Saariselkä - Ivalo

• Ivalo is a convenient base for enjoying all of Lapland’s outdoor activities.
• Two national parks and Saariselkä are ideal destinations for hiking and cycling.
• The midnight sun, autumn colors and the northern lights appear in Ivalo in their fullest potential.

Our holiday in Finland has shown there are plenty of places to see and so much to do all over the country. However, there is a destination that deserves its own special place on our list. At least if we're talking about outdoor activities, this next stop is a real dream come true. Welcome to Ivalo, the most versatile location for a holiday in Lapland.

In fact, Ivalo is a populated community of only 3,000 inhabitants in the municipality of Inari. Basically no one travels to Ivalo with just an urban holiday in mind. Ivalo's temptation is based on something completely different – the incredible nature of the surrounding area and the outdoor activities it offers.

If you are interested in fishing or canoeing, the River Ivalo (Ivalonjoki in Finnish), which flows next to Ivalo, should be first on your checklist. It is one of Finland's most famous fishing rivers, and the river offers both a challenge and a stunning scenery for canoeing. 

Ivalonjoki is known for its rapids that add a fun and exciting element to canoeing. The river flows through the legendary Lemmenjoki National Park and the views are pretty much what you would expect from Finland’s largest national park. The rugged forest landscape seems to go on forever while the clean waters of the Arctic glimmer in the sunlight. 

Almost the only traces of human presence are visible in the areas of gold panning. The actual gold rush of Lemmenjoki occurred after the Second World War, but gold panning still goes on in the area today. If you’re not afraid to get your hands dirty, there are still places where you can try gold panning yourself!