Christmas & New Year Snowshoe Adventures in Ruka-Kuusamo
The quiet side of Christmas in Lapland
Christmas and New Year are a special time to explore the winter nature of Ruka-Kuusamo.
The days are short, the forests are covered in snow and the low Arctic light moves through shades of blue, pink and gold. When darkness falls, the experience continues under the stars – and sometimes the Northern Lights.
Our Christmas and New Year collection brings together seven small-group snowshoe adventures created especially for the festive season.
Instead of rushing through the landscape, we take our time. We walk through snow-covered forests, climb to viewpoints, follow the changing Arctic light and stop along the way for something warm to eat or drink.
All experiences are guided by local MyTrail nature guides.
Follow the Arctic Light
From the darkest night of the year to the first light of a new beginning
Winter in the North is often described as a season of darkness. Spend some time outside, however, and you begin to notice just how much the light changes.
Around Christmas, the sun stays above the horizon in Kuusamo for less than three hours. Morning darkness slowly turns blue, the sun travels low across the horizon, and soon the landscape begins its journey back towards twilight and night.
Then comes the winter solstice – the shortest day of the year and the turning point of the season.
From here, little by little, the days begin to grow longer again.
Our festive season snowshoe adventures follow this journey through darkness and light.
We experience the silence of Christmas Eve, the winter solstice in the snowy forests of Riisitunturi, an entire short Arctic day from sunrise to sunset, the last light of the old year and the first light of the new one.
Some adventures begin before sunrise. Some follow the short winter day. Others take us into the forest after darkness has fallen.
Seven winter adventures. Different moments, different landscapes – all connected by the changing light of the Arctic winter.
Choose your winter moment below.
Christmas & New Year Experiences
21 December | Riisitunturi National Park | Lapland
Winter Solstice - Snowshoe into the Longest Night at Riisitunturi
Once a year, the journey into darkness reaches its turning point.
We snowshoe into the night at Riisitunturi and experience the winter solstice in the quiet, snow-covered forest. At the moment of the solstice, we stop, switch off our headlamps and raise a cup of hot chocolate to the longest night – and to the gradual return of light.
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Selected dates | Riisitunturi | Lapland
Blue Moment - From Sunrise to Sunset on Snowshoes
In the heart of winter, an entire Arctic day can fit into one snowshoe adventure.
We begin in the blue light before sunrise and follow the changing winter light through Riisitunturi's snow-covered forests and fell landscapes. Around Christmas, less than three hours separate sunrise and sunset – allowing us to follow the short day from blue to light and back to blue again.
31 December | Valtavaara | Ruka-Kuusamo
Last Light of the Year -
A New Year's Eve Snowshoe Adventure
Spend the last daylight hours of the year outside.
We climb Valtavaara on snowshoes as the short Arctic day slowly fades towards blue hour and darkness. At the end of the year, we stop high above the snowy forests for a quiet moment before returning to Ruka and the evening's celebrations.
24 December | Pyhävaara | Ruka-Kuusamo
Christmas Eve in the Silent Forest -
A Quiet Finnish Christmas Tradition
Leave the lights and bustle of Ruka behind and spend Christmas Eve in the silence of the snow-covered forest.
We walk slowly, stop for warm glögi and bring a small Christmas greeting to Metsän väki – the folk of the forest. A peaceful Finnish Christmas tradition and a moment to slow down before Christmas Eve begins.
Selected evenings | Konttainen | Ruka-Kuusamo
Silent Night - Snowshoes, stars and Arctic Darkness
Leave the lights of Ruka behind and step into the Arctic night on snowshoes.
Deep in the winter forest, we switch off our headlamps, let our eyes adjust and listen to the darkness around us. On clear nights, stars appear above the forest – and if the Northern Lights happen to join us, we stop and enjoy them too.
New Year's Day | Valtavaara | Ruka-Kuusamo
First Ray of Light of the New Year -
Snowshoe to the Summit of Valtavaara at Dawn
Start the first morning of the year before daylight and climb on snowshoes through the snowy forests of Valtavaara.
As darkness slowly turns into the blue light of the Arctic morning, we make our way towards the summit. At the top, we raise a glass of alcohol-free sparkling spruce shoot drink to the new year before continuing to a warm breakfast by the fire.
Arctic light during our festive season
The changing light is part of every adventure.
Around the winter solstice, the sun is above the horizon in Kuusamo for less than three hours. After the solstice, the days slowly begin to grow longer again.
19 December: Sunrise 10:35 · Sunset 13:25
21 December – Winter Solstice at 22:50: Sunrise 10:36 · Sunset 13:25
24 December – Christmas Eve: Sunrise 10:37 · Sunset 13:28
31 December – Last Light of the Year: Sunrise 10:32 · Sunset 13:40
1 January – First Ray of Light of the New Year: Sunrise 10:30 · Sunset 13:43
9 January: Sunrise 10:13 · Sunset 14:07
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In just three weeks, we move from the darkest days of the year towards noticeably longer days.
For us, darkness is not something to avoid. It is part of winter in the North – together with the blue moments, low sunlight and the gradual return of light.