There is a long winter in Finland. A very unique experience is a cruise on the Sampo Arctic Ice Breaker and walking on the ice of  the Gulf of Bothnia (Pohjanlahti). They have cruises during summer, too. See links below.

 

Tropical Serena Indoor Aqua Park is the biggest indoor water park in Europe. The fully heated bathing areas cover an area of 2.000 square meters. Serena is tropically warm all year round. There are terraced pools, whirlpools, water slides (including a new kind of water slide called Black Hole with lighting effects and sound effects!), a wave pool, a 140 m long River Ride, saunas inside caves in Serena. There are a cave restaurant, a hotel and a large outdoor section in the area, too. The outdoor section includes mat slides, rubber tyre slides, the Death Sea salted pool and tube slides. It is a wonderful place both for children and for adults! You will enjoy it! Serena is located in Espoo (Tornimäentie 10) only  20 kilometers from Helsinki. See links below.

 

The biggest snow castle in the world (in Kemi, Finland) is enormous: The Snow Hotel, The Castle Courtyard, The Snow Restaurant and the Chapel for weddings etc. The snow castle has already been built in ten winters. See links below.

 

Snow Land near Rovaniemi is a very unique place: igloo restaurant for 250 persons (ice tables, starlit sky), the chance to make snow sculptures, snow buildings, the arctic disco, the horse farm, ceremonies (wedding) etc. See links below.

 

The Holiday Village Saarituvat has a special Ice Bar in Rovaniemi. It is worth seeing! See links below.

 

Hotel & Igloo Village Kakslauttanen offers glass and snow igloos for staying overnight. This is the best place for seeing the northern lights (Aurora borealis), too. See links below.

 

Kerimäki Church is the largest wooden church in the whole world: 45 meters long, 42 meters wide and 37 meters high. There are over 3,000 seats in the church. All together there can be 5,000 people at one time in the church. The church has been built in 1844-1847. Kerimäki is located in Eastern Finland near the city of Savonlinna. See links below.

 

Bengtskär Lighthouse is the highest (52 meters) lighthouse in the Nordic countries. It was built in 1906 and it is the first lighthouse museum in Finland. You can visit Bengtskär in one day or stay overnight in the old home of the lighthouse keeper! All rooms have a sea view. See links below.

 

 

 

 

Arctic ice breaker tours: http://www.sampotours.com

 

Bear watching: http://sites.google.com/site/laplandclub/activities-and-events/bear-watching

 

Bengtskär Lighthouse: http://www.bengtskar.fi

(History and pictures: http://www.bengtskar.com)

(Cruises from Hanko to Bengtskär Lighthouse: http://www.rosita.fi)

(Cruises from Hanko to Bengtskär Lighthouse: http://www.hk-service.fi/)

(Cruises from Kasnäs to Bengtskär Lighthouse: http://www.kasnas.com)

 

 

 

Fantasy Safari (off road jeep safaris near the city of Tampere): http://www.profantasysafari.com/eng/index.html

 

Finnish food: http://sites.google.com/site/finlandtravelclub/food

 

Finnish nature: http://sites.google.com/site/finlandtravelclub/nature

 

Gymstick Nordic Walking: http://www.gymstick.net

 

Historical tourism films from Finland: http://sites.google.com/site/finlandtravelclub/historical-videos

 

Hotel & Igloo Village Kakslauttanen: http://www.kakslauttanen.fi and http://www.travel.fi/int/kakslauttanen/

 

Ilmajoki Travel & Program Services - tractor pulled guided tours for groups or by appointment!!! (a route following the Kyrönjoki riverside packed with history, beautiful restored manors and farm houses): http://www.nic.fi/~ferkku/ 

 

Important Finland Facts: http://www.virtualtourist.com/m/8c73/83/

 

Kemi Snow Castle - The biggest snow castle in the world: http://www.snowcastle.net and http://www.santatelevision.com/lapland/en0442/en0442.htm

 

Kerimäki Church (the world's biggest wooden church): http://www.kolumbus.fi/kerisrk/kirkkotietoja.htm

 

Keuruu Ecovillage: http://www.keuruunekokyla.fi/en/index

 

Lapland (fells, northern lights, nightless days etc.): http://sites.google.com/site/laplandclub/

 

Martin Safarit (a steam train museum and snowmobile safaris arranged by Martti Vainio known as 3-times Olympic finalist in 5,000 and 10,000 meters running): http://www.martinsafarit.fi/main.html

 

Mobile Phone Throwing World Championships (in Savonlinna): http://www.savonlinnafestivals.com/en_index.htm

 

Nokia Town (a place named Nokia - the original home of  Nokia Company, the town is situated 18 kilometers from the city of Tampere): http://www.nokiankaupunki.fi/matkailu/foreign_visitors/

 

 

Rally Center Finland (rally driving in Tuupovaara, the home village of world champion Ari Vatanen, also snowmobile safaris and Russian event & dinner): http://www.rallycenterfinland.fi

 

 

Rosala Viking Centre: http://www.rosala-viking-centre.com/english.htm

 

 

Serena - The biggest indoor aqua park (tropically warm water park) in Europe: http://www.serena.fi and http://www.serena.fi/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1&lang=en_EN

Snow Land: http://www.snowland.fi

 

Snow Village & Snow Hotel Lainio (opens on December 1st every year, Ylläs & Levi): http://www.snowvillage.fi

 

 

Taivalkoski Nordic Walking Park (Nordic walking in the country of its origin): http://www.nordicwalking.fi

 

Tango Festival Tangomarkkinat (the biggest music and dance festival in Finland, Seinäjoki): http://www.tangomarkkinat.fi/english/etusivu.htm

 

The Finnish Textile Route: http://www.etn-net.org/routes/01_scan/finland/

 

The Tourism Expert (TTE) - Sightseeing: http://www.tte.ch/finland/sightseeing/

 

The world's biggest "village shop" (3.5 million shoppers every year) in Töysä: http://www.tuuri.fi/englanti.html

 

The world's most beautiful archipelago: http://sites.google.com/site/finlandtravelclub/archipelago

  

Viking Islands: http://www.vikingislands.com

 

Wife Carrying World Championships (the length of the official track is 235.5 meters and the track has two dry obstacles and one water obstacle): http://www.sonkajarvi.fi/?deptid=15136