Kemijärvi, in southeast Lapland, is a traditional northern town with a wild spirit. Fill your winter holiday in Kemijärvi with skiing adventures at the nearby Ski Resort Suomutunturi, or even the Pyhä Ski Resort in the nearby Pyhä-Luosto National Park. The region also has a number of museums and war memorials to explore.
Begin your northern journey with a town break in Kemijärvi. Visit the Kemijärvi Museum of Local History to see the daily life and living conditions of the region during the 18th and 19th centuries. You should also visit the Kemijärvi Snowmobile Museum, which boasts a collection of almost 400 different chainsaws as well as 100 snowmobiles.
Don’t forget to explore the wonderful and picturesque scenery surrounding Kemijärvi. A great way to explore is to take a cruise on Lake Kemijärvi or even go out on a rowing trip by following one of the several set routes.
One of the most popular activities on offer in Lapland is winter sports, and Kemijärvi has plenty to offer. Head to the Suomutunturi Ski Resort, which boasts ten challenging slopes. You can also try husky or snowmobile tours, a guided ice-fishing trip or even a snowshoe hike. The Pyhä Ski Resort is also great for sports enthusiasts, but if it’s the scenery you’re after, why not go and explore the picturesque surroundings of the Pyhä-Luosto National Park?
Eastern Lapland is full of interesting but sombre memories of Finland’s war with its eastern neighbour. The surrounding countryside of Kemijärvi has several war memorials that you can visit all year round. The Mäntyvaara War Memorial Area in Joutsijärvi includes a mass grave for Soviet soldiers and a former German military base. Joutsijärvi also has a collection of concrete bunkers which were part of Finland’s Salpa Line eastern defences. Some of the bunkers have recently been restored and are open to the public.
Kemijärvi can easily be reached by night train or even by car. You can also fly there from southern Finland by flying into the nearby airports of Kuusamo or Rovaniemi.
