Finnish travel advice

Finnish summers are very mild but the temperatures can exceed easily 25°C at summer. Nights are around 10°C at summer but by autumn (September) they can drop in the night around 0°C.

In summer you might have long dry periods but it can also rain very hard. There can be a lot of mosquitos in the evenings at midsummer (June/July). They are not so many and aggressive as in northern Finland, but your trip will be much more comfortable if you are well prepared.


When you are coming on our trips you should pack these items with you:

- A good pair of hiking boots - Raingear: can be rainjacket and pants but also a poncho - A sleeping bag with comfort temperature of at least 5°C. Or buy an extra linen for your normal sleeping bag. - Mosquito repellent - At least one pair of long trousers and long-sleeved shirts A mosquito net is advicable in June and July The phone network is also working in forests and national parks. Take a working phone with you with a battery for at least two days. When staying in a cabin it is possible to charge your phone.

Take also these....when hiking:

A compass, forks and knifes. Cooking equipment can be rented.


Wildlife

The Finnish forest is the home of many big wildlife species like wolves, bears, lynxes, foxes and badgers. Those animals are more afraid for you than you are of them and you will have to be really really lucky to see a wolf, a bear or a lynx. There have been few reports of accidents the last decade with bears and mostly they were related with hunting parties. Foxes, badgers and squirrels are more common as they are attracted by your food. So put your litter away when you have the chance and do not leave food around when you are camping.

Everyman's right in brief (source: Metsähallitus)

Everyone may:

  • walk, ski or cycle freely in the countryside, except in gardens, in the immediate vicinity of people’s homes, and in fields and plantations which could easily be damaged
  • stay or set up camp temporarily in the countryside, a reasonable distance from homes
  • pick wild berries, mushrooms and flowers, as long as they are not protected species
  • fish with a rod and line
  • row, sail or use a motorboat on waterways, with certain restrictions; swim or wash in inland waters and the sea
  • walk, ski and fish on frozen lakes, rivers and the sea.

You may not:

  • disturb other people or damage property
  • disturb breeding birds, or their nests or young
  • disturb reindeer or game animals
  • cut down or damage living trees, or collect wood, moss or lichen on other people’s property
  • light open fires on other people’s property, except in an emergency
  • disturb the privacy of people’s homes, by camping too near them, or making too much noise, for example:
    • leave litter
    • drive motor vehicles off road without the landowner’s permission
    • fish or hunt without the relevant permits