Perspectives into Northern nature on seashores, fells, ridges and dunes

Finland is the land of natural parks and the Pohjola route takes you to two of them – and a Unesco Geopark on top of that.

Along the route, visit one of the most significant wetlands in Europe. For a chance to relax in the lap of mother nature, take a road trip into Northern Finland at its best.

Start from Oulu and make a tour clockwise or counterclockwise. In a couple of days, be prepared to see reindeer, migratory birds depending on the season, ancient formations shaped by the ice age and the crystal clear waters and sky of the north.

The pure wonders of the forest and fells 

 

The nature parks of Syöte and Rokua on the inland legs of the Pohjola route will both entice you with arctic nature, but with their own traits and sights. 

Syöte, northeast of Oulu, is the southernmost fell area in Finland. There’s no need to travel all the way up to Lapland to see reindeer and arctic forests! On the hiking routes, nature trails and campfire sites of Syöte National Park the brisk northern air is full of scents and sounds: firewood crackling, smoke with a scent of tar, the mesmerising blossoms of wild arctic flowers and berries, taking in the sunlight 24/7 before the magic of the short arctic summer is gone. 

Greetings from the ice age 

 

From Syöte head southwest towards Rokua Geopark. This Unesco Global Geopark is the first of its kind in Finland, awarded for its outstanding geology, ridges and dunes sculpted by the last ice age. For a geology enthusiast, Rokua offers the chance to visit a gneiss bedrock and some of the oldest rocks in Europe. For fresh air fanatics, the Geopark is ideal with its mountain biking trails and the freedom to roam foraging for berries and mushrooms. You’re in Finland, so pick your lunch from the forest – it’s as clean and healthy as it gets.

The birds’ and birdwatcher’s place to be

 

Liminka, on the coast of the Bothnian bay, half an hour’s trip south of Oulu, is the place to visit if you’re a migratory bird or birdwatcher wishing to see them in hundreds, thousands even. 

Liminka bay is one of Europe’s most important wetlands and a nature reserve that is home to many other seaside species. You’ll be amazed at how quiet, and in the next moment, filled with birdsong the Liminka seashore can be, and what magnificent views it offers on the Bothnian Bay. Climb up to the birdwatching tower or rent a mountain bike to get around this unique seaside location.


The Vihiluoto beach and bird watching area in Kempele, right next to Oulu, is a nice little seaside oasis. Vihiluoto has a nature trail accessible to everyone, a birdwatching tower and a nice sandy beach. In the summer, you can spot a herd of sheep in the field near the sea.

So for a road trip to many worlds in one go, choose the Pohjola route and become a forever fan of northern Finnish nature.

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Metsänkävijä-mökki Riihikummussa

Cottages in Riihikumpu area in Syöte

Syöte
Alpaca walking in a forest

Alpacafarm visit and walk in forest - Hanging out with alpacas in finnish nature!

Kempele

Liminka Bay: Guided tour to the Eight Seasons of Birds' Year -exhibition

Liminka

Restaurant Liminka Bay

Liminka
Main building

Laukanranta B&B

Muhos

Bike rental in summer

Syöte

Taigalampi Log Villa in Syöte

Pudasjärvi
easymove-kuntoutus-hieronta

Massage

Kempele
Wellamo kesä

Syötteen Mökit Cottages

Syöte

Bike Park package

Syöte
Hotel Iso-Syöte Aurora Suite Aurora View

Aurora View Suite / Arctic Hilltop Boutique Hotel Iso-Syöte

Syöte

Local crafts, wildherbs and baking

Pudasjärvi

Syötteen Mökit Cottages Tapio and Tellervo

Syöte
Sunski-mökki Hulhavassa

Cottages in Hulhava area in Syöte

Syöte
Luontolautta Montta Oulujoki

Geo-x-on Outdoor Equipment Rental

Muhos

Iso-Syöte Snow World

Syöte

Syöte Booking Centre

Syöte
Mountain biking , Köykkyrin retkireitistö

Mountain biking and hiking route - Köykkyrin retkireitistö

Kempele
Seafood pasta.

Bistoria Iso-Syöte

Pudasjärvi
Room of Aittahotelli

Countryside Hotel Merilä Manor

Utajärvi
Fell Top Cottage

Fell Top Cottages / Iso-Syöte hilltop

Syöte

Taikaloora Cottages

Vaala
Sup-lautailu Oulujärvi

Paddling in Rokua Geopark

Muhos

Rent a Canoe or Kayak in Syöte

Syöte
group excursion in Syöte national park

Trail biking experience in the Syöte National Park

Syöte
Manamansalon Portin ravintola

GEOfood restaurant of Manamansalon Portti

Manamansalo

Bike Park guidance lesson

Syöte
Bar / lobby area, entrance to restaurant

Restaurant Hilltop

Syöte
Pytkynharjun Talopakka-huoneistot

Cottages in Pytkynharju and Arola cottage area in Syöte

Syöte
Vasta vai vihta

All Syöte's activities from Syöte Booking Centre

Syöte

Soundbath relaxation

Pudasjärvi
Savusauna

Merilä Manor Saunas

Utajärvi

Northern lights hunting by car in Syöte

Pudasjärvi
Saiho-mökki Ollukassa

Cottages in Ollukka area in Syöte

Syöte

Local Taxi Services in Liminka

Liminka

E-fatbiking and fatbiking in Rokua Geopark area

Muhos
Oulujärvellä on upeita melontapaikkoja.

On the Traces of the Ice Age - Lake Oulujärvi

Vaala
Saaga Travel largest charter bus is a 79-seater double-decker.

Charter buses to Syöte

Syöte
Hotel Iso-Syöte Hanhilampi Erämaaleiri

Hanhilampi Wilderness Camp

Syöte
Auringonnousu

Aurora Hut Pytkyigloos

Syöte
Iso-Syöte Bike Park at the top

Iso-Syöte Bike Park

Syöte
Fireplace summer

Arctic Hilltop Boutique Hotel Iso-Syöte

Syöte
View from bird tower

Liminka Bay: Guided visit to birdtower

Liminka

Restaurant at KIDE Hotel

Syöte
Forest Mind Trip in winter with snowshoes

Relaxing Forest Mind trip in Syöte National Park

Syöte
Tunturikajo-mökki Iso-Syötteellä

Cottage area halfway into the Iso-Syöte fell

Syöte
Kyyhkylä 2

Syöte Booking Centre Cottages in Rokua

Utajärvi
Montta treasure hunt luontopakopeli

Montta treasure hunt - nature escape

Muhos

Hotel Liminka Bay

Liminka
Pikku-Syöte offers exceptional trails and sceneries for Mountain Biking around the year.

Guided Mountain Biking tours from Pikku-Syöte

Syöte
Boreal bird and wildlife tour - brown bear

Boreal Bird & Wildlife Photographing Tour

Syöte
Park Hotel Liminka

Park Hotel Liminka

Liminka
Lapsi ja tehtäviä metsässä

Forest Nature School in Rokua - Naturest Oy

Utajärvi
Hotel Iso-Syöte Eagle View Suite

Eagle View Suite / Arctic Hilltop Boutique Hotel Iso-Syöte

Syöte
Ruovikon takana on rakennus, jossa on torni.  Behind the beach grass is a building with a tower.

Liminka Bay Visitor Centre

Liminka

Tunturi Pub

Syöte
Rosso seating area

Rosso Restaurant Kempele

Kempele
Törmiäinen Iso-Syötteen huipun tuntumassa

Tunturimajakylä cottage area in Syöte

Syöte

Syöte Camping, short-term space

Syöte

Syöte Camping, seasonal space

Syöte
Hotel Iso-Syöte Phoenix Suite Winter View

Phoenix Suite / Arctic Hilltop Boutique Hotel Iso-Syöte

Syöte

Winter activities for groups

Syöte

Horse riding in Syöte

Syöte
Kaira -kelomökki Kelosyötteellä

Cottages in Kelosyöte area

Syöte

Black Suites

Kempele
Ihmisiä metsässä

Nature Power from a forest in Rokua - Naturest Oy

Utajärvi
Restaurant El Sabor

Tapas Dinner for two

Kempele
Aparment Kievarinhovi

Aparment Kievarinhovi

Kempele
Manamansalon Portin camping-alueen ranta

Manamansalon Portti caravan and apartments

Manamansalo
Lobby

Airport Hotel Oulu

Kempele

Rokuanhovi Cabins

Utajärvi
Hotel Iso-Syöte Bear Cave Suite Hot tube

Bear Cave Suite / Arctic Hilltop Boutique Hotel Iso-Syöte

Syöte

Natureyoga

Pudasjärvi

Wilderness hotel Rokuanhovi

Utajärvi
Three National Parks Summer Adventure in South Lapland - canoeing

Three National Parks Summer Adventure

Syöte
Lumisen metsän keskellä on hirsirakennus. /  In the middle of the snowy forest is a log building. Kuva: Sami Säily.

Syöte Visitor Centre

Pudasjärvi
Oulujoki on Suomen 7. suurin joki.

On The Traces Of The Ice Age - The Oulujoki River Valley

Muhos
Kelosyöte Aten mökit/Satu 31

Kelosyöte/Aten mökit

Syöte
Hotelli Pohjankievari

Hotel Pohjankievari

Kempele

Youth centre Pikku-Syöte

Pudasjärvi
Saimaa SUP Sun 10.6

Stand Up Paddling

Pudasjärvi

Kuuru Tunturilaakso Suites

Syöte

Syöte Taxi

Syöte
Aappola, Old Liminka

Guided Tour in Historical Liminka

Liminka

Syöte Taxi services

Syöte

Go Arctic Activities - Reindeer Farm Visit

Pudasjärvi
Poronpolku-mökki ulkoa kesällä

Cottages in Pikku-Syöte area

Syöte

Canoeing Trip in Syöte

Syöte
Birdwatching tower at Liminka Bay and people watching the birds.

Geocaching in Liminka

Liminka
easymove-kuntosali-ryhmaliikunta

Gym & Group Activities

Kempele

Akupuncture and energy healing treatments

Kempele

Sports hall

Pudasjärvi
Kotakahvio sisältä

Kelosyöte/Kotacafe

Syöte
Syötteen Eräpalvelut kesäsafarit river tubing

Guided summer safaris at Syöte

Syöte

Guided fatbike tour

Pudasjärvi
KIDE hotellilla pyöräilijöitä Iso-Syötteellä

Summer activities for groups

Pudasjärvi
Puikkari julkisivu.

Puikkari swimming hall

Pudasjärvi
Olohuone

Holiday apartment accomodation in the heart of Muhos

Muhos

Fatbike rental Liminka

Liminka

Kerkkä Cafe & Lunch

Pudasjärvi
Hillatupa 2 -mökki Syötteellä

Cottages around Syöte

Syöte
OTAXI Green and Zero Emission

Local Taxi Services in Muhos

Muhos
Hotel Iso-Syöte Arctic Spa Sauna

Arctic Spa

Syöte

Kurttila cottages

Utajärvi
CanAm Outlander MAX 570 XU+

ATV Rental

Pudasjärvi
Taigalampi Syöte

Taigalampi Rental Villa

Pudasjärvi
Two men playing Disc Golf in the forest.

Liminka Disc Golf Course

Liminka
Syöte Cottage

Syöte Cottage

Syöte

Gym at KIDE Hotel

Syöte
Hotel Iso-Syöte Meeting room

Meeting services

Syöte
Café Hilltop cakes pies smoothies

Cafe Hilltop

Syöte
Hotel Iso-Syöte Pyörävuokraamo

Bike Rental Shop - Lapland Bike Hotel Iso-Syöte

Syöte
Romekievari's famous salmon soup

Restaurant Romekievari - Tennessee BBQ house and the home of waffles

Syöte

Fatbike rental

Kempele
bouliskeilaus

Bowling

Kempele
boulisvadilla

Food & drinks

Kempele
Sauna

Pärjä Ski Suites – stylish accommodation next to slopes

Syöte

Fatbike / E-fatbike Rental

Syöte
Karsikkolammen savusauna kesällä

Karsikkolampi smoke sauna

Syöte
Two men playing frisbee golf

Rantakylä Recreational Area in Liminka

Liminka
Hotel Iso-Syöte Kelomökki kesä

Kelo Cottages / Iso-Syöte hilltop

Syöte

Fatbike Tour in Syöte National Park

Pudasjärvi
Goahti is top of hill, next to the Syöte national park

Adventure into the Goahti, Syöte National Park

Pudasjärvi
KIDE Finland's Best Ski Hotel

KIDE Hotel by Iso-Syöte

Syöte