Taatsi Seita, Lapland, Remote Holiday Destination
Photo by: Terhi Tuovinen
Lemmenjoki, Remote Holiday Destination, Lapland
Photo by: Inari-Saariselkä Tourism Ltd

8 Ways to Enjoy the Silence

Looking for a place so quiet you can finally hear your own thoughts? Allow us to introduce the quiet forests, idyllic villages, ancient holy sites and national parks of Finnish Lapland.

The buzz of fluorescent lights. The steady growl of traffic. Snatches of conversation. It’s no surprise we walk around with earbuds in almost 24/7. Experiencing silence, and the peace of mind that accompanies it, is like a white reindeer—rare and beautiful. But in Finnish Lapland, silence is the norm, not the exception, and we’ve put together some of our favorite ways you can open your ears and silence your mind.

Meet the Spirits of Lapland

What is it about tall mountains that invite praise and worship? The highest fell in the Pyhä-Luosto chain is called Noitatunturi, or Witch Mountain. Long ago, it was a holy Sámi place called Seitatunturi, where Northern peoples paid respects to their gods and the spirits of the natural world. These days, the trail will lead you past a high pond in the Kuorinkikuru Gorge and up the stony fellside, where you can spend a few moments in quiet repose.

Note: Part of this trail has been closed for summer and autumn 2021 due to maintenance. 

Annikinlampi pond along the hike up Noitatunturi, in Pyhä-Luosto, Finland
Photo by: Pyhä-Luosto
Isokuru gorge in Pyhä-Luosto, Finland
Photo by: Tea Karvinen | Metsähallitus

Don’t make a sound

You stay perfectly still, even your breathing as slow as humanly possible. You’ve already seen hawks, rabbits, squirrels and something dark and fast that refused to be identified. But now, the silence is broken by something crunching and crashing through the Arctic forests of Ruka-Kuusamo. You didn’t come here to see birds or small furry creatures—you came for the big guys, bears. You inhale slowly and raise your binoculars to your eye.

Ruka, bear watching, remote holiday destination
Photo by: Ruka-Kuusamo

Lens Caps Off

Lemmenjoki National Park in Inari-Saariselkä is the country’s largest national park and one of the largest in Europe. Join the Nightless Night Photography Workshop and let some of northern Lapland’s professionals lead you into the whispering wilderness to see what you might capture. Spend your nights at the Hotel Korpikartano, and spend your days learning how to best capture the fells, forests and waterfalls you discover while exploring the vast national park.

Inari Nightless Night, Remote Holiday Destination, Lapland
Photo by: Jan-Eerik Paadar | Inari-Saariselkä Tourism Ltd.
Lemmenjoki, Remote Holiday Destination, Lapland
Photo by: Inari-Saariselkä Tourism Ltd

Hike From Your Doorstep

The drive to the Arctic Circle Wilderness Lodge only takes you 20 minutes from downtown Rovaniemi. The Lodge’s stylish and modern cabins are an oasis of comfort in the middle of the silent forest that lies beyond the glass of their panoramic windows. Exploration literally begins when you step out your door, as the Lodge sits right in the middle of the Arctic Circle Hiking Area, with two popular routes passing through through the grounds.

Arctic Circle Wilderness Lodge, Rovaniemi, Remote Holiday Destination, Lapland
Photo by: Wild Nordic
Arctic Circle Wilderness Lodge, Rovaniemi, Remote Holiday Destination, Lapland
Photo by: Wild Nordic
Arctic Circle Wilderness Lodge, Rovaniemi, Remote Holiday Destination, Lapland
Photo by: Wild Nordic

End of the Road

At the end of a long rural route in Inari in northern Lapland, you’ll find the tiny village Kuttura. Spend a few days and nights with a local reindeer herder family, and you might be surprised at what you hear coming from the near total silence: the sounds of birds enjoying the Midnight Sun, the wind sweeping through the pine forests of the nearby Hammastunturi Wilderness Area, the murmurs of the gossiping Ivalo river. And of course, you’ll never forget the grunts and honks of a contented reindeer chowing down on a handful of lichen.

Kuttura Lapland, Remote Holiday Destination
Photo by: Katrin Simon
Kuttura Lapland, Remote Holiday Destination
Photo by: K. Nizinkiewitcz

Not-so-Silent Festival

Laughter, shouts, and song break the typical silence of Kaukonen village every summer during the Silence Festival. This unique event features days of classical and non-traditional musical performances, spectacular performance art, and unforgettable circus and acrobatic acts amid the tranquility and beauty of Fell Lapland.

Kaukonen Silence Festival, Remote Holiday Destination, Lapland
Photo by: Terhi Tuovinen
Kaukonen Silence Festival, Remote Holiday Destination, Lapland
Photo by: Terhi Tuovinen

A Different Kind of Dinner Bell

The guide leads you and your friends from the Salla Wilderness Park to a clearing in the nearby forest. The only sound is the wind tickling the treetops and the soft crunch of your boots over the dry grass. Like the crack of a gunshot, the guide shouts, “Ho-hoiiiiii!” His voice trails behind him, echoing. In the soft silence of Salla, Finland, you hear the rumble of not one, not two, but many many reindeer heading to the clearing for their afternoon snack.

Salla Reindeer Park, remote holiday destination
Photo by: Kristof Göttling | Salla
Salla Reindeer Park, remote holiday destination
Photo by: Kristof Göttling | Salla

Go Wild for a Night (or Two)

After you hike to the summit of Ahmakallio Rock, and then you climb the steep wooden observation tower, it’s time to relax. The Ahmatupa Open Wilderness Hut is the perfect place to unwind and reflect on the grand vistas of northern Finland. Spend an hour on the porch, listening to the buzz of the mosquitoes or the whisper of the wind through snow-crowned trees. And cap the night with a trip to the wood-fired sauna to enjoy the hiss of steam and crackling fire, no matter the weather or temperature outside.

Syöte National Park, wilderness hut, remote holiday destination
Photo by: Eeva Mäkinen | Metsähallitus
Syöte National Park, remote holiday destination
Photo by: Panu Mölsä | Metsähallitus