Things to do in Kuusamo

Kuusamo is the practical base for the Ruka, Kuusamo & Oulanka region: a small town with a regional airport, supermarkets, pharmacies and outdoor shops, rather than a resort in its own right. It sits roughly 190 km from Rovaniemi, a drive of around 2 h 30 on routes 5 and 20, with a couple of daily buses covering the same route in about 3 h.

Ruka, the ski and fell resort with most of the cabins, lies a further 25 km north and is sold separately, even though it belongs to Kuusamo municipality. In town, expect hotel-style accommodation from around 80 to 130 EUR a night, plus a few supermarkets for stocking up before heading into Oulanka National Park or onto the Karhunkierros trail.

Local activities include fishing permits for Lake Kitkajärvi and rafting trips on the Kitkajoki river, priced from about 60 to 100 EUR per person for a half-day.