When to go skiing in Ruka

It’s that time of the year again: time to start thinking about your winter ski holidays. When is the best time to come skiing in Ruka? Well, that all depends on what you want, and what prices you can find.  Flights will be one thing, but you can find great hotel deals with Easytobook.com.

November

We may not have much in the way of ground snow in November but thanks to snow stored from last winter and the brilliant snow cannons they have on the slopes here, there will be some ski runs and some cross country ski tracks open in Ruka. And, if the weather is obliging, it may even be possible to go snowmobiling or ice fishing at this time of the year.

Daylight: Average of 5 hours per day
Average Temperatures: -10 to -3 degrees Celsius

Good: cheap pre-season holidays

Bad: no guaranteed natural snow so possible lack of other winter activities

December

This is the darkest month, with only a couple of hours of daylight towards the end of the month. The temperature can be anywhere from a few minus degrees to -20C. The majority of the ski slopes will be open at this time of the year, and activities like reindeer sleigh rides, husky sledding and snowmobile driving will be in full swing. Northern lights sightings are quite possible in December, especially towards the end of the month. The Christmas nativity play and new years celebrations are great fun.

Daylight: Average of 3 hours per day
Average Temperatures: -16 to -8 degrees Celsius

Good: Ruka is a great place for a magical Christmas holiday

Bad: a very dark month

January

January is usually the coldest month of the year and the temperature can be as low as -30C. For some this is an exciting time of the year to visit, for other’s the cold is off putting. With an average of 5 hours daylight a day it’s brighter than December and a great time of the year to see the northern lights, kaamos (the eerie blue light when the sun isn’t up) and the trees frozen into Dali-like statues on snowmobile trips to the Russian border. It’s wonderfully quiet on the ski slopes with no queues for lifts – except for the week starting the 7th January which is Russian Christmas week and quite a busy week in Ruka.

Daylight: Average of hours of daylight 5
Average Temperature: -19 to -10 degrees Celsius

Good: beautiful, quite month – great for photographers. Best month for northern lights

Bad: cold, dark and quiet.

February

February is very similar to January but a touch warmer and a touch lighter. By February the sun is up for an average of 9 hours a day. The slopes are still pretty quiet and the snow cover is fantastic. The northern lights are still quite common. The ski slopes are still lovely and quiet at this time of the year and all winter activities like husky sledding, reindeer sleigh rides, santa trips are running.

Daylight: Average of 9 hours a day.
Average Temperature: -18 to -9 degrees Celsius

Good: lighter and warmer than january but northern lights still common

Bad: Can still be quite cold and quiet.

 March

March is a great month for skiing, the slopes are bathed in sunshine and the temperature can be as warm as -3C. However it’s a busier month with the slopes filling with people and the activities being quite full. You can still see the northern lights although they are not as frequent and the closer to the end of the month you get the less frequent they become.

Daylight: Average of 13 hours per day
Average Temperature: -14 to -3 degrees Celsius

Good: warm, bright days. Good snow.

Bad: busier, queues for ski lifts.

April

Another good month for skiing, April can be quite warm, with temperatures above 0C, however towards the end of the month it can also mean slushy snow and which can make skiing and other snow related activities like snowmobiling more challenging.

Daylight: Average of 17 hours per day
Average Temperature: -7 to 2 degrees Celsius

Good: Warm and sunny

Bad: If it’s too warm the snow conditions can deteriorate.

May

Weather depending, May can either be a great ski month or a terrible one. Generally all other winter activities like snow mobiling and husky sledding are finished by this time as there isn’t enough ground snow for them to continue, and some of the restaurants will be closed. However, the slopes will still be open and if you get a cold week it can still be great skiing. May is best booked last minute depending on the weather.

Daylight: Average of 21 hours per day
Average Temperature: 0 to 10 degrees Celsius

Good: cheap out of season holiday. Bright, sunny days.

Bad: it can be too warm and slushy to ski. Some restaurants closed.