Into the Wild: Off the Beaten Path in Finnish Lapland

If you're looking to socialize, you can visit the cozy villages above the Arctic Circle. The long days give you plenty of time to explore the diverse landscape of the Arctic region. We'll provide you with inspiration for an unforgettable adventure in Finnish Lapland.

Ways to Discover Pristine Finnish Lapland

Northern Finland can be explored in many ways. Take a road trip in an (electric) car or use public transportation to travel between nature reserves. If you want to get off the beaten paths, then seek out some more adventurous means of transport. Put on your hiking boots and walk along the extensive network of trails.

 
Go on a guided tour to learn about life above the Arctic Circle. Hop on your mountain bike or fatbike and zoom along the sandy paths through the forests and over the tundra. Discover the Finnish rivers with adrenaline pumping through your veins during a rafting adventure in the Ruka area, for example. Prefer a more leisurely pace on the water? Rent a canoe, kayak, or SUP board and enjoy the silence on the Finnish lakes.

The Landscape of Finnish Lapland

For nature lovers, Finnish Lapland is paradise. You can walk through the forests and across the plains here for hours to weeks without encountering a single other person. It's not difficult to feel completely alone in the middle of nowhere here. In a good way: being this far away from civilization is incredibly soothing. The landscape of Northern Finland is varied on a large scale. Heading towards the center of Finland, you'll wander through immense forests, and in the far north, you'll roam the tundra.

In the north of Finland, you'll find some of the country's most beautiful national parks. For an active hike or bike ride with some elevation, for example, visit the Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park towards the border with Sweden. The highest hill here is 800 meters high and nestled between fields and large lakes.

Against the Russian border lies Oulanka National Park, which is popular for its meandering, winding rivers, forested hills, and thrilling suspension bridges. All the way north, in the land of the Sámi people, lies Lemmenjoki National Park. Here in the Arctic landscape, you can go completely into the wild and walk over ground rarely touched by humans.

You Can Encounter These Wild Animals

In the wilderness of Northern Finland, you'll encounter few people, but you're never entirely alone. You'll be accompanied by wild animals roaming through the forests and across the tundras. The chances of spotting reindeer during your outdoor adventure or road trip are high. They leisurely cross the roads. Moose can also sometimes be spotted from the road as they dine in the fresh green fields.

For spotting bears, wolves, wolverines, and lynxes, you'll need a bit more luck and patience. These animals have vast territories and prefer to stay away from us humans. If you still want to admire these animals in their natural habitat, go with an experienced guide. They can take you to the best spots at the best times. In the national parks Archipelago, Lemmenjoki, and Oulanka, special bear routes have been set up along hiking huts and shelters. Here, you can admire the bears under the watchful eye of a guide.

Typical Finnish Accommodations

Exploring the far north is even more enjoyable when you can sleep comfortably at night. Stay in one of the log cabins that are typical of Lapland. The walls of these photogenic cabins are made of complete tree trunks that keep them warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Curtains are necessary here, because in the middle of summer, it stays light out for up to 24 hours a day.
 
Not in the mood to cook yourself? Enjoy Finnish gastronomy in a restaurant. Order roasted reindeer meat with Arctic berries and mashed potatoes (Poronpaisti) or smoked fish. The chefs incorporate ingredients from the surroundings into traditional meals.

Getting to Know the Locals

Are you feeling ready for some human contact after all that alone time in the wilderness? Visit Rovaniemi, the capital of Finnish Lapland, or one of the cozy villages in the area. Learn about the history and culture of Finnish Lapland at the Arktikum Museum in Rovaniemi or admire art and culture at the Korundi House of Culture. Near the city center, you can do activities such as summer sledding and golfing in the Ounasvaara recreational area among locals and other visitors.
 
Just below the Arctic Circle lies the village of Ruka, the perfect base for various adventures in nature. In the village itself, you'll meet the locals in cozy bars and restaurants. Many exciting activities are organized from Ruka. For example, take a sauna tour to the ice sauna of Rukan Salonki. Follow a cooking workshop where you cook with hand-picked ingredients and fresh reindeer or moose meat.

 
Ninety kilometers to the north lies Salla, another gateway to outdoor adventures. In the center, it's especially lively on the longest summer day(s). Experience traditional midsummer celebrations or join the midnight hike to the top of the Sallatunturi mountain.

The Most Beautiful Summer Trips to Finnish Lapland

You can fly directly from Rotterdam to Rovaniemi, the capital of Northern Finland. From this spot on the Arctic Circle, all the beauty of the region is within road trip distance. Of course, you can also take the boat to Helsinki and make an 800+ kilometer road trip straight through Finland.
 
Want to make sure you see the most beautiful places in Finnish Lapland with your own eyes? Book one of Voigt Travel's ready-made summer trips.

 
This article was written in collaboration with Voigt Travel. Do you want to make an unforgettable trip through the north of Finland this summer, too? Visit their website for more travel inspiration.