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Ruka or Levi (finland)

Birmingham, United...
3 posts
2 reviews
9 helpful votes
Ruka or Levi (finland)
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We're a couple thinking of going to finland over new year but not sure which resort to go for Ruka or Levi? We are both snowboarders and interested in the snow activities too. Any advice on resorts and hotels much appreciated.

Wanting to book soon as time & availability are running out.

Thanks

Arsy, France
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3,328 posts
88 reviews
212 helpful votes
1. Re: Ruka or Levi (finland)
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if your are snowboarders then saariselka has some lovely off piste action and the snow will be amazingly soft and fluffy

York, United Kingdom
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109 posts
52 reviews
82 helpful votes
2. Re: Ruka or Levi (finland)
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Poe is not wrong about Saariselka but if you are more likely to want to stay on piste then it isn't not the place to go as it has very few runs which can become boring after a few days. We also found relying on the ski bus which had a lunchtime break a bit of a problem too (though this was a few years back so may have changed now).

Piste wise I don't think there is much to choose between Levi and Ruka - they were the 1st ski resorts I went to and basically where I learned to ski. They have a good array of pistes for beginners and intermediates with a handful for the more advanced.

Levi is much more developed, though Ruka has gone through a number of changes in the past few years.

In both cases you will have a range of snow activities to have a go at so it more depends what you want when not mucking around in the snow. If a busier town is more your thing then Levi may be the one (though cities and towns over there are not quite like Birmingham!) but Ruka is worth a look too.

Are you travelling independently as I am not aware of any operator going to Ruka at the moment which is a shame?

Newcastle
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205 posts
10 reviews
6 helpful votes
3. Re: Ruka or Levi (finland)
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Crystal are back to Ruka this winter.

York, United Kingdom
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109 posts
52 reviews
82 helpful votes
4. Re: Ruka or Levi (finland)
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Glad to hear it. I tend to go independently so am out of the loop in terms of the travel ops but it can only be a good thing for the economy of the resorts if more people are going there.

TheHague
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929 posts
143 reviews
266 helpful votes
5. Re: Ruka or Levi (finland)
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Ruka, Levi and Saariselkaa all offer the same snow activities.

Saariselkaa isn't the first place I'd recommend for snowboarding, certainly for downhill skiing its several leagues below Ruka and Levi.

Levi is the most developed resort with the best nightlife scene and more choice in terms of restaurants and shops.

Helsinki, Finland
Destination Expert
for Helsinki, Oulu, Lapland
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6,762 posts
96 reviews
52 helpful votes
6. Re: Ruka or Levi (finland)
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For snowboarders Ruka is nowadays the number 1 resort in Finland... Levi and Ruka have both been in turns voted as the number 1 ski resort in Finland. There's no major differences between them. Both have nowadays a built up Alpine village type centre where the majority of the services are concentrated at with vast cabin areas surrounding the actual "core" of the resort.

Crystal will operate flights from London to Kuusamo airport Dec 13 - Feb 19 this winter.

Usually around Christmas and New Year Ruka has more ski runs open than Levi where they open most of the slopes only for the peak season in February. Ruka is traditionally the first ski resort in Europe (outside glaciers) to open the ski season which takes place usually in mid October (the set goal this year is 14 October, weather permitting).

Ski lifts in Ruka probably better suited to snowboarders: 5 chair lifts, 7 T-bar lifts, 3 ring lifts, 3 rope lifts and 2 carpet/conveyor belt lifts.

In Levi there are 1 chair lift, 2 gondola lifts, 14 T-bar lifts, 5 ring lifts and 4 rope lifts.

You can compare the slopes yourself: http://ski.ruka.fi/eng/ and http://www.levi.fi/en/pistes-and-tracks/downhill/facts-of-levi-lifts-and-pistes.html

7. Re: Ruka or Levi (finland)

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