesser-known locations round Levi.
You don’t want a automotive in Levi, because the village is kind of small. Nevertheless, if you wish to get round sooner, you may change to a bicycle and get round city. We used 4 rental bikes to get to the Levi Bike and Exercise Park, which is just 3 km from our lodging and was simply managed even by our 5 12 months outdated.
Levi with small youngsters
Levi Journey Park
Talking of our 5 12 months outdated, Levi isn’t solely a professional at steep descents, but additionally has rather a lot to supply the youthful youngsters!
Have you ever heard concerning the Journey Park at Gondolintie? There are many free issues for toddlers and young children, akin to an superior playground, a small zip line parkour close to the bottom, and pedal automobiles, which our daughter simply beloved.
When the climate is heat and sunny, it is a excellent spot to go – however don’t overlook to pack loads of sunscreen, as there’s little or no shade!
For youths over 115 cm tall, the massive zipline parkour is a completely sensible exercise – my son and spouse beloved it.
Earlier than you get began, there’s an introductory course the place you be taught all about climbing and the completely different options. After that, you get to decide on considered one of a number of routes – the whole lot from ziplining for nearly 1,000m to climbing over enjoyable obstacles.
I’m telling you, this appears a lot enjoyable! I’m already excited and might’t look ahead to our daughter to be large enough on her subsequent go to to Levi so we are able to all expertise this adrenaline rush collectively.
Tonttula Elves Village
On the final day of our trip, we visited the elven village of Tonttula, which is situated a bit away from Sirkka. A brief taxi experience took us there.
Right here we have been in a position to take a guided tour, make Christmas decorations and bake gingerbread cookies – our youngsters particularly loved this.
We additionally visited the massive cave and received to pet some livestock. We ate lunch right here and took a brief hike on the forest path.
Even supposing it was July and slightly out of season for us mother and father, the go to was total very good and enjoyable for all of us, particularly our youngsters.
Levi Bike Park
A few years in the past I watched my pal Kaddi go downhill mountain biking and thought, “Wow, that appears fairly cool!”
Due to Jesper, who I met on my trip in Åre, I received to expertise what it was prefer to experience down steep hills. It was actually thrilling and I had lots of enjoyable.
In truth, it’s a lot simpler and safer than you may suppose. That’s why I used to be much more excited after I had the prospect to experience downhill with my son at Levi Bike Park, one of many oldest bike parks in Finland.
It was an unforgettable expertise and we each had a good time!
First, we picked up our downhill bikes on the Levi Bike Park retailer and geared up ourselves with our protecting gear. From POC knee pads to physique harnesses and helmets to gloves and shirts, it was all there.
Then we met our teacher Pieto, who isn’t solely a path builder in Levi. Our group consisted of six individuals with completely different talent ranges, however Pieto was in a position to cater to every of us. Even I, as an skilled rider, was in a position to be taught one thing.
After an introduction to our bikes, we took the gondola up the mountain and began our tour on the Village Path.
The inexperienced path is ideal for inexperienced persons and in addition affords nice views and thrilling options. We’re positive this path can be very talked-about sooner or later!
We did the path in phases, taking breaks to apply completely different abilities. For instance, we realized how one can make turns and experience waves.
After mastering the Village Path on the Levi Exercise Heart, we took the gondola again as much as the Blue Groove Path. This is likely one of the hottest trails in Levi and has numerous thrilling berms and options – all at an straightforward Blue Path degree.
We had lots of enjoyable!
Within the afternoon, my son and I rode the Village Path and the South Route with Pieto. We had the paths to ourselves and will actually put the pedal to the steel.
Despite the fact that there have been lots of riders and bikers developing the mountain, the paths have been quiet. Even on the favored Blue Groove we might simply cease and take photos with out anybody getting in our manner.
What a sense!
With greater than ten trails of various levels of problem, the riders have been unfold out very evenly. This additionally implies that slower riders don’t really feel like they’re holding others again. Prime!
We had some actually cool days on the Levi Bike Park!
My son and I rode lots of trails and he did all of it with out worry and with nice method – and that’s after just one lesson! He informed me that he actually loved the expertise and since we’re again residence he has been using his Woom OFF Air on the paths close to us and he’s having a blast.
So cool!
As a aspect observe, many ski resorts all over the world are abandoned through the summer season months. That is after all not best for the native communities. That’s why I absolutely assist the concept of villages the place you may dwell all 12 months spherical.
Happily, there are companies just like the Levi Bike Park that be sure that motels, eating places, and even the costly gondola and elevate infrastructure don’t should shut down when the ski season is over.
Companies like these and others maintain the small village of Sirkka bustling year-round and permit its residents to make a dwelling from January to December. How cool is that?
Climbing in Levi
Virtually each night I made a brief or longer hike up Levitunturi.
In summer season in Lapland there’s an incomparable golden hour that makes my photographer’s coronary heart beat sooner each time. The good climate and luxurious views make each hike an unforgettable expertise.
Though there are some marked trails main up and across the mountain, I largely simply walked round and explored the environment. I particularly loved visiting Santa’s Cabin, climbing to the highest, and simply following little trails that appeared promising.
If you wish to be taught extra about how these mountains have been fashioned, you need to undoubtedly go to the Ice Age Path. There are additionally many different trails to discover round Levi – a fast search on Retkikartta will assist you discover and discover all of them!
Companies within the village
In Sirkka, with its effectively laid out heart, you’ll uncover quite a lot of retailers and companies.
A implausible expertise for the children and me was the summer season toboggan run, the place you may experience alone or with a companion on a 2-person sled.
The attraction could be very fashionable and it’s endorsed to return within the early morning or early afternoon to keep away from lengthy waits. After 4pm it might get very crowded and you may count on to attend as much as an hour to stand up and down.
We rented 4 bikes from the Zero Level store down by the slopes in Sirkka and it was an absolute blast!
We informed them our measurement and desires on-line beforehand and once we arrived all we needed to do was strive the bikes on. What can I say? They match like a glove and we might begin using immediately. We additionally received our rental helmets. It couldn’t have been simpler!
Better of all, the shop has bikes for youths of all ages. Our daughter was thrilled to get her pink Trek bike!
The Vacationer Data Heart makes it straightforward to guide actions, get elevate tickets, and even discover a cozy place to remain. In case you lose one thing alongside the way in which, no worries – there are a number of sporting items shops close by.
For the small starvation in between there are just a few cafes and a espresso store, however if you’re actually hungry there are a number of eating places to select from. We selected an condo with a kitchen and went buying on the S-Market grocery store within the heart to arrange our personal meals.
I don’t drink alcohol anymore, so I didn’t go to the bars and nightclubs in Levi, however should you really feel like a chilly beer after an action-packed day on the downhill trails, you may!
The place to remain
Our spacious condo on the Hullu Poro Resort was our residence away from residence throughout our keep.
It’s a quick stroll to town heart and the bus stops proper outdoors the door, which could be very handy. The small spa with sauna and sizzling tub was the proper place for the children to loosen up after a protracted day.
Our condo accommodated as much as six individuals and had three bedrooms, two loos, a small kitchen, and a pleasant eating and dwelling space. We even had our personal sauna, however the climate was so heat that we didn’t use it.
All in all, it was a really snug keep and the included breakfast was scrumptious.
Methods to get to Levi
We began our journey to Levi by practice and bus and spent one evening on the hostel Café Koti. This choice allowed us to shorten our journey days and discover Rovaniemi a bit.
We particularly appreciated the Offended Birds playground, which can be free! With our children, we spent a number of hours taking part in on the assorted installations lovingly designed by Lapses.
There was additionally a soccer discipline and we borrowed balls to play just a few rounds.
Bus and practice
Bus and practice are nice!
We determined to take the practice from Vaasa to Rovaniemi and again and it was actually low cost – particularly should you guide early. Our practice tickets value us a complete of solely €75.00.
Granted, the journey takes between 6 and eight hours and it’s important to change trains twice alongside the way in which, however with some cool card video games, audio books or a film in your pill, the journey could be tremendous pleasing for everybody.
Flying to Kittilä
Alternatively, you may fly to Kittilä with Finnair, which is the quickest manner.
Nevertheless, the flights are a bit dearer and there are restricted connections. In case you determine to fly to Levi, remember to guide effectively prematurely.
There are native buses that take you from the airport in Kittilä to Levi and again – they run concurrently the flights, so it’s tremendous straightforward!
The Gear
As ordinary, we traveled mild, utilizing solely the Arc’teryx V110 Duffel and our Eagle Creek Cubes to retailer our 4 outfits and belongings. My digital camera gear and MacBook have been safely tucked away in my trusty Peak Design Journey Backpack, whereas I used my HUCKEPACKS Phoenix Lite for mountain climbing and the Vaude TrailSpacer 18 for biking.
However I particularly appreciated my Luna Sandals OSO Flaco and my Houdini Dawn Shorts, which I all the time prefer to put on in the summertime. We received our mountain bikes and downhill bikes together with safety gear on the Levi Bike Park Store (for the downhill) and at Zero Level in Sirkka (for the MTBs), so we are able to journey relaxed with out bikes by public transport. 🙂
Must you go and go to Levi?
Levi actually wowed us!
There are thrilling and enjoyable actions for youths and adults alike, which we actually loved.
It was particularly nice that there have been numerous free issues to do across the Journey Park and that we might discover the realm on bikes – our children particularly beloved that. So should you’re in search of an energetic trip vacation spot with loads of room to loosen up, you need to undoubtedly take a look at Levi.
With an abundance of various actions, lodging for each finances, and beautiful views from Levitunturi, it’s undoubtedly a vacation spot to place in your checklist on your subsequent summer season or fall trip!
