Skolt Sámi Heritage House

Unlike most Samis, the Skolt Sami are orthodox. Designed by Ole Albert Gottleben and finished in 1951, this simple wooden church is an example of functionalist architecture. It was first an orthodox prayer room (chasovnya) and after a renovation in 1992 it was designated a church.

Kaldoaivi is the largest of the Finnish wilderness areas, and the wilderness continues on the Norwegian side of the border. The area is mostly highland with gentle fells and treeless fell heath alternating with sparse mountain birch forest, with the odd deep and steep river valley. In the south-west there is a large protected mire area: Sammuttijänkä-Vaijoenjänkä. There is a 77-km marked hiking trail through the area from the Sevettijärvi village to the lake Pulmankijärvi near Nuorgam and another following the old Anárašmáđe/Inarinpolku trade route from Sevettijärvi to Karlebotn by the Barents Sea.

The Finnish Forest Administration tells: "In Vätsäri you can experience the astonishing silence of a wilderness in its natural state. The remote location of Vätsäri, [...], in roadless backwoods, means that mass tourism would never disturb the peace of the area." The extremely rugged mosaic of pine forests, mires, lakes and creeks is difficult to navigate, so experience is truly needed to go independently. The area is considered the most difficult to hike in the whole of Finland. There are no marked trails through the Vätsäri area but the 35-km Piilola Trail going through the southern part, ending up in Norway, and the Saami Trail, which climbs up to the fell called Semekurtta about 6 km after leaving Sevettijärvi. From Semekurtta one can have a view of this notorious landscape.

The Sami Trail is an 87-km circular trail from Sevettijärvi to Näätämö and back. The trail follows old paths used by locals. First it takes the hiker deep into the labyrinth of lakes and forest south from the road, and later up to the treeless heaths in Kaldoaivi Wilderness Area. The trail follows the route Sevettijärvi–Kirakkajärvi–Näätämö–Rousajärvi–Opukasjärvi–Sevettijärvi, and takes about one week to accomplish. The trail is ranked demanding and requires some orienteering skills. There are three open wilderness huts and several campfire sites on the trail.

An almost 10 km long rift valley in the Vätsäri Wilderness Area. No road connection. Hiking from the road to the nearest end of the gorge takes about a day. There is no official trail to the gorge but it is still a relatively popular destination. Lomarengas rents the old Pakanajoki wilderness estate, which is located 6 km (by trail) from the gorge. Vätsäri can be recommended only for experienced hikers.

Small fell just some 4 km south from Näätämö village at the Norwegian border. Guided hiking trips from Näätämö. The original Inari Sami name Juovlâlâhtuodâr means a fell with rugged grounds but as word for Christmas, juovlah, is so similar, the name has been mistranslated into Finnish as Joulutunturi, the Christmas Fell.