Magical Ruka

I've thought about writing a text about Ruka several times in the past and have always found myself at a loss for words to describe something that is so beautiful in its essence. Words simply cannot describe the beauty of this small Finnish village. I fell in love with this little piece of our planet Earth.

What I find most captivating is the peaceful aura of the surroundings and the truly wintry landscape – white trees, snow creaking under your boots, and temperatures that often fall well below zero. My record is -20 degrees. While taking a walk, it is not uncommon for one to meet a herd of reindeer. The main rule in Finland is: always yield to reindeer!

Ruka is located in the northern part of the country, the next nearest town is 30 km away (Kuusamo), and the nearest airport is approx. 40 minutes away by car. It is one of the most popular holiday resorts in Finland, though at the same time it is a protected nature conservation area. (I was once able to book a hotel in Kuusamo for my customers – my astonishment was huge when they asked me for a contract and the money transfer bank account number.) There is a building with tourist information by the parking lot, whereas the Safaritalo building houses a company that organizes tours of the surrounding areas.

In the winter, the village turns into a real resort for winter sports fanatics. Skiers can look forward to 34 well-prepared downhill ski slopes (30 of them with artificial lighting), which are easily accessible thanks to nearly 20 different kinds of ski lifts. The total capacity amounts to more than 25,000 skiers per hour – which sounds and looks pretty good. The longest slope is 1300 meters long.

For those skiers who prefer cross-country to downhill skiing, there are nearly 90 km of trails of varying difficulty levels, some of which are also artificially lit! This region of Finland is reportedly the most interesting area when it comes to attractions for cross-country skiers and runners. The longest trail is called the "Kuontivaara", has a length of 19 km and is open year-round – in the winter it is a skiing trail, whereas in the summer, it is used by nordic walking enthusiasts.

The ski season in Ruka lasts as long as there is snow.

I've never visited this area in the summer, so I do not know if it is as beautiful as in winter, when the trees resemble ice sculptures. My guess is that it is. Just to name an example – "Karhunkierros" (the Bear Circle) is the oldest and most famous walking trail in Finland, which is approx. 100 km long and runs along the Oulanka canyon to the Rukatunturi moors.

Speaking of Rukatunturi – in late November, the ski jumping hills and cross-country routes host World Cup competitions in ski jumping, cross country and nordic combined, as part of the so-called "Ruka Nordic Opening".

During the time I choose for my yearly visits (late November), the polar night can be observed, when the day is only 4 hours long. A rather unique experience. The hardest part is getting out of bed when it is almost constantly dark outside. It has only happened a couple of times that there was any actual sunshine during those few hours.

Over the years, I have seen the tiny village Ruka change beyond all recognition! The main square is now adorned by beautiful and modern apartment buildings, newly built restaurants and shops.

Ruka visitor guide:

Restaurants: Colorado Restaurant, Koti Pizza (average quality pizza – but cheap), Hanka Baari (quite tasty pizza), Zone Pub (Fast food the Finnish way)

* This year, the Mura Sushi restaurant has opened in Ruka, but I wasn't tempted to go there – not the right climate or country for this type of food, if you ask me. Unless they serve sushi with reindeer ;-)

Nightlife: Piste, Colorado Bar, Zone Pub

Directions from Poland: From year to year it has been getting easier, but not necessarily cheaper. Finnair offers several flights to Helsinki each week from different cities. It's harder to get to Ruka however – only one flight a day. I've repeatedly avoided Kuusamo airport and decided to fly to Oulu or Rovaniemi instead. Not only due to better flight prices. I like to explore and I love Finland more than anything, so it's always a chance to see and discover a new city.

Accommodation: Whenever I had been in northern Finland, I've always dreamed of staying in a cottage – it's an amazing experience to wake up in the middle of a snow-covered forest. There are plenty of resorts around Ruka that offer exactly this type of accommodation. Each cottage always has a sauna and a well-equipped kitchen – this is a good and inexpensive option for traveling families or friends. The second option is less charming, but equally comfortable – apartments in the center of Ruka – very modern and well-equipped. Another advantage of renting one of these apartments is the location – right by the ski slopes. Of course there are also hotels in Ruka. The most famous Rantasipi hotel is located in the center of town. The standard is 4 * with spacious rooms and good food.

Skiing equipment: Of course it's always better to take your own, but if you want to avoid being charged for excess baggage, all you need can easily be rented on site.

Tourist infrastructure: The town center of Ruka houses a doctor's office, pharmacy, grocery store, taxis, a conference center with a regional souvenir shop, and several sports shops.

Useful links:
www.finnair.com
www. ruka.fi - Ruka Tourist Information
www.lomarengas.fi - It is the oldest and most well-known company that rents cottages in Finland