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Town and municipality in North Ostrobothnia, Finland
Photo: Timo Newton-Syms from Helsinki, Finland and Chalfont St Giles, Bucks, UK, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Kuusamo is a town and a municipality of same name in Northern Finland. The high season for tourism is the winter when people head to the Ruka skiing resort 20 km north of the town. However, the Oulanka National Park 20 km farther to the north is also very popular and can be visited around the year.
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Tourist information, the Hannu Hautala Nature Photography Centre, cafeteria and a Metsähallitus’ customer service point giving information and hiking advice regarding the "nearby" destinations and selling fishing and hunting permits.
Changing art exhibitions.
Kotiseutumuseo
Old farmhouses.
Oulangan Luontokeskus
Information on hiking, camping and on the national park in general. Also an exhibition, films, fishing permits. Mostly accessible by wheelchair, pets welcome. Several hiking trails, including an easy 1-km trail, start here.
The trail of the bear
The most popular hiking trail in Finland having up to 60 000 hikers each year (though not all of them trek the whole trail.) The 80-km-long trail leads through two beautiful national parks. There are also several shorter variations of the trail. The trail is easily accessible from Kuusamo airport with a bus that takes you to the beginning of the trail. Although the trail is quite easy, you should still be prepared with a decent map and enough food. Water is not a problem, as there are plenty of rivers that have clean and drinkable water. There are several open wilderness huts (Finnish: autiotupa), where you can stay overnight for free, but huts tend to get full during peak season, end of June to beginning of August, so you really should consider bringing your own tent. It is possible to extend the hike all the way to Urho Kekkonen National Park by the UKK trail.
Virtually pristine nature, unique even in the scale of Western Europe (according to Finnish Forest Administration). By the Russian border, 30 km from Kuusamo town. Forests, natural small waterways, bogs, high hills with good views and a wilderness farm. The Hyöteikkö trail is closed as the duckboards are in bad shape; the Näränkä Vaaranpolku trail (3 km) is still reached via the Näränkä farm.
Hiking trail (10 km) around the Julma-Ölkky lake. A shorter route, Ölkyn ylitys (5 km) takes a shortcut by a suspension bridge over the lake. Impressing canyon lake. Rock paintings. Both trails are fairly demanding; the terrain is rough. The trail is part of the Hossa National Park.
Ravintola Mango
The restaurant in the spa hotel offering healthy food.
Spa Cafe
The restaurant has à la carte meals, pizza, toast, salad and different kinds of snacks on their menu.
Three restaurants: Torrero for really good meal, Ollin Baari for drinks and Hotku Club for dancing.
Sporttibaari
This place is for sport fans. You can go bowling, play billiards, watch sports or just enjoy a drink.
A large spa hotel. Bar and restaurant, Angry Birds theme park, bowling and gym.
Petäjänlammen lomakylä
Accommodation in cottages, camping area and hotel rooms (Hotelli Kuusanka). Petäjälammentie is some 4.5 km north from Kuusamo centre.
Oivangin Lomakartano has three log villas. They are near lakes known for their clean waters and variety of fish. Junganjoentie is some 13 km north-west from Kuusamo centre.
Ollilan Lomamajat
8 well-equipped cottages around the lake Välijärvi. Every cottage has its own sauna, boat and swimming area.
Different kinds of accommodation in the peace of wilderness. Private restaurant, smoke sauna, meeting facilities and a typical Lappish hut.
Holiday village with tent area and caravan site with electricity. Breakfast, restaurant and a lobby bar. Saunas by the lake. Lots of organized activities available.
Some cabins and a caravan site. Own tents welcome. Shared showers and toilets. Kiosk and sauna.
Cabins and camping area in Juuma village by the very popular Small Karhunkierros hiking route and at the border of Oulanka National Park. Café-bar open June-September, cabins available year round.
Camping area deep in the wilderness by river Kuusinkijoki, next to excellent fishing and trekking resources. Small cabins, caravan area and site for tents. Café. Outdoor kitchen. Sauna.
The famous spoon lure manufacturer Kuusamon Uistin has a shop on the factory premises. There is also a café.
Small downtown mall next to the market square. Grocery store, pharmacy, clothes etc.
Big S-group supermarket in Kuusamo city. Daily items, clothing, sport equipment, etc.
Big K-group supermarket. Here you can buy almost anything.
Lidl.
Alcoholic beverages.
By train
The nearest train stations are in Kemijärvi (135 km) and Rovaniemi (180 km). Often Oulu (205 km) is more convenient, with connecting buses timed to train arrivals.
By bus
It takes 3 hr by coach from Oulu to Kuusamo and about ½ hr more to Ruka. The one-way ticket costs €30–40/adult and there are 2–3 departures daily.
By plane
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Kuusamo · Regional · KAO
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