Destinations // 13 June 2023
What are the best and longest hiking trails in Finland? Although southern Finland also offers beautiful landscapes, all the top five long-distance hikes are located in northern latitudes. On these multi-day hikes you will find unique nature, the most picturesque landscapes, the highest peak in our country and the cleanest air in the world.
All these hiking trails are perfect for solo hiking, and some of the trails are also suitable for your first long-distance hike. Pack your backpack and head towards the best nature experiences in Finland!
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Adventures // 1 June 2023
Lake Luirojärvi Trail in Urho Kekkonen National Park, in Lapland Finland is a year-round classic hike. The route goes through the peak of Kiilopää fell to Lake Luirojärvi and Sokosti fell in wonderful open fell and forest landscapes. The Lake Luirojärvi hike can be done as a summer and fall hike as well as a winter ski excursion.
In Urho Kekkonen National Park, I did a four-day autumn colors hike to Lake Luirojärvi. My lightweight hiking gear made backpacking light and comfortable, and without rushing despite the long days on trails. I slept in ‘laavu’ shelter for the first time of my life, I enjoyed great fall and autumn colors in the sunshine and I also experienced amazingly pouring rainy days.
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Lake Luirojärvi Trail
- Destination: Saariselkä/Kiilopää, Urho Kekkonen National Park, Lapland, Finland
- Length: 70-80 km / 44-50 miles (normal route), longer routes possible
- Difficulty level: moderate/demanding (quite easy trails, but includes river crossings and unmarked wilderness routes)
- When to go: from June to October (year-round destination)
- Duration: 4-6 days
Adventures // 12 April 2023
Grytetippen (885 m, 2903 ft) and Keipen (938 m, 3077 ft) belong to the highest and most majestic mountains on the northern side of the Norway’s Senja Island. From the top of Grytetippen you can see almost all of Senja's most famous mountains: dramatic Segla and on both sides Barden and Hesten above Fjordgård village, Senja's highest mountain Breitinden in the southwest and the popular Riven near the island of Husøy.
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Grytetippen and Keipen hike
- Destination: Fjordgård / Mefjordbotn, Senja, Norway
- Distance: 4,5 km (2.8 miles) one direction from Fylkesveien road
- Difficulty: moderate challenging (marked as red)
- Duration: 5-8 h
- When to go: from June to September
- Where to stay: camping in the mountains or next to the road, hotel accommodation at Fjordgård
Are down jackets good for hiking and backpacking? One of the most important equipment for outdoor adventures is clothing suitable for layering. The light down jacket is an insulating layer that has incredible warmth to weight ratio compared to other alternatives.
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Adventures // 19 March 2023
The Hetta-Pallas hiking trail in Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park is Finland's oldest hiking trail and one of the most popular long distance hiking trails in Finland. The Hetta-Pallas trail goes from the peaks of the fells down to the gorges and back to the peaks to incredibly beautiful rugged landscapes.
The autumn time colors the Hetta-Pallas route with deep red tones. The 3-days Hetta-Pallas hike is a classic, that belongs to the best hikes in Finland.
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Hetta-Pallas Hiking Trail
- Destination: Enontekiö and Muonio, Lapland, Finland
- Distance: 50 km (31miles, one direction)
- Difficulty: physically demanding but suitable for beginners
- When to go: in September for backpacking in autumn
- Duration: 3-4 days
- Where to stay: camping in tent, in reservation or open wilderness huts, some Lappish huts
Adventures // 3 February 2023
Besseggen hike is one of the most popular mountain hikes in Norway, and the most beautiful trail in Jotunheimen National Park. Besseggen Ridge has been listed as one of the top 20 best hikes in the world by National Geographic. To hike the scenic Besseggen trail and see the panoramic view over the mountainous Norway, you just have to climb up to 1743 m.a.s.l. with 1,200 meters of elevation gain.
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Besseggen hike in Jotunheimen National Park
- Destination: Jotunheimen National Park, Tessanden, Norway
- Distance: 14 km (elevation gain 1,200 m)
- Difficulty: demanding +, the Besseggen ridge is challenging
- When to go: from June to September for a summer hike
- Duration: a daytrip, 6-8 hours (or enjoy the whole day with lunch & taking pictures!)
- Where to stay: camping free on the beach (can be crowded Fri-Sun), or at Gjendesheim Tourist Lodge, or in Memurubu
Choosing the right sleeping bag and sleeping pad for lightweight and ultralight backpacking may seem like a daunting task with all the various ratings and ever-increasing options. We are often advised to first think about what kind of backpacker you are: do you enjoy road trips and camping, or do you hike in a traditional style or do you want to shave as much weight as possible.
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Lightweight backpacking means hiking with lightweight equipment. In lightweight and ultralight backpacking, the focus is on packing only the necessary equipment and on reducing the weight wherever possible.
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Adventures // 9 January 2023
The mysterious Tarfala valley in Lapland Sweden is hidden in the armpit of several 2,000 m high mountain peaks. At the bottom of the valley glitters the turquoise Lake Tarfalajaure (Darfáljávri), the mountains are covered by some of the largest glaciers of Sweden. The rugged and barren Tarfala is one of the most beautiful valleys of the Kebnekaise mountain massif area.
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Tarfala valley hiking info
- Destination: Norrbotten, Lapland, Sweden
- Distance: 6 km, from Kebnekaise mountain station 8 km
- Difficulty: physically demanding but quite easy
- When to go: from June to August for a summer hike
- Duration: a daytrip, or part of a multiday backpacking trip
- Where to stay: camping with or without facilities, or at STF's mountain cabins
Adventures // 14 December 2022
The Fannaråken hike is one of the classic hikes in Norway's Jotunheimen National Park. Fannaråken (or Fannaråki) is a Scandinavian mountain, with a peak rising 2068 meters above sea level. From Fannaråki, stunning landscapes open up to western Jotunheimen.
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Fannaråken hike
- Destination: Jotunheimen National Park, Luster, Norway
- Route length: 15 km from Turtagrø (ascent approx. 1200 meters)
- Difficulty: medium
- Travel time: day trip 8 hours
- When to go: July to August
- Where to stay: in a tent without amenities, at Turtagrø Hotel with amenities (and then there's the back seat of the car for real adventurers :D)
