Autumn in Finnish Lapland is a time of striking transformation. The landscape bursts into vibrant hues of yellow, orange, and red, a natural spectacle known as “ruska.” This period, celebrated for its breathtaking beauty, marks the transition from summer to the onset of winter.
As August gives way to September, the Northern Lights return, illuminating the Arctic skies and signalling the start of aurora season. Lapland’s countless serene lakes act as perfect mirrors, reflecting the ethereal lights. Whether you’re embarking on a guided aurora hunt by foot, mountain bike, canoe, or horseback, or enjoying the view from one of the region’s iconic glass igloos, the experience is unforgettable.
Beyond the magical auroras, autumn is ideal for outdoor activities. The crisp air and stunning scenery make hiking and mountain biking across rugged fells and dense forests a delight. Lapland’s rivers and lakes offer excellent conditions for canoeing, kayaking, and fishing, providing a deep connection with nature. For those interested in foraging, guided berry and mushroom picking tours are a perfect way to explore the wilderness.
Lapland North Destinations – Where Culture, Wilderness, and Arctic Light Meet
Spanning from Tankavaara to the Arctic Ocean, Lapland North Destinations cover one of the most untouched and culturally rich areas in Finland. This is Sámi homeland, where living traditions meet dramatic landscapes—rivers, fells, and ancient forests that stretch for hundreds of kilometres.
Autumn in Lapland North brings sharp contrasts: glowing ruska colours by day, dark skies alive with auroras by night. You can explore Sámi villages like Inari, Utsjoki, and Sevettijärvi, visit the Siida Museum, or paddle the Tenojoki, Lemmenjoki, and Ivalojoki rivers—each offering a different view of Arctic nature and heritage.
The Teno River Valley Route, winding along Finland’s most scenic border, is perfect for a self-drive road trip. Stop for hikes, traditional meals, gold panning in Tankavaara, or a peaceful moment by Lake Inari. Whether you’re cycling over open fells, cruising to Ukko Island, or learning the stories of Sámi reindeer herders, Lapland North offers a depth and silence found nowhere else.
This is Lapland for those who want to feel the land, not just see it. A place where every view comes with space to breathe.
Ylläs – Biking, Saunas and Autumn Lights
Ylläs is one of Lapland’s most beloved year-round destinations, and autumn brings out its quieter, more colourful side. With over 200 km of biking trails and access to Ylläs Bike Park, it’s a dream for mountain bikers of all levels. You can also take the gondola up Yllästunturi for sweeping fell views and cycle or hike to Kukastunturi or one of the area’s charming wilderness cafés. Located next to Pallas–Yllästunturi National Park, Ylläs offers hiking routes through glowing ruska forests and across peaceful fells. Water lovers can explore the region’s lakes and rivers by canoe, kayak, or packraft.
After a day outdoors, step into a traditional Finnish sauna and cool off in a clear forest lake—an essential part of the Ylläs experience. The area’s eight distinct seasons make autumn especially memorable, from berry harvesting in August to vivid fall colours in September and the first snowfalls of October.
As the nights grow darker, Northern Lights begin to appear—often mirrored in the still, unfrozen lakes. Don’t miss Kino Ylläs, a unique open-air film festival held in September, where cinema nights sometimes come with a bonus show from the auroras.
Wilderness Hotels – Experience the True North in Comfort
With locations in Inari, Nellim, Juutua, and Muotka, Wilderness Hotels offer the perfect mix of Arctic comfort and deep wilderness. These family-run lodges are known for their peaceful locations and rich cultural ties, especially to the Sámi communities of Northern Lapland.
In autumn, the landscape glows with red and gold, and the season’s first auroras begin to dance across the sky. Whether you stay in a riverside suite in Inari, a lakeside cabin in Nellim, or an Aurora cabin on the edge of a national park, you’ll feel close to nature—and far from the crowds.
Tailored packages make planning easy. At Muotka, you can combine hikes in Urho Kekkonen National Park with e-fatbike adventures and smoke sauna evenings. At Juutua, autumn aurora tours and cultural visits pair perfectly with fireside dining at award-winning Restaurant Aanaar. At Inari, you can cruise to sacred Ukko Island or learn Sámi traditions at the Siida Museum. Wherever you stay, the feeling is the same: nature, silence, and a gentle kind of adventure.
Santa’s Hotels – Autumn Comfort Across Lapland
With locations in Rovaniemi, Levi, Saariselkä, Luosto, and Kilpisjärvi, Santa’s Hotels bring warmth and character to Lapland’s most iconic destinations. Whether you’re staying in a glass igloo, a forest villa, or a full-service hotel, you’ll be close to the beauty of the season.
At Santa’s Hotel Tunturi in Saariselkä, the trails of Urho Kekkonen National Park begin right behind the property – perfect for hiking through ruska-coloured forests. In Luosto, Santa’s Hotel Aurora offers boutique wilderness stays and autumn aurora packages, while Santa’s Log Villa Borealis provides group accommodation with its own sauna and jacuzzi.
In Kilpisjärvi, the newly built Santa’s Hotel Rakka features bold architecture, panoramic fell views, and easy access to mountain trails and Arctic fjords. Rovaniemi offers two central hotels – Santa’s Hotel Santa Claus and the budget-friendly Rudolf—as well as the glass-roofed Santa’s Igloos Arctic Circle, where you can spot the Northern Lights from bed.
Wild About Lapland & Silver Birch Resort in Rovaniemi – Canoe, Forage and Relax
In Rovaniemi, Wild About Lapland specialises in small-group nature tours that let you experience the landscape slowly and meaningfully. Their most popular autumn activity? Canoeing. With calm waters and golden forests reflected in the lakes, paddling in Lapland is a peaceful and personal way to explore.
Tours include cultural canoe trips, reindeer farm visits, and longer adventures with campfire lunches. Evening paddles often end with pancakes by the fire and if the skies are clear, the Northern Lights.
Just outside the city, Silver Birch Resort offers a private lakeside escape with five cozy cabins and direct access to the water. This is a quiet place for couples, families, and small groups to unwind. Canoe tours leave from the shore, meals are served in a private restaurant, and every moment is shaped by calm, space, and nature.
Pyhä–Luosto – Hiking Trails, Deep Gorges and Starry Skies
The Pyhä–Luosto area is ideal for those who want to walk, climb, and explore. With well-marked trails crossing ancient pine forests, treeless fells, and dramatic gorges, every hike feels like a story. Climb to Noitatunturi for sweeping views, follow the boardwalks of Isokuru, Finland’s deepest gorge or take the scenic lift to Pyhätunturi’s summit, where the Huttu-Ukko art trail brings local myths to life through sculpture. For a unique experience, visit the Lampivaara Amethyst Mine, where you can dig for your own gemstone and hear stories that go back 2,000 million years.
Families and adventurers alike will enjoy the Pyhäkuru Rock Adventure Park, where you can climb, zipline, and cross rope bridges surrounded by Arctic scenery. In the evening, relax in a candle-lit cabin or lakeside sauna, or take an aurora walk for Northern Lights viewing. Autumn also brings events like Kino Pyhä, an open-air film festival under the stars, and
Salla – Silence, Colours and Wilderness Weddings
Proud of its designation “in the middle of nowhere,” Salla is one of Lapland’s most authentic and untouched destinations. Nestled between two national parks and just north of the Arctic Circle, it offers deep silence, vast forests, and open fells that blaze with colour in autumn.
Autumn is an ideal time to hike the trails of Salla National Park, which pass through Ice Age-carved ridges, ancient spruce forests, and crystal-clear ponds. Nature Observation Points with boardwalks, lean-tos, and Arctic photo signs allow you to admire the midnight sun, golden fells, or the first Northern Lights in peaceful seclusion.
Salla also encourages visitors to connect with the landscape using all five senses. Try wilderness yoga, dip your feet into a cold mountain stream, or forage for Arctic berries and mushrooms. Local guides offer canoe trips, bike rentals, and storytelling hikes—often ending with black pot coffee by the fire. At the Salla Reindeer Park, you can meet semi-wild reindeer, join feeding tours, or try a nighttime canoe trip under glowing skies.
And for couples seeking something truly unique, wilderness weddings are possible year-round. Say your vows beneath the northern lights, beside a calm lake framed by ruska colours, or at the top of a fell with a reindeer escort. Even Salla’s mayor might officiate your ceremony—adding a touch of Arctic charm to your once-in-a-lifetime moment.
Polar Lights Tours – Huskies, Horses & Wilderness Stays
At Polar Lights Tours near Levi, you can enjoy autumn in the company of friendly Alaskan huskies, gentle Finnhorses, and the colourful forests of Lapland. This family-run wilderness resort offers guided horseback rides through glowing landscapes, summer husky cart safaris, and forest treks under the ruska leaves.
Guests stay in eco-friendly Aurora cabins with pellet fireplaces, solar power, and lakeside saunas. The Metsola Forest Restaurant serves traditional meals made with local ingredients, from foraged mushrooms to Arctic fish.
In Posio, Polar Lights Tours also have peaceful apartments in a renovated village school and a scenic lakeside caravan area. Here, autumn is about slowing down: paddling on quiet lakes, hiking to waterfalls, or simply enjoying the sauna and northern lights under open skies. This is Arctic living, gently done.
Levi Spirit – Autumn Luxury by the River
In Levi’s peaceful Taalovaara area, surrounded by glowing autumn fells, Levi Spirit Luxury Villas offer a private retreat where comfort and wilderness meet. Each spacious villa includes four double bedrooms, a private sauna, fireplace lounge, and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the golden colours of the season.
Set along the banks of the Ounasjoki River, the location is ideal for autumn hiking, berry picking, or riverside relaxation. Guests can enjoy services like private chefs, transfers, or guided excursions—making it easy to explore Lapland by day and return to quiet luxury by night. At Levi Spirit, every detail is designed for calm, privacy, and connection to nature at its most beautiful.
Ranua – Cloudberries, Wildlife and Calm Lakes
Ranua, nestled in Southern Lapland just an hour’s drive from Rovaniemi, is known for its golden marshes, peaceful atmosphere, and its status as Finland’s cloudberry capital. As autumn arrives, the landscape transforms into rich hues of orange and amber, and the forests fill with berries and mushrooms ready to be picked.
This is the ideal destination for travellers looking to slow down, breathe clean air, and reconnect with the natural world. Away from city crowds and noise, Ranua offers pleasantly warm early autumn weather and a quiet rhythm that invites you to relax.
A highlight for many is the Ranua Wildlife Park, home to over 50 Arctic species including lynx, wolves, snowy owls, and Finland’s only polar bears. In autumn, the paths are quieter, the foliage more vibrant, and the air fresh and crisp—perfect for a calm walk through the park’s forested enclosures.
Arctic Dreams House – Unique Accommodation Options in the Heart of Ranua
Arctic Dreams House offers a selection of charming and well-equipped accommodation options in Ranua, combining comfort, privacy, and direct access to Lapland’s peaceful nature. Whether you’re looking for a riverside villa, a cozy forest home, or a central apartment, each stay is designed to help you relax, explore, and enjoy the beauty of the surrounding landscape.
Wikkelä Villa is a spacious and stylish riverside house featuring large windows, a modern kitchen, and both an indoor and traditional wood-heated sauna—perfect for families or small groups.Hommala is a large wooden house nestled by the river, ideal for peaceful holidays or family celebrations, with space for up to 12 people and a sauna to enjoy after a day ou tdoors.n Haistila offers retro charm and forest views, with beds for up to nine adults and direct access to berry-picking trails and tranquil woodland right from the backyard. Koivutie Apartment, located in the centre of Ranua, is a convenient choice for guests arriving without a car. It includes a private sauna and terrace, and is within walking distance of local services.
Hotel Ivalo – Accommodation by the Golden River, Near the Arctic Border
Located on the peaceful banks of the Ivalo River, Hotel Ivalo is a cozy and convenient base in North Lapland—perfect for autumn travellers seeking nature, comfort, and easy access to both Finnish wilderness and the nearby Norwegian border.
As the leaves turn golden and the skies grow crisp, guests can enjoy riverside walks, forest hikes, or paddling trips in the quiet light of early autumn. The hotel features comfortable rooms, an atmospheric restaurant overlooking the river, a year-round indoor pool, and both public and private saunas for winding down after a day outdoors.
Just 9 km from Ivalo Airport and situated along the E75 highway, Hotel Ivalo is well-connected for exploring the wider region. It’s also a great stop for those heading further north toward Utsjoki or across the border into Norway—just a scenic drive away.
