Things to Do in Lapland – Tips and Recommendations from a Local

I never thought I’d write a post like this. Why? Because I feel that in Lapland, you don’t really need to “do” anything. There’s often an activity overload in the air when talking with those who’ve come here for a holiday, and for some reason, it seems like all anyone does in Lapland is rush around the fells and be in peak physical condition from all the daily activities.

This image is very distorted. However, I do want to share my own experiences and highlight some of the amazing services and small local businesses, run by incredible people, that deserve to be seen and heard. Most people who come to Lapland for a vacation want to experience and do things, and sometimes finding those things in the endless sea of Google results can be frustrating. So, maybe this can be a starting point.

And since it’s something that always needs to be made clear nowadays: this post is entirely my own opinion and based on that alone. No one is paying me for this, and I haven’t received anything in exchange for writing it. Most of the businesses and people I mention here are ones I know personally, and I can vouch that they are incredibly skilled, warm-hearted, and wonderful people. All of them are family-run or small businesses doing their work with full dedication, which is why I want to recommend them to others.

So, what to do in Lapland? Here are my recommendations for small businesses, sorted by location.

What to do in Lapland? - Eastern Lapland, Pyhä, Savukoski, Pelkosenniemi

Photo: Outdoor Artisans

Outdoor Artisans – Diverse hiking guidance, outdoor and nature education, and equipment rentals in Pyhä

Outdoor Artisans offers guided tours, canoeing and water activity training, outdoor equipment rentals, and year-round activities in Pyhä. Antti and Venla are true professionals ( and my dear friends), mastering skills in wilderness guiding, fishing, husky rides, and first aid.

In February, Outdoor Artisans is organizing two snow surfing camps in Pyhä. Snow surfing is a relatively new sport but is quickly winning over the hearts of Finns, and it's incredibly fun. I’ve even tried it myself—you can read about it here. In the summer, Outdoor Artisans offers opportunities to go kayaking, paddleboarding, or fishing. They also rent out gear, such as paddleboards, kayaks, and hiking and trekking equipment. Grab your equipment from Outdoor Artisans and enjoy the experiences that Pyhä-Luosto National Park has to offer.

Kairankutsu – Authentic local guidance and deep nature knowledge in Pyhä area

Kairankutsu is a small family-run business led by a truly local guide, offering year-round guiding services in Pyhä. In winter, Kairankutsu provides opportunities for snowshoeing, sliding snowshoeing, skiing, northern lights hunting, or reindeer/husky sleigh rides. You can join their trips either as part of a group or on your own. Eero from Kairankutsu knows Pyhä like the back of his hand and shares captivating stories about the nature and history of Eastern Lapland.

Polku Nature Tours – Diverse guiding and outdoor skills training year-round in Pyhä, Lapland, and across Finland

Warm-hearted and highly professional guidance in wilderness skills, survival techniques, nature observation, and hiking. Polku Nature Tours offers fascinating training on topics like winter survival, wilderness living, traditional crafts, and nature-based well-being. Polku Nature Tours provides services throughout Finland and Lapland.

Tulppion Majat – Accommodation and a charming restaurant in the wilderness of Eastern Lapland, Savukoski

Tulppion Majat offers a perfect resting spot for travelers, fishermen, or wilderness adventurers in Eastern Lapland. Located in the municipality of Savukoski, almost in the heart of the wilderness, this charming place provides accommodation and restaurant services, along with sauna facilities and a camping area. With Urho Kekkonen National Park and hiking routes passing nearby, Tulppion Majat is an ideal stop for hikers to rest and refuel.

I’ve visited Tulppio many times, most recently last summer during a van trip when I was hiking in the Nuortti Canyon.

What to do in Lapland? – Ylläs, Pallas, and Muonio

PALO Adventures – Freeride camps in Ylläs and bikepacking weekend events across Finland

Henna, the founder of PALO Adventures, is a multi-talented sports professional and a wonderfully warm person (she’s also built her own van!). This winter, she is organizing freeride camps and guiding sessions specifically for women. PALO Adventures leads participants to the best freeride spots and powder in Ylläs, while also teaching the finer details of the sport. In the summer, PALO Adventures offers bikepacking trips across Finland.

Pihka Outdoors – Equipment rentals for self-guided trips, wilderness skills training, and personalized guiding services in Ylläs

Pihka Outdoors focuses on small, personalized group tours. Joona and Minna from Pihka Outdoors also offer equipment rentals (such as pulks, skis, and camping gear). You can rent equipment or arrange transportation for self-guided trips. Pihka Outdoors provides highly sought-after winter hikes, ski tours, and winter Hetta-Pallas treks.

Minttu and Joona also offer intriguing wilderness and outdoor skills training through the Pihka Outdoors Academy.

Villa Rauha – Atmospheric accommodation and activities in Muonio, right next to Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park

Villa Rauha offers unique activities and accommodation for small groups in Muonio. Through Villa Rauha, you can join guided hikes, even shorter ones, into Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park. A special feature of these trips is the opportunity to take naps in a hammock during the hike. For the more adventurous, you can embark on overnight hammock camping trips—even in winter. Villa Rauha also offers cozy cabin accommodations right next to the Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park.

Husky Ranch Lapland – Husky sledding and adventures offered by a small family business near Ylläs and Levi

At Husky Ranch Lapland, you feel like part of the family. Warmth, friendliness, and professionalism greet you the moment you arrive. The dogs are cared for like beloved children, which isn’t always the case in the husky business—unfortunately. Husky Ranch Lapland specializes in longer husky sledding adventures, offering everything from half-day safaris to epic nine-day tundra expeditions. From experience, I can say that short 30-minute rides just leave you wanting more because it’s so much fun. You can also visit the kennel at Husky Ranch Lapland and, if you’re lucky, meet some husky puppies if there’s been a recent litter.

Pallaksen Pöllöt – Local guiding and training for fell trips, freeriding, and skiing in Ylläs-Pallas National park

I've recommended Pallaksen Pöllöt's freeride guiding before, and for good reason. They probably know the Pallas fells better than anyone and guide you to the best snow safely. Along the way, you can also pick up tips on skiing or riding technique and ask them about local stories. Pallaksen Pöllöt also offers guided hikes during the autumn foliage season, where you can join short, two-hour fell tours or longer hikes.

You can also get an up-to-date and professional snow report and avalanche risk assessment from Pallaksen Pöllöt.

What to do in Lapland? – Northern Lapland, Kilpisjärvi, Inari, and Utsjoki

Wild Trail Waters – Fishing and hunting guidance in Kilpisjärvi, Norway, and the wilderness.

Ville has true wilderness guiding skills and fantastic stories. With Wild Trail Waters, you can head to the best fishing spots in Käsivarsi, both in summer and winter, or go duck and ptarmigan hunting in the wild nature of the wilderness.

Inari Onnela – A unique wilderness cabin on the shore of Lake Inari, offering peace and personalized wilderness guiding and services.

Petri’s authentic log cabin, located on the edge of the Vätsäri wilderness, offers incredible and unique experiences in the nature of Lapland. Food is sourced from nearby lakes or forests and prepared with care. Each season has its own tailored services. You can reach the peaceful cabin from Nellim by snowmobile in winter or by boat in summer, with both transports provided by Inari Onnela.

Lapland Guiding – Guided freeride tours in Kilpisjärvi

With Lapland Guiding, you can access guided and safe freeride spots in Kilpisjärvi, as well as wilderness transport to more remote areas. Since it's difficult to venture far from the village during winter due to challenging conditions, except by snowmobile, guided freeride tours like these are essential if you want to reach prime skiing terrain. The tours often include snowmobile transport to the larger fells in the Kilpisjärvi wilderness, but the trips can also be customized based on the group's needs.

Lapland Guiding also offers guided mountain biking and fat biking tours on the unique trails of Käsivarsi. For the more adventurous, there’s the option to try enduro or downhill biking on the steep mountain slopes in Norway.

Lapland Guiding is also building a much-needed new hotel in Kilpisjärvi. Additional accommodation will be available starting in midsummer 2022, but reservations for the summer season will be open soon.

I hope you find some fun activities here or at least some useful tips about great small businesses that care for Lapland's nature as if it were their own home and work with their whole hearts. There are other businesses out there too, and I'm not saying that those not included on this list are any less deserving. These are simply the ones I want to highlight based on my own experiences and the people I know.

Your experience and choice are completely up to you.

Wishing you lovely winter days ❄️

♥ Sanna

(The first image in the post: Outdoor Artisans)