Olympic training centre with extensive lit XC trails. Pajulahti in Nastola is a sports institute first and a downhill resort second, about 120 km from Helsinki.
Pajulahti in Nastola is a sports institute first and a downhill resort second, about 120 km from Helsinki. Three short alpine slopes, the longest around 200 m on a 35 m vertical, sit on the south flank of the same hill that hosts Olympic-grade training facilities, accommodation and a pool. The real draw for skiers is the surrounding 50 km cross-country network, with around 3 km lit into the evening. Day-trippers from Lahti and Helsinki use the small alpine side mainly for kids' lessons; serious skiers come for the nordic trails.
With only three short slopes and a 35 m vertical, the alpine side is strictly for beginners, children's lessons and after-school sessions. The genuine terrain here is cross-country, a 50 km network on the institute's grounds with lit sections for evening skiing. It suits nordic skiers and families teaching kids the alpine basics rather than anyone seeking downhill challenge.
About a 90-minute drive north of Helsinki via Highway 4 (E75) toward Lahti, then on to Nastola.
The Pajulahti institute offers on-site accommodation, ski school and locker rooms; the Lahti Sports Centre with its ski jumps and World Cup XC trails is about 25 km west for a combined nordic weekend.
Short, gentle alpine slopes plus a full sports institute with ski school and pool make it well suited to family lessons.