Saariselkä
Saariselkä village is in Inari municipality
Saariselkä village
Saariselkä Village is located in Finlands biggest municipality, Inari. 250 kilometres to North of the Arctic Circle, along the highway E75.
The Urho Kekkonen National Park is right next to Saariselkä. This vast park extends eastwards from the resort of Saariselkä through the wilderness of Finnish Lapland all the way to the Russian border. The remote fell of Korvatunturi is famous among Finns as the home of Father Christmas. The night sky is illuminated by the Aurora Borealis in winter and the Midnight Sun in summer.
How to reach Saariselkä
You can reach Saariselkä by car, plane, bus or train. Flights land at the Ivalo Airport, from which it is only a half-hour journey to Saariselkä by an Airport Bus. Railroad is from Helsinki to Rovaniemi. From Rovaniemi Railway station is a bus transportation to the Saariselkä about 270 km.
When you are in Saariselkä, getting around is easy by the Ski Bus or by taxi service operating in the area. In addition, the services are concentrated around the centre of Saariselkä.
Downhill skiing on two fells
Saariselkä is very traditional and peaceful tourism center. The downhill slopes and ski lifts are situated on two opposite fell slopes. From both off the fells, Kaunispää and Iisakkipää, the slopes run to the same canyon. That is why it is easy to see the whole slope area at one glance from the fell top. Ski Saariselkä Sport Resort
From the center of Saariselkä it is approximately 1 km distance to the ski lifts. During the skiing season Skibus drives between the village, cabins, and ski lifts many times per day. From the top of the fell Kaunispää it is possible to ski via transition slope directly to the center of the village.
- To the top of the fell Iisakkipää it is possible to go only by ski lift.
- To the top of the fell Kaunispää it is also possible to drive by car all over the year. Summit of Kaunispää
Snowy fells in Saariselkä
Compact tourism village in the middle of wilderness
The village of Saariselkä is built to be a tourism center and it is very compact. All the services, hotels and restaurants are located close to each other and that is why the walking distances inside the village are small. This means also that even when you are living in the center of the village surrounded by all the modern services, the Lappish nature is still all the time very close.
The area of Saariselkä is famous for its open fell sceneries, fresh air and pure nature.
- The freedom of the wilderness can be sensed clearly even only couple of hundred meters from the village center
In Saariselkä there are over 200 km of cross-country ski trails which of 34 km are illuminated. Part of the cross-country ski trails run in the authentic fell nature in the area of Urho Kekkonen National Park.
You will get a good view of the fell sceneries on a skiing tour. You can also have a break along your skiing tour and admire the nature. Saariselkä ski track info
Accommodation in Saariselkä
There are hotels, cabins and apartments of different sizes in Saariselkä. There are for example suitable options for families, couples, business groups and nature lovers.
Chalet in the Saariselkä village
Shops and stores
Outdoor clothes and hiking equipment can be found from for Partioaitta. One grocery store in Saariselkä, Supermarket Kuukkeli. There are also several shops in Saariselkä which sell jewellery, souvenirs, gifts, and design products. You can also find wellness services in the village.
Sceenery from the center of Saariselkä village
Things to do, places to visit
All the most popular activities in Saariselkä have something to do with the fabulous fell sceneries of the area. Mountain bikes, skis, and sledges offer possibilities to go to the nature. Guided tours and safaris are organized all year round.
- 200 km of marked trails which of 100 km are inside the Urho Kekkonen national park Urho Kekkonen National Park routes
- 200 km of maintained cross-country ski tracks Saariselkä ski track info
Safaris and activities of different kinds are organized by different companies, and there is also a possibility for tailor-made services.
Rental equipment
You can rent and buy bikes from Kona Shop Saariselkä which you can find from Safari House at address Honkapolku 1.
Top Safaris, Luonto-Loma Pro Safaris ja Suomen Latu Kiilopää rent cross-country ski and trekking equipment. Ski Saariselkä Sport Resort (ski lifts) rents alpine skiing and snowboarding equipment. Car rental operates in Ivalo Airport.
Mountain biking in the fells of Saariselkä
Good to know about Saariselkä
Most of the services and hotels are located in the center of Saariselkä. Restaurant Kaunispään Huippu, Hotel Laanihovi, Restaurant Laanilan Kievari, and Ski Saariselkä are exceptions
In Saariselkä there are also:
Neste Saariselkä gasoline station
Tourist Info Kiehinen
Alko (alcohol shop)
Towing service: Lapin Hinauspalvelu (Falck) 24 h, tel. +358 (0) 16 313 300.
Ivalo is the capital of the municipality of Inari and it is located 30 km north from Saariselkä. There you can find for example health care center, bank office, and library. Inari municipality