Winter holiday in Koli

Self-guided and guided activities

Children’s Ski Adventure

A new skiing adventure for families with children will get you moving, and introduce you to the region’s living creatures along the ski slopes. Pick up a map and go on an adventure! What animals can you find? Let us know and you’ll be rewarded with a sticker for completing the adventure and rewarding treats at promotional prices!

You can pick up the map at the Koli Tourist Information, Kolintie 94A or at Polar Adventures, Kolintie 94B.

The ABC of Camping! – learn how to use the firesteel

Firesteels are a traditional method of making fire that was commonly used until the late 1800s. Matches replaced traditional methods because they were faster to use. However, in outdoor conditions, matches are not always the most reliable method; in rainy weather, matches can get wet or damp. Modern magnesium-based firesteels, available today, are easy to use and reliable in all conditions. If you know how to use firesteels correctly, you no longer need to bring matches for starting a campfire or lighting a camping stove.

On Tuesday, February 20th, and February 27th, as well as on March 5th, from 11 am to 12 pm.

Round of the peaks

The Koli National Park in North Karelia is one of the most beautiful natural gems in Finland.

We follow marked trails as well as the guide’s favorite routes. The stories told by the guide will take you deep into the nature of the national park and the unique features of Koli. Koli has inspired numerous artists, and standing at the summit, you understand why these landscapes have compelled so many artists to pick up a brush and pen.

On Wednesday, February 21st, and February 28th, as well as on March 6th, from 11 am to 12 pm. Guaranteed departure every Saturday, from 11 am to 12 pm.

Huskysafari

Come and enjoy the thrill of speed pulled by a dog sled! KoliHusky organizes dog sledding tours at Loma-Koli, Merilänranta Camping Area, during weeks 8-10 of the winter holiday. You’ll get to meet the sled dogs and take a short ride while sitting with a guide. The duration of the ride is approximately 1 km.

Price: €30/adult, €20/child
21.2.-6.3.2024 Wednesdays from 11 am to 1 pm
Merilänranta Camping Area, Hiekkaniementie 2, Loma-Koli

Laughter Yoga

Laughter Yoga is an excellent relaxation exercise! Even a short laughter session brings a sense of well-being, pleasure, and joy. Regular laughter improves the quality of life: it reduces stress, releases feel-good hormones, enhances heart function, and lowers blood pressure. It is an effective aerobic exercise for the heart and core muscles and also improves breathing.

In Laughter Yoga, laughter is combined with deep breathing exercises. During the Laughter Yoga session, participants warm up, engage in laughter exercises and deep breathing, and finally, relax. The beneficial effects of laughter are immediate and can last for days!

On Wednesdays, 21.2., 28.2., 6.3., and 13.3.2024, from 4 pm to 5 pm.

Snowshoeing Excursion in the Paimenvaara Terrain

Welcome to experience the magic of winter in the stunning landscapes of Koli! Feel how effortlessly snowshoes transport you through the snowy scenery. No pre-made ski tracks are needed; we can choose our own route. The trail winds through the valley between Paimenvaara and the peaks of Koli, with a break at the Raimenvaara campfire site. Warm drinks will be provided to participants midway through the excursion. Don’t miss out on this adventure that combines the joy of movement with the tranquility of winter.

On Thursday, 22.2., 29.2., and 7.3. at 10:30 am.

Moonlit Wool Sock Hike

Embark on a winter adventure with a wool sock walk and experience the dimming forest with all your senses. Walking with wool socks provides a soft step, allowing you to feel the surface of the snow beneath your feet. It’s like walking barefoot, without worrying about freezing toes or stones pricking your heels. During this nature-inspired hike, we may have the chance to identify the tracks of forest animals, see stars, witness the illuminating moonlight, or experience the darkness of a snowy or frosty forest.

For this excursion, you’ll need to wear 3-4 pairs of wool socks. Put on your favorite athletic socks against your feet and layer two or three pairs of wool socks over them to keep your toes warm. If you didn’t bring enough wool socks, a selection of different-sized wool socks is available at the starting point.

On Thursdays, from 8.2. to 21.3.2024, at 6 pm.

The Uuro Snowshoe Trail

A snowshoeing excursion in Koli National Park is an unforgettable experience where you get to admire stunning landscapes and learn about the history and nature of this national landscape.

No previous experience with snowshoeing is required! Participants will be provided with secure and easy-to-use snowshoes, suitable for navigating even steeper, snowy, and icy terrains. Poles are also provided for additional support.

On Fridays, on 23.2., 1.3., and 8.3., at 4 pm.

Trail Riding with Icelandic Horses

Embark on a trail riding adventure with the gentle Icelandic horses at Paimentupa! Horseback riding excursions are available daily during the winter holidays. Ensure your spot by making a reservation in advance.

Come and meet the animals at Leskelä Grandma’s Horse Farm!

At Leskelä Grandma’s Horse Farm, you can get acquainted with the animals in an authentic, traditional rural setting, with interesting stories dating back to the 1600s. Please reserve your visit by 12:00 noon the day before.

Grandma’s Stable Day – Family Package Includes a guided farm tour to meet and interact with the animals, along with grooming and feeding. Children will also enjoy guided pony care and a pony cart ride. During the visit, stories about the farm’s history will be shared tailored to the children’s interests. Available daily from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm.

Grandma’s Journey on the Farm – Mini Package Includes a guided farm tour delving into the history of the farm, exploring old rural beliefs, and getting to know the animals through interesting stories, all sprinkled with a touch of humor. Available daily from 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm.

Iceswimming

Refresh yourself in the KoliFreetime sauna and ice swimming.

KoliSki Slopes

These timeless rocky slopes have seen their first daredevils descend nearly 80 years ago. Now it’s your turn to enjoy an unforgettable day on the slopes. Do you dare to try the steep black slope? Ukko-Koli’s slopes offer a variety of options for skiers of all levels. The ski resort’s seven slopes open right at the top, just outside the door of Break Sokos Hotel Koli, and four lifts take you back up.

Join the fun slalom race, Koli Slalom, on the slopes of Ukko-Koli. Family-friendly competitions are held on 24.2., 2.3., and 9.3., featuring alpine, snowboard, and telemark categories. Challenge yourself and your friends against the clock on the easy slalom course at the lower part of Ipati slope. Fantastic prizes will be raffled at the Rinnetupa after the race! Register for the race at Rinnetupa before the event. Participation fee is €5/person.

Elan/Bolle Ski Test Day on 19.2. from 11 am to 3 pm.

Koli Ski’s rental point also offers cross-country skiing equipment for rent. Get guidance on technique from the professionals at Koli Ski School.

Slopes are open during weeks 8, 9, and 10:
Mon-Sun from 10 am to 6 pm

Ski & Spa bus runs from Joensuu to Koli daily during week 10, and on Saturdays and Sundays at other times. The Ski bus also takes you from the village hotel to the slopes and back; schedules can be found here.

Rental Equipment

Polar Adventures and Retkipaikka provide sports equipment for independent excursions.

Polar Adventures offers rentals of various equipment, including skiing gear, snowshoes, cross-country skis, snowmobiles, and electric bikes, conveniently located right in the center of Koli village at Kolintie 94 B.

Retkipaikka, situated near the national landscape, at the Ukko Nature Center, offers rentals of snowshoes and Nordic skates, among other items. Located at Ylä-Kolintie 39, Koli.

Koli Relax Spa

During the winter holidays (16.2.-9.3.2024), the spa is hosting Kid’s Weeks! During Kid’s Weeks, children can enjoy the spa until 7 pm. The spa is open daily during Kid’s Weeks from 10 am to 12 am, with access restricted to individuals aged 18 and above starting from 7 pm.

Massage Kolikoli

Come and relax, and lighten the burden on your strained muscles with a massage from the skilled hands at Massage KoliKoli. We offer both lighter, relaxing massages and firmer muscle treatments.

Events

JÄÄ TIELLE! – outdoor event at Vuonislahti Harbor on February 18 and March 3, 2024, from 10 am to 2 pm

An outdoor event for everyone at Vuonislahti Harbor. Kick-sled or ski to Koli in the stunning national landscape of Lake Pielinen! The trail between Vuonislahti and Koli is maintained throughout the winter, and from Vuonislahti Harbor, you can also take a skiing trip to the artist Eva Ryynänen’s Paateri artist residence.

For kick-sledding, you can rent Simpauttaja kicksleds from the harbor. Zoom around the kick-sled track on the shore of Vuonislahti with a pedal car. The little ones can get their own driver’s license for driving. At the fireplace, you can enjoy snacks and warm up by the fire. At the harbor, there is a coffee tent hosted by the Vuonislahti Village Association, where you can buy hot drinks, pastries, as well as grilled sausages or cook your own over an open fire. There is a composting toilet near the shore.

On Sunday, February 18, 2024, and March 3, 2024, from 10 am to 2 pm.

Kaisa Mäkäräinen’s Skiing Clinics on Friday, February 23, 2024.

Kaisa is coming to Koli to provide cross-country skiing technique lessons during the Landscape Skiing Weekend in Week 8. In the group clinic, you’ll receive guidance and tips tailored to your skiing style. The group size is limited to a maximum of 10 people, so reserve your spot early!

There will be approximately an hour of skiing together with tips, followed by time allocated for questions. Participants in the clinic will receive a diploma signed by Kaisa as a memento of completing the skiing clinic.

Niina Annika performing at Wanhan Koulun Puoti on February 23 at 5 PM

Enchanting, timeless, and uniquely fresh,

Niina Annika is a singer-songwriter from Joensuu, whose musical roots delve into the realms of narrative folk and roots music, immersing itself in more mysterious tones and atmospheres.

Nature-themed lyrics, the diversity of tones, and hypnotic rhythms take the listener on a deeper journey where one might not initially expect to end up. The EP “Unessani tuuli,” released in spring 2023, and the debut album “Kalliota vasten,” released in the fall, have captivated audiences on folk-themed Spotify playlists and on the radio, including Yle Radio Suomi and Radio Helsinki. Niina Annika’s songs are internal journeys that must be experienced live.

On Friday, February 23, 2024, at 5 PM
Tickets: €10
Wanhan Koulun Puoti, Vuonislahdentie 184, Vuonislahti.

Landscape Skiing on February 24-25, 2024.

Koli’s traditional Landscape Skiing is back! Join to enjoy the national landscapes and the increasing light of late winter, challenging yourself on the ski trails. The event days are on February 24-25, 2024, when hundreds of skiers gather in the Koli hill landscapes to enjoy the joy of movement.

Landscape Skiing is a feel-good cross-country skiing event where you don’t need to watch the clock. You can comfortably stop to enjoy picnic snacks and the services of rest areas. The participation fee includes assistance with waxing, trail maintenance, refueling at service points, a post-ski sauna, an annually changing ski sticker, a certificate, and insurance.

On the Friday before Landscape Skiing, Kaisa Mäkäräinen will be providing tips for preparing for and recovering from long cross-country skiing trips. Admission is free for those who have purchased Landscape Skiing tickets through the koli.fi online store; for others, it is €5.

Ice Skiing on March 3, 2024, from 9 am to 4 pm

The 27th annual Pielinen Ice Skiing of 2024 will take place on Sunday, March 3, 2024! The trail runs from Koli to Merilänranta, passing through Raapionsaari, Vuonislahti’s shore, and Herranniemi, all the way to the artist Eva Ryynänen’s residence Paateri. Ice Skiing is a free cross-country skiing event! In Vuonislahti, Wanhan Koulun Puoti is open from 11 am to 4 pm, and Paateri with its cafes is open from 10 am to 4 pm.

Natural Cosmetics Workshop on Monday, March 4, from 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm

Warmly welcome to create homemade cosmetics from high-quality natural ingredients and explore the properties of herbs and natural oils in skincare!

In this cosmetics workshop, we will craft two different skincare products, where you get to choose the ingredients that best suit your skin. Making your own product is fun and rewarding, and you’ll also receive the recipes to take home for experimentation.

In the workshop, we will prepare a gentle makeup remover and, based on your choice, a cream tailored to your specific needs.

Options for your custom cream include:

• Protective and bronzing outdoor cream
• Nourishing and soothing salve
• Relaxing pain relief cream for stiffness

This workshop is suitable for those interested in herbalism, beauty, and DIY cosmetics. Please note that we will be using essential oils as fragrances in our products. These are concentrated, therapeutic scents extracted from natural plants. If you know you are overly sensitive to fragrances, this may hinder your participation in the workshop.

Bring your own apron and a marker of your choice for labeling!

The workshop will be led by well-being and natural cosmetics entrepreneur Niina Mönkkönen (N.A.M-voiteet).

Workshop price: €58 (including VAT, raw materials, materials, instruction, light snacks, and tea)

On Monday, March 4, at Wanhan Koulun Puoti, from 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm. Register by emailing:

Ahmanhiihto on March 8-9, 2024

The Ahmanhiihto event, held in Ahmovaara and the national landscapes of Koli, attracts nearly a thousand skiers each year to enjoy well-maintained trails and the authentic atmosphere of North Karelia. The snow-covered forests, hilltops, and lake expanses create enchanting surroundings for the excursion.

The spirit of Ahmanhiihto easily catches on at the campfire stations, on the trails, and at the service points!

Tickets: www.ahmanhiihto.fi

Restaurants

Restaurant Tervaskanto

During the ski holiday weeks, Restaurant Tervaskanto offers a pizza buffet every day from 12 pm to 4 pm, priced at €18.90 per person! Located at Break Sokos Hotel Koli Kylä, Tervaskanto is a warmly inviting restaurant with a kitchen specializing in handmade picnic treats, right at the gateway to the national park.

Opening hours:
Mon-Thu: 11 am – 12 am, kitchen closes at 10 pm
Fri-Sat: 11 am – 12 am, kitchen closes at 11 pm
Sun: 11 am – 10 pm, kitchen closes at 9 pm

Kolintie 94B, Koli

Ski Bistro Rinnetupa

Come and enjoy a home-cooked lunch at the cozy Ski Bistro Rinnetupa located at the base station of Ukko-Koli slopes! In addition to lunch, there is a diverse selection of café and food items available.

During the ski holidays, Rinnetupa Kötäkät events are also organized on February 17 and March 2, offering a relaxed evening with good food, drinks, and entertainment!

Opening hours:
Mon-Sun: 10 am – 6 pm, lunch served from 11 am to 3 pm

Rantatie 29, Koli

Grill It! Koli

During the ski holiday weeks, Grill It! offers the Ski Master’s Soup Buffet from 12 pm to 4 pm. Additionally, from the à la carte menu, enjoy Scandinavian flavors grilled over an open fire!

Opening hours:
Mon-Thu: 12 pm – 12 am, kitchen closes at 10 pm
Fri-Sat: 12 pm – 12 am, kitchen closes at 11 pm
Sun: 12 pm – 12 am, kitchen closes at 10 pm

Ylä-Kolintie 39, Koli