Inari – Home of the enchanting Sámi culture
Inari, Finland’s largest municipality, enchants visitors with its distinct natural beauty. Hundreds of fells, dozens of islands, and unique flora and wildlife provide hundreds of thousands of unforgettable experiences for tourists to the area each year.
The Arctic Inari-Saariselkä tourist region includes Finland’s two largest national parks, a rich local culture, and a wide range of nature sports activities set against breathtaking mountain scenery provide real experiences for the entire family.
Lake Inarijärvi
The second deepest lake and third largest of Finland is Inarijärvi lake. It is home to around 3 318 islands and is seens as a rugged wilderness lake. You can find a big network of wilderness huts carpets the shoreline. The lake is perfect to go for a boat or canoe ride in the summertime and experience the Midnight Sun via a boat cruise or to try cross-country skiing in wintertime.
Inari hiking area
Numerous trails are marked and gives you multiple options to explore Inari and surroundings. The hiking area takes places around the village, from lake of Myössäjärvi, to Ivalo road, further to the northern side of Juutuanjoki River, until Lake Solojärvi to Kittilä road. Or you can go east, including Lake Inarijärvi. Most popular sights: Jäniskoski rapids, Pielpajärvi Wilderness Church and Otsamo fell.
Sámi Museum and Nature Center Siida
The museum provides an expert and exciting view on the ancient Sámi habitants and their connection with the northern nature, this exhibition is permanent. Also temporary exhibitions take place and in summer season, the exhibitions also take place in an open-air museum.
Otsamo fell
A 418 m high viewing point that gives you a spendlid overview of the village, lake of Muddusjärvi, Inarijärvi, river Juutuanjoki. You can start hiking at Siida or Vasatokka (youth centre). You can also ski to the top when it is late winter. Take a break at the cabin on top of the fell and enjoy the view!
Pielpajärvi wilderness church
In the past, during the cold winter, this church was a gathering place for inhabitants during centuries. It is known as one of the Northern Lapland’s oldest constructions, built in 1760. Today, it functions for special services such as Easter and Midsummer. The church is still a populair location for weddings. It is reachable after a 5 km hike in summer or you can take a boat from the pier of Pielpavuono that crosses Lake Injarijärvi. During winter, you can reach it while skiing or snowmobile. It is open every day and is free of charge.
Ukonsaari Island
Sámi people worship this Ukonsaari Island, a crucial part of Sámi cultural heritage that needs to be respected by everyone who enters the lake. The rocky island consists of 50 metres wide, 100 metres long and 30 metres high. Nowadays tour operators are not taking tourists in that place anymore.
Sámi Cultural Centre Sajos
the Centre of Sajos is the cultural and administrative centre for Finnish Sámi people. The Sámi parliament uses this place as a meeting venue and congress centre. They organise guided tours on weekdays to tell visitors about the Parliament in Finland and what the culture stands for.
Ivalo – administrative centre of municipality Inari
Ivalo is home to the northernmost airport of Europe. The village is located in the municipality of Inari and is the administrative centre with the largest centre population. The centre is located at the sandy beach of River Ivalojoki.
The airport has daily flights connections to Helsinki, or other European cities in winter. If you drive 7 kilometres from the airport, you will reach the village centre, located by the main road E75.
Ivalo’s local sights
Everlasting wilderness areas and unique nature surround the commercially vibrant village. The River Ivalojoki, which flows through the village and is popular with fishermen and boaters, also provides access to the famous Lake Inari. In winter, Ivalo is the crossroads of an extensive snowmobile routes.
Hammastunturi wilderness area
The uninhabited region is located between Lemmenjoki National Park and Urho Kekkonen National Park. It is a perfect place for experienced hikers for a wilderness trekking hike, the trails are not marked and you cannot find other facilities. The Ivalojoki rivers flows trough the area.
Karhunpesäkivi Rock
Karkunpesäkivi is found in Myössäjärvi, around 25 km in the north direction of Ivalo. Also known as bear’s den rock, an odd boulder that is a tafone rock formationation where you can go inside the cave of 1.5m wide, 1-2 m high and 4 m long. It was created by the weaker material eroding around the stronger material.
River Ivalojoki
The ideal spot in summer for a canoe trip or fishing spot is the Ivalojoki river. Especially canoeing, since this river is reviewed as one of the most striking routes for canoeing in the country. While you can use it for skiing or snowmobiling in winter season. It is known as the golden river, because the first gold rush ever in Finland took place in this specific river. Nowadays, people still search for gold in the water and their runoffs. The river mostly flows trough the wilderness area of Hammastunturi, but a lot of hiking routes will lead to the river of 70 kilometre.
Saariselkä – a mountainous area
Saariselkä is a village located in municipality Inari. It is 250 kilometres away more north from the Arctic Circle. Saariselkä is known as a peaceful and traditional tourism center, where you can find multiple slopes at the Ski Saariselkä Sport Resort.
Saariselkä is well known for the open fell views, pure nature and fresh air. The village gives you a wide arrangement when it comes to activities, the famous sports are: mountain biking, skiing, 200 km cross-country skiing trails, go into nature, snowmobiling, husky sledge, snowshoeing and so on!
Urho Kekkonen National Park
Starting from Resort of Saariselkä, you can go explore (on foot or skis) trough the Urho Kekkonen National Park. The remote fell of Korvatunturi is known as the home of Father Christmas. The park is a perfect spot to enjoy the Midnight Sun during summertime or to watch the Aurora Borealis in wintertime. The National Park is accessible for families with children’s and also for experienced hikers.
Kaunispää
One of the highest hills close to Saariselkä is Kaunispää with a hight of 437 metres. Also good to know, is that this top is reachable by car. The view on the fells gives you a view of the Urho Kekkonen National Park, the hills behind the Russian border and the area of Hammastunturi. You can reach it by car, or decide to take the walking route. Or in wintertime, you can take a Ski lift or Ski bus.
Kummituskämppä
You can explore the trail starting from Tourist Centre that leads to Vellinsärpimä. Along the trail, there is Kummituskämpä, also familiar by the haunted hut. A spot where you can have a little break in the hut or the campfire shelter 150 m further. Bear in mind, that it is just a stopping place, it is not possible to spend the night in the hut.
Nellim – three cultures combined on the shores of Lake Inarijärvi
Nellim is a village in the municipality of Inari on the shores of Lake Inari. Nellim is inhabited by Inari Sámi, Skolt Sámi and Finns, which is why the village is also called the meeting place of three cultures. The village is located about 42 kilometers northeast of Ivalo, and the distance to the Russian border is about nine kilometers. Nellim is one of the oldest inhabited areas in Inari. There are signs of prehistoric settlement dating back to the Stone Age. The village is a nationally significant cultural and historical environment.
Nellim village
The village has a marina, a church and a wilderness hotel. The Tsarmitunturi wilderness area is located near the village. Nellim is a perfect spot to view the northern lights in the right season, since there is no light pollution to spoil anything.
Nellim Orthodox Church
In memory of Trifon Petsamolainen and dedicated to Holy Trinity, they built in 1987 this church as a prayer room. It was consecrated a year later by Metropolitan Bishop Leo. They found their inspiration for the construction in old part of Petsamo convent church. It was a reformation church, also common for Evangelical-Lutheran services.
Lake Inarijärvi
Inarijärvi is the second deepest and third largest lake in whole Finland. The lake includes around 3 318 islands. You find a big network of wilderness huts and you can find shelter if you are with a canoe or boat during summer, or when you are cross-country skiing during winter. Or enjoy the midnight sun through a boat cruise.
Paatsjoki Bridge on Russian border
The border between Finland and Russia plays a big part in the daily life in Nelim. The bridge called Paatsjoki is located between the countries and gives you a spendlid view on the river that never freezes and yiu can see the guard towers across the border. Besides the view on the river, is it an amazing place to see some Northern Lights, they reflect in the surface of the river when it appears.
Tsarmitunturi Wilderness Area
Between the Russion border and the Ivalo to Nellim road and to Raja-Jooseppi, you find a remote fell and forest area called Tasarmitunturi Wilderness Area. The highlands are untouched, old northern forests. Independent hikers and hunters are suitable for this wilderness area, since there are no marked trails. This is Finland’s northernmost spruce forest.
Uittoränni flume
The village provided a major logging site during the 1930s and even after the Second World War. Atif Forestry Company ordered in 1929 to cover the lower rapids of Keskimöjärvi to Nellimjärvi with a flume. So that the logs could be transported to Inarinjärvi to a sawmill beside the Arctic Ocean in Eleven, Norway along the River of Paatsjoki. You can pay a visit with your family, since the venue is easily reached by car or the signposted trail coming from Paksuvuono. There is a posibility for a fireplace and a lean-to shelter is provided.
