A meeting point in more ways than one

On the southern banks of the Torne River, marking the border between Sweden and Finland, and as part of a region that has always straddled cultures, Pajala is the perfect place for a very special meeting indeed. 

For centuries, this was the location where Sami, Finnish and Swedish communities would meet, and locals still speak Meänkieli, a language distinct from standard Finnish that developed here in the Torne Valley and now carries official minority status in Sweden. However, even with this legacy, it's a small place, home to fewer than 2,000 people. This makes it ides for visitors looking for a true Lapland experience, rather than a resort built for tourists.

Even though its population would struggle to fill all but the smallest non-league football stadiums, Pajala has made its mark. It's the setting for "Popular Music from Vittula", the best-selling novel by local author Mikael Niemi, which brought worldwide attention to the town and its way of life. The wider municipality also produced Charlotte Kalla, a multiple Olympic and World Champion skier, and something of a local hero across the whole of Norrbotten. In the town centre, you'll also find the world's largest sundial, and nearby stands Jupukkamasten, a 335-metre transmission mast that ranks among the tallest structures in Sweden. Truly, this village casts a long shadow.

Pajala is also known among anglers for its trout, grayling and salmon, and the nearby Tärendö River is home to the world's second-largest river bifurcation, a rare natural split where one river splits into two separate paths. It all adds up to a genuinely distinctive corner of Lapland, and on your Let it Snow day trip, this is where you'll meet the huskies and reindeer, ride a snowmobile across the frozen ground, and spend time with Father Christmas himself, all within a single unforgettable day.