Pyha

The Pyha ski resort in Finland is located right on the slopes, in the thick woodland of the Pyhatunturi National Park. Pyha, pronounced “poo-ha” and meaning ‘Holy Hill’ in Finnish, is located on the edge of the Arctic Circle, a wilderness area of dramatic scenery with frozen lakes, snow covered forests and rolling fells. Visitors flock here to view the incredible Northern Lights, in the center of Finnish Lapland.

Pyha is known for its diverse terrain, cross-country trails, outstanding off-piste skiing, deep powder and steep verticals. In fact, Pyha has the fourth highest vertical in Finland. It is the training center of the Finnish Freestyle Skiing Team and venue for the Finnish Alpine Skiing Championships. The ten challenging slopes are suitable for all levels of skiers and stretch for 12kms. Huttu-Ukko is a popular black mogul run, while the northern portion of the fell are suitable for less experienced skiers. Pyha can be rather dark in mid-winter but the ski resort is well equipped for it, and most of the slopes are illuminated.

Pyhä-Luosto combines two fell resorts in one area and offers excellent facilities such as modern hotels, spas, log cabins and entertaining après-ski. The well groomed downhill and cross country ski slopes and tracks ensure plenty of outdoor fun and adventure. Other activities most visitors enjoy include visits to Pyhä-Luosto Husky and Reindeer Park and the Amethyst Mine. One can take a snowmobile, reindeer or husky safari into the snowy forest and snowshoe hikes to pristine fell slopes.

Pyhä has invested in artificial snow-making facilities, and together with the grooming of its slopes in the summer time to ensure that no rocks are left on the ground, one is assured of outstanding, well groomed slopes. The runs are demanding by Finnish standards so Pyha is the most popular ski resort among skiing enthusiasts in Finland.

Luosto is a smaller ski area and is more popular as a family resort with fewer slopes more suited for beginners. It is a good place for relaxed downhill skiing, but the Sun slope offers demanding challenges to the more active skier. Luosto also boasts off-piste skiing and natural pipes and streets, popular with snowboarders.