After nearly three weeks on the road, traveling through the stunning landscapes of Swedish Lapland and Northern Norway, it was time to head back home. Naturally, we planned to explore some of the attractions in Finnish Lapland along the way. We entered Finland from the left “arm” at Kilpisjรคrvi and then leisurely drove south.
Here are some noteworthy stops and sights we visited in Lapland:
Sanna’s Boutique (Sannan putiikki)
A traditional stop for us when returning from Northern Norway is Sanna’s & Maila’s Boutiques in Kรคtkรคsuvanto, just before Muonio when coming from Kilpisjรคrvi. Here you can enjoy delicious coffee and donuts for 0,50 โฌ, and the shops offer a variety of souvenirs. The boutiques are located on opposite sides of the road, so itโs worth visiting both.
Red Sand Beach (Punainenhiekka)
We had seen a beautiful red-sand beach on Pallasjรคrvi on social media, so we decided to visit it ourselves. Despite the rainy weather, we didnโt let it stop us and took a swim. The scenery is stunning with the Pallas fell in the background. The beach also has a campfire spot, a shelter, and an outhouse. Parking is available along the road, with about a 200-meter walk to the beach.
The Summit of Levi
We had visited the summit of Levi on a previous trip back from Norway, but this time we decided to stay overnight. You can drive to the top, where there is plenty of parking. We parked the car in a way that allowed us to enjoy the beautiful summer night fell views from the trunk.
Levi Summer Toboggan
We also tried the summer toboggan run at Levi, located on the front slope under the Express Gondola lift. The ticket cost 12 โฌ per person, which included a gondola ride up and a toboggan ride down on either a single or two-person toboggan. We chose the two-person one. Tickets were available at Zero Point. The track winds down along the edge of the slope and forest, offering some pretty fast sections, with speeds reaching up to 50 km/h. You can control the speed with a handle between your legs; pushing forward increases speed while pulling back brakes. It was a really fun experience!
Lake Neitokainen
From Levi, we headed to a lake shaped like Finland, known as Neitokainen, also located in Kittilรค, about 40 kilometers from Levi. Neitokainen is a man-made lake that mirrors the outline of Finlandโs borders. There are no signs leading to it, but you can easily find it using Google Maps; the pin is correctly placed even though the lake doesnโt appear on the map. To truly appreciate the lake, you need a drone. From the ground, it looks like an ordinary pond, and the Finnish shape is not distinguishable. However, with a drone, itโs definitely worth visiting!
