Arctic Circle Road Trip is a 200 km circular route best explored over a few days.
Along the way, you can visit local village shops, make a quick detour to Sweden, pick up unique local crafts as souvenirs, and sample delicacies such as Tornio Valley flatbread rieska, fresh fish dishes, and the famed Lapland potatoes. At Oranki Art, you'll experience unique environmental art in the middle of the forest. There are plenty of swimming spots for every taste, and summer weekend events bring a lively atmosphere to the Arctic Circle.
Download the route brochure here!
The route features several easy nature trails with stunning viewpoints. From elevated spots, you can admire the breathtaking Lappish hillscapes, often with a fresh perspective on the majestic Tornio River. The Arctic Circle Road Trip winds through a vibrant water region: the western edge follows the border river, while inland areas are dotted with large lakes. Perfect swimming beaches are always close by, and rental water sports equipment and guided boating or fishing excursions are available.
This journey takes you through a historic travel area: the summit of Aavasaksa Hill has attracted visitors from across Europe to marvel at the midnight sun since the 17th century. Explorers Maupertuis and Struve conducted groundbreaking measurements of the Earth’s shape here in the 18th and 19th centuries, with traces of their expeditions still visible.
Located in the municipalities of Pello and Ylitornio, the route offers a wide range of accommodations to suit every preference: will you choose a cabin, tent, or camper van at a riverside campsite, or perhaps an idyllic lakeside holiday village? Or maybe a stay at a reindeer farm, a village-center hotel, or a cabin surrounded by stunning hill views? The Arctic Circle invites you to explore!
TOP 5 ACTIVITIES
Visiting a reindeer farm
Exploring the Swedish village of Matarengi
Salmon rowing school on the Tornio River
Midnight sun fishing trip at Lake Miekojärvi
Canoeing on small rivers
TOP 5 VIEWPOINTS
Aavasaksa
Pieskänjupukka
Haukkavaara
Eeron Trail
Jaipaljukka
FLAVORS TO TRY
Granni’s pizza
Karemajat’s lunch
Pellonhovi’s lunch
Aava Sky Village’s skillet pizza
Swedish treats (flatbread, surströmming, sockerdricka...)
Pike-perch from Lake Miekojärvi
Salmon soup
Mettäkakko (traditional Lapland pastry)
ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS
Loma-Vietonen
Valkea Lodge
Arctic Camping
Reindeer Lake Resort
Lohijärven Eräkeskus
Kaamos Lodge
Karemajat
Aava Sky Village
MiekoResort
Napapiirin Järvilomat
Heidi’s Mummola
Tatuka Reindeer Farm
Vuolo Reindeer Farm
Vietonen Sunrise
Myllyn Pirtti
EXPERIENCES NOT TO MISS
Summer events
Orhinselkä Sandbanks
Nature trails
Oranki Art
Valkea Sensory Trail
Rental equipment (fat bikes, SUP boards, canoes, rowboats)
Kivipirtti (Stone Cottage)
Campfire dining
Berry and mushroom picking