Driving in Lapland is easy - at least in non-winter times! There is not much traffic, so you have the road to yourself!But beware - even with or without traffic signs you will always have to be ready to step on your brakes because of reindeer (and moose) stepping out of the woods! And if you think they will just cross the street, you are wrong! They stay on the road, turn left, then right, stand still, move again before they finally continue their way back in the woods! (If you are interested, do watch my two videos of Reindeer as traffic participants!!!!)So don't drive too fast and watch out for reindeer and elk!
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It's cold!
by smirnofforiginal
It's cold and it's dark and if the snow gets in it's wet !You are in danger of freezing & small children cannot be warm enough... in your ruck sack it is a good idea to have some nice dry socks for kiddies at the end of the day because it doesn't matter what lengths you go to.... they are knee deep in snow, rolling in snow, swimming in snow......and cameras. Wrapped in tights to keep warmth in and when you leave Lapland put your camera in a plastic zip wallet with a sachet of anti-moisture gel/granules and allow it to climatise gradually. If you put it straight into a warm atmosphere you'll be sorry!
Watch out for elks...
by sinoda
You should be really alert when driving the roads in Lapland, for an elk may just run from either side of the street and into your car. It is said elks have bad sight, so they may just be as well standing on the street without noticing you coming towards it.If you see an elk in the progress of crossing the street in front of you (let's say from right to left) make sure there is no more of them coming. Slow down in any case. It is likely that there is at least one more coming. If so wait for them to cross the road - don't pass them on the left side! They are very unlikely to go back where they came from.And remember a grown elk may weigh as much as 500 kilos! Immagine the damage. So please don't harm these peaceful animals.
Watch your speeding
by Leipzig
As you know Rudolph the Rednose Reindeer lives in Lapland and of course thousands of his species. Suddenly they appear on roadside and cross the road without watching to the right and left. Be always aware of this - it happend several times to me!
Off road never without a compass
by sinoda
Even if you think you're THE orientation miracle alive, never step aside the marked tracks without a compass and a map!There are many reasons why you should not do so. One for sure is the vastness of the countryside, it just goes on and on... and since you are new to the place many spots, hills etc. do look alike. And one of the best reasons I can think of is the weather, it can change within minutes. One moment clear blue sky the other rain, snow... Before the pic was taken it was a nice day and we thought we'd have a look from Levi mountain, but all of a sudden it was snowing and thick fog came upon us.
Mosquitoe warning
by Jarra
Because there aren't any real dangers in Lapland, I have to warn you about mosquitoes that can be a real nightmare in some summers. Look out for mosquitoes especially after the rain! Luckily, you can buy efficient protectors against mosquitoes in almost every shop.
Swamps
by Gili_S
Lapland if full of water and there are many swamps around. When you hiking around and hanging around in the forest be careful where you step. Most treks are marked and safe for hiking.
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On the road
by Gili_S
You must be careful when driving the roads of Lapland. There are plenty of Reindeers around and they are not as shy as the moos, they are much more often like to spend their time by the roads.
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Take warm clothes even in summer
by Leipzig
Despite of 16 or more hours of sunshine in summer it can get really cold in Lapland. We have experienced two nights with frost in August.
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