Winter activities in Taivalkoski, on Lapland’s doorstep
A whole winter holiday under the northern sky
Bring your family north for snow-covered forests, husky safaris, reindeer, snowmobiling, skiing and the possibility of seeing the Northern Lights. At Tiera Resort, each day can bring a new experience, while your room, buffet meals, Finnish saunas and indoor swimming pool are waiting in one warm base.
Tiera is located in Taivalkoski, in Finland’s Koillismaa region. Local partners, organised activities and optional transfers make the northern winter easier to experience, while the surrounding forests and dark skies give your family space to enjoy it together.
Winter sets the rhythm
In Taivalkoski, winter is present in every part of the day. Snow softens the forest, darkness reveals the stars and the cold makes every return to warmth feel meaningful.
Your day can be active, gentle or a combination of both. Set out with huskies in the morning, sit quietly on a frozen lake in the afternoon and end the evening in a sauna. Another day may begin on cross-country skis and finish around an open fire beneath the northern sky.
Tiera Resort brings accommodation, meals, activities and recovery into one practical base. You can experience the outdoors without changing hotels or planning every detail alone.
The winter your family hopes to find — made easier
Families travel north for a winter that feels completely different from home. Snow-covered forests, huskies, reindeer, skiing, firelight and the possibility of seeing the Northern Lights turn an ordinary week into something the family experiences together.
At Tiera Resort, these moments come together around one warm and welcoming base. Stay in the same room, enjoy your meals at the hotel and choose each day’s activities according to your family’s interests and energy.
The experiences worth travelling for
Drive a husky team through the forest, visit a local reindeer farm, explore the winter landscape by snowmobile or skis and look towards the northern sky after dark.
Tiera brings together the experiences many families hope to find in northern Finland. The holiday can include a few carefully chosen highlights or a full week of winter activities.
One warm base for the whole holiday
Stay at Tiera while each day brings a different experience. After the cold, return to your room, a buffet meal, Finnish sauna and indoor swimming pool.
Keeping accommodation, meals and recovery in one place gives the family more time together and makes active winter days easier to enjoy.
Northern winter made manageable
Tiera helps guests understand what to book, what to wear and how to reach each activity. Selected programmes can include airport transfers, activity transport, winter clothing, meals and guided excursions.
Clear instructions, local guides and activity-specific requirements help parents prepare for the holiday with confidence.
More space around every experience
Taivalkoski offers snowy forests, dark skies and a small northern community close to the landscapes of Lapland. The setting gives every activity room to breathe, from the energy of a husky safari to the stillness of a frozen lake.
Local farms, guides, food and traditions bring guests closer to everyday life in the North.
What would you like to feel today?
Classic northern experiences
Take the reins on a husky safari through snowy forests, or slow down at a reindeer farm to meet the herd and learn about local herding traditions.
Best for:
First-time winter visitors, couples and families
Move through the winter landscape
Snowmobiling, skiing, snowshoeing and fatbiking offer different ways to travel through snow-covered forests and open terrain.
Best for:
Active travellers, families with older children and small groups
Slow down and listen
Ice fishing, Northern Lights excursions and campfire moments invite you to experience the quieter side of winter.
Best for:
Couples, families and travellers seeking a slower pace
Guided experiences
Huskies, reindeer and the winter wilderness
Husky safari through the snowy forest
Meet the huskies, learn how the sled and team work and set out into the winter landscape. Once the dogs find their rhythm, the sounds of everyday life are replaced by runners moving over snow and the steady enthusiasm of the team.
The exact route, duration, driving arrangement and minimum age depend on the selected safari. Some departures may be operated by Tiera’s local activity partners.
Experience type:
Guided animal safari
Activity level:
Moderate
Good to know:
Participants receive safety instructions before departure. Driver changes, child seating and clothing arrangements vary by product.
Reindeer farm visit
Visit a local reindeer farm and learn about the animals, seasonal work and the role of reindeer in northern livelihoods. Depending on the selected experience, the visit may include feeding the animals and a peaceful sleigh ride through the snow.
The experience is especially suitable for families and guests who prefer a gentle pace.
Experience type:
Guided farm visit and seasonal sleigh ride
Activity level:
Easy
Good to know:
Accessibility, child arrangements and the length of the sleigh ride vary by farm and weather conditions.
Guided snowmobile safari
A snowmobile safari takes you across forest trails, ridges and open winter terrain. Before departure, the guide introduces the controls, safety rules and correct driving technique.
Routes and durations vary from introductory experiences to longer excursions. A valid driving licence is required to drive a snowmobile. Passenger, age and insurance conditions are shown with each bookable product.
Experience type:
Guided motorised safari
Activity level:
Moderate to active
Good to know:
Winter clothing, fuel, insurance terms and any liability excess must be clearly stated in the booking details.
Quiet winter experiences
Northern Lights excursion
Dark skies, warm drinks and patience.
Leave the brightest lights behind and head towards an open view of the northern sky. Depending on conditions and the selected departure, the excursion may be made on foot, with snowshoes or by vehicle.
The Northern Lights are a natural phenomenon and their appearance can never be guaranteed. A clear sky, darkness and solar activity must come together. Even when the sky remains quiet, the winter night, stars and time around the fire create an experience of their own.
Experience type:
Guided evening excursion
Activity level:
Easy or moderate, depending on the format
Guided ice fishing
Drill a hole, lower the line and let the lake become quiet.
A guide introduces the equipment, explains safe movement on the ice and helps you make your first fishing hole. The experience is as much about being outdoors as it is about catching fish.
Hot berry juice and a sheltered fire break may be included depending on the excursion. Equipment, clothing and fishing arrangements must be checked from the selected product.
Experience type:
Guided nature activity
Activity level:
Easy
Good to know:
Ice conditions are always assessed by the activity provider. Excursions operate only when conditions allow safe access.
Campfire in the winter forest
Warm hands, simple food and the northern sky.
Gather around an open fire to prepare a warm drink, grill a simple snack and spend time outdoors as daylight turns blue. The experience may take place close to the hotel or at Pitkälampi Wilderness Camp, depending on the group and conditions.
A campfire experience works well as a gentle evening activity, the closing moment of a safari day or part of a private group programme.
Experience type:
Guided outdoor experience
Activity level:
Easy
Active winter days
Ski, walk or ride through winter
Cross-country skiing at Taivalvaara
Cross-country skiing is one of the most natural ways to experience Finnish winter. Taivalkoski offers trails for different ability levels, including illuminated tracks in the Taivalvaara area.
Beginners can start with equipment guidance and a short, easy route. More experienced skiers can continue into longer and more varied terrain. Trail availability and grooming depend on current snow conditions.
Experience type:
Self-guided or guided
Activity level:
Easy to demanding
Snowshoeing in the forest
Snowshoes make it possible to explore winter routes without previous skiing experience. Choose a gentle self-guided outing or join a guide to learn about animal tracks, winter forests and safe movement in the snow.
Two maintained winter multi-use routes begin in the Taivalvaara area: the approximately 10-kilometre Siikavaara Trail and the approximately 11-kilometre Kikarilampi Trail. Shorter outings can be planned according to the group and conditions.
Experience type:
Self-guided or guided
Activity level:
Easy to moderate
Fatbiking on winter trails
Wide tyres provide grip and stability on maintained winter routes. Fatbiking offers an active but quiet way to move through the snowy landscape.
Tiera has ten fatbikes available, subject to size and availability. Groups can rotate between fatbiking and other activities when there are more than ten participants.
Experience type:
Equipment rental or guided activity
Activity level:
Moderate to active
Good to know:
Route access depends on grooming, weather and current trail rules.
Culture and local life
Winter is also lived indoors
Stories, traditions and something warm from the oven
Traditional baking in a heritage cottage
Step into the warmth of a traditional cottage and learn to prepare a local bread or pastry. The wood-fired oven, fresh dough and shared table offer a slower contrast to the day’s outdoor activities.
The recipe and location depend on the programme. Baking experiences are arranged for selected departures and groups.
Visit Finland’s oldest continuously operating village shop
Jalava Village Shop has served travellers and local residents in Taivalkoski since the 19th century. Its wooden interior, café and long history offer a glimpse into everyday life in northern Finland.
The visit can be combined with time in Taivalkoski village and the nearby Wartime Heritage Room.
Local history at the Wartime Heritage Room
The Wartime Heritage Room presents objects, photographs and stories connected with the region’s wartime history. It is a compact cultural visit for guests who want to understand more about Taivalkoski and the experiences that shaped the area.
Opening hours and guided visits should be confirmed before arrival.
Return to warmth
Sauna, swimming and time to recover
A winter day feels complete when the cold is followed by warmth. At Tiera Resort, you can return from the trail to Finnish saunas, an indoor swimming pool and Bioharmonia wellbeing services.
Sauna is part of everyday Finnish life: a place to warm up, wash, breathe and sit quietly. Seasonal ice-swimming experiences may also be arranged when conditions and safe access allow.
Service hours, private sauna sessions and ice-swimming arrangements should be checked in advance.
Seven days of the North
Tiera Resort: The Complete Arctic Silence
Experience a full week of northern nature, activity and recovery. The journey moves from reindeer and huskies to snowmobiling, skiing, ice fishing, snowshoeing, Finnish sauna and the search for the Northern Lights.
Accommodation, full-board meals, airport transfers, winter clothing and the activities in the programme are brought together into one carefully planned holiday.
- 7 days and 6 nights
- full-board meals
- airport and activity transfers
- winter clothing for the stay
- reindeer farm and sleigh ride
- husky and snowmobile safaris
- ice fishing and snowshoeing
- skiing or cross-country skiing
- Northern Lights excursion
- sauna, swimming and recovery
- local culture and northern traditions
The programme may be adjusted according to weather, snow conditions, availability and the ages of participating children.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Tiera Resort located?
Tiera Resort is located in Taivalkoski in Finland’s Koillismaa region, on Lapland’s doorstep. The resort is surrounded by northern forests and is close to the Taivalvaara outdoor area.
When is the best time for winter activities?
The main period for guided winter activities is generally from December to March. Cross-country skiing and other snow activities may continue into April or May when conditions allow. Exact operating dates depend on snow, ice and local providers.
Can I see the Northern Lights at Tiera Resort?
The Northern Lights can appear when the sky is dark and clear and solar activity is suitable. Taivalkoski offers dark northern skies, but the aurora is a natural phenomenon and sightings cannot be guaranteed.
Are the activities suitable for children?
Many activities are suitable for families. Minimum ages and other restrictions vary between husky safaris, snowmobiling and other guided products. Check the requirements shown with each activity before booking.
Do I need previous experience?
Most introductory activities are suitable for beginners. Guides provide instructions before departure. Driving a snowmobile requires a valid driving licence, and some active excursions may require normal physical fitness.
Is winter clothing included?
Winter clothing is included in the Complete Arctic Silence week. For separately booked activities, clothing and equipment inclusions vary and are shown in the individual product description.
Can I rent skis, snowshoes or fatbikes?
Selected winter equipment is available from Tiera or local providers. Availability, sizes and prices should be checked in advance. Tiera has ten fatbikes, subject to current availability.
Can activities be booked without staying at the hotel?
Yes. Activities may be booked separately when availability allows. Accommodation, meals and sauna services can be added through their respective booking channels.
Can airport transfers be arranged?
Transfers from Kuusamo, Kajaani, Oulu or Rovaniemi airports can be requested. Availability and price depend on the airport, arrival time and number of passengers.
Photos
Contact us
Address
Taivalvaarantie 2,
93400 Taivalkoski
