Family Summer Holiday with Your Pet

If your dog is comfortable in a canoe or on a SUP board, you can head out on a paddling trip along the Oulanka River, from Kiutaköngäs to Nurmisaarenniemi or Jäkälänmutka.

Four-legged adventurers are also welcome on the Village-2-Valley gondola, making it easy to reach the sniff-worthy views from the top of Saarua and the starting point of the Valtavaara trail, all from Ruka village. The Ruka dog park is also right next to Ruka village.

There is plenty of day-walk options, whether you’re heading to Ruka or exploring the region’s national parks. Try, for example, Ruka loop trails, Valtavaaran huiputus trail and Pyhän Jyssäys.

Some trails in Oulanka National Park include suspension bridges, which some dogs may find a little intimidating, but on the trails in Riisitunturi, for example, there are none at all.

In Ski-Inn apartments, you don’t need to pay an additional pet fee and there’s plenty of choice among pet-friendly apartments.

For a cosy stay close to nature, Rukalodge cottages are also a great option. And in general, you’ll find lots of places in the wider cottage-rental selection where a couple of dog hairs won’t cause a stir.

When it’s time to eat, you don’t need to leave your dog behind, just head to Hanki Baari, Camp Kitchen, RUOK Burger or BASE Eat & Heat, for example. Dogs are often looked after with their own water bowl and the kitchen may even have a little treat, too!

In Ruka-Kuusamo, iconic national landscapes, stunning national parks, and fun activities come together. Traditional nature‑based pastimes have been revived to meet the expectations of modern families: instead of traditional log driving, rafting is enjoyed comfortably on a rubber raft, and cycling takes place not on old courting trails but on the fast‑paced routes of Ruka Bike Park.