Welcome to Rovaniemi

The tour begins in Rovaniemi, the capital of Lapland, where you should preferably arrive by 4:00 PM on August 26th. We will pick up participants from the airport or train station. During the day, we will stock up on snacks for the first 1.5 days of the trip, prepare the bikes, and later in the evening, we’ll meet for a welcome dinner where we will also go over the schedule and double-check the equipment list.

Accommodation: Hostel Café Koti
Dinner: A cozy restaurant in Rovaniemi (e.g., Yuca)
Important Notes:

• Your extra luggage can be stored in a minibus that will leave in the evening from Rovaniemi.
• This minibus will be available to you in Äkäslompolo and Alta.

Rovaniemi – Miekojärvi

The route starts on the bike path from Rovaniemi Station, following bike paths outside the city of Rovaniemi along the Kemi River, before we dive into the dense Arctic boreal forest on gravel.

Route Highlights:

• The first nice spot for a break is after 64 km at the Meltos River dock.
• The accommodation for the night is only 10 km away, so depending on the weather and how we feel, we might go straight there.
• Along the way, there are a few lovely fresh springs to refill our water supply.

Meals:

• Breakfast: Hostel Café Koti
• Lunch: Additional freeze-dried meal outdoors + personal snacks or other food items as preferred
• Dinner: Restaurant Loma-Vietonen

Accommodation: Loma-Vietonen Resort
Stage: Rovaniemi to the Miekojärvi area and Loma-Vietonen accommodation (71 km, 870 m elevation gain)

Miekojärvi – Northern Pello

The first opportunity to shop along the route is the M-Market in Lankajärvi, after a stretch of asphalt. In the village of Pello, 50 km from Miekojärvi, there are several services, as well as a gas station restaurant and a grocery store. Here, we’ll stock up on snacks for the rest of the day and the next day. From Pello, the route follows cobblestones along the Finnish-Swedish border river Tornio (the largest salmon river in the world by water volume) to the Jouttensuvannon loma resort, where we will spend the night.

Meals:

• Breakfast: Restaurant Loma-Vietonen
• Lunch: Additional freeze-dried meal outdoors + personal snacks or other food items as preferred. Or if we make it to Pello, we’ll have lunch at the gas station and save the freeze-dried meals for later.
• Dinner: Jouttensuvannon loma doesn’t have a restaurant, so a meal box with ingredients for smoked reindeer noodles (+wine) awaits us.

Accommodation: Jouttensuvannon loma Cottages
Stage: Rovaniemi to the Miekojärvi area and to Loma-Vietonen cottage (71 km, 870 m elevation gain)

Pello – Äkäslompolo

The third day starts with a few quick kilometers on the asphalt along the border river before we turn back onto old lumberjack roads into the taiga. Before reaching the Kämppäsajo day trip cabin, there is a nice small spring behind a public cabin where you can fill your water bottles with fresh spring water. Before reaching the village of Kolari, there is an ICA Lahtis supermarket on the Swedish side of the river, a small detour, but if we want to take a quick side trip to Sweden, it's definitely worth it. There are no border controls between Finland and Sweden, and the crossing is easy.

In the village of Kolari, 45 km away, there is a grocery store, a gas station restaurant, and a small burger-like restaurant. We’ll have lunch there unless the group gets hungry earlier. In that case, we will have a quick freeze-dried meal on the go and then quickly stock up on snacks in the village. From Kolari, we’ll continue for 24 kilometers on an asphalt road before the route turns toward the village of Äkäslompolo on the old main road along the Äkäs River. The Hannukainen shed is a nice spot for a break by the river before a section with small forest paths and light single trails begins. In the Äkäslompolo resort, there is a wide variety of restaurants, a large supermarket, a sports store with some spare parts, and a mechanic.

Meals:

• Breakfast: Homemade breakfast at Jouttensuvannon loma. The ingredients are in a previously delivered food box.
• Lunch: Additional freeze-dried meal outdoors + personal snacks or other food items as preferred. Or, if we make it to Kolari, we’ll have lunch at a gas station or burger stand and save the freeze-dried meals for later.
• Dinner: Dinner at a nice restaurant in Äkäslompolo.

Accommodation: A nice cottage in Äkäslompolo with a sauna.
Note: Your luggage will be accessible in Äkäslompolo in the evening.
Stage: Jouttensuvannon Loma Cottages to the village of Äkäslompolo (95 km, 885 m elevation gain)

Äkäslompolo – Jeris

Day 4 is an easy one, just 50 km, allowing plenty of time in the morning for drivetrain maintenance, minor repairs, and stocking up on snacks for lunch. The route starts from Äkäslompolo on a paved road leading to the Äkäs River. From there, a narrow gravel road continues north, running alongside the national park and passing the tiny, old wilderness hut Pahtavuoma, about 30 km from the start. This historic little hut is worth a visit unless it’s pouring rain, cold, and windy.

The rest of the day is also easy to ride, first on a fast gravel road along the lakeshore and then on asphalt towards our accommodation. The Arctic Sauna World, featuring four different saunas at Hotel Jeris, is strategically located at the end of the day’s ride.

Breakfast: At the selected lodge in Äkäslompolo
Lunch: In Äkäslompolo before departure.
Dinner: Restaurant at Hotel Jeris
Accommodation: Hotel Jeris & Sauna World
Stage: Village of Äkäslompolo to Hotel Jeris & Sauna World (49 km, 530 m elevation gain)

Jeris – Hetta

Almost directly from the hotel, a section of the old postal road leads over a fjäll on an easy singletrack and a small gravel road, offering stunning views of the highland landscape of Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park. The grocery store in Raattama is located 25 km from the start of the day and is the last supply point before reaching the village of Hetta, 62 km away.

The paved road from Raattama to Hetta is lightly trafficked and runs partly through the primeval forest of the national park, with occasional views of the mountains. The village of Hetta offers a range of services, including a small bike repair shop.

Breakfast: Restaurant at Hotel Jeris
Lunch: Additional freeze-dried meal outdoors + personal snacks or other food as desired
Dinner: Restaurant or lodge restaurant in Hetta
Accommodation: Hetan Majatalo
Stage: Hotel Jeris & Sauna World to the village of Hetta (87 km, 570 m elevation gain)

Hetta – Kautokeino

Unfortunately, today we have to take the main transit road from Finland to Norway, a necessary inconvenience to complete this stage. We will encounter trucks and camper vans from tourists along the way.

In the first hours of the day, the boreal forest gradually transforms into treeless Arctic tundra, and by the time we reach the Finnish-Norwegian border checkpoint, the views of the ever-expanding hills are truly impressive. The only place to get food during the day is the café and restaurant at Galdotieva, 28 km from Hetta. In Kautokeino, all essential services are available except for a bike repair shop.

Breakfast: Restaurant at the lodge in Hetta
Lunch: Additional freeze-dried meal outdoors + personal snacks or other food as desired. However, after 28 km, there is a café in Galdotieva that could serve as a lunch stop if it’s not too early in the day.
Dinner: A meal prepared by the Sámi family who owns the accommodation, cooked in a traditional Lavvu (tipi).
Accommodation: Goldin
Stage: Hetta to Kautokeino (81 km, 440 m elevation gain)

Kautokeino – Suolovuopmi

While the previous two days were mostly on asphalt, the final two days take us onto the famous Finnmark Highland Crossing along the old postal road on gravel. The traffic-free 4x4 track, in varying conditions, is occasionally very rough but otherwise an incredible route, winding from lake to lake and pond to pond through the vast Arctic tundra. Along the route, there are several reindeer herding stations that are unused in summer but likely to be active in early summer and late September/early October.

Due to the occasionally rough road conditions, this will likely be the longest day of the entire tour. Today, having large tires up to 50mm will pay off, as the rough terrain is best tackled with wider tires. The Fjellstue Suolovuopmi is one of the historic lodges originally built and operated by order of the Norwegian king to serve travelers along the postal route. Today, it functions as a café, restaurant, and guesthouse offering several accommodation options.

Breakfast: At Goldin
Lunch: Additional freeze-dried meal outdoors + personal snacks or other food as desired.
Dinner: Suolovuopmi Fjellstue
Accommodation: Suolovuopmi Fjellstue
Stage: Kautokeino to Suolovuopmi Fjellstue (79 km, 740 m elevation gain)

Suolovuopmi – Alta

The final section of the old postal road has been restored for tourism, allowing for much faster progress than the previous day. The landscape remains similar until reaching the edge of the Finnmark Plateau, where a long, continuous descent towards the Arctic Ocean begins. There is an option to take a detour to a viewpoint overlooking the Alta Canyon, the largest canyon in Northern Europe. The dry, windy, and cold highlands of Finnmark quickly transition into the lush and green coastal forests of the Alta River Valley as elevation decreases towards sea level. The tour concludes at the waterfront promenade in the city center of Alta.

Breakfast: At Suolovuopmi Fjellstue
Lunch: Additional freeze-dried meal outdoors + personal snacks or other food as desired. Afternoon coffee at Gargia Fjellstue after 28 km, following the (optional) detour to the Alta Canyon.
Dinner: Restaurant in Alta
Accommodation: Hotel in Alta
Note: Luggage will be transported to Alta in the evening.
Stage: Suolovuopmi Fjellstue to Alta City (55 km, 700 m elevation gain)

Alta

Transfers back to Rovaniemi by minivans. Departure early in the morning, depending on flight schedules.
An additional personal stay in Alta is possible.