On the occasion of AdventureWeek, a B2B event, organized by theAdventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA), I discovered Ruka-Kuusamo and its surroundings. Here are 5 experiences to live around Ruka-Kuusamo.
Ruka-Kuusamo
Ruka-kuusamo is the entity that brings together the mountain resort of Ruka and the city of Kuusamo. Many mountain activities are in the spotlight at the Ruka resort, summer and winter. Downhill mountain biking, toboggan run, hiking, zip line and so on during the summer and autumn. From October, the ski resort opens its doors for more than 200 days of skiing in the year.
Ruka resort is making many efforts to provide the most sustainable tourism possible. In 2018, Ruka ski resort became carbon neutral in terms of energy consumption. Read more about the environmental and social efforts of Ruka stationI invite you to go to their website.
1 – Yoga with reindeer
Around Ruka-Kuusamo and further north, reindeer are regularly encountered outside their enclosures: on the side of the road as well as in the middle of the forest. At the end of autumn, they return to their enclosures where they find more abundant food provided by the farmers.
The kujalan porotila reindeer farmlocated between Ruka and Kuusamo along the E63, offers farm tours to learn more about reindeer. The most popular activity is the morning tour (1 hour). You can also hike with the reindeer. But I experienced another activity, quite strange, it must be said. It is a yoga session with reindeer.
How does it work?
The session takes place in the reindeer enclosure. While the Yogis settle on a reindeer skin rug, food is placed all around the participants. While Piritta, the yoga teacher, goes through the postures, the reindeer wander around the yogis. Although it is very destabilizing at the time, it is very relaxing and surprising at the same time.
The activity can be carried out all year round.
We then continued the evening with a dinner in the farm restaurant based on reindeer and wild products.
2 – Canoeing on the Oulanka River
The Oulanka River, located in the heart of the eponymous national park north of Ruka, is ideal for canoeing and kayaking, and this for the whole family because the lower part of the river is without any technical difficulty.
Canoeing down the Oulanka Riveris to immerse yourself in nature, to let yourself go to wonder. Perhaps you will come across a reindeer on the banks of the Oulanka River?
The descent can be done in one or two days. You have the option of renting your canoe or taking part in a guided trip. In both cases, contact The Magic of Oulanga.
3 – Finnish cooking class
I have already told you a little about Finnish cuisine. There are definitely opportunities to take part in cooking classes with Finnish people around Kuusamo. I had the first experience at Pohjolan Pirtti & Kievari where Tanja and Matti share their know-how and stories about traditions. The idea is to make you live an experience like a Finn.
Travel Resources
Here are some resources to help you plan your trip:
- Find your travel guides on Amazonat Fnac or on Culture.
- To book your hotels, vacation rentals and lodgings, there is of course Booking but I also invite you to discover GreenGo (responsible accommodation in France), Feelingo (sustainable accommodation in France, Spain, Portugal, Italy and Greece) and Abracadaroom (unusual accommodation in France)
- Compare car rental prices on Rentalcars or Autoeurope. Rent your campervan/van on Yescapa (€30 off with code FALLFORFUN22 if you book in October).
- Compare flights with Skyscanner or Kayak
- Compare the price of your bus, train, ferry and plane journeys with Omio
- Rent your photo equipment at Pixloc rather than buying it
- Book an activity, tour or skip-the-line ticket with of the State or Get Your Guide and your adventure or sporting activity with Manawa.
- Are you looking for insurance and/or assistance? I personally use Chapka Assurance.
- Send a quote request to a local French-speaking travel agency
This is how, after tasting a blueberry juice (the black orange juice), I found myself in the kitchen to make a traditional Finnish bread followed by a with moneya traditional cinnamon bun. If you had seen my creations ????
4 – Meeting with locals in Kuusamo
In the same spirit of meeting, the local agency Adventure Apes based in Kuusamo organizes many adventures on foot, skiing, canoeing or snowshoeing. But, it also offers a workshop to discover the daily life of the locals.
I went to meet locals in Kuusamo without knowing what awaited me. Imagine my surprise when I saw that four grannies were waiting for us to clean their carpets from an outdoor community space. So I rolled up my sleeves, put on latex gloves, took the brush and scrubbed to clean the carpets. As you can see, the activity is ultimately less important than the meeting it provides.
We continued the afternoon by making blueberry juice and a tart which we ate together.
A simple moment, but very emotional.
This workshop can take many different forms: a night at a local’s house, shopping at the local supermarket, exploring the countryside, lunch… Adventure Apes is not short of original ideas…
5 – Photograph local wildlife
Since 2023, I have been accompanying a photo trip to Finland for photographing taiga birds in the Kuusamo region.
On the program: capercaillie, black grouse, ospreys, owls…. It is a rather specific trip that takes place mainly in hides (except for the owls). The idea is quite simple. Let’s be hidden and wait in silence to photograph the birds. It’s the best way not to disturb them. For more details, go read the story of my naturalist trip to Finland.
6 – The Finnish sauna
How can you not experience the Finnish sauna in Ruka-Kuusamo? In Finland, sauna is much more than just sweating: sauna is an art of living. The country has 5.5 million inhabitants and more than 3 million saunas. This shows the importance of sauna in the daily lives of the Finns.
Created thousands of years ago by the Finns, the sauna is a tradition that offers a calm and restorative experience. Many Finns punctuate their sauna session with a refreshing swim in a nearby pool or lake.
There are saunas all over the area around Ruka-Kuusamo. I particularly recommend the following two saunas that I have tried:
And also
The Ruka-Kuusamo region offers many other opportunities for outdoor experiences by hiking, biking, skiing, snowshoeing. The destination is truly made to welcome lovers of the great outdoors. I will definitely return.
Practical information
The fastest way to get to Ruka-Kuusamo is by plane. International flight to Helsinki and then internal flight to Kuusamo airport.
It is possible to reach Ruka-Kuusamo by public transport: by train from Helsinki to Oulu by VR trains and then by bus (operates between November and end of April). Another option: take the train from Helsinki to Kemijärvi and then the bus to Kuusamo.
Search for your plane ticket
Also compare flights at Kayak.
Where to sleep around Ruka-Kuusamo?
- Isokenkäisten Klubi: chalets and igloos on the water. Very friendly atmosphere wilderness.
- Ski-Inn RukaValley: in the heart of the Ruka resort
- Magical Pond: Igloos with a glass roof to observe the Northern Lights. For couples.
- Iisakki Village: Chalets and bungalows with a roof for stargazing.
More information
2024-09-19 15:32:06