Departure 2027: September 1st-6th (hut-to-hut)

Book a flight to Kittilä Airport or take a train to Kolari Railway Station. From there by bus or taxi to Ylläsjärvi. We will be waiting and helping here. There is also a possibility to book a privat transport form us 150€. Ask for more details.

All meals are included during the hike. Each participant receives breakfast, lunch, dinner, and some snacks for every hiking day. Dinner is also included during the pre- and post-hike accommodation. The food on trail is mainly expedition food where you just add boiling water. During the hike, accommodation is provided in wilderness huts.

You should be able to walk 15 km with a 15 kg backpack. On trail, there will be several uphills and downhills.

Flights, trains, or long-distance bus transportation to Lapland Transportation to the accommodation in Ylläs (direct bus connections are available) Hiking backpacks (ask us about borrowing one) Personal outdoor clothing and footwear Personal travel and accident insurance – mandatory for this tour

Professional Pihka Outdoors hiking guide(s) Accommodation before and after the hike: hotel, high quality B&B, or big cabin Reserved wilderness hut accommodations Sleeping bags and other included overnight equipment Welcome dinner and breakfast at the accommodation before the hike Dinner and accommodation after completing the hike Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks for every hiking day Detailed gear and packing list Pre-trip video meeting with the group WhatsApp group before the trip Personal assistance with gear and packing (if needed) Safety and gear briefing Transportation from the accommodation to the Hetta-Pallas trail and back to the accommodation after the hike Boat transportation across Lake Ounasjärvi

After your booking, we’ll send you a detailed gear list and expedition info.

Hetta-Pallas Hiking Tour Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Ylläs via Kittilä Airport or Kolari railway station, both of which have convenient onward connections to Ylläs. Check into our accommodation in twin rooms (ask a single room possibility). In the evening, we meet the group and guides over a welcome dinner. We go through the upcoming Hetta-Pallas hike, review safety procedures, and check everyone’s hiking gear to make sure all the essentials are packed and ready.

Day 2: After breakfast, we drive from Ylläs to Hetta, where our four-day Hetta-Pallas hiking trail begins. After crossing Lake Ounasjärvi by boat, we gradually climb out of the peaceful forest and into the open fells and spectacular landscapes around Pyhäkero. Our destination for the day is Sioskuru, where we spend the night in a wilderness hut. Distance: 12-16 km.

Day 3: We hike from Sioskuru toward Hannukuru. Most of the day is spent above the tree line in open fell country before descending to Hannukuru. We stay overnight in the reserved wilderness hut, and in the evening we get to enjoy one of the highlights of the Hetta-Pallas trail: a traditional sauna in the middle of the wilderness! Distance: 14 km.

Day 4: We leave Hannukuru and continue toward Nammalakuru. This is the most physically demanding day of our hike, with repeated climbs onto the fells followed by descents into beautiful old-growth forests and valleys. We spend the night at Nammalakuru. Distance: 14 km.

Day 5: The final day of our Hetta-Pallas thru-hike. From Nammalakuru, we continue toward Pallas, spending one last day high in the open fells before descending toward the end of the trail. After four days and approximately 55 kilometers of hiking, we reach Pallas. Transportation takes us back to our accommodation in Ylläs, where a hot shower, clean clothes, and a comfortable bed await. In the evening, we gather for a final dinner to celebrate completing the Hetta-Pallas trail. Distance: 13 km.

Day 6: Breakfast and departure from Ylläs.

Description

Hetta-Pallas Hut-to-Hut Hiking Tour

A full service Hetta-Pallas hiking tour – one of the easiest ways to experience a true multi-day hike in Finland during ruska season.

Join us on a guided Hetta-Pallas hiking tour along one of Finland’s most iconic hiking trails, established in 1934. This approximately 55-kilometer thru-hike- style hiking trail takes you from Hetta (small Finnish town) to Pallas through the heart of Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park, crossing wide-open fells, rocky summits and old forest valleys.

What makes it all even more special is the timing – the first week on September is ruska season, meaning the whole scene is painted with yellow and red Autumn colours.

The Hetta-Pallas trail is a great choice for first-time multi-day hikers who want to visit Lapland, thanks to its clearly marked route and excellent network of basic level wilderness huts. While the terrain is technically straightforward, the hike is moderately demanding physically. There are plenty of uphills and descents as we make our way across the national park.

Pihka Outdoors’ Hetta-Pallas Hiking Tour is a full-service, fullboard adventure where the essential logistics are taken care of for you. The price includes accommodations before and after the hike, reserved wilderness huts, boat transportation(at the beginning of this hiking trail), meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner, and some snacks), the necessary hiking gear such as stove, sleeping bag with a liner etc., and transportation from our accommodation to the trailhead and back.

Along the trail, we stay in reserved wilderness huts without electricity or running water. An authentic Finnish wilderness cabin experience is guaranteed. And, of course, a professional Pihka Outdoors wilderness guide will be with you throughout the journey, sharing practical hiking skills, local knowledge, and plenty of tips along the way.

What happens on the Hetta-Pallas Hiking Tour?

Our adventure begins in Ylläs, which is easy to reach by flying into Kittilä Airport or taking the overnight train to Kolari Railway station. The first night on this tour is spent comfortably indoors in twin rooms.

In the evening, we gather for a welcome dinner, meet the group, and go through the key details of the upcoming Hetta-Pallas thru-hike. We also complete a final gear check and review the safety plan together. Detailed gear and packing lists will have been sent to all participants well before the trip.

The real hiking adventure begins the following morning. After breakfast, we drive from Ylläs to Hetta (appx. 2 hours) the starting point of the historic Hetta-Pallas trail, where a boat ride across Lake Ounasjärvi awaits us.

Once we reach the other side of the lake, our four-day, approximately 55-kilometer thru-hike through Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park begins. The trail filled with ruska colours follows a chain of fells through open tundra-like landscapes, rocky summits, fell valleys, and old-growth forests all the way to Pallas, where we cross the finish line.

During the hike, we stay in basic level wilderness huts along the trail and experience the simple way of life in the Finnish wilderness. Our overnight stops include the reserved wilderness huts at Sioskuru, Hannukuru (sauna possibility) and Nammalakuru. If sleeping in a hut isn’t your thing, ask us about borrowing a tent.

After four days of hiking, we arrive at Pallas where transportation waits and takes us back to our accommodation in Ylläs. After a well-earned shower and a change into clean clothes, it is time to slow down, relax, and enjoy our final dinner together. We spend one more comfortable night indoors before heading home the following morning.

Gear for the Hetta-Pallas Hike

You will receive a detailed Pihka Outdoors gear list after booking. The Hetta-Pallas ruska hike takes place the first week of September, when conditions in Finnish Lapland can range from surprisingly warm and sunny to cold, wet, and windy. Sometimes all during the same trip. Good equipment and good hiking boots are therefore essential. Approximately one month before the trip, we hold an online pre-trip briefing for all participants. This gives you plenty of time to make sure you have the right gear and ask any questions before traveling to Lapland.

Pihka Outdoors provides a full service hiking trip. A sleeping bag and sleeping bag liner, cooking and eating equipment, all hiking meals and some snacks, and other shared equipment needed during the tour are included. A proper hiking backpack can also be borrowed if needed. Of course, we still recommend packing a few of your own favorite trail treats!

Wilderness Huts and Accommodation

The size and setup of the reserved wilderness huts vary slightly along the Hetta-Pallas trail. Most accommodate around 10–12 people, and we generally sleep in bunk beds.

These are genuine wilderness huts. There is no running water and no electricity. Sleeping spaces have soft mattresses, pillows, and blankets, while our expeditions meals can be prepared using the huts’ gas stoves. Drinking water is collected from natural water sources or wells along the trail. On the Hetta-Pallas route, we recommend treating drinking water with purification tablets or a water filter. Usually we boil it just in case.

In the evenings, the wood-burning stove brings warmth and cozy atmosphere to the hut. This isn’t a hotel-style hut-to-hut tour, it is a true Finnish wilderness experience how we finns make it.

Food on the Hetta-Pallas Hiking Tour

During this hike, we primarily eat lightweight backpacking meals that are prepared by only adding hot water. Each participant receives an individual food package containing breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and a small selection of tasty trail snacks.

We can accommodate the most common dietary requirements, including gluten-free, lactose-free, and vegan diets.

In the evening before the hike, we enjoy a welcome dinner together. After completing the Hetta-Pallas thru-hike, we return to the table for one final dinner together – this time with 55 kilometers of raw Lapland behind us.

What’s Included in the Hetta-Pallas Hiking Tour?

Professional Pihka Outdoors hiking guide(s)
Accommodation before and after the hike: hotel, high quality B&B, or big cabin
Reserved wilderness hut accommodations
Sleeping bags and other included overnight equipment
Welcome dinner and breakfast at the accommodation before the hike
Dinner and accommodation after completing the hike
Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks for every hiking day
Detailed gear and packing list
Pre-trip video meeting with the group
WhatsApp group before the trip
Personal assistance with gear and packing (if needed)
Safety and gear briefing
Transportation from the accommodation to the Hetta-Pallas trail and back to the accommodation after the hike
Boat transportation across Lake Ounasjärvi

Not Included

Flights, trains, or long-distance bus transportation to Lapland
Transportation to the accommodation in Ylläs (direct bus connections are available)
Hiking backpacks (ask us about borrowing one)
Personal outdoor clothing and footwear
Personal travel and accident insurance – mandatory for this tour

Looking for something more remote and off the beaten path? Take a look at our One Week Wild Camping where we leave marked trails behind and head deeper into the Lapland wilderness.