Winter holiday get-away in Finish Lapland

For a winter getaway try Finish Lapland, and experience the Sami cultures, snowmobiles, husky drawn sleigh rides, cross country skiing, ice fishing and perhaps see the Northern Lights.

Inari, on the shores of Lake Inari, 300km above the Arctic Circle, has a population of 7,000. The indigenous Sami people have been living here for thousands of years, herding reindeer, hunting and fishing.

The Kultahovi hotel. Offers a warm haven right by the frozen river side, and their restaurant provides delicious food using local produce, like wild mushrooms and fish from the river. The ground floor rooms have their own mini-sauna, and a sliding door which opens out to a small patio a few meters from the river. So you can try running straight from the sauna, into the snow to roll about – very cold!

The center of town consists of a hotel, a supermarket which doubles as the post office, a tourist office which doubles as the liqueur store, and a few souvenir and craft shops.

The "Lake&Snow"runs various snow related activities, and is conveniently situated next to the Inari Hotel and the tourist information. In winter the ice on the river is at least a meter thick and you can try ice-fishing or snowmobile excursions across it.

 Another attraction, in the middle of the river is Ukonsaari Island, a UNESCO heritage site, which protrudes steeply from the lake surface. You climbed up twisting wooden steps to the top, while the brash freezing wind nearly knocks you off your feet. The view from the peak is one of stark unspoiled nature. The island is sacred to the Sami, whose spiritual and cultural beliefs are closely linked to nature.

Inari is also home to the Siida Sami Museum, it displays the heritage and culture of the once nomadic Sami. The museum is dynamic and there's extensive use of multi media, as well as an outdoor amphitheatre made out of ice where the indigenous people's film festival (Skábmagovat Film Festival) is held each winter.

Aborigines, American Indians, Philippines and Sami crowd into the small lobby of the Inari Hotel (the only other hotel in town) for a sing along and after-party not to be missed. Many of the Sami wear their traditional costume, and singers performed their traditional songs.

There's a Sami government, flag, schools, language, and Sami music. The locals we met that night were determined to preserve the Sami culture for their children.

You can reach Inari as we did by bus. We flew from Helsinki to Rovaniemi, and from there we took a five hour bus journey to Inari. Surprisingly the bus trip was comfortable and we got to see endless expanses of snow and pine trees.

 Alternatively fly to the closest airport in nearby Ivalo, which is just a 30 minute bus or car ride from there

 Activities can be booked on line or from your hotel once you arrive. Although Inari's high season is in the summer, during winter your experience will be more unique.

You can experience the Sami culture in northern Norway, Finland, Sweden or Russia. I highly recommend you go to the end of the earth, above the Arctic Circle and visit this charming nation.