Towards sustainable travel in Pyhä-Luosto

We are constantly working towards sustainable tourism

Pyhä-Luosto resorts want to offer the possibility to enjoy the space, silence and nature. The heart of these two resorts are the small villages, where all quality services are in walking distance. Untouched nature is just few steps away from your door. Sustainability means preserving these key elements in the future.

In the Pyhä-Luosto region, you can enjoy the beauty of the fells in the care of responsible travel companies. Activities have been developed in the region to ensure that energy, heat and water are sourced and consumed as efficiently as possible and to aid conservation. Regarding waste management, the most important issue is to reduce the overall level of waste produced and continually develop the recycling system.

Read more about Destination Management Organization Visit Pyhä-Luosto ry

STF-certified businesses in Pyhä-Luosto

Sustainable Travel Finland - certified companies
Lapland Hotels Luostotunturi
Lapland Ski Resort Luosto
Lapland Safaris
Sunday Morning Resort
Pyhä-Luosto National Park (Metsähallitus)
Lampivaara Amethyst mine
Pyhä Ski Resort
Pyhä Ski-inn Hotels & Apartments

Responsibility-certified businesses
Ravintola Punakettu (Green Key)

Pyhä-Luosto Visitor Feedback Survey — Responsible and Data‑Driven Tourism Development

We collect feedback every two years from domestic and international visitors to the Pyhä-Luosto area in order to develop our services and trail network responsibly and based on researched, data‑driven insights. Regular surveys help us monitor changes in tourism and gather information on visitors’ experiences, expectations, movement patterns, and use of services. This research enables us to assess the impacts of tourism and ensure that it benefits the region ecologically, economically, and socially—without compromising nature or the visitor experience.
As part of our long-term responsibility work, we also conduct a local resident survey every 4–6 years to ensure that the voices and perspectives of the community are included in decision-making.

Our goal is to ensure that Pyhä-Luosto remains a vibrant and well-functioning destination for everyone.

2008 - Green Destination Management Net

Since the region of Pyhä-Luosto joined the Green Destination Management Net (Green DMN) program in autumn 2008, a concerted effort has been made to push sustainable tourism and employ greener practices. The entire region of Pyhä-Luosto was involved in the quality development program. The priorities of the environment program were: energy, transport, waste management, construction and conservation

2019 - Visit Finland - Sustainable Travel Finland pilot program

In March 2019, Pyhä-Luosto became one of the pilot destinations for Visit Finland's Sustainable Travel Finland program. The pilot phase of the program concluded on June 1, 2020. Through the program, Pyhä-Luosto, along with other pioneers in sustainable tourism involved in the program, has been working on the development path outlined by the Sustainable Travel Finland program to promote and pursue sustainable tourism, aiming for the STF (Sustainable Travel Finland) certification.

2020– We Are Committed to the STF Programme to Promote a Sustainable Travel Destination

1. We Engage in Fair Collaboration
Visit Pyhä-Luosto offers local tourism operators and municipal representatives the opportunity to participate in joint development and activities. Entrepreneurs are encouraged to recommend and cross-sell each other’s services.

2. We Take Care of Nature
Visit Pyhä-Luosto operators work closely with Metsähallitus. Nature-based tourism companies have valid cooperation agreements and are committed to following the principles of sustainable nature tourism. Visitors are guided to stay on marked trails and follow outdoor etiquette.

3. We Respect Cultural Heritage
The productization, menus, interior design, and storytelling of companies in the Pyhä-Luosto region incorporate local Sámi, Lapland, and Arctic cultural heritage.

4. We Promote Well-being, Human Rights, and Equality
The Pyhä-Luosto tourism area employs local residents and aims to extend the seasons so that businesses are open for 10 months and 80% of companies are committed to year-round operations.

Companies in the region offer internships and familiarization periods for young people and invest in guidance. Twice a year, employees in the area are invited to a shared “Get to Know the Fells” orientation day that strengthens local knowledge and awareness of available services.

Visit Pyhä-Luosto increases awareness of inclusive tourism, aiming to strengthen equality in both customer encounters and workplaces. Inclusive tourism takes into consideration people with various disabilities and access needs, LGBTQ+ individuals, and diverse ethnic backgrounds.

5. We Favour Local Products and Services
Visit Pyhä-Luosto encourages local companies to prioritize local and regional products in their business operations.

6. We Invest in Safety and Quality
Visit Pyhä-Luosto has a safety plan that is updated twice a year. Special situations are communicated on the website. Companies are committed to operating with safety in mind.

7. We Consider Climate Impacts
Visit Pyhä-Luosto increases awareness among local operators about climate impacts and emission reduction. By 2025, the region aims for all companies to use electricity from renewable sources and fossil-free heating energy. Many companies have already transitioned to renewable energy.

Visit Pyhä-Luosto actively participates in joint emission calculation projects coordinated by the Regional Council of Lapland (such as the Välkky project). One outcome of the project is the guide for low-carbon holiday homes: “Increase Revenue, Protect Nature.”

Visitors can reach the destination using public transportation.

8. We Communicate Openly
Visit Pyhä-Luosto is creating a shared model for communicating about responsibility in order to make it easier for operators to share their sustainability actions.
We provide a sustainability pledge, which visitors can evaluate during their stay.

9. We Continuously Develop Our Business Operations
Visit Pyhä-Luosto actively informs local companies about various trainings and actions that support business development.

10. We Commit to the Principles of Sustainable Tourism
We take an active role in promoting sustainable tourism and implementing these principles. We create a sustainable tourism action plan to guide our work in an increasingly systematic way. We commit to these actions and want to continue learning in the future.

You can also take part by signing Visit Finland’s Sustainable Finland Pledge.

2022-2023 Pilot project on Competent Workforce through Community and Partnership Networks

Visit Pyhä-Luosto member companies participated in the 2022 ELY Center's (The Centres for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment) pilot project on Competent Workforce through Community and Partnership Networks. The goal of the project was to identify the key areas for development in the availability of skilled workforce in the Pyhä-Luosto area and to formulate long and short-term regional and community-specific development plans related to this.

2024-2025 Ympärivuotista nostetta Pyhä-Luostolle reitistöjä kehittämällä -investointihanke

In 2024–2025, the long-term development of the Pyhä-Luosto tourism area was significantly strengthened through a coordinated entity of three projects. The projects introduced extensive improvements to trails, signage, and trail-related communication. New routes, signage, and digital services enhance accessibility and ensure a safe year-round visitor experience, while also improving the operating conditions for tourism businesses.

Tourism in Pyhä-Luosto has grown strongly for over a decade, driven by the rise of nature-based travel. Both national park visitor numbers and registered overnight stays have nearly doubled, and tourism revenue has increased to €48 million. Trails are the region’s key attraction, and high-quality routes benefit both visitors and locals.

The increasing demand was addressed through a joint initiative by Sodankylä, Pelkosenniemi and Kemijärvi: Year-Round Boost for Pyhä-Luosto Through Trail Development. The entity included one planning project and two investment projects.

Key Deliverables of the Planning Project

A Master Plan for the trail network and a signage plan guiding future investments and standardising trail marking and signs.
A new graphic identity and signage design to improve clarity and international usability
Digital trail information, including route descriptions, photos, videos and 360° content for Outdooractive and the pyhaluostotrails service
Production of 13 - 360° videos, some serving as accessible virtual trails

Investment Project Actions

Sodankylä Municipality:

Built two new year-round trails (Auroralampi, Kantapäävaara)
Added new snowshoe trails and winter cycling routes
Updated several trail alignments for year-round usability

Pelkosenniemi Municipality:

Renovated the Pyhäjärvi–Suvanto mountain biking trail and the Kiimaselkä summer route
Converted the Rykimäkero P – Kiimavaara route to a summer trail as municipal in-house work
Installed new signage and map boards across the area

Key Future Development Need

The projects revealed that the region’s existing signage is inconsistent and partly insufficient. The next major task is to renew all trail signage according to the newly developed signage plan.

Funding
The projects were funded by the Regional Council of Lapland and the EU’s JTF fund.

Planning project budget: €307,411 (80% funding)
Sodankylä investment project: €124,846 (70% funding)
Pelkosenniemi investment project: €68,310 (70% funding)

2024 We joined the We Speak Gay community to advocate for LGBTQ+ friendly Finland

Read more here https://www.wespeakgay.com/

Luosto Familiarization Day 2025 for Sodankylä Residents

In collaboration with the Municipality of Sodankylä, we organized a Luosto Familiarization Day for local residents on Saturday, 22 March 2025. The event offered Sodankylä residents an opportunity to get to know their home fell, Luosto, along with its services and businesses.

The aim of the event day was to provide participants with free activities, special offers, and the chance to explore the natural environment and services of the Luosto area. During the day, a new route around Auroralampi was also opened.
The implementation of the event was made possible through the cooperation of Luosto entrepreneurs together with the Municipality of Sodankylä, the Ympärivuotista nostetta Pyhä-Luostolle reitistöjä kehittämällä development project, Luoston Klubi ry, JokapaikanHöylät Oy, JBus Oy, and Visit Pyhä-Luosto ry.

2025 Pyhä-Luosto Sustainability Day

26 September 2025 The theme of the day was to inspire, spark ideas and insights, and provide motivation for strengthening sustainability in tourism across the Pyhä-Luosto region. Participants included local tourism entrepreneurs, municipal representatives, and members of the local community. The program explored current topics in responsibility and sustainability, including the challenges and opportunities related to the future and climate change.

The programme included:

An overview of the current state of sustainability in the Pyhä-Luosto area
Inspiring and practical tips for sustainability communication
The latest Finnish Meteorological Institute report on the future of seasons in Lapland
A discussion on the challenges and solutions of sustainable tourism from a social responsibility perspective — both internationally and at a very local level

The event was organised by Visit Pyhä-Luosto ry in collaboration with the Pelkosenniemi Sustainable Growth Programme project.

2026 Arctic Europe Tourism Cluster - Care for the Arctic DMO Ambassador Program

Visit Pyhä-Luosto is part of the Arctic tourism Cluster. The Care for the Arctic Code of Conduct was developed through a thorough, collective process to define what responsible travel in Arctic Europe should look like.

During spring 2026, Activation Labs will be organised for tourism regions. These Labs are the next step in ensuring that the Care for the Arctic Code can be implemented in ways that support each destination’s priorities and everyday sustainability work.
This activation component is included in the AETC project and is offered to all participating DMOs. The benefits of the programme are shared, and the results will be presented at the AETC final seminar in Rovaniemi (22–23 April 2026).

Fresh, Local Ingredients in Restaurants

On the restaurant menus, dishes such as fish, mushrooms, berries, game, and reindeer meat are primarily made from local ingredients sourced from nearby areas including Sodankylä, Pelkosenniemi, and Kemijärvi. In addition, restaurants in Pyhä-Luosto take responsibility and sustainable development seriously.

Vegetarian options, as well as dietary restrictions and allergies, are carefully considered on the menus.
Minimizing food waste.
Avoiding single-use packaging and disposable tableware whenever possible.
Using environmentally friendly cleaning solutions and detergents.
Using water- and energy-efficient kitchen equipment.
Collecting and recycling biowaste.

Explore restaurants

Responsible guided tours in nature

The Arctic nature itself is something we want to preserve for future generations. Here are a few examples of the work companies in Pyhä-Luosto have done to help ensure this happens.

Companies offering nature excursions have signed a cooperation agreement with Metsähallitus Parks & Wildlife, committing to the principles of sustainable nature tourism.

The previously used 2-stroke snowmobiles on snowmobile safaris have been replaced with 4-stroke models, and a new generation of electric snowmobiles has been introduced by Sunday Morning Resort (2019–2020) and Lapland Safaris Luosto (2023–2024).

Animal welfare is carefully ensured at reindeer, husky, and horse farms. Lapland Husky Safaris / Lapland Safaris Luosto participates in the Animal Welfare Programme.

We avoid using disposable packaging and single-use tableware during excursions.

Explore activities in Luosto

Public Transport and Accessibility

Pyhä-Luosto offers year‑round public bus connections (except in May) from Rovaniemi’s railway station, bus station, and airport, running via Luosto to Pyhä. There is also a public bus connection from the Kemijärvi railway station to Pyhä.

Bus drivers regularly participate in proactive and economical driving training. Environmental friendliness and cost efficiency are ensured in the vehicles.

Read more bus connections

Reindeer Husbandry and Sámi Culture

Reindeer herding is one of Lapland’s traditional livelihoods, with knowledge and practices passed down from generation to generation. Both Jaakkola Reindeer Farm and Kopara Reindeer Park include fascinating stories about this traditional way of life in their programmes.
At Jaakkola Reindeer Farm, visitors also learn about Sámi culture and traditions, shared by Anu, the Sámi hostess of the farm.

Explore farms visits

Lighting and the Minimization of Light Pollution and offer possibilities to experience The Northern Lights

One of the most memorable experiences in our region is witnessing the magnificent starry sky and the northern lights. We offer every visitor free access to the Aurora Alert Realtime Pyhä and Luosto northern light alert application! We have also made responsible choices in lighting and in minimizing light pollution.

In Luosto, the lighting system on cross-country ski tracks and walking routes in the village centre has been upgraded to LED lights. This reduces energy consumption by 50% in the long term. In addition, the lighting around the Ahvenlampi outdoor trail has been designed as an aurora zone, with the aim of minimizing light pollution while still ensuring safe movement. In addition, the newly opened Auroralampi Trail (2025) has been designed on the site of the old water treatment facility for year-round viewing of natural phenomena, and as an accessible route.

The Ukko-Luosto Scenic Hut is designed and built with utmost consideration for the surrounding Pyhä-Luosto National park nature and natural phenomena of light. The day hut was inaugurated in the fall of 2022.

The municipality of Pelkosenniemi upgraded the cross-country ski track lighting in the Pyhä area to new LED lights in autumn 2023. At Pyhä ski Resort, the slope lighting has also been automated to improve energy efficiency.

Year-Round Business Operations and Permanent Jobs

The goal is to develop business activities in Pyhä-Luosto so that the two centres can operate more strongly throughout the year. In the long term, this will increase the number of permanent jobs for people living in the area. As this development progresses, well-being in the resort and surrounding municipalities will also improve.

Tourism employers in the region invest in ensuring that their employees enjoy living in the area, find meaningful leisure activities, and have access to the services they need.

Find open jobs in here

Sustainable Construction That Respects Nature

Companies operating in the area build sustainably, using natural materials and respecting the neighbouring Pyhä-Luosto National Park. Local tourism businesses prefer to use local construction companies for building projects and local property maintenance services.

In Luosto, traditional natural building methods using deadwood timber have been carefully preserved, maintaining the authentic character of the area while honouring the region’s long-standing reindeer herding and forestry traditions. The Finnish Heritage Agency has recognised Luosto’s unique deadwood landscape by designating the area as a Nationally Significant Built Cultural Environment.

The Pyhä (Pyhätunturi) resort area is being planned and developed in a way that enhances its comfort and makes it easier to move around between different places on foot and by public transport.

Accommodation in Luosto

Considering Biodiversity and Protecting Pyhä-Luosto National Park

Metsähallitus works actively to protect Pyhä-Luosto National Park, safeguard biodiversity and cultural heritage, and collaborate with nature tourism companies in implementing sustainable nature tourism practices. At the end of 2023, Pyhä-Luosto National Park was awarded the STF label for responsible tourism.

In addition, the Ukko-Luosto Scenic Hut was opened by Metsähallitus at the summit of Ukko-Luosto in autumn 2022. It is designed for day hikers and nature tourism companies, offering a place to explore the national park and the area’s Arctic nature.

Trails in Pyhä-Luosto National Park have been improved and renovated during 2023-2025. The purpose of these improvements is naturally to enhance the visitor experience and make nature accessible to as many people as possible. At the same time, the aim is to protect the park’s fragile nature from unnecessary wear by guiding visitors to stay on existing, well-maintained routes.

Explore Pyhä-Luosto National Park

What Can You Do During a Responsible Holiday in Pyhä-Luosto?

We, the companies in Pyhä-Luosto, are strongly committed to sustainable development. By keeping these simple tips in mind during your visit, you can join us in taking care of our environment.

Recycling
Both Pyhä and Luosto have recycling stations where you can sort the following materials:

glass
metal
mixed waste
paper
cardboard
plastic (only in Pyhä)

At the moment, biowaste cannot be recycled separately in Pyhä-Luosto because there is no operator in the area who can process or transport it. The most efficient way to handle biowaste here is to place it with mixed waste.

You can find the nearest recycling points here:
https://kierratys.info/