Ivalo

Ivalo (Northern Sámi: Avvil, Skolt Sami: Âˊvvel, Inari Sami: Avveel)) is a town in Finnish Lapland. It is the administrative centre for the municipality of Inari, with half the population and e.g. the health care centre. The municipality, at, 5 % of the country, is the largest in Finland – but has a population less than 7,000.

By plane


Rovaniemi airport is an other option, usually with more affordable flights.

By bus
Ivalo is on national road 4 (E75) from Norway via Utsjoki to Sodankylä and to the railhead at Rovaniemi (3 hours away), and is thus served by any buses plying this route, including connections from/via Karigasniemi and Näätämö. Gluttons for punishment can even take a direct bus from Helsinki, which takes around 15 hours. At summer a daily direct connection from Nordkapp is available. There's a bus connection from Murmansk, Russia as well.

By car
The above mentioned road 4 from Helsinki can of course also be driven by car. From the west coast, drive E8 to Kemi, where the two share tarmac.

By train
An overnight train to Rovaniemi and a coach for the last three hours is a less painful but not particularly cheap alternative; the train is a viable option also if you want to bring your own car.

See
Although quite large, Ivalo is not that well-known by tourists. The village was destroyed during the Lapland War 1944–1945. Most tourist businesses offer services for outdoor activities and visiting the nearby areas.

The northern limit for spruce is near the town. Here are still some big spruces, while few non-planted ones grow much to the north.

Do


There is a Metsähallitus Customer Service in Ivalo:

The Ivalo River (Ivalojoki) through the town was the site of a gold rush upstream in the 1870s, and some gold panners still try their luck. The former "Crown Station" Ivalojoen Kultala has been restored and is open for visitors (no fee). There is also an open wilderness hut and a rental hut at the site. Kultala is at Ivalojoki in Hammastunturi Wilderness Area, about 14 km from the nearest road (which is in bad condition). The recommended route (via the road to Kuttura) passes the gold panning area at the river Sotajoki, which is quite a sight, with unorganized caravan camping and machine dug holes in the stony river banks. There are historic gold villages also here, with huts and some other facilities for visitors. Farther from the road the route passes through nice landscapes (it might be worthwhile to deviate from the route for some hilltop views). The Ivalojoki canyon and the rope bridge over it at Kultala are sights in themselves.

Ivalojoki is a very nice canoeing route from Kuttura to Ivalo.

There are snowmobile routes passing by the village.

Eat
Hotels are your best bet, although there may be some restaurants.

Sleep
There are several accommodation businesses in and around Ivalo. Those in the neighbourhood often offer cottages and also activities.

In or near the centre
(walking distance)

Go next

 * Saariselkä, 30 km south from Ivalo. Winter sports resort, gateway to Urho Kekkonen National Park.
 * Inari, 40 km north from Ivalo, centre for Sámi culture, by the large lake Inari with a mosaic of islands.