Visiting a Famous Ski Factory and Fun in Finland

The sun sets in Lahti while Karen and John celebrate finishing the Finlandia

What do you imagine when you think of Lahti, Finland? Perhaps it’s the three iconic ski jumps that tower over the Lahti Sports Center or your tired muscles relaxing from the dry heat of a traditional Finnish sauna. Did you also know that Lahti is known as the Gateway to the Finnish Lakeland and that renown Peltonen skis are manufactured just north of the city? 

Lumi guests on the 2025 Tartu & Finlandia trip experienced a full immersion in Estonian and Finnish winter cultures over the past week and are now newly skilled in the rhythm of ski–eat–sauna–plunge. Last week’s update, Plunging into Winter highlights the first half of the trip in Tartu, Estonia. 

Sunny, scenic views of Lahti from the ski jump

Lahti, Finland is home to one of the most iconic ski stadiums on the World Cup circuit. As a racer, I still remember sprinting into the finish line, through a soccer stadium with grandstands packed with spectators. This same stadium is used as the start and finish for the Finlandia-hiihto Worldloppet ski marathon, flanked by the set of three trellised ski jumps. 

Lumi guests were granted special access to the observation deck of the tallest ski jump, offering a birdseye view of the Finlandia race course in one direction and the city of Lahti and the surrounding lakes in the other direction.

One of the distant lakes is known for their sauna powered by electricity from water and wind generated on the lake. Several guests took the cold plunge into the lake. Winter swimming is a favorite activity for several of Lumi’s Estonian and Finnish trip leaders, who took the first plunge.

Sauna or no sauna, I'm going swimming

Not far from the sustainable sauna lies the Peltonen Ski Factory. Peltonen is one of Finland’s iconic brands and they produce all of their skis right in Finland. Started in 1945 by Toivo Peltonen, the brand celebrates its 80th anniversary this year. Peltonen moved into their current state-of-the-art facility in 2011 and has been making big moves to produce world-class skis. The factory’s location in the heart of the Finnish forests makes it easy to hand-select the best wood to go into each pair of skis. Guests toured the facility with Peltonen’s factory manager to learn how skis are made. Proprietary secrets meant no photos near the presses where the layers that make a ski are pressed together, but guests got to learn about all of the steps required to prepare a ski before it’s ready for the snow.

A behind-the-scenes look at how Peltonen skis are produced

Many Peltonen skis were on the start line in the Lahti ski stadium for the Finlandia-Hiihto events last weekend. Over 3,000 skiers gathered to ski 63 km through the woods around Lahti, exploring the legendary trails where the event has been held for over 50 years. Feed stations along the course served Blueberry Soup, a traditional treat that Tartu skiers enjoyed sipping on the race trails in Estonia as well. Keeping with the local tradition, hot saunas awaited finishers after the race as an ideal recovery for sore muscles.

Sunset in Lahti after the Finlandia-Hiihto

Interested in experiencing the winter traditions, stunning landscapes, and legendary saunas in Finland and Estonia on the Lumi trip next winter? Next year’s Finlandia will be two weeks earlier, so you can join this trip and still make it home in time for the American Birkebeiner. Reach out to receive the detailed trip itinerary and sign up by Monday, March 31 to receive the $300 / person early booking discount. This popular trip is already filling quickly for 2026!

See you on the trail,
Garrott Kuzzy
garrott@lumiexperiences.com
Founder & Olympian