Located in northeastern Finland, close to the Russian border, Kuusamo offers a different side of Lapland in summer and autumn. Instead of snow and crowds, you’ll find vast forests, clear lakes and open landscapes where nature is always present and easy to access.
During summer, long daylight hours allow you to spend entire days outdoors, hiking through silent forests, swimming in clean lakes or simply enjoying the calm surroundings. As the season turns to autumn, the landscape transforms into vibrant shades of red, orange and gold, while darker evenings bring the first chance to see the northern lights.
Kuusamo is also a place where local culture and nature are closely connected. Wild food, traditional sauna experiences and small, family-run destinations play a key role in shaping the experience. The following four companies offer different ways to discover the region, from refined dining and countryside traditions to deep wilderness stays and flexible accommodation.
Isokenkäisten Klubi
Wilderness accommodation, award-winning smoke sauna and authentic wild food
Hidden deep in the wilderness near Finland’s eastern border, family-run Isokenkäisten Klubi offers wilderness accommodation, traditional sauna experiences and local wild food in a peaceful natural setting. Located by the clear waters of Lake Heikinjärvi, far from crowds and artificial light, it provides a quiet base for experiencing nature, local cuisine and authentic northern traditions. Hostesses Katja Vira and Sirpa Kämäräinen welcome guests with warm, personal hospitality, creating an experience shaped by genuine care, the surrounding untouched wilderness and a strong sense of place.
Accommodation blends naturally into the landscape, with options ranging from a wilderness hotel, guest house and traditional log cabins to unique Aurora huts set right by the lake. These glass-roofed huts offer uninterrupted views of the surrounding nature and, from late summer into autumn, the chance to observe the northern lights in complete darkness. Built with respect for tradition and the environment, Isokenkäisten Klubi uses local wood and recycled materials throughout its buildings and operates according to Green Key certified sustainability principles, reflecting a strong commitment to responsible tourism.
Guests can explore the area through hiking in the surrounding forests, rowing on the lake, swimming in clear water, and picking berries and mushrooms depending on the season. These nature activities offer an easy way to experience the local nature and outdoor lifestyle.
One of the highlights is the award-winning Seven Star Smoke Sauna. Heated slowly with birch wood, it offers soft, gentle heat and a deeply relaxing atmosphere. The experience is completed with a refreshing swim in the lake, creating a strong connection between traditional sauna culture and the surrounding wilderness.
Food is a central part of the Klubi experience. At the private Restaurant Klubi, the focus is on genuine, traditional cuisine from Kuusamo, prepared from locally sourced ingredients. Fish comes from nearby lakes, game from local hunters, and berries, herbs and mushrooms are foraged from the surrounding forests. Dishes are handmade in the Klubi kitchen, based on carefully refined family recipes.
Guests can choose from several menus, such as the Lappish-style dinner, highlighting seasonal ingredients from the north, or the Klubi’s Special Dinner, a multi-course menu served in an atmospheric setting. Meals can also be enjoyed by the open fire in a traditional Lappish hut, adding to the overall experience.
Visitors are also welcome to experience Isokenkäisten Klubi without staying overnight. Whether coming for a sauna session, a wild food meal or simply to enjoy the surrounding nature, it is possible to spend a day here and still experience the essence of the place.
At Isokenkäisten Klubi, the experience is built around a few essential elements, silence, nature, sauna and local food, creating a genuine and unhurried way to experience the untouched wilderness of Kuusamo.
Rukako
Flexible holiday rentals in Ruka-Kuusamo with personal service and local expertise
Rukako is a family-run accommodation provider offering cottage and holiday apartment rentals in the Ruka–Kuusamo region. With roots going back to 1992, the company is run by local couple Juha and Katja, and has grown from a small family business into a trusted name in accommodation and travel services.
Despite this growth, the focus has remained the same: personal service, genuine hospitality and keeping people at the centre of everything they do.
With over 100 cottages, villas and holiday apartments, many located near Ruka, one of Finland’s most popular ski resorts and year-round outdoor destinations, Rukako offers one of the widest selections of rental accommodation in the area. This makes it easy to find the right option for different travel styles, whether you are looking for privacy in nature or convenient access to the village and its services.
For those seeking peace and space, traditional log cabins and larger villas provide a comfortable stay surrounded by nature. Set in quiet locations near forests and lakes, they offer a relaxed atmosphere and a strong connection to the landscape, making them particularly well suited for families and groups.
Alternatively, holiday apartments near Ruka Village offer a more central option. Staying close to restaurants, shops and activities brings ease and flexibility, especially for shorter stays or for those who prefer everything within walking distance.
What sets Rukako apart is its strong focus on personal service. As a local, family-run company, guests benefit from direct support and local knowledge, ensuring that everything from booking to arrival runs smoothly. All properties are well maintained and fully equipped, offering dependable quality and good value.
Summer and autumn are an excellent time to visit Ruka–Kuusamo. Outside the winter peak season, the area is quieter and more spacious, with better availability and often more attractive pricing. Nature is easily accessible, with hiking trails, lakes and outdoor experiences right on your doorstep.
Rukako is an ideal choice for travellers looking for flexible holiday rentals, reliable service and a comfortable base to experience Kuusamo at their own pace.
Studio Restaurant Tundra
Private dining, wild food and handcrafted design in northern nature
Located in Kuusamo, Studio Restaurant Tundra is a reservation-based private restaurant for groups, where northern wild food, handcrafted ceramics and the surrounding wilderness come together as one cohesive experience. Set among forested hills and open landscapes, nature forms an integral part of the visit.
At the centre is Jarmo Pitkänen, Maître Rôtisseur and ceramic artist, who designs both the menus and the tableware. His work combines international influences with locally harvested ingredients from Kuusamo’s forests and lakes. Seasonal menus highlight wild food such as fish, game, mushrooms and berries, presented as carefully composed multi-course dining experiences.
Designed for pre-booked groups of 4 to 30 guests, the experience is intimate and highly personalised, more akin to a private gathering than a traditional restaurant. Every element is thoughtfully composed to create a balanced, multi-sensory experience, with each dish served on ceramics crafted by the chef himself.
The ceramics studio is an integral part of Tundra. Located within the same building, it produces all tableware used in the restaurant, as well as artistic and functional ceramic pieces. Guests can also purchase these items, allowing them to take a part of the experience home.
In addition to private dining, Tundra offers tailored cooking courses for groups. These provide a more interactive experience, where guests prepare and enjoy a multi-course meal under the chef’s guidance, combining learning, social interaction and high-quality dining.
Catering services extend the experience beyond the restaurant. Guests can enjoy a fine dining-level dinner in their own villa or cabin, either as a fully hosted experience or as ready-made seasonal menus delivered for a more relaxed setting.
Studio Restaurant Tundra stands out as one of the most distinctive culinary experiences in Kuusamo, especially for small groups, private celebrations, corporate gatherings and travellers seeking a carefully crafted and personal dining experience in the heart of northern nature.
Pohjolan Pirtti & Kievari
Sauna, wild food and Finnish countryside traditions
In the peaceful village of Vuotunki, about 30 minutes from Ruka and Kuusamo, Pohjolan Pirtti & Kievari offers a setting where Finnish traditions, nature and local food come together in a natural and unhurried way. With a history dating back to 1686, the destination is rooted in old buildings, family heritage and a way of life shaped by the surrounding forests and lakes.
One of the most complete ways to experience this is the countryside sauna evening with wild food dinner. The evening begins in Pohjola’s Sauna Lodge, a restored former cowshed that now houses three different saunas: a soft, birch-scented steam sauna, a traditional Finnish sauna and a wood-heated log sauna on the terrace. Between sauna sessions, guests can step outside to cool down or relax in a wood-heated hot tub, surrounded by quiet countryside landscapes.
After the sauna, the experience continues in a historic farmhouse, where a Wild Food Dinner is served. The menu is built around ingredients gathered from nearby forests and lakes, including fish, game, wild herbs, berries and mushrooms. The atmosphere is warm and social, with stories of local life adding depth to the meal.
The Wild Food Dinner can also be enjoyed on its own, offering a relaxed way to experience the clean, seasonal flavours of Kuusamo in atmospheric log buildings.
During summer, the Summer Café is located at Pohjolan Pirtti, offering a relaxed countryside setting for visitors. Open from Thursday to Sunday, the café serves homemade sweet and savoury treats, freshly brewed coffee and light local dishes, including a daily lunch. It works well as a stop during a day of exploring, whether arriving by car or by bike.
The Pirtti also serves as the starting and ending point for the Kuntivaara gravel cycling route, making it a natural stop for cyclists. As activities and private events are more frequent at Kievari during summer, the café and cycling services are focused on the Pirtti side, where visitors can access services more easily throughout the day.
For those looking to experience everyday Finnish life more closely, Day as a Finn offers a hands-on and social experience built around simple traditions. The day begins with a warm welcome by the fire, followed by storytelling about local life and seasonal rhythms. Guests take part in traditional baking in a historic family home, learn about Finnish customs, and gather to enjoy a hearty meal prepared from local ingredients. Moments around the fire, shared food and conversation create a relaxed and genuine atmosphere.
At Pohjolan Pirtti & Kievari, you experience Finnish sauna culture, local wild food and countryside traditions in a relaxed and authentic setting, where the focus is on simple moments, good food and time spent together.
