Destinations

Lapland North brings together fell resorts, lakeside villages, wilderness destinations and small Arctic communities, each with its own character. Some places are ideal for activities, services and easy access to nature, while others offer silence, open landscapes, Sámi culture and a deeper sense of the North.

Thirteen destinations

The destinations cover a wide area, from the fells of Saariselkä and Kiilopää to the lakes, rivers and wilderness of Inari, Lemmenjoki, Utsjoki and Nuorgam, and further towards Näätämö and Kirkenes in Norway. The distances are part of the experience: some places are easy to visit in a day, while others invite you to slow down and build a longer journey through the North.

Saariselkä

Saariselkä has everything an outdoor enthusiast needs for a memorable holiday, from accommodation and dining to leisure activities. Finland’s northernmost ski resort, spread across two fells, lies right next to the village and offers a wide range of activities. At the edge of the village, the legendary trails of Urho Kekkonen National Park await. Discover your nature by bike, on skis, or on foot. On Saariselkä’s open fells, you can enjoy inspiring outdoor adventures in all eight seasons.

A winding road cuts through a vast, open landscape of low vegetation and scattered trees, with rolling hills fading into the distance under a cloudy sky.

Inari

Begin your journey into Sámi culture in Inari. A visit to the Sámi Museum and Northern Lapland Nature Centre Siida, as well as the Sámi Cultural Centre Sajos, offers in-depth insight into the history and way of life of the EU’s only Indigenous people. Inari is set on the shores of the magnificent Lake Inari, also known as the Sámi Sea. In the village, you’ll find all the services you need, while the surrounding wilderness invites you to discover countless natural sights.

Pieni, puiden peittämä saari, jonka rinteet ovat kallioisia, sijaitsee rauhallisessa vesistössä auringonlaskun aikaan. Taivas on osittain pilvinen, ja vasemmalla puolella on lämmintä oranssia valoa ja oikealla puolella sinisiä sävyjä. Vesi näyttää hieman aaltoilevalta.

Kiilopää

At the foot of Kiilopää lies the Kiilopää Fell Centre, one of Lapland North’s most iconic starting points for outdoor activities. The centre serves as a natural base for hikers, skiers, trail runners and nature lovers, offering direct access to the region’s most extensive year-round trail network.

Auringonlasku kumpuilevien kukkuloiden yllä, joilla on hajanaisia mäntyjä, oranssi taivas ja maiseman halki kulkeva mutkitteleva hiekkatie. Maisema on rauhallinen ja lämpimässä valossa kylpevä.

Ivalo

Ivalo is the largest village in Northern Lapland, offering all the services you need. From the village, you can step straight onto a nature trail or onto the sandy banks of the Ivalojoki River, known for its gold-bearing landscapes. Ivalo is also home to Finland’s and the EU’s northernmost airport, serving travelers year-round.

A wide, calm river reflecting a dense line of autumn-colored trees and tall evergreens under a clear sky, with a sandy, rocky shoreline in the foreground. — Photo: Irina Salomaa

Utsjoki

Step onto the Sámi Bridge, on the border between two countries at the top of Europe. You’ll see Ailigas Fell watching over the peaceful village of Utsjoki, while below you the River Teno guides travellers from one breathtaking wilderness view to the next along Finland’s most beautiful road.

Kaksi maalaismaista puumökkiä, joissa on ruohokatot, sijaitsevat vihreällä rinteellä, josta avautuu näkymä rauhalliselle järvelle, puiden ja kaukaisten kukkuloiden ympäröimänä pilvisen aamu- tai iltataivaan alla.

Nuorgam

Nuorgam is the northernmost village in the Europea Union. Above the riverside village rise the barren fells of the Kaldoaivi wilderness — a true paradise for hikers and skiers. Explore Lake Pulmankijärvi on your own or join year-round safaris by local companies. The area’s rich flora and fauna make it ideal for birdwatching.

A wide sandy shoreline curving along the edge of a large body of water, with shallow pools and textured sand in the foreground, and low hills under a partly cloudy sky in the background.

Lemmenjoki

Lemmenjoki is a golden river valley. The Lemmenjoki River is the lifeline of the region. In summer, traditional riverboats carry visitors deep into the national park, following the same route used for generations by reindeer herders, gold prospectors and local families.

Ilmakuva joesta, joka virtaa tiheän vihreän metsän halki, putoaa kivien yli muodostaen vesiputouksen, jossa on kirkasta vettä ja reheviä puita molemmin puolin.

Nellim

Nellim is where three cultures meet: Inari Sámi, Skolt Sámi, and Finnish traditions meet on the southeastern shore of Lake Inari. Nellim is known for its rich cultural heritage and clear Arctic skies, offering some of Lapland’s most impressive Northern Lights.

A rocky cliff lined with tall trees rises beside a calm lake, where the cliff and sky are reflected in the water. The foreground includes dense green vegetation, and the sky above is blue with scattered white clouds.

Karigasniemi & Kaamanen

Kaamanen is a village by the wilderness. Kaamanen has long been a gathering place for travelers, Sámi families and reindeer herders. Karigasniemi is a village where great rivers cross: It sits at the meeting point of three rivers — the Inari, Teno and Karas — forming a natural borderland between Finland and Norway.

Sevettijärvi & Näätämö

Näätämö is a wilderness village near the Arctic Ocean and Sevettijärvi is the Skolt Sámi heartland. They sit in the northeasternmost corner of Finnish Lapland, where the wilderness stretches further than the eye can see and quiet roads lead to true tranquillity. These villages offer a rare opportunity to experience life in one of the most remote, culturally rich, and vast areas of the North.

Rauhallinen järvenrantakuva, jossa rauhallinen vesi heijastaa puita, hiekkainen kaari ja elinvoimaiset vaaleanpunaiset luonnonkukat etualalla pilvisen taivaan alla.

Kirkenes Region

Across Finland’s northern border lies the Kirkenes region of Norway, where the Arctic Ocean meets rugged mountains shaped by the Ice Age. Visitors can enjoy king crab safaris, riverboat trips, husky sledding, and snowmobiling.

Two people holding hands run toward the shoreline on a wide sandy beach, with calm blue water and snow‑covered rocky hills in the background under a clear sky.

Nellim

Sevettijärvi and Näätämö

Kirkenes Region

Saariselkä

Nuorgam

Ivalo

Utsjoki

Lemmenjoki

Inari

Kiilopää

Karigasniemi and Kaamanen

Discover the Destinations of Lapland North

Lapland North Destinations is a region shaped by vast wilderness, living Sámi culture and the dramatic rhythm of Arctic seasons. Each destination has its own atmosphere — from fjord-facing landscapes and golden tundra to fell summits, sandy river beaches and sacred islands. Together, they form one of Finland’s most diverse and authentic travel regions.

Herkät luonnonkukat etualalla ja pehmeä auringonlasku rauhallisen vesistön yllä taustalla luovat lämpimän ja rauhallisen luontokuvan.

Two people paddle a canoe on a serene, reflective lake surrounded by dense pine forest and distant hills under a partly cloudy sky.

Nine Places, Nine Different Ways to Experience the Arctic

Whether you’re seeking the cultural heart of Inari, the lively outdoor energy of Saariselkä, the untouched silence of Utsjoki or the adventurous routes of Kiilopää and Lemmenjoki, every destination offers something distinct. Some places invite you to slow down and reconnect with nature; others inspire long hikes, bike rides or winter safaris beneath the Northern Lights.

Where Nature and Culture Meet

Lapland North is the homeland of the Sámi, Europe’s only Indigenous people. Many destinations offer ways to learn about Sámi traditions, handicrafts, languages and connection to the land. Lakes, fells and river valleys shape everyday life here — and visitors are welcomed to explore these landscapes respectfully and at their own pace.

Perinteisiin vaatteisiin pukeutunut henkilö istuu maassa järveä ja kumpuilevia kukkuloita vastapäätä pilvisen taivaan alla, ja lähellä tundralla on pieni nuotiopaikka ja tarvikkeita.

Kaksi ihmistä ajaa moottorikelkalla lumisella polulla, taustalla vuoret. Molemmilla on kypärät ja talvitakit. Moottorikelkat potkivat lunta ylös, kun ne kiitävät eteenpäin.

A Year-Round Arctic Playground

In Lapland North, each season opens a new chapter. Summer brings bright nights, open trails and calm waters for paddling. Autumn transforms the tundra into vibrant ruska colours. Winter covers everything in deep snow, offering world-class skiing, snowshoeing and aurora hunting. Spring brings returning light and glittering snow perfect for skiing.

Choose Your Perfect Northern Adventure

From wilderness cabins to glass-roofed aurora accommodation, from peaceful fishing spots to adrenaline-filled snowmobile routes — Lapland North’s destinations offer experiences for every traveller. Explore them one by one or combine several into a journey that reveals the richness of northernmost Lapland.

Lähikuva kädestä, joka poimii marjoja pensaasta puukuppia kädessään. Taustalla on elinvoimaisia vihreitä ja punaisia lehtiä ja oikealla näkyy punainen vaatetus.