Pyhä

Very prominent Pyhätunturi fell has been a sieidi, a sacred place, to the Sami people for ages. When the christianity arrived here the Pyhänkasteenlähde (Holy Baptism Spring) pond was used for baptism from 1620 until 1680. The exceptional nature values of the area were officially acknowledged in 1938 when Pyhätunturi National Park was established.
To be exact Pyhätunturi is not a single mountain but a group of five separate peaks. From east to west these are Kultakero, Ukonhattu, Noitatunturi, Laakakero and Peurakero. Noitatunturi is the highest top while all the pistes are on Kultakero. The ravines between the peaks are steep and impressive but during winter avalances are common.
Pyhä was popular cross-country skiing grounds since the 1930's even though there wasn't even roads to the area. The first piste with a lift was opened in 1964 and a small hotel with a restaurant were opened in 1966. All the founders were locals. Since 1987 Pyhä has operated under the same company which runs Ruka resort in Kuusamo. During the 1990's Pyhä got a lot of fame as a party place for people in their twenties.
In 2005 the national park was extended to Luosto fells in north forming the current Pyhä-Luosto National Park. There were 174 000 visitors to the park in 2018. Thanks to the national park Pyhä is attractive also during the summer and there is strong will to develop the area environment first instead of mass tourism.
During the 2010's there's been huge financial investations to the resort. Today Pyhä has 14 pistes including Huttu-Ukko piste which is the steepest maintained piste in Finland. FIS-class Piste Palander is also used for training professional alpine skiers. The resort has 5300 beds, most of them in cottages and holiday apartments.

By car

If you arrive by car via E63 turn to Finnish road 962 at Vuostimo village. If you arrive via E75 turn to road 962 at Torvinen village. The resort has good markings.

By bus

There are daily coach connections from Rovaniemi via Luosto resort called SkiBus. The SkiBus visits railway station, bus station, city centre and airport before it heads to Luosto and Pyhä. A bus ticket from Rovaniemi costs €31/adult, €21/young person, €15/child or student. The trip takes about 2.5 hours.
Daily coaches from Kemijärvi railway station or Kemijärvi ABC to Pyhä cost about €12/adult and the trip takes about an hour.
Check Matkahuolto for details. Use "Pyhätunturi" as your destination.

By train

The VR has a direct connection to Pyhä resort both from Kemijärvi and Rovaniemi railway stations. When using the VR travel search use "Pyhä" as your destination. A one-way train ticket from Helsinki cost around €100/adult including the following bus trip. Students studying in Finland are eligible for a discount upon presentation of a student identity card issued jointly by Matkahuolto and VR rail service.

By plane

The nearest airport is at Rovaniemi which has good national and international connections. The SkiBus runs daily between Pyhä resort and Rovaniemi airport via Luosto. The SkiBus waits delayed flight for one hour. If your flight is delayed more than that contact Kutilan Liikenne Oy and inform about the situation. The SkiBus costs €31/adult, €21/young person, €15/child or student.

Area is relatively small so things are mostly reachable by walking or skiing. Notice however that the resort is on the slope of the fell and there is notable elevation difference in the area.
From January to April the Pyhä shuttle drives a circular route around the resort. The shuttle is free of charge. Otherwise you need to use taxi or the long distance coaches. Check Matkahuolto for details. SkiBus trip between Pyhä and Luosto cost €7.

• Taxi Haikonen. Phone: +358 400 65 65 00

• Pyhä-Luosto visitor centre Naava

  phone: +358 206 39 7302
  address: Luontotie 1
  Municipal tourist information. Exhibition about Pyhä-Luosto fell area, its geology, nature, and history of the forest Samis. Restaurant. Maps and other information about nature destinations in the East-Lapland. Keys for the rental huts in the wilderness.

• Isokuru ravine, holy baptism spring and waterfallIsokuru-Pyhäkuru ravine is a very impressive place and has many fascinating geological features. The Samis were baptised to christianity at Pyhänkasteenlähde which means Holy Baptism Spring. The pond is very deep and the site has been holy to the Sami people for ages. There is a 17 meters high waterfall next to the pond. By a nature trail about 3 km from the resort.

• Noitatunturi fellNoitatunturi means the Witch Fell. The highest top of the Pyhätunturi fells offers incredible sights over the surrounding landscape. A circular marked trail from the resort to the top is 14.7 km long. The trail is occasionally rocky and the climb during the trail is over 300 meters.

• Lampivaara amethyst mine

  phone: +358 16 624 334
  address: Luostontie 4
  The only amethyst mine in Europe. The entrance fee includes a guided tour to the quarry and every visitor may dig his/hers own amethyst and keep it. Café is open year round. NOTICE: The parking lot is 3 km from the mine and there are lots of stairs so the visit is not suitable for disabled. The Amethyst Shop is at Luosto resort.

• The pistes open in November and the winter sports season ends usually in late April.

• Pyhä-Luosto National ParkPyhä-Luosto National Park covers old-growth forests, large mires and treeless fells. Several marked hiking and skiing trails from a 4 km long circular route to extensive 35 km long trail all the way to Luosto. The MTB routes are 12-35 km. More information from visitor centre Naava.

• Pyhä UnpluggedSemi-acoustic music festival in early August. The main stage is totally unique Aittakuru stage at the bottom of Aittakuru ravine.

• K-market Pyhäntähti

  phone: +358 16 882 810
  address: Kultakeronkatu 4
  Groceries and souvenirs. Mail service. Gasoline. Prescription-free drugs. Alko pick-up point, delivery within 4 days from order.

• Lettovilla

  phone: +358 40 020 0306
  address: Kultakeronkatu 2
  Gifts and souvenirs.
• The nearest pharmacy is in Pelkosenniemi village (25 km) and Alko in Kemijärvi (57 km).

• Café Loimu

  phone: +358 40 196 4750
  address: Luontotie 1
  Buffet restaurant and café at visitor centre Naava. Lunch.

• Huttu-Uula

  phone: +358 400 271 839
  address: Luontotie 8
  À la carte restaurant and slope restaurant. Awarded with Chaîne des Rôtisseurs shield.

• Colorado Bar & Grill

  phone: +358 40 6434 116
  address: Kultakeronkatu 21
  Burgers and BBQ. Lapland specialities.

• Restaurant Huttuhippu and Huttu-Pub

  phone: +358 16 882 821
  address: Ukonhattu 1
  Pub with pub food. Open from November to April.

• Pyhä Wurst

  phone: +358 400 101 681
  address: Pohjoisrinteentie 1
  Pub food. Open during the winter season.

• Tsokka

  phone: +358 40 744 5057
  This café is located on top of the Kultakero fell. Open from November to April.

• Sportbar Pyhä

  phone: +358 400 330 801
  address: Kultakeronkatu 4
  Bar and pub food. Games and sport. Karaoke. K-18 after 10pm. Open year round.

• Calle house

  phone: +358 40 160 9958
  address: Kultakeronkatu 21
  Legendary after ski. Live show at Tuesdays. Food at the daytime.

The most accommodations at Pyhä resort are cottages.

• SKI-INN Hotel Pyhätunturi

  phone: +358 8 860 0500
  address: Kultakeronkatu 21
  Rooms and apartments. Sauna and gym. Breakfast included.

• Metallikero apartment hotel

  phone: +358 8 860 0500
  address: Laakakero 3
  Small hotel next to the family pistes. 12 rooms for 2 persons and 6 rooms for 3 persons. Bookings via SKI-INN Hotel Pyhätunturi. Discount price if you are member of Finnish Industrial Union.

• Pyhä caravan area

  phone: +358 88 600 400
  Caravan park next to the resort. WC, shower, sauna, dishwasher and washing machine. Free-WiFi. Available also at the wintertime. Reception at SKI-INN Hotel Pyhätunturi.

• Pyhä Igloos

  phone: +358 400 448 160
  address: Kerontie 3
  Aurora igloos for 2-4 persons. Aurora watch. Sauna with outdoor tub. Car rental. Private transport from/to Rovaniemi.

• HolidayClub Pyhä

  phone: +358 300 870 900
  Two holiday apartment villages in the forest about one kilometer from each other. Intended primarily for families.

• Pyhähippu booking centre

  phone: +358 16 882 820
  address: Kultakeronkatu 4
  Pyhähippu booking office has over 120 cottages for rent around the area.

• Pyhä Booking

  phone: +358 8 8600 400
  address: Kultakeronkatu 21
  Pyhä booking office has more than 120 cabins and cottages for rent.

• Pyhän Asteli Resort

  phone: +358 40 188 7777
  address: Astelintie 1
  Holiday apartment village with aurora igloos and aurora suites. Various winter activities. During the summer caravans and camping. Winter restaurant.

• Lucky Ranch Snow Igloos

  phone: +358 40 754 0683
  address: Pyhäntie 1210
  Accommodation in real snow igloos. Lots of different activities around the year, horses as speciality. Restaurant & bar open by request.

There are two private medical stations at Pyhä: at Hotel Pyhätunturi and at the shopping centre. Check your insurance. Public healthcare station is at Pelkosenniemi village.
If going off-piste check carefully the situation for avalances. The steep, treeless ravines on the area are risky.