Ruka

Finland is generally a flat country with lots of forests and lakes and the Kuusamo region, where Ruka is located is no exception. Situated around 30 minutes drive from Kuusamo airport getting here is relatively easy. The journey to Ruka inself involves no great uphill climbs or winding mountain passes just easy driving through beautiful snow-capped scenery. You won’t need to wait long until the hill pops out of the landscape like a volcano.

Ruka is just about Finland's largest resort and you can tell that a lot of time, money and energy has been spent on making this such an impressive resort. It has a modern lift system and an impressive village with vibrant restaurants, shops and bars. Couple that with the fact it has hosted some major snowboard championships over the years and you get a pretty impressive resort by anyone standards

On the slopes Ruka features mainly intermediate slopes that offer snowboarders some nice wide pistes to carve up. The slopes can all be accessed with ease from any of the five carparks dotted along the road that circles most of the hill, so coming here for a day trip is a breeze. Trees cover much of the mountain, and the majority of the pistes are cut through the forest giving you the feeling you are on a different run every time, rather than just riding 100 metres across from where you were originally.

The slopes are all well groomed and pisted, so bumps don't get a chance to build up. The area also gets lots of snow so powder fans will be happy. Ruka also has a very long season which runs from October to May most years. The long seasone means Ruka it’s a great place to head for an early or late season shred which gives it an advantage over many resorts. The pistes are mainly blue and easy red runs, with only a couple of blacks down the front side so there is something here to please everyone.

Crystal Ski Holidays (www.crystalski.co.uk; 020 8939 0726) offers a week's stay at the four-star Ruka Suites from £395 per person (based on four sharing) including flights from Gatwick and transfers departing on 10 January 2016. A week’s half board at the four-star Rantasipi Rukahovi Hotel costs from £589 per person (based on two sharing) including flights from Gatwick and transfers. Book early and get 2for1equipment hire.