From Santa Claus Village to the Fells in Just 90 Minutes

Day Trips from Rovaniemi to Luosto

Just about a 90-minute journey from Rovaniemi awaits a completely different side of Lapland – Finland's southernmost fell area, the Pyhä-Luosto destination. In Luosto, you can spend the day amidst the landscapes of Pyhä-Luosto National Park, head up to the Lampivaara Amethyst Mine, meet reindeer, go mountain biking on the fells, or relax in a sauna after a day on the fells. An easy bus connection makes a day trip effortless, and if you have more time, it is well worth staying overnight to experience the peace of the fell nature and the Northern Lights.

Why spend your holiday in Luosto?

Enjoy the magical winter landscapes of Luosto fell

Pyhä-Luosto offers excellent conditions for spotting the aurora borealis – with free access to the Aurora Alert service.

Pyhä-Luosto is just a 1.5-hour drive from Rovaniemi – the perfect starting point for your Lapland adventure. Resorts are easy to reach by daily bus connection from Rovaniemi and airport.

Visit the only active amethyst mine in Europe and dig up your own lucky gemstone!

Easy market winter trails for active day in the pure air of Lapland – a dream destination for active nature lovers.

Enjoy local culture with small family-owned businesses and experience real wilderness.

Experience the magic of Lapland on a sleigh ride – choose a thrilling husky safari or a peaceful reindeer journey. In the area we have two reindeer farms Jaakkola Reindeerfarm and Reindeer park Kopara.

The small villages Pyhä resort and Luosto resort, where all quality services are in walking distance: shops, hotels, activity providers, trails and slopes.

The Pyhä-Luosto National Park offers tranquility and space – ideal for disconnecting from everyday life.

Stay in cozy log cabins, glass igloos, or boutique hotels – Pyhä-Luosto combines comfort with closeness to nature.

In Luosto, you can enjoy your days at your own pace because services, nature, and sights are right close by. You can also easily find more things to do just a bus ride away at the neighboring fell, Pyhä.

Lampivaara Amethyst Mine

The Lampivaara Amethyst Mine is one of the world's only gemstone mines that welcomes visitors.

Ukko-Luosto scenic hut

Ukko-Luosto Scenic Hut is located at the top of Luosto amidst stunning fell landscapes. The atmospheric day hut serves as a perfect resting place for hikers, bikers and nature lovers year round.

The snow-laden forests of Luosto

The snow-heavy forests of Luosto are straight out of a storybook. The thick layer of snow that gathers on the tree branches during the winter shapes the forest into an enchanting white landscape, where every step takes you deeper into the magic of the winter in Lapland.

Jaakkola Reindeer Farm

Jaakkola Reindeer Farm offers a genuine opportunity to get acquainted with the reindeer herding culture of Lapland, Sami traditions, and the everyday life of reindeer in Luosto. At the farm, you can encounter reindeer up close, hear stories about life among the reindeer, and experience the traditional atmosphere of Lapland amidst beautiful fell nature.

Poropuisto Kopara

Reindeer Park Kopara offers unforgettable encounters with reindeer near the fells of Luosto. At the park, you can feed reindeer, get to know their way of life, and hear stories about the Lapland reindeer herding tradition.

Northern Lights

The Northern Lights can be seen above Luosto on 150 to 200 nights each year. The Northern Lights season begins in September and ends in April.

Ahvenlampi trail

The Ahvenlammi trail is an easy-to-navigate outdoor route in Luosto that is suitable for the whole family. The trail leads you to the shores of the beautiful Lake Ahvenlammi through fell forests, offering peaceful nature experiences and wonderful landscapes year-round.

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Pyhä-Luosto National Park

One of the oldest national parks in Finland, with landscapes made up of characteristic steep ravines and high fells.

Half-day itinerary in Luosto

The Pyhä-Luosto bus takes you easily to Luosto without a rental car.

08:50 Rovaniemi bus station – Buy ticket
09:20 Rovaniemi Airport – Buy ticket
09:25 Santa Claus Village, Arctic Circle – Buy ticket

You arrive in Luosto at around 10:50 at Lapland Hotels Luostotunturi.

11:10 Experience Lampivaara Amethyst Mine
Join a guided visit from the Amethyst Shop to Lampivaara Amethyst Mine. The mine is located in the middle of Pyhä-Luosto National Park, and during the visit you will hear about the history of the area and dig your own amethyst to take home.

Buy ticket for the Amethyst Mine visit

After the visit, enjoy lunch in Luosto at, for example, Restaurant Punakettu.

15:15 Return to Rovaniemi
16.50 Arrival in Rovaniemi

A full-day itinerary in Luosto

Ready to see more? Fill the day with activities in Luosto or stay overnight to experience the Northern Lights and the peaceful atmosphere of the fells.

Arriving in Luosto

8.50 am Rovaniemi bus station – Buy ticket
9.20 am Rovaniemi airport – Buy ticket
9.25 Santa Claus Village, Arctic Circle – Buy ticket
10.50 Arrival in Luosto

Choose your experience:

With reindeer
11.00 Reindeer safari by Lapland Safaris in Luosto (Wed, Sat, Thu)
11.30 Lunch sleigh ride at Jaakkola Reindeer Farm (Mon, Fri)

Winter nature experiences
13.00 Guided snowshoeing trip (Thu, Sun, Mon)
13.00 Downhill skiing with the help of a ski instructor (Wed, Fri, Mon)
13.30 Snowmobile safari to the Lampivaara Amethyst Mine (Tue, Fri)
11.00 Independent snowshoeing trip to the Ukko-Luosto scenic hut.
10.00–17.00 Family slope sledding and tubing hill

Dining
Enjoy lunch at Restaurant Punakettu

Relaxing at the end of the day
Amethyst Spa is open daily from 10.00 to 21.00.

19.00 Return to Rovaniemi from in front of Lapland Hotels Luostotunturi.

An extra night gives time to see more, slow down the pace and increase the chances of spotting the Northern Lights!

Northern Lights experiences after 19.00
Northern Lights snowmobile safari
Northern Lights snowshoe trip
Beneath the Northern Lights evening experience
Lucky Ranch Northern Lights tour

Note: The programs above are guidelines to help shape a dream day in the fells.

VIEW ALL ACTIVITIES & EVENTS

LaplandHotelsLuostotunturi_ametistikylpylä

Amethyst Spa

1.6.2026 - 30.3.2027

10:00 - 21:00

From 11.00€

Hotel guests can use the spa from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. There are two saunas: a traditional sauna and a steam bath. The steam bath is unisex. In the traditional sauna, men and women have separate sauna rooms.

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Eat Like a Local - Jaakkola Reindeer Farm

5.8.2026 - 26.11.2026

17:00 - 19:30

From 100.00€

Kota dinner in the heart of our reindeer farm is an extraordinary dining experience that opens a door to a tasty and fascinating journey into the local cuisine, life of the reindeer herders and Sámi culture.

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Aurora Adventure at Lucky Ranch and lake Pyhäjärvi

1.9.2026 - 1.4.2027

21:00 - 23:30

Welcome to hunt the magical Northern lights to Lucky ranch and the frozen lake Pyhäjärvi! With open landscape, Lucky ranch is an excellent place to spot the Northern lights as we are away from city lights. At the Northern Lights tour, we walk to the frozen lake Pyhäjärvi to enjoy of a northern sky.

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Somewhere under the northern lights - Arctic Horizons

1.11.2026 - 30.3.2027

Every year, there are beetween 150 and 200 nights with northern lights above Luosto (meaning around 50% chance per evening ! ). But, keep in mind that the northern lights are born in the upper layers of the atmosphere, and therefore, they can be observed only during cloudless nights !

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Lunch Tour with Reindeer

30.11.2026 - 2.4.2027

11:45 - 14:00

From 105.00€

Lunch tour is a diverse way to visit our reindeer farm, enjoy the sleigh ride and try out some local food.

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Family Slope Area: toboggan run, snow tubes

1.12.2026 - 19.4.2027

10:00 - 17:00

In the Family area there is a toboggan run, snow tube hill and magic carpet where you can enjoy a day of downhill and toboggan runs for the whole family. The area is open according to the opening hours of the ski resort. Tickets for the area are available from Knööli rental.

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Kuurakka - Guided Farm Visit and ½ hour Reindeer Safari

1.12.2026 - 3.4.2027

12:30 - 14:00

From 80.00€

Let us take you to 3km reindeer sleigh ride through the frozen swamps and forests, where you can enjoy a postcard scenery and healing silence beyond.

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Snowmobile Safari to Amethyst mine by electic snowmobile

1.12.2026 - 30.3.2027

13:30 - 15:00

From 198.00€

Drive a snowmobile to a fellside amethyst mine and search for your lucky stone.

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Winter adventure with electric bikes

1.12.2026 - 30.3.2027

14:00 - 16:00

From 104.00€

Experience a guided snow adventure on winter bikes with wide tires for a smooth ride in snowy conditions. After instructions and gear, cycle through the beautiful Luosto landscapes and silent snowy forests. The tour includes a short stop with warm berry juice before continuing through nature.

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The Northern Light Express - Arctic Horizons

17.12.2026 - 30.3.2027

This program is devised for people who want to enjoy the Northern Lights from the best possible location, far away from the crowds, all the way to the top of the mountains!

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Getting to Luosto

Travel to Luosto easily by bus from Rovaniemi and near Santa Claus Village.

✅ No need for a rental car
✅ Day trips are easy to manage
✅ Suitable also for a one-night stay

View bus timetables