Juha has made himself comfortable far out on the frozen Heikinjärvi. He has set up his camping stool and put a lambskin over the seat. That’s how his butt stays warm. Thermos flask and provisions box are within easy reach.
Next to Juha there is a hole in the 60 centimeter thick ice that he drilled with perseverance. The line of his fishing rod disappears in the black water of the lake. Ice fishing is one of the most popular winter pastimes, a slice of the Finnish way of life.
Since it falls under the right of public access, you don’t even need a fishing license for it. But it is by no means the only activity with which you can relax and while away the time despite the bitter winter cold in the far north. Snowshoe hiking, particularly attractive up there, or ice water swimming are among them.
Vacationers learn ice fishing in Oulanka National Park
But first back to Heikinjärvi. It is one of many lakes in Oulanka National Park in Finnish Lapland, and one of the few where tourists can try ice fishing together under the guidance of knowledgeable guides.
Source: Infographic WORLD
Juha is one of these guides who is hoping for perch, vendace or pike that might be hooked here with guests of the “Isokenkäisten Klubi” lodge that day. “Some fish species even bite particularly well in the dark season – for example the burbot,” says Juha.
But first the guests have to drill holes; Juha shows how to operate the ice drill. Shortly followingwards everyone is sitting, everyone on their hump, in front of a hole in the ice in the deep winter sun. “Ice fishing is wonderfully relaxing,” says a hotel guest summarizing his impressions in the evening. “It doesn’t really matter if you catch something.”
Under the guidance of a guide, tourists can try ice fishing in Oulanka National Park
Source: Christiane Neubauer
Because up here in the Kuusamo region, the well-known motto applies: “It’s all regarding being there.” It’s all regarding enjoying nature, and it’s amazing. Hundreds of larger and smaller lakes sprinkle the almost deserted country. You are surrounded by forests and crystal-clear rivers that flow through sometimes dramatic gorges.
Swimming in ice water means floating in the river
And so not only anglers will find good opportunities here. Guests can also book dog sled or reindeer safaris in winter. Ice water swimming is a new addition to the range of tourist activities optimized for action.
The participants stand for quite a while on the deep snow-covered banks of the Kitkajoki, a river that is famous for its rapids and waterfalls, rather indecisively. And they look bizarre in their insulating rubber hooded suits. Her breath condenses into clouds in the winter air.
The air trapped between the layers of clothing under the rubber suit causes visitors to float away on the surface of the water like air mattresses
Source: Christiane Neubauer
The thermometer shows minus 16 degrees. “The water is only minus one degree cold. What else is there to think regarding?” Teemu, the Finnish companion, calls out to the hesitant winter holidaymakers and grins broadly. And so they wade further and further into the middle of the river, where buoyancy and current ultimately make the decision for them whether they should actually let themselves be carried away by the water.
The air trapped between the layers of clothing under the rubber suit causes them to float on the surface of the water like air mattresses. In principle, anyone who wants to try ice water swimming does not even have to be able to swim, which is why the German term is rather misleading – river floating, i.e. “drifting in the river”, as advertised by providers, is more accurate.
Surprisingly, the ice water swimmers are comfortably warm in their suits
What: Visit Finland
What at first glance looks like a meaningless outdoor adventure for a bachelor party turns out to be extremely relaxing. You float leisurely down the river, gently swayed by the current. The view is directed to the sky, to the snow-covered conifers on the shore.
Absolute silence surrounds the ice water swimmers. And surprisingly, cozy warmth too. On the left and right of the thermal hood there is sometimes a soft gurgle and gurgle. But that’s just a reminder that you’re surrounded by cold. The floating adventure ends a few kilometers downstream. It’s a shame, because everyone in the group agrees: They would have liked to have “swimmed” further.
There is snow 200 days a year in the Ruka ski area
You would have enough time: Due to the geographical proximity to the Arctic Circle, the winter season in Finnish Lapland is one of the longest in Europe. It begins in October and lasts almost nine months. The safari season often extends into May.
In the Ruka ski area, the slopes are almost never overcrowded, even in the high season
Source: Christiane Neubauer
Skiers and snowboarders can often stay in motion just as long, the Ruka ski area is popular. It is located on the Rukatunturi fell. This “mountain” is only 493 meters high, of course it doesn’t stand up to alpine comparisons, but it still has trumps: There is natural snow 200 days a year, the lifts run daily until 7 p.m., on Fridays until 11 p.m. Crowded slopes? Almost never the case, even in high season.
And it goes without saying that you almost never meet a soul while ice fishing or ice swimming in a river on a frozen lake. In Finnish Lapland there is a kind of solitude guarantee in addition to snow security.
At Fjell Rukatunturi, the landscape is magically snow-covered
Source: pa/perspective/B. Zoller
Tips and information for Finnish Lapland:
Getting there: There are direct flights to Kuusamo from Frankfurt am Main Lufthansa. From other German airports, other airlines such as Air France or FinnAir connections with a stopover.
Accommodation: The resort “Big Shoe Club“ in Kuusamo is right on the shore of a lake. Accommodation includes cozy wooden huts, overnight stays in a two-bedroom chalet from 170 euros. A pretty boutique hotel not far from the Ruka ski area is the “Royal Ruka“, double room from 159 euros. The holiday villageRukan Salonki Chalets’ offers various sized, well-appointed log cabins in the midst of northern Finnish nature.
Organizer: At Wolters Reisen there is the eight-day active trip “Winter week Finland“ including flight, river-floating and a snowshoe hike; Remaining dates for this season from 1139 euros per person. The operator Journaway offers a seven-day trip “Artic Safaris“ for 1299 euros.
To eat and drink: Anyone who loves game dishes is in the restaurant “Rukan Kuska“ in Rukatunturi right. On the estate “Pohjolan Pirtti’, 34 kilometers outside of Kuusamo, serves home-cooked food made from local ingredients. Grandmother Pohjola’s old cowshed now serves as a sauna building.
Activities: Ice fishing for guests is organized by the holiday resort “Isokenkäisten Klubi” as well Hand Adventures, the price of 90 euros includes tour management, meals, equipment, transport and insurance; River floating offers for example Tailored Adventures Safarihouse in Rukatunturi for 85 euros per person, including sauna bus and hot drink.
Information desk: visitfinland.com/de
Participation in the trip was supported by Visit Finland. Our standards of transparency and journalistic independence can be found at axelspringer.com/de/werte/downloads.
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