Is Lapland beautiful or not?

AnnikaL · Post by **AnnikaL** » Wed Jul 07, 2010 10:57 am

I'm visiting family in a month or so and am planning to take a trip up to Kuusamo for a week as I've never been that far North. From what I can see on the internet, it sounds like there's lots of hiking/nature/wildlife/national parks and the scenery looks picturesque, but my family are very down on it, telling me that it's not the most beautiful part of Finland, it's too cold, if I want to rent a cottage for a week I would be better of somewhere in the Southern lakes etc. and that these are the areas that most Finnish people would prefer.

Is this true, or is this one of those objective things and actually Lapland is nice? I'm mostly familiar with places like Mikkeli, Hammenlina, Sotkamo and Vaasa and while I agree they are nice, I was hoping to see something a bit different. Should I let my family put me off and book a cottage elsewhere fot that week instead? (actually, I will already spend one week at my Aun's cottage in Mikkeli....)

Thoughts welcome. I want to book my cottage soon

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Mangrove · Post by **Mangrove** » Wed Jul 07, 2010 12:22 pm

AnnikaL wrote:I'm visiting family in a month or so and am planning to take a trip up to Kuusamo for a week as I've never been that far North.

Some might say Kuusamo is part of Ostrobothnia, not Lapland. I would say if it has pre-20th century Sami name and fells, it's Lapland.

AnnikaL wrote: Is this true, or is this one of those objective things and actually Lapland is nice? I'm mostly familiar with places like Mikkeli, Hammenlina, Sotkamo and Vaasa and while I agree they are nice, I was hoping to see something a bit different.

To my oppinion Kuusamo is almost the same as Central Finland, but with fells. If you want to experience something new and different you should go to Enontekiö or Ivalo to see the "real" Lapland with open terrain and such.

niih · Post by **niih** » Wed Jul 07, 2010 3:52 pm

Kuusamo was okay but it's not the same as Lapland. And from finnish point of view yeah, natural wilderness like Lapland is pretty. Everything's alive unlike at city streets with the dead surface and busy people constantly going from place A to place B. But i guess that's natural for every metropolis.

tuulen · Post by **tuulen** » Wed Jul 07, 2010 6:22 pm

AnnikaL wrote:...Is this true, or is this one of those objective things and actually Lapland is nice?...

Mosquitoes tend to be worse in the early summer, and so your trip in August is better in that regard, but be prepared for mosquitoes.

Exactly where the southern border of Lapland is could be a matter of some debate. The "official" southern border is the one seen on maps, yet apparently the historical southern border could be a mountain known as Pyhätunturi, and then some say that the village of Vuotso is at the southern border.

AnnikaL · Post by **AnnikaL** » Wed Jul 07, 2010 7:30 pm

Thanks for the comments and suggestions.

Yes, whether or not Kuusamo is actually in Lapland has confused me! But to explain a bit further, we intend to use Kuusamo as a base to explore both Lapland and some of the Finnish national parks up there, on day trips out (which I think would rule out Ivalo, unfortunately, that's a bit far for one day). We picked Kuusamo because it seemed an easy drive with our toddler from the family home in Sotkamo and as I said we thought it looked a nice place, but the comments from the family have been discouraging both in terms of choosing Kuusamo and in wanting to visit Lapland, in general.

Nothing you've all said has put me off, though.

interleukin · Post by **interleukin** » Wed Jul 07, 2010 9:19 pm

I think it all depends on if you like trees and trees and trees and trees (did I mention trees?) and lakes and the lack of people. And then as you get further north, the lack of tree and people.... If this is what interest you, you should go for it and not let your family discourage you. Oh, and bring some DEET mosquite repellent with you. I actually wish I was in your position as I would love to experience the lack of people and trees and anything except nature and silence and just being in nature.

AnnikaL · Post by **AnnikaL** » Thu Jul 08, 2010 4:12 pm

Oh yep, great tree and lake fan me! And lack of people sounds just fine too. I'm looking forward to this immensely and I will book our rental cottage today

In fact, if we DO like it there we might consider buying a (very) small cottage there for a yearly 'escape'.

tissot · Post by **tissot** » Fri Jul 09, 2010 12:49 pm

I had one of the best time of my life hiking in Lapland(near Pyhäjärvi) 5 years ago. Weather was perfect as for the 6 days we where there it didn't go below 25c once in a daytime and there was absolutely no mosquitos to be seen. Ice cold water to be found everywhere you go to drink or swim when it was getting too hot.
Couple of pics i did take around Pirunkuru.

AnnikaL · Post by **AnnikaL** » Sat Jul 10, 2010 6:30 pm

Thanks for posting the pics, they look great.

Halldor K · Post by **Halldor K** » Thu Jul 15, 2010 5:02 pm

I might not be unbiased since i live in Lapland(Rovaniemi) but i live here because i find it absolutely beautiful here and i LOVE the fact that there is more true wilderness here than you will find almost anywhere in Europe any more.

pugs · Post by **pugs** » Fri Jul 23, 2010 4:28 am

Hi,

Yeah, it's been a good year for the mozzies.....

....but it is very beautiful here....you'll love it

Catstina · Post by **Catstina** » Tue Jul 27, 2010 7:06 pm

It is absolutely beautiful if you like nature. Just buy some really good bug repellent!

AnnikaL · Post by **AnnikaL** » Tue Jul 27, 2010 7:30 pm

Heh! Thanks all. Yep, I LOVE nature and...ermm... I'm horribly allergic to mosquito bites. Antihistamines and repellant are a standard part of my travel kit for many countries, especially Finland where I've been plenty bothered by them even south of Lapland - although from what you're all saying I will need industrial strength for the Lappish part of the journey.

tuulen · Post by **tuulen** » Wed Jul 28, 2010 3:24 pm

Mosquito netting can be very useful, too. Put on a wide-brimmed hat and then cover it with netting, from the top of the hat and down to cover your face and neck, where the netting can then be tied with a string around your neck and/or tucked into the top of your shirt. Hands can be covered that way, too, with the netting tucked into your sleeve. Use your imagination, but netting really can be useful.

AnnikaL · Post by **AnnikaL** » Wed Sep 01, 2010 10:41 pm

I had a bloomin' marvellous time

Loved the reindeer, very beautiful landscape, reminded me...er.... a lot like the rest of Finland, really (apart from the proliferation of reindeer). Guess I didn't get far enough North to really see a difference. Anyway, I'm hopefully in the process of buyiong a cottage there, but only JUST (cottage is in Posio and literally just over the border from Kuusamo). Fingers crossed on that one.

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