Summer Activities

Big herds move only in the winter, even hundreds of them together. Even so, we can go for a summer Rangifer safari to find, watch, and photograph them. Lucky scouting is needed first. Take a closer look at these magnificent wild animals from our vehicles, as they trust cars more than humans. Sometimes we may return empty-handed from our safari, yet always freshened up. The thrill can come from just the chase!

No more than 800 genetically diverse forest reindeer are left in the EU, and they all live in the Kainuu region. The wild forest reindeer classification is Near Threatened, due to habitat loss and predators. An ongoing EU-funded project is moving a few caribous from us to elsewhere in Finland in order to prevent extinction.

Although efforts are being made to save the forest reindeer, it is best to come and see them soon rather than being too late!

People transported themselves and goods by rowing boats in the old time summers, as proper roads were sparse at best. They had long, homemade wooden boats capable of carrying 20-something rowers to the market, church, or to get justice. You can check the availability of such a tour at Vuokatti Safaris.

The vessel, known as a church boat, is reminiscent of a Viking longship. In those days tar was extracted from pine wood and transported in barrels to traders at sea ports. Heavily loaded long freight boats often shipwrecked in fast rapids causing disasters to the crew and to the already poor families back home. Fortunately our rowing will be a lot easier, and safe!

Lake ice cover lasts typically from mid-November to the first week of May. All the summer is for rowing. Our guide will take you to a lake, for a short trip or for a full day’s exploration. Depending on the duration of the expedition and your wishes, breaks at fireplaces will be made for you to have a rest and a snack. You can swim, lay down on a sunny rock, or find out what the forest behind you is hiding.

All the hundreds of lakes near Villa Cone Beach invite you for a fishing adventure. The villa faces the scenic Lake Korpijärvi and beyond that Lake Kellojärvi extends 10 kilometres further south. When you row the scene changes all the time, from narrow streams to wide open lakes. Fishing starts comfortably from the waterfronts of Villa Cone Beach. The protected Lake Kuivajärvi just one kilometre away is another fish basket, where you are unlucky if catch can avoid you.

A most beautiful fishing site is Lake Syväjärvi, operated by the government wildlife agency. The place is accessible and offers basic services for visitors.

The very first spring flowers shoot from the ground during the first days of May, when some snow may still remain in the shade. Green and colourful garden life goes on until September-October. Colours peak in August and September, adding to the richness of autumnal Ruska. The frostier the nights, the brighter the colours.

In the midsummer there’s no night at all. In early May and starting again from August a couple of midnight hours get dark, illuminated by the Milky Way or moonlight on clear nights. For the midsummer months, days and nights meld together for an unforgettable experience of eternal summer.

An expedition meal or snacks with cold and hot drinks are served. Guided additional experiences can be included, such as fishing, trekking around, and picking up superfood berries and mushrooms.

Remember good habits in a smoke sauna. It is the dwelling of Saunatonttu, an elf or some such being, a very old bearded fellow no more than half a metre tall. He has been told of for centuries. When you enter, he leaves you in peace and retreats into the darkest corner behind the stone pile. Saunatonttu loves to be your host, but gets very grumpy if you insult his rules. Don’t worry, we will tell you what the rules are and if necessary, we’ll take the blame.

You can have a pre-physical examination at cost, when suitably available in the region. Measure your stress level before and after sauna with our exclusive smart ring. You may be surprised.

Collect sauna know-how at Villa Cone Beach. A free package for our sauna-goers contains designs, recommendations, links to studies on wellness and health, as well as to the best suppliers. Personal instructions are also given.

We will include any places you like to visit, such as:
• Petola, the visitor centre packed with information about brown bears, wolves, and other wild predators
• Atalante, the postmodern library makes people read more than anywhere else in the world, with a vast variety of books and other media
• Tuupala Home Museum area, a former farmhouse complex owned by an upper class family, showing life from the 1880s to the 1960s
• New wooden school, for healthy learning and studies on health effects of the building
• Vartius village, Arctica Estates border crossing to Russia
• Lentiira, a scenic village close to the Russian border
• Bear Centre, a place for watching bears, wolves, and wolverines
• The Winter War Museum and sites of war history
• Other places, exhibitions, and events interesting to you

The programme is fully flexible. We will use our pedals and steering wheel to make it very special for you.

Available fish may include salmon from the sea or freshwater, perch, pike perch, pike, vendace, whitefish, trout, and bream. The cook can suggest serving some of them smoked or lightly salted.

The village association is the fitting seller of tickets for public good at their price. In case there should be another fish festival or food event in the region, our guide is on hand to take you there.

The Villa Cone Beach area may be the best place to see the Northern Lights during both ends of the season, because Lapland’s summers stay too light longer.

The Northern Lights peak before midnight and the best show may last only half an hour. They often appear hundreds of kilometres away, to any direction but most often in the north. Our chauffeur will gladly drive you there as quickly as possible, if we have enough time. Forecasts can tell us about a chance no more than days or hours ahead. You can decide how far you want to drive anywhere in Arctic Lakeland or Lapland.

Many folks have beliefs and tales explaining the Northern Lights. Finns have learned since the Ice Age that they are a fox running in flames across the skies, and their Finnish name, revontulet, literally means “fox fires”. Other people know the Northern Lights have an important role in fertility matters.