Finland walks

A beautiful hike in Oulanka National Park. On this trail, you can admire the park’s wilderness, the rapids, the cliffs and the sheltered forests. You’ll cross rivers via suspension bridges. A day’s walk, or if you set off late, you can spend the night in a small cabin and set off again the next day.

As Finland’s second-oldest town, Porvoo (Borgå) boasts one of the country’s finest clusters of wooden houses along the banks of the River Porvoonjoki. This circular walk takes you around the old town along both banks of the river. You’ll walk down the cobbled alleyways leading down from the medieval cathedral, skirt a reed-lined pond offering a picture-postcard view of the colourful houses, pass the old railway museum and its railcar, then reach a panoramic rock overlooking the river. After crossing the bridge, you’ll follow the quay and its marina before heading back up to the higher parts of the old town. An ideal stroll to take your time exploring one of Finland’s most iconic sites.

In the heart of Valkmusa National Park, in southern coastal Finland, this circular walk takes you through one of the largest peat bogs on the Finnish coast. The Simonsaari trail initially winds its way along boardwalks through a sparse birch forest, before opening out onto the vast, open expanse of the domed peat bog, dotted with pools and dwarf pines. At its centre, an observation tower offers sweeping views over the bog and its forest edge. It is a renowned spot for birdwatching, particularly for waders passing through in spring. An ideal nature outing for an easy walk, bringing you up close to a fragile and unspoilt environment.

On the shores of Lake Saimaa, Finland’s largest lake, this circular walk takes you on a tour of Lappeenranta during the golden hour of evening. From the harbour, you’ll walk alongside the marina’s jetties, its boats and waterside terraces, before reaching a viewpoint overlooking the lake dotted with wooded islands. Further on, a large wooden staircase descends from a wooded headland overlooking the lake. The return route climbs up to the fortress (Linnoitus), the old fortified town with its cobbled streets and wooden houses, which is home to museums and the country’s oldest Orthodox church.

In the heart of Koli National Park, in North Karelia, this hike leads to the summit of Ukko-Koli, the park’s most famous viewpoint. Starting from the western shore of Lake Pielinen, the route first descends through the boreal forest of pine and spruce, passing white quartzite boulders and a wetland criss-crossed by footbridges, before climbing back up to the open heights. Up there, the light-coloured rock slab offers a sweeping panorama of Lake Pielinen, dotted with islands – a landscape that has inspired painters and composers and is counted amongst Finland’s national landscapes. An ideal getaway to discover one of the most iconic sites of Finnish nature. Please note that in winter conditions, the entire route is not always accessible.

This short, highly symbolic circular route invites you to discover the Talvisodan monumentti, a key site commemorating the Winter War between Finland and the Soviet Union, where the setting helps to convey the harshness of the fighting that took place here during the winter of 1939–1940. The route crosses the memorial before turning back through the neighbouring forest.

This circular forest trail leads to one of Finland’s most remarkable prehistoric sites: the Hossa rock paintings. The route winds through the peaceful landscapes of Hossa National Park, between lakes and the taiga. The highlight is at the shore of Lake Somerjärvi, where a cliff face adorned with figures dating back several millennia serves as a reminder of the ancient importance of these waterways.

Ölökyn ylitys offers one of the finest highlights of Hossa National Park. This route runs alongside the Julma-Ölkky lake-canyon, between steep cliffs, boreal forest and rocky sections. A highlight of the route is crossing the canyon via a 45-metre-long suspension bridge.

The Riisin rääpäsy circular route offers a fine overview of the iconic landscapes of Riisitunturi National Park. From the boreal forests to the open heights of the tunturi, the route alternates between viewpoints, wetlands and Lappish scenery. The park is particularly renowned for its almost surreal winter landscapes: the spruce trees are covered in a thick layer of frost and snow, forming spectacular white silhouettes.

The Auttikönkään Luontopolku is a short circular walk that showcases several aspects of Finnish Lapland: a powerful waterfall, a deep-gorge river, an unspoilt boreal forest and a few traces of the history of timber floating.

Hike to a Kota or refuge hut, closed or open, in the Finnish forests. Some, like this one, are converted into small inns. The walk takes place in the snow on marked and slightly groomed paths, through an area of small trees, then across a frozen lake. The start and finish are at our chalet, but you can also start from ÄkäSlompolo.

Walk into the woods around Pirttimäki Outdoor Recreation area and enjoy Hynkanlampi lake and Sorlampi Lakes along the way.