Levi, a well-known ski resort in Finnish Lapland, is turning its summer season into a high-stakes game. Starting 18 June, the resort will hide a gold bar worth €20,000 somewhere in the surrounding fells and forests, inviting visitors to follow a series of clues to find it. The hunt runs until 22 August, with the final clue dropping on that date — but the bar could be discovered at any moment.
The initiative is a collaboration between Visit Levi, the local tourism board, and Agnico Eagle Finland, a Kittilä-based gold mining company. The goal, according to Satu Pesonen, CEO of Visit Levi, is to draw attention to the region’s summer offerings. “Levi is known above all for its winter, but the northern summer is still undiscovered by many,” she said. “We want to give travellers a new reason to visit Levi when the sun never sets and the fell landscape reveals a completely different side of itself.”
Midnight Sun as a Natural Advantage
Levi sits north of the Arctic Circle, which means it experiences the midnight sun from late May to the end of July. During this period, the sun never fully sets, giving treasure hunters extra daylight hours to explore. The phenomenon is a major draw for tourists across northern Europe, from the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard to cities like Tromsø and Reykjavík.
Each clue will lead participants to different attractions, including hiking and biking trails and other summer-specific activities. Organisers stress that no digging is required, and searchers must stay within designated areas. The hunt is also framed as part of Levi’s push to position itself as a sustainable travel destination, encouraging visitors to explore the landscape responsibly.
This summer-long event comes as Europe braces for potentially record-breaking heat, with scientists from the Copernicus programme warning that the continent could face its hottest summer on record. Copernicus Scientist Warns Europe Faces Potentially Hottest Summer on Record. For travellers looking to escape the heat, Lapland’s relatively cool summers and endless daylight offer an alternative to southern Europe’s scorching temperatures.
The treasure hunt also highlights a broader trend: Nordic countries are increasingly marketing their summer seasons to offset the dominance of winter tourism. Finland, in particular, has seen a rise in summer visitors drawn to its national parks, lakes, and unique natural phenomena. Budget Summer Travel in Europe: Expert Tips to Stretch Your Euros offers advice for those looking to explore such destinations without breaking the bank.
Participants can register via the Midnight Sun Hunt website to receive clues. The gold bar, provided by Agnico Eagle Finland, is a tangible link to the region’s mining history — Kittilä is home to one of Europe’s largest gold mines. The company’s involvement adds a local touch, tying the hunt to the area’s economic backbone.
For those who miss the treasure, Levi offers plenty of other summer activities: hiking, mountain biking, fishing, and even reindeer farm visits. The resort’s location in Finnish Lapland also makes it a gateway to the wider Arctic region, which has seen increased geopolitical attention due to NATO’s recent drills near the Finnish-Russian border. NATO Holds Northern Star Drills Near Finnish-Russian Border Amid Rising Drone Incursions underscores the strategic importance of this area.
Whether or not the gold bar is found, the hunt is a clever way to showcase a part of Europe that remains off the beaten path for many summer travellers. As Pesonen put it, the aim is to reveal “a completely different side” of Levi — one that shines under the midnight sun.
