Cornelius Amann
October 06, 2026
5/5
Finland: Oulanka and the Kuusamo Wilderness
8 days from Helsinki: a first evening by the harbour, then a flight north to six nights at Ruka for the Little Bear's Ring, the Oulanka river, reindeer, bears or huskies, and a smoke sauna by a lake.
8 days · Helsinki to Helsinki Airport · up to 12 guests
Sipoonkorpi National Park near Helsinki, not on the route; a Kuusamo or Oulanka photo will replace it Photo: Ximonic (Simo Räsänen), CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bisaj%C3%A4rvi_in_evening_light_from_the_southwest_in_Sipoonkorpi,_Vantaa,_Finland,_2021_May.jpg)
The facts
At a glance
- Length
- 8 days, 7 nights
- Start and end
- Helsinki to Helsinki Airport
- Group size
- 7 to 12 guests
- Activity level
Moderate
One long walking day: the Little Bear's Ring, about 12 km over 5 to 6 hours on forest paths with roots, wooden steps and suspension bridges (in winter on snowshoes we walk a shorter 6 to 8 km section), with a 4 to 5 km option. In summer, a canoe trip of about 3 to 4 hours on a calm stretch of river, two to a canoe, no experience needed. Other days have walks of 2 to 5 km, a husky ride of about 10 km sitting or driving the sled (winter), and evenings outside in the cold for the aurora, which you can always skip. No day has more than about 2 hours in the vehicle.
- Meals included
- 7 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 6 dinners
- Room of your own
- + CAD 1,095 (estimated price)
- Season
- Summer and winter editions
Highlights
Why this trip
- The Little Bear's Ring in Oulanka National Park: Myllykoski, the Jyrava falls and the swaying bridge over the Kitkajoki
- A canoe on the Oulanka river and the Kiutakongas rapids (summer)
- An evening in a bear hide in the forests east of Kuusamo, in light that lasts past midnight (summer)
- A husky safari through the snow and three evenings set aside for the Northern Lights (winter)
- A reindeer farm with a herding family, and a short sleigh ride in winter
- The snow-loaded trees of Riisitunturi on snowshoes (winter)
- A traditional smoke sauna by a lake, then a swim or an ice-hole dip and a farewell dinner
What makes this trip different
Free time is part of the plan
Free time and choices are marked on the days they fall.
Solo without the penalty
A room of your own is + CAD 1,095 (estimated price).
Day by day
Itinerary
Tap any stop on the map to open that dayClick any stop on the map to open that day
Arrive in Helsinki
Helsinki Airport to your hotel in central Helsinki
- Dinner
- Stay in Helsinki
- Drive about 30 min
Land at Helsinki Airport, about 20 km north of the city, where a driver meets you in arrivals for the drive to a central hotel near the harbour.
Evening
Plan to land by about 3 pm so you are in time for the early-evening walk. Your See Sight Tours guide meets the group in the hotel lobby for a short briefing on the week: what the days in Kuusamo look like, what to wear, and how the summer or winter programme runs. Then we walk the centre together: the Market Square by the South Harbour, the green dome of Helsinki Cathedral above Senate Square, the long park of the Esplanadi, and the seafront out towards Kaivopuisto, where the islands of the archipelago start. In summer the light lasts well into the night; in winter the walk is short and the city is lit. We finish with a welcome dinner of Finnish food at a restaurant in the centre.
Included
- Pick-up at Helsinki Airport (HEL)
- Welcome briefing with your guide
- Evening walk: the Market Square, Senate Square, Helsinki Cathedral and the Esplanadi
- Welcome dinner in central Helsinki
Free time: Free until the early-evening briefing
Activity: About 3 km on foot on city streets.
Fly north to Kuusamo and Ruka
Helsinki to Kuusamo by air, then Ruka
- Breakfast and dinner
- Stay in Ruka
- Drive about 30 min
Morning
After breakfast we take the domestic flight from Helsinki to Kuusamo, about an hour and a half, over a country of lakes and forest that gets whiter or greener the further north you go. Our minibus and driver meet the group at the small Kuusamo airport for the half-hour drive to Ruka, the fell village that is our base for six nights. Ruka has shops, cafes and restaurants within a short walk of the hotel, which matters on the free evenings.
Afternoon
After lunch on your own and time to settle in, we walk up the slopes of Konttainen, the fell beside the village, for a first look over the lakes and forests towards Oulanka. On winter departures we first fit everyone with a thermal overall, boots and mittens for the week, and the walk is a short loop on snowshoes.
Evening
Dinner together at the hotel, and on clear winter nights your guide watches the aurora forecast.
Included
- Flight from Helsinki to Kuusamo (KAO)
- Transfer to Ruka
- Winter clothing fitted for the week (winter departures)
- Guided walk or snowshoe on Konttainen fell
- Dinner at the hotel
Easier option: Skip the fell walk and stay in the village; the walk is a short climb of about 2 to 3 km.
Free time: Time to settle in before the afternoon walk
Activity: About 2 to 3 km on foot, with a steady climb of about 150 m.
The Little Bear's Ring
Ruka to Juuma, the Little Bear's Ring in Oulanka National Park, and back
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Stay in Ruka
- Drive about 1 h
Morning
A morning start for the drive of about half an hour to Juuma, the hamlet where the Little Bear's Ring, Pieni Karhunkierros, begins.
Afternoon
In summer this is a loop of about 12 km through Oulanka National Park, and we walk it from the morning so the busiest stretch is behind us before the midday day-hikers arrive. The path follows the Kitkajoki through pine forest and over wooden steps: the old mill at the Myllykoski rapids, the narrow gorge where the Jyrava falls drop about 9 m, and the suspension bridges that sway over the river. Lunch is cooked over a fire at a lean-to shelter on the trail. In winter the rapids steam between snow and ice, and we snowshoe a section of about 6 to 8 km to Myllykoski and Jyrava and back, with the same fire lunch.
Evening
Back in Ruka by late afternoon for a hot shower and dinner together.
Included
- The Little Bear's Ring with your guide: Myllykoski, the Jyrava falls and the Kitkajoki suspension bridges
- Snowshoes and poles on winter departures
- Lunch cooked over a fire on the trail
- Dinner in Ruka
Easier option: Walk only from Juuma to Myllykoski and Jyrava and back, about 4 to 5 km, and wait at the lean-to fire for the others.
More active option: In summer, add the climb to the Ristikallio viewpoint above the Kitkajoki.
Activity: The longest walking day: about 12 km over 5 to 6 hours in summer on roots, rocks and wooden steps; about 6 to 8 km on snowshoes in winter.
The Oulanka river, or huskies in the snow
Ruka to the Oulanka river and Kiutakongas (summer) or a husky farm near Ruka (winter), and back
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Stay in Ruka
- Drive about 1.5 h
In summer we drive about 50 minutes north to the Oulanka river, where a local outfitter gives a short safety talk and hands out canoes, two to a boat. We paddle a calm stretch of about 15 km with your guide and an outfitter's guide, past sandy banks and forest, over three to four hours; rapids on this stretch are carried round or skipped.
Afternoon
Lunch is a fire on a sandbank. Afterwards we walk to the Kiutakongas rapids, where the river breaks white through red dolomite cliffs. In winter we go instead to a husky farm near Ruka: the mushers show you how to drive and brake a sled and how they care for the dogs, then you ride about 10 km through snowy forest, two to a sled and taking turns to drive. Lunch is at the farm by the fire. The afternoon is free, and on winter nights your guide takes a group out for the aurora if the sky is clear.
Included
- Summer: guided canoe trip of about 15 km on the Oulanka river, with all equipment
- Summer: walk to the Kiutakongas rapids
- Winter: husky safari of about 10 km with a farm visit
- Winter: an aurora outing with your guide on a clear evening
- Lunch by the fire, dinner in Ruka
Easier option: In summer, sit in the middle of a three-person canoe with the guide, or skip the paddle and meet the group at Kiutakongas. In winter, ride in the sled without driving.
Free time: Late afternoon free in Ruka
Activity: No canoe experience is needed. Life jackets are provided; you will get wet feet getting in and out.
Reindeer, then bears or the aurora
Ruka to a reindeer farm, then a bear hide east of Kuusamo (summer) or a dark spot outside Ruka (winter)
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Stay in Ruka
- Drive about 2 h
Morning
A slower morning, then a visit to a reindeer farm in the Kuusamo area, where a herding family explains the year of a herder: calving in spring, the round-ups in autumn, and how the animals roam free in the forest. You can feed the reindeer, and in winter take a short sleigh ride behind one.
Afternoon
Lunch is at the farm, often a reindeer or salmon soup by the fire. The afternoon is free.
Evening
On summer departures we eat an early dinner and drive about an hour towards the eastern border to a bear hide, where a local guide settles the group into a wooden hut with viewing slots. We sit quietly through the light evening, often until about midnight, for brown bears and sometimes wolverines; sightings are likely but never promised. On winter departures the evening is an aurora outing to a dark lakeshore away from village light, with a campfire and hot berry juice, if the sky allows.
Included
- Reindeer farm visit with a herding family, with a sleigh ride in winter
- Lunch at the farm
- Summer: an evening at a bear hide with a local guide
- Winter: an aurora evening with a campfire
- Dinner in Ruka
Easier option: Skip the late evening and stay in Ruka; dinner is in the village either way.
Free time: Afternoon free in Ruka
Activity: The bear hide means 5 to 6 hours of sitting quietly with a toilet in the hut; bring a warm layer and a book for the slow hours. Hides run through September; we confirm the season with the outfitter for each departure.
A free day in Ruka
Ruka
- Breakfast
- Stay in Ruka
A day with nothing planned. Sleep in, walk to a cafe in the village, or take one of the short list of options your guide can book for you, each priced before you travel rather than sold on the day. In summer you can hike the Valtavaara ridge east of Ruka, known for its birdlife and long views, rent a mountain bike, try stand-up paddling on a lake, or fish for grayling with a local guide. In winter Ruka is a ski resort with downhill runs above the village and many kilometres of groomed cross-country trails; you can also take a snowmobile safari, try ice fishing on a frozen lake, or borrow a kick sled and go along the village tracks. Your guide is in Ruka all day for advice and to help with bookings.
Evening
Lunch and dinner are on your own, and the village restaurants are a short walk from the hotel.
Included
- Your guide in Ruka for advice and bookings
Optional experiences
- Summer: Valtavaara hike, mountain bike rental, stand-up paddling, guided fishing
- Winter: downhill or cross-country skiing, snowmobile safari, ice fishing
Free time: The whole day is free
Riisitunturi and the smoke sauna
Ruka to Riisitunturi National Park, then a lakeside smoke sauna, and back
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Stay in Ruka
- Drive about 1.5 h
We drive about 40 minutes west to Riisitunturi National Park, a small park of fells and hanging bogs. In winter it is known for tykky, the thick crowns of frozen snow that bend the spruces into strange white shapes, heaviest from January; we snowshoe a loop of about 4 to 5 km up among them to views over the frozen lakes. In summer the same walk crosses sloping mires on duckboards to the open fell top.
Afternoon
Lunch is by a fire. In the late afternoon we go to a traditional smoke sauna by a lake, heated for hours with a wood fire and then aired so only the soft heat and the smell of smoke remain. Finnish sauna culture is on UNESCO's list of intangible heritage. Between rounds you swim in the lake in summer or dip through a hole in the ice in winter, if you dare.
Evening
A farewell dinner follows.
Included
- Riisitunturi National Park with your guide, on snowshoes in winter
- Lunch by a fire
- Traditional smoke sauna by a lake, with a lake swim or ice-hole dip
- Farewell dinner
Easier option: Walk the first part of the trail only and wait by the fire.
Activity: About 4 to 5 km on foot or snowshoes with a climb of about 150 m. Bring a swimsuit and a towel for the sauna; mixed saunas are usually in swimsuits.
Fly back to Helsinki
Ruka to Kuusamo Airport, then by air to Helsinki Airport
- Breakfast
- Drive about 30 min
Morning
A last breakfast in Ruka and, if the flight allows, a short walk in the village or one more look at the view from the fells. Our minibus takes the group to Kuusamo airport, about half an hour, for the domestic flight back to Helsinki of about an hour and a half. Your guide flies with you and sees you to the connection area at Helsinki Airport, where the trip ends.
Afternoon
Flight times from Kuusamo change by season and by day of the week, so book your onward flight home from Helsinki for the afternoon or later; we confirm the time of the Kuusamo flight and the latest safe connection with your final itinerary.
Evening
If you would rather stay on, we can book an extra night in Helsinki for you, close to the Market Square and the ferry to the island fortress of Suomenlinna, which is on UNESCO's World Heritage List.
Included
- Transfer to Kuusamo Airport (KAO)
- Flight from Kuusamo to Helsinki Airport (HEL)
Optional experiences
- Extra night in Helsinki, booked on request
Activity: Book a flight home from Helsinki leaving in the afternoon or later; we confirm the latest safe time.
- Helsinki1 night
- Ruka6 nights
- Helsinki Airportend
- Overnight stop
- Day trip
- By boat or train
Wildlife and weather: In June and July the nights barely get dark at Kuusamo, and mosquitoes are at their worst. August is warm and calmer, and early to mid September brings ruska, the autumn colour on the fells, and the first chance of an aurora. Bear hides run through September, confirmed with the outfitter for each departure. In winter, December days have only a few hours of light, temperatures of minus 15 to minus 30 degrees Celsius are normal, and the snow load on the trees is heaviest from January. The aurora needs a dark, clear sky and is never certain.
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Before you book
Right for you?
Good for you if you want
- Travellers who want a week of forest, rivers and snow without changing hotels
- Walkers happy with one 12 km day and easier days around it
- A summer trip with bears and light nights, or a winter trip with huskies and the aurora
- Solo travellers who want a group and a guide in a remote area
Not for you if you want
- Travellers looking for a city break: there is one evening in Helsinki
- Step-free access: forest trails have roots, steps and swaying bridges
- Anyone who needs a guaranteed aurora or a guaranteed bear
- Travellers who do not want to be outdoors in deep cold (winter) or among mosquitoes (June and July)
Book flights after we confirm your seat.
7 nights
Where you'll stay
Your hotels are named in your trip confirmation.
- Helsinki1 night
- Ruka6 nights
One price
What's in the price
Included
Accommodation
- 7 nights: 1 in central Helsinki, 6 in Ruka village at the same hotel or lodge
- Rooms shared, or your own for a supplement
Transport
- Pick-up at Helsinki Airport (HEL) on day 1
- Flights from Helsinki to Kuusamo (KAO) and back, with checked bags
- Transfers between Kuusamo Airport and Ruka
- A private minibus and driver for the group in Kuusamo
- Canoes and equipment on the Oulanka river (summer)
Your guide
- A See Sight Tours guide for the whole trip, with local guides at the kennel, reindeer farm, bear hide and on the canoe trip
Activities
- Evening walk in central Helsinki
- Konttainen fell walk at Ruka
- The Little Bear's Ring in Oulanka National Park, with snowshoes in winter
- Canoe trip on the Oulanka river and the Kiutakongas rapids (summer)
- Husky safari of about 10 km (winter)
- Reindeer farm visit, with a sleigh ride in winter
- An evening at a bear hide (summer, season confirmed with the outfitter)
- Aurora evenings with your guide on clear nights (winter)
- Riisitunturi National Park on foot or snowshoes
- Traditional smoke sauna by a lake
- Winter clothing lent for the whole stay (winter)
Meals
- Breakfast daily (7)
- Lunches on days 3, 4, 5 and 7 (4), mostly cooked over a fire outdoors
- Dinners on days 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 7 (6), including the welcome and farewell dinners
Not included
- International flights to and from Helsinki
- Travel insurance
- Lunches on days 1, 2, 6 and 8, and dinner on day 6
- Drinks
- Optional activities on the free day, such as ski passes, snowmobile safaris or bike rental
- Tips
- Personal expenses
- Extra nights in Helsinki
Extras
- Room of your own
- CAD 1,095 (estimated price)
When you can go
Dates and prices
Pick your start date when you request to book. We check that date and confirm it in your quote.
Prefer to travel without a group or guide? Ask us about arranging hotels, transport and city tours for you to travel independently.
Before you book
Booking terms
Nothing is charged now. Full terms and the cancellation schedule come with your quote, before you accept.
Business addresses
See Sight Tours Trips (USA): 3172 N Rainbow Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89108, United StatesSee Sight Tours Trips (Canada): 5305 50 Avenue, #1091, Red Deer, AB T4N 4B6, Canada+1-888-961-6584Guest reviews
What guests say
Reviews from guests on our day tours.
Jane
October 06, 2026
5/5
Susan
October 06, 2026
5/5
Tom L
October 05, 2026
5/5
MandL83
October 05, 2026
5/5
Darren O
October 05, 2026
5/5
Good to know
Questions
What does the price include?
Seven hotel nights (one in Helsinki, six in Ruka), both Helsinki to Kuusamo flights, transfers, a minibus and driver, your See Sight Tours guide, breakfast daily, four lunches and six dinners, and every activity in the day plan: the Little Bear's Ring, the reindeer farm and the smoke sauna, plus the canoe and bear hide in summer or the huskies, aurora evenings and winter clothing in winter.
How big is the group?
The small-group trip runs with 7 to 12 guests. That is small enough to fit in one minibus, sit around one fire at lunch, and stay quiet enough in a bear hide not to scare the animals.
Who leads the trip?
A See Sight Tours guide travels with the group from the first evening in Helsinki to the last flight back. Local specialists join where it matters: the mushers at the husky farm, the herding family at the reindeer farm, the bear hide guide and the canoe outfitter's guide.
Should I go in summer or winter?
It depends on what you want to see. Summer (June to September) brings light nights, open rivers for canoeing and bears at the hides, with mosquitoes in June and July. Winter (December to March) brings deep snow, huskies and the chance of the aurora, with very short days in December and cold down to minus 30.
Will I see the Northern Lights or a bear?
Neither is guaranteed. On winter departures we set aside several evenings for the aurora, which needs a dark, clear sky, and your guide calls it early when cloud closes in. Bear hides in the Kuusamo area have frequent sightings in summer, but the bears are wild and some evenings they do not come.
How fit do I need to be?
Moderately fit. Day 3 on the Little Bear's Ring is about 12 km in summer over roots, steps and bridges, or 6 to 8 km on snowshoes in winter, and there is a shorter 4 to 5 km option. The canoe trip needs no experience. Other days are short walks, and every evening outing is optional.
Is there a single supplement for solo travellers?
Yes. A room of your own costs from CAD 1,095 more, shown before you book with no extra charge at checkout. Solo travellers are welcome on every departure and join the group for every meal and activity like anyone else.
How does booking work?
Choose a departure and send a request to book. We check availability and provide the final quote, itinerary and booking terms before you accept. No payment is taken when you send the request. The small group starts from CAD 6,395 per person sharing, with taxes included.
Can we travel privately or on our own dates?
Yes. Besides the small group, the trip comes as a private trip for your party only, on a date you choose, from CAD 11,510 per person. If you would rather travel independently on your own dates, ask us from the dates section and we can quote the same hotels, flights and local activities.
Do I need a visa for Finland?
Canadian citizens do not need a visa for a short stay in Finland, which is in the Schengen area. Check whether the EU's ETIAS travel authorisation is required when you travel, and make sure your passport is valid for at least three months after you leave.
What do I wear in a Finnish winter?
We lend you a thermal overall, insulated boots, mittens and a hat for the whole stay in Ruka, fitted on the first evening. Bring thermal base layers, a fleece or wool mid-layer, wool socks and a buff; in Helsinki on day 1 you need your own warm coat.
How is this different from the Lapland trip?
The Lapland trip spends six days around Rovaniemi and Yllas, in winter only, focused on huskies and the aurora. This one is a slower week in the Kuusamo region with walking in Oulanka National Park, and it also runs in summer with canoeing and bear watching.
See Sight Tours has been providing travel services across North America since 2006. Operating in 20 cities across Canada and the USA, the company specializes in small group tours that offer personalized, high-quality experiences for travelers.
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