Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Most trails start from Njurgulahti, including a family-friendly 4.5km marked nature trail.
Marked trekking routes are in the relatively small 'basic area' between the rivers Lemmen-
joki and Vaskojoki; a 20km loop between Kultahamina and Ravadasjärvi huts takes you to
some of the most interesting gold-panning areas. Another route heads over Látnjoaivi fell
to Vaskojoki hut and back, taking you into the 'wilderness area', which has less restric-
tions on where to camp but no trail markings. For any serious trekking, you will need the
1:100,000
Lemmenjoki
map (€19.90), available at the Lemmenjoki Nature Centre.
From Kultahamina, it's a 21.5km walk back to Njurgulahti along the river, via Ravadas,
6.5km closer. You can get the boat one-way and walk the other.
Boat Trips
In summer a scheduled boat service runs from Njurgulahti village to the Kultahamina wil-
derness hut at Kultasatama (Gold Harbour) via the Ravadas falls. There are departures at
10am and 5pm from mid-June to mid-August; in early June and from mid-August to mid-
September, only the evening one goes (one way €20, 1½ hours to Kultasatama).
Tours
All the accommodation options in the area can organise river trips, including gold-panning
and insights into Sámi culture.
Sleeping
Several places offer camping and/or cabin accommodation, food and boat trips. Inside
Lemmenjoki National Park, a dozen wilderness huts provide free accommodation (another
three can be booked in advance for a fee).
Paltto
CABINS
( 016-673-413;
www.lemmenjoki.org
;
cabin €55-75; Jun-mid-Oct; )
A kilometre from the centre of Njurgulahti, this home of an active Sámi family has a felt
studio selling some extraordinary works of art, as well as comfortable cabin accommoda-
tion with sauna and boat. Excellent boat trips are on offer (€45 to €65): from half days to
full day trips that can include reindeer-meeting, Sámi yoiks (chants), gold-panning and tra-
ditional lunch.
