Two-minute guide to Finland

Its most famous resident may be a man in a red suit but there is a lot more to a holiday in Finland than Santa Claus and reindeer, even with Christmas coming up. Yes, it’s a real life Narnia in winter, but travel at other times of year and Finland’s forests and lakes yield sightings of creatures rapidly disappearing from other European wilderness, and its far-flung towns an insight into traditional Arctic culture centuries old.

At its heart Finland is about connecting with nature. While its towns and cities are as modern as any in Scandinavia, and its cosmopolitan, yet often-overlooked capital Helsinki is one of responsibletravel.com’s top rated places, but what Finland can offer above most other European destinations is the opportunity to get away from it all.

We recommend finding small, local tourism providers – Finland has them in spades – and discovering some of this country’s hidden corners, pitch-black nights, bright stars and raw, unspoiled wilderness. Aki  is the founder of Routa Travel, a local Finnish tour operator and one of responsibletravel.com’s members. He says: "Always keep your eye out for local things. The local food is especially good – one thing I like about Finnish food is that you can really taste nature. We try to use a lot of berries and game, such as moose, which are monitored and hunted sustainably every year".

The country’s winter appeal is understandable, but for a real winter wonderland experience we recommend eschewing the ubiquitous snowmobile and instead exploring on skis. Cross-country skiing offers a peaceful, yet still exhilarating way to traverse the winter landscape, opening up to visitors remote small communities still living traditional lives, growing their own produce and cooking Finnish food from local ingredients. The rhythm is flexible and much easier than walking – and allows you to cover greater distances. It is a unique and fitting way to discover authentic Arctic life, to hear stories from local people and your local guides as you travel and to spot wildlife tracks in the snow.

Picture by Miguel Virkkunen Carvalho

In spring and early-summer, the silence of the snow is gradually replaced by a myriad of birdsong. While in March visitors may see 15 species, in May avid bird-lovers will have the opportunity to spot over 150. It’s the time of year that the birds are arriving back to their territories from their wintering grounds, and mark their arrival with songs and displays for the mating season. The dense forests of the Wild Taiga region, stretching to the Russian border in the east of the country, hold some of Europe’s rarest predators; wolverines, brown bear, moose, wolves and lynx all call this place home. But it is not just a nature-lover’s dream, this region is also one of Finland’s earliest inhabited areas, offering visitors a chance to discover a unique cultural heritage shrouded in ancient folklore and traditional music. Summer brings other cultural treats too; on the Saturday between June 20th and 26th Finns mark the summer solstice, celebrating the midnight sun with lakeside bonfires, cooking, drinking and traditional saunas.

Lapland may be Finland’s most well-known area for its associations with Santa Claus, snow-filled escapes and sightings of the awe-inspiring Northern Lights, but visitors shouldn’t neglect some of southern Finland’s stunning coastline. Uusimaa, the area of fragmented coastline stretching to the west of Helsinki is a wonderful summer destination, long days make cycling through the attractive small towns and villages, beaches and rocky headlands, a perfect, relaxing break. If travelling further north, however, be aware that July brings not only swarms of Finns on holiday, and associated peak prices, but also swarms of mosquitoes to the Lapland wilderness.

A holiday to Finland is a real opportunity to discover a wilder Europe, to disconnect from the world and to experience true wilderness. Although winter delights, and Christmas is magical, the Finnish spring and early summer, and the wonderful wildlife and wilderness experiences they bring should never be overlooked.

For more information on finding the authentic, underrated areas of Finland read responsibletravel.com’s 2 minute travel guide at: http://www.responsibletravel.com/holidays/finland.