Abroad - Review - Ruka - Finland SquishyBG - Dec 21, 2006 - 09:49 PM Post subject: Review - Ruka - Finland
Well guys and gals, I've just spent a week in Ruka and can wholeheartedly recommend it, especially for people who want to get away for some early season snow on the cheap. It cost us £300 each for flights, transfers, accommodation, half board (breakfast and dinner each day) and a 6 day lift pass which can't be sniffed at. We stayed in Kuusamo which is a bus ride away from the pistes, but the bus was free and ran til 3am each day. On piste it cost a mighty 1 Euro for a cup of tea and alcohol wasn't as expensive as I had been led to believe, it was about 4 Euros for not quite a pint so pretty much London prices. The runs were well looked after and while they aren't the longest runs you've ever seen there's a good mix of blues and reds with 4 or 5 black runs, boarder cross, half pipe and a good park (with freestyle competitions on a Saturday that you can just turn up and register for on the day). And every single run is empty. Seriously empty. We turned up at 10am on the first day and 2 people got off the bus with us. When we wandered over to the lifts they were running but we couldn't see a soul around so we weren't even sure it was open. Saturday was the busiest day, but the longest queue I saw for a lift all weekend had 3 people in it. Pistes are all flood lit and so open from 9.30 til 7.30 every day, and til 11.00 on Friday nights. It can't match the alps for scale but the season starts in October and runs through til April so for an early season break it's definitely worth a look in you guys. Plus you get the chance to see the northern lights which you won't get elsewhere.
rockinrob - Dec 21, 2006 - 10:32 PM Post subject: sounds great!
who did u book it with - it sounds top!
SquishyBG - Dec 24, 2006 - 03:25 PM Post subject: RE: sounds great!
Crystal, couldn't believe how cheap it ended up being, and a good choice considering the conditions elsewhere in Europe.
plusone - Dec 24, 2006 - 06:11 PM Post subject: RE: sounds great!
I find this out now that Ive just booked mine....DOH
SquishyBG - Dec 25, 2006 - 04:14 PM Post subject: RE: sounds great!
sorry! Where are you going?
Jimbo1 - Dec 25, 2006 - 08:49 PM Post subject: RE: sounds great!
Is there a park there?
Johnny - Dec 25, 2006 - 08:59 PM Post subject: RE: sounds great!
squishy, you got any pics of the mountain and park?
SquishyBG - Dec 26, 2006 - 01:45 PM Post subject: RE: sounds great!
there is a park, didn't really take any pics but the website is pretty good, have a look here...
http://www.ruka.fi/winter_eng/slopes/?file=content_exec&id=1406&submenu=2313PhilC - Feb 05, 2007 - 09:06 PM Post subject: RE: sounds great!
I have been to Ruka for the last two years once in February and once in January (both classed as low season). In fact I learnt to snowboard there.
There are two core tour operators Inghams and Crystal. The nicest things for us going as a family was being able to do loads of extra stuff like husky safaris and seeing Santa and stuff (great for our 4 year old).
The slopes are always empty in ruka which was great for me this year as an improver. There's stacks of acomodation, we have stayed in Ruka both times, once in a log cabin and once in the Ruka suites because they had broadband (had to work ). the village is fantastic and the 'Piste' restaurant (it's called the piste restaurant!!) is fantastic for lunch. You have to try the raindeer.
I would definately recommend Finland as it's so close to the artic circle chances of good snow are excellent, there was about 1 - 2 ft when we went. Check the webcams at www.ruka.fi.
I probably wouldn't go half-board as it's about £20 a day, and you can almost each lunch and tea out for that in the village.
angelusgoz - Oct 29, 2007 - 09:05 PM Post subject:
Hi,
Can you tell me if all the runs have chair lifts or are they all the dredded button/drag lifts?
). the village is fantastic and the 'Piste' restaurant (it's called the piste restaurant!!) is fantastic for lunch. You have to try the raindeer.