Inari

Because Inari is 300 km north of the Arctic Circle, there is Midnight sun from late May to late July and Polar Night from the beginning of December to middle January. The last ice within the lake disappears at the end of May. Even in July, the average temperature is only about 17°C. Inari is the largest municipality in Finland (5 % of the country, but less than 7,000 inhabitants), stretching from the Norwegian border in the west to the Norwegian and Russian borders in the east.
Four languages are spoken in Inari: Finnish, Northern Sami, Inari Sami and Skolt Sami. Inari Sami is the language traditionally used by the lake. North Sami is the biggest Sami language, spread with large scale reindeer husbandry. The Skolt Sami people were evacuated from Petsamo (Pechenga) when Finland lost it in the World War.
Ivalo is the administrative centre of the municipality and the biggest village (4,000 inhabitants). Inari is the second (1,000 inhabitants) and houses the Sámi parliament and a Sámi cultural centre. Other villages include Angeli, Kaamanen, Lisma, Nellim, Näätämö, Saariselkä and Sevettijärvi. The municipality got road connection when the road to Petsamo was built 1929. There are parts of two national parks (Lemmenjoki and UKK) and six wilderness areas in the municipality (Muotkatunturit, Paistunturi, Kaldoaivi, Vätsäri, Tsarmitunturi, Hammastunturi). Lake Inari is the third lake in size in Finland, and there are 8,000 other lakes here.

The nearest airport is in Ivalo. Coaches from or via Rovaniemi pass Inari on their way to Utsjoki, Vadsø, Nordkapp or Kirkenes. By car, the easiest way to get here from southern Finland is by car/sleeper train to Rovaniemi. Inari lies along road E75, but it's over 15 hours by bus from Helsinki.

You can observe the northern lights dancing across the dark Lappish sky, any time between September and March, during your night walk if the sky is clear.
Other sights:

• Siida museum

  phone: +358 400-898-212
  address: Inarintie 46, Inari, FI-99870
  The Siida is a museum devoted to the history and culture of the Sámi, the original people of the area. It also doubles as a natural history museum for the region, displaying plants and wildlife from all of the areas inhabited by the Sámi. The main building is from 1998, the outdoor museum has traditions from 1959. The exhibitions are of international standard, and text is provided in local languages, English, and German. In addition to the indoor exhibition, there is an outdoor museum which features traditional Sámi dwellings. Plenty of free parking available at the site. Souvenirs, including literature on local Sámi languages. Siida acts also as a visitor centre for the national parks and other Metsähallitus facilities nearby.

• Sajos cultural centre

  address: Sajos 2
  Sami cultural centre and the headquarters of the Finnish Sami Parliament. Guided tours every working day at noon. Café Čaiju. Authentic Sami handicrafts and other products in Duodji Shop. Sami library.
• Lake Inari (Finnish: Inarijärvi, Northern Sami: Anárjávri, Inari Sami: Aanaarjävri, Skolt Sami: Aanarjäuʹrr) is the largest lake in Lapland and the 12th in Europe; about 40 x 80 km. The deepest point is 92 m. More than half of its area is not open water but a labyrinth of more than 3300 islands. The lake is a popular fishing destination, trout, Arctic char and grayling being the main catch. Sightseeing cruises start from the village. The lake starts to freeze in late October, and there may be still some ice left in June. The surface water temperature remains virtually always under +20°C.

• Ukonsaari island(Inari Sami: Äijih) This small but high island has been – and still is – a sacred place for the Sámi people. In the Lake Inari some 11 km from the Inari village. Offer rituals may have been held still in the 19th century, probably even later. Guided tours from Siida in summer. There has been some dispute that visiting the island should be forbidden to protect the sanctity of the place. If you choose to visit, please respect the place. Hautuumaasaaret ("Graveyard Islands"; protected area) and some other special islands nearby.

• Korkia-Maura Ice CaveA 15m long cave with permanently frozen ice layer on the floor. Reachable with boat in summertime, over the ice in the winter.

Pielpajärvi Wilderness ChurchThe wooden church is from 1760 and thus one of the oldest buildings in northern Lapland. There is a 5 km trail to the church from Sarviniementie parking lot, 3 km from Siida, through a nice forest. In wintertime there is a 18 km ski trail passing by the church. Campfire areas by the church and halfway. The church is still used for services every now and then.

Bear's Nest Stone

address: Inarijärventie 2362

An old legend tells that once a local man sought shelter during a snowstorm and found the opening under the stone. Next morning when he woke up he realized he had been sleeping next to a bear, hence the name. This huge stone high on a hill is actually almost hollow making it one of the weirdest places around. The stone itself is a glacial erratic and the geological name of this kind of void is "tafoni". The entrance into the stone is via a small opening close to the ground, inside the stone there is enough room for several people standing. Unfortunately not suitable for disabled: 200 m through the forest, mostly by stairs. The forest behind the hill has never been subject to logging and some pines are over 700 years old. There is a café by the parking lot.

Lake Inari is ideal for fishing, canoeing/kayaking and boating: you are mostly alone and maybe won't meet any person for weeks. The landscape is very nice because of the islands, but prepare for lots of mosquitoes. There are a number of open wilderness huts, lapp pole tents and cabins for rent on the islands. For boating you need the Lake Inarijärvi yachting chart (Inarijärven veneilykartta; chart no 480).
Canoes and bikes can be rented from the shop next to Hotel Inari. There are "sea kayaking" routes on the lake, and the Juutuanjoki for those preferring whitewater (but the Jäniskoski rapids have to be portaged; a memorial by the shore for one who thought he'll manage but drowned as he thought he had made it a little too early). It is possible to come by canoe all the way from Kultasatama in Lemmenjoki National Park (about 70km, most of it more easy/quiet canoeing).
There are also opportunities for horse riding and sleigh riding with huskies, depending on the season.
There are many nature and hiking trails in the area.

• Nature trails:

• Oi Juutua! telling about people, events and fishing. 7.5 km, starting point by the bridge in the village.
• Snowshoe Trail, telling about snow, 1.3 km, starting at the mouth of the Juutuanvuono Fjord.
• Five Senses Nature Trail telling about the history and nature, tough, unmarked but with GPS coordinates.

Other trails:

• Inari – Otsamo Trail, 9 km. The trail goes by the river through old pine forest, passes the fell birch zone to the treeless at 418 m. Great view from the top. Start from Siida or Jäniskoski (where you can get by car or by the Juutua trail). There is also a shorter trail (3 km) to the fell top from the Otsamo/Rovajärvi parking area.
• Pielpajärvi Wilderness Church Trail, see above

There are also cross country skiing tracks, biking trails and snowmobile tracks in the area.

• Lake & Snow Inari

  phone: +358 16 671-108
  Cruises, fishing trips and snowmobile safaris.

The Lemmenjoki National Park is nearby (45 km), the largest National Park in Finland, and, according to Metsähallitus, "one of the whole Europe’s most extensive uninhabited and roadless backwoods". The park can partly be explored by riverboat, but there are also marked trails and wilderness huts as well as rental huts, and a vast backcountry. The park borders to Øvre Anárjohka National Park in Norway.
Also nearby is the , "literally a wilderness area" according to Metsähallitus. There are no marked trails, few wilderness huts or other facilities in the wilderness area itself – and phones are out of signal except on fell tops. Experience and adequate equipment are needed, but the terrain is quite easy. Suitable for hiking and cross-country skiing, for those who enjoy the silence. A few places are more frequented, such as the Stuorraäytsi canyon.
At the south-eastern shore of lake Inari, there is the Nellim village, with an orthodox church. Nearby (5–7 km) there is infrastructure from the war (Rautaportti, "iron gate"), and a restored log-floating flume. 30 km farther is the common border point between Finland, Norway and Russia (guided tours offered; mind the border zone if going by yourselves, the border point itself is reachable without permits by a long hike around the border zone and along the Norwegian side of the border).
At the eastern end of the lake, past Nellim, is the roadless Vätsäri Wilderness Area, part of the Pasvik-Inari Trilateral Park. Rugged landscape with a mosaic of pine forests, mires and a labyrinth of the lakes. The Piilola trail through the area leads to Øvre Pasvik National Park in Norway (a rather special shortcut to Kirkenes). The trail is marked and there are wilderness huts, but hiking experience is needed as you are on your own here.

There are two supermarkets and a gas station in the village centre. The K-Market also serves as post office and pharmacy. There are several dedicated souvenir shops along the main road (E75).
Samekki +358 16 671-086, with handicraft by Petteri Laiti, a famous Sámi goldsmith. Laiti often combines silver and reindeer horn. Among the products are leuku knives, jewellery, spoons and guksi. Not cheap, but true to Sámi tradition and highly regarded. The atelier on a side street by the church is open M–F 10:00–16:00.
Inarin hopea +358 16 671-333, by the Juutuajoki bridge, sells locally made modern jewellery inspired by the traditions and nature of Lapland. You can also watch the goldsmith at work. Open daily in the summertime (15.6–31.8) 9:00–20:00, winter M–F 10:00–17:00.

• The hotels
• There is a small café at the top floor of the Siida museum, featuring a lunch buffet and sandwiches. Also the Sajos cultural centre has a café.

• Bear CaveThey offer meals from €6. It seems a bit like a tourist trap with the singing bear at the entrance. An a few hundred metres climb through the forest to the nest stone (nice variation to sitting in the car).

Budget

• Uruniemi camping

  phone: +358 50-371-8826
  address: Uruniementie 7
  Camping, cottages and rooms. By the lake. Café and kiosk.

• Vasatokka

  phone: +358 16 670-7960
  address: Angelintie 696
  A modern and comfortable hostel. Also cottages.

Mid-range

• Hotel Inari

  phone: +358 16 671-026
  address: Inarintie 40
  Free internet available in the reception area and nearby rooms. Rooms have different standards. Nice view over Lake Inari from some rooms. Restaurant with full menu at a reasonable price. Many of the courses are based on local produce such as reindeer, fish from Lake Inari, and berries. Bar open to 03:00 in summer.

• Hotel Inarin Kultahovi

  phone: +358 16 511-7100
  address: Saarikoskentie 2
  With a riverfront sauna.

• Hotel Korpikartano

  phone: +358 40-777-4339
  address: Meneskartanontie 71
  Variety of summer and winter activities are offered.

Off roads

Going out boating or on the trails, right to access applies, except minor protected areas (and of course private yards etc.). There are campfire sites along the trails (not to be used during wildfire warnings). There are open wilderness huts on some islands in the lake. There are also wilderness huts for rent. Camping by open wilderness huts or campfire places is to be preferred over wild camping, where reasonable. Yards of rental huts are to be treated as yards of private homes.

Postal code 99870 Inari.
Mobile phones should work well in the village and along the main roads, but in the wilderness there are large areas with spotty coverage.

• The gold village Tankavaara, 100 km to the south, on E75
• The ski and spa resort of Saariselkä, 70 kilometers to the south