Quickest path to Saariselkä
The quickest connection from most places is with a connecting flight via Helsinki directly to Ivalo, from where a shuttle to Saariselkä is provided for each incoming/outgoing flight. The relevant flights for the beginning/end of the school are:
- Mon 24.6.2024, AY607 21:35-23:10 (Helsinki-Ivalo)
- Sat 6.7.2024, AY604 13:55-15:25 (Ivalo-Helsinki)
Details regarding the bus schedule are updated monthly and should be accessible from https://www.finavia.fi/en/airports/ivalo/parking-access/public-transport As of October 2023, the prices are 13 EUR one way and the shuttle is operated and timetable available from https://www.eskelisen.fi/en/timetables-and-routes/
As there is only one flight operator (Finnair) and the dynamic pricing is not predictable, other travel options might be more economical/ecological, see alternative options below
Alternative paths to Saariselkä
From Rovaniemi
The busiest transport hub to all of Finnish Lapland is Rovaniemi, which also warrants a visit on its own, including e.g. the famous Santa Claus village open all year around. Direct bus connections that can be booked via matkahuolto.fi (and possibly other portals), see example timetables below, some of these also stop at the Rovaniemi airport (11:45 bus and 20:35 bus on Monday 24.6.)
There is a significant group discount for tickets booked through matkahuolto/onnibus for 3 or more persons. Coordinate joint travel via school Mattermost channel.
How to get to Rovaniemi
The basic options for single travellers are: By train, by bus or by plane. We will briefly go through them in the following:
By train: Ca. 6 train connections from Helsinki per day (of which 2 night trains and two are daytime direct connections). The night trains are excellent and very affordable if booked well in advance (you could check out travel companions, too since the price starting at ~90 euros is per 2-person cabin, not per passenger). Schedules and tickets at www.vr.fi/en Some hints, also on making it to Helsinki at https://www.seat61.com/international-trains/trains-from-Helsinki.htm#Helsinki-Finland
By bus: Same way as above, you can check travel options at matkahuolto.fi. There are direct buses from Helsinki and other places to Rovaniemi
By plane: As of now, Norwegian and Finnair operate flights to Rovaniemi all year round, adding up to multiple departures per day. This can be an attractive option in combination with the bus to Saariselkä and might give more economical fares in some cases.
How to get to Helsinki (other than flying)
Get inspiration at https://www.seat61.com/Finland.htm There are e.g. multiple daily ferries from Tallinn (Estonia) and Stockholm/Kappellskär to Finland, and daily departures from Travemünde (Germany) to Helsinki, so there is room for out-of-the-box travel arrangements.
From Norway
There are several small airports in northern Norway, but there is no public transportation to the Finnish side and thus a car rental is required.
