Events

Kiilopää Fell Challenge

The Fell Challenge can be your first hike in Lapland, an experience of long day hikes or a week of hiking with like-minded people in wilderness surrounded by fells.

The next event will take place from 14th to 20th of June 2024. The Fell Challenge programme includes a ‘fall in love with hiking’ course and two hikes of different lengths. You can either take part in the more demanding seven-day hike, the Luirojärvi tour, or the easier five-day hike, the Tuiskukuru tour.

We start from the best starting point for hikes and treks in Finland, Fell Centre Kiilopää. Our location in the fells near the tree line is ideal both as the centre of the Fell Challenge and as the starting and finishing point for shorter hikes.

If your whole party is not participating in the challenge, there is certainly plenty to do for the duration of the event from Kiilopää. You can already admire the tundra nature in our yard. You can make day trips independently by hiking, mountain biking or trail running. During the week we also organize a programme of activities in the spirit of the Fell Challenge at Kiilopää.

Kiilopää Trail Run Week

During the Kiilopää trail running week, Suomen Latu’s experienced trail running instructors will lead you on trail runs in the wilderness and fells.

You can choose the length and difficulty of your own run according to your mood on the day. You can choose from a few kilometres to a marathon or a long trekking run. During the week, you’ll also get together to do technical exercises, enjoy smoke sauna and take care of your body.

The trail running week programme is also suitable for active families! Children under 12 can take part in the green runs with a parent, while young people can also take part in the blue runs.

PROGRAMME

Programme for the trail running week (preliminary)
**** green = easy, suitable for families and beginners, blue = intermediate, moderate running fitness required, not necessarily previous trail running experience, black = demanding, previous trail running experience and long runs required, leisurely pace, black+ **** During the runs there will be small training sessions on running technique and coordination.

Saturday – arrival day

16 Group run, leg warm-up for those who have already arrived (approx. 3-6 km).

17-20 Dinner

19 Start of the trail running week

Sunday – Welcome to the fells!

10 Group run: warm-up run around Kiilopää; green approx. 5-10 km, blue approx. 15 km, black-black+ 20-30 km

16 Body care in the terrain

17-20 Dinner

19 Lecture

Monday – Wilderness running day

8-10 Breakfast

10 Group run: green 5-12 km blue 20 km, black-black+ 25-40 km

17-20 Dinner

18-21 Smoke sauna and stream swimming

Tuesday – Route planning and orienteering

8-10 Breakfast

10 Briefing on route planning and orienteering.

11 Playful rogaining/orienteering day, Kiilopää’s fixed pistes

17 Evening trails in Saariselkä (for those who want to)

17-20 Dinner

20 Restorative stretching

Wednesday – Forest walk day

8-10 Breakfast

10 Group walk/run: leisurely forest walks; green approx. 6 km, blue approx. 15 km, black-black+ approx. 15-30 km

16 Route map

17-20 Dinner

19 Lecture

Thursday – Recovery day

8-10 Breakfast

Possibility to participate in a guided mountain bike ride or self guided mountain bike ride. In addition, free time activities e.g. visit to Siida or Tankavaara by your own car.

17-20 Dinner

18-21 Smoke sauna and stream swimming

Friday – Day of hiking and running

8-10 Breakfast

9 Long jog together in the spirit of running (it’s not the distance that kills you, it’s the pace)

17-20 Dinner

20 Informal chat, pancake frying and feedback on the week’s vibes, peat bog Maahinen.

Saturday – departure day
Return home after breakfast and a dip in the Kiilo Brook. Optional short final walk depending on participants’ interest and schedule.

Equipment list for the runs:

Clothing

• Breathable and fitting
• Add layers to protect against rain and cold; bring a shell jacket especially for wilderness hikes!
• Long tights or socks to protect your legs from scratches and hives
  Good socks prevent blisters and chafing
• Gloves and hat
• Shoes
• Well-fitting and correctly sized trail running shoes
• Good grip on the sole
• Preferably non-membranous
• Children can also manage with normal running shoes. Children’s shoes should be lightweight, so choose a sneaker rather than a heavier shoe with a sleeve!

Other gear necessary

• A backpack, running vest or fanny pack that fits well on your back.
• Children’s equipment should preferably be carried in an adult’s rucksack.
• A water bottle or a hydration pack
• Jacket/warm shirt
• Your own EA supplies (blister plasters, plasters, personal medication). Instructors always carry a larger EA kit with them on runs.
• Phone
• (toilet) paper
• Energy

Families on fells – Kiilopää summer family week

During the Kiilopää Family Week, you will learn about day and night hiking, hiking skills and Lapland’s nature, and play fun yard games. In between, you can refresh yourself in a real fell stream.

During the week you are sure to make new like-minded friends and families of friends!
The Moomin camping school programme is aimed at children aged between 3 and 12.

FAMILY HIKING SCHEDULE, preliminary

SATURDAY
Arrival at Kiilopää from 15.00.
17-19 Dinner
18.15 Information session at Immo’s Kammi hut. One parent from each family will be present. Registration for the programme will take place at the information meeting.
19 – 20.30 Frying of pancakes in Maahinen for families. The little ones who go to bed early enter first!

SUNDAY
10 – 12.30 Moomin camping school and meet other families. Moomin camping school with carving and first aid kits. Bring your own knives if you have them. Youngsters have their own activities on the same topics in their own group. All new and old families should come along, at least initially, to get to know each other’s faces. 🙂
15 – 16 Star of the Baldy: A yard game where you move in teams at a fast pace or by scrambling, looking for fells and watching out for bandits.
18 Directional Mystery. In teams, solve escape room-style tasks.

MONDAY
10-12 Everyone has a little yard game session and tries out some new species.
Small trail run for families (duration approx. 1 hour)
Frisbee golf
Photo-trail/comprehensive trail
12-14 Nonstop mountain bikes in the yard
15 Oivi the squirrel and a mission in the secret forest. Adventure for families with children aged around 3-8 years.
18.30 Plant walk for all Hemulis. We will explore Lapland plants in the countryside near Kiilopää, you can take along a Tunturikasvio plant guide and note-taking equipment. Young people are also welcome!

TUESDAY
9.30 – 10.00 Overnight trip info
If necessary, it is possible to rent camping equipment from Kiilopää by advance reservation (tent, backpack, sleeping pad, sleeping bag, trangia).
From Kiilopää we can provide 1 x dinner supplies, 1 x breakfast supplies (included in the price). At the minimarket in Kiilopää you can buy supplies at your own discretion.

10.30 a.m. Nature trip with Elska the Ox-head, Vasapolku
10.30-13.30 For young people and adults, a longer mountain hike
15.30 – 17: Moomin hiking school: camping and hiking equipment, and geocaching. Exploring and assembling tents. Introduction to camping stoves. Moomin camping school: learning camping skills with Moominpapa, Snuffleupagus and Sniffles.
18 Body and mind care in nature. A peaceful and restorative moment for adults and young people.

WEDNESDAY
10.30 Yugigassen game
From 13 an overnight camping trip about 4 km to the Luulampi pond. If you don’t want to stay overnight, you can also come on a day trip. An easy-going excursion to get into the camping mood. Families carry their own things. Tents, backpacks and other camping equipment can be rented from Kiilopää. Weather reservation.
Making dinner together on camping stoves. In the evening, we will have a pancake party by the fire!

THURSDAY
8 – 12 Return to Kiilopää
15-17 Mountain bike ride for families
Free time and independent activities: you can rent mountain bikes, go hiking in Tankavaara or visit Siida, swimming in Ivalo or Vuotso…

FRIDAY
10-12 Moomin hiking school: learning about nature in Lapland. In the Moomin Hiking School you will learn hiking skills with Moomin, Moomin Mummy and Hemuli.
13-15 Creative nature writing – a field trip for adults
15-18 Smoke sauna and stream swimming competition.
19-20.30 Evening snack in the Maahinen hut or outside weather permitting. Exchange news of the week, plus a small programme of activities organized by families and a prize-giving for the stream swimming competition.

SATURDAY
8-10am breakfast and check-out of rooms/cottages.
Goodbye to the fells!

Inari Weeks

Inari Weeks brings together the traditional and modern summer events of the region for the delight of locals and tourists alike. The traditional programme offers something for everyone: village festivals, gold panning competitions, children’s events, markets, concerts, church festivals, traditional music, art exhibitions, hiking, dancing, singsongs and theatre.

We are looking forward to seeing you at the summer events of Inari Weeks, in the largest and most beautiful municipality of Finland!

Saariselkä MTB Stages

Saariselkä MTB Stages is a 3-day mountain bike event on the best trails of Urho Kekkonen nationalpark and Hammastunturi Wilderness!

Kiilopää Ski

Experience the magic of winter in Lapland!

The darkest skiing event of the year, Kiilopäähiihto, will open the skiing season on 14.12.2024. You can either compete or enjoy a more relaxed pace.

Series:
Ski Marathon 40 km. Classic or free-style. The race route runs on well-maintained ski tracks from Kiilopää to Saariselkä.
Good Mood Ski 15-20 km, no timing. The ski route is made just for this event in snowy arctic forest. Stop for a delicious snack by the campfire and relax in the smoke sauna after skiing.