Solar power keeps operations running in remote Hossa. At Kainuun luontoretket, the circular economy is reflected in everything from buildings to everyday items, while customers are guided to explore safely and with respect for the environment.
Traditional buildings, solar power, local food and aspen plates handmade by the entrepreneur
Tourism in Ruka-Kuusamo is founded upon the region’s magnificent natural attractions. Hence, the promotion of responsible tourism is especially important for local tourism businesses. Through the Sustainable Travel Finland program (STF) by Visit Finland, companies can incorporate sustainable practices and responsible choices into their daily operations.
Timo Kaikkonen had been an entrepreneur for less than a year when the municipality of Suomussalmi contacted him and encouraged him to join the Sustainable Travel Finland (STF) programme.
– It quickly became clear that everything had already been thought through in the STF programme. I wanted to review my own operations and learn what I should develop next, recalls the wilderness and nature guide who runs Kainuun luontoretket.
Kaikkonen came up with his business idea when Hossa National Park was established in 2017. He began by renovating and extending the culturally and historically significant log cabins he owned and trained as a wilderness and nature guide. He started setting up the company in autumn 2019, and operations began in spring 2020.
– The foundations were more or less in place, and I found it easy to join the STF programme. I worked for the Finnish Defence Forces for more than 30 years, and our operating environment was certified as early as the beginning of the 2000s, says the entrepreneur, who now provides accommodation, wilderness and nature tourism services.
Kaikkonen drew on his knowledge of the circular economy when designing the buildings, but wanted more expertise to support his guided activity services. He therefore added qualifications as a stand-up paddleboarding, mountain biking, fishing and paddling instructor, as well as a charter boat operator.
Although instructor training is not officially part of sustainability programmes, Kaikkonen would like the Act on the Safety of Consumer Services to be included in them – and compliance with it to be monitored.
– These are obvious things to me, and I have made sure they are in order. In my view, anyone renting out outdoor equipment must also be a qualified instructor in the activity. It creates safety risks if equipment is handed out to anyone without giving customers any guidance.
Kaikkonen considers safety in everything he does. He shows customers how to use the rental equipment and gives them tips for their trips, taking into account their skill levels and the most demanding sections of the terrain and waterways. Since the beginning of 2024, fatbike rentals from Kainuun luontoretket have included a 30-minute mountain biking technique lesson.
– Many people have cycled a lot on their own and therefore assume they can also ride mountain bikes and e-bikes, even though they actually know nothing about them. When you have the proper training, you do not have to leave things to guesswork with customers.
Solar power and handmade aspen plates
The base of Kainuun luontoretket is located on the shore of Lake Joukojärvi in Hossa, beyond the reach of the national electricity grid. A solar power system provides electricity for daily needs. During the darkest seasons, the batteries are charged with a generator. Electricity is limited, so customers are advised to use it sparingly.
The batteries of the electric-assist fatbikes available for rent are also charged with solar power. Spare batteries have been purchased for cloudy days. Even the raft used to transport the bikes across the lake to the Sininen saavutus trail runs on an electric outboard motor whose batteries are charged with solar energy.
Hunting and fishing have always been a natural part of life in Hossa. For this reason, meals served by Kainuun luontoretket favour local ingredients such as fish and mushrooms, as well as organic food products. In 2023, Kainuun luontoretket also launched a project to develop fishing tourism. Its excursion selection includes lure fishing for large European whitefish.
Water for household use comes from a well and the lake. It is carried indoors, while wastewater flows through pipes to an infiltration area. Household waste is composted in a rapid composter, and the outdoor toilets are composting toilets as well. The composted material and cooled ash are used to fertilise the forest.
Kaikkonen inherited his handicraft skills from his family, and when needed, he has built both structures and practical items himself. For example, meals at the lean-to shelter are served on disposable aspen plates that Kaikkonen makes himself.
– It is something you probably will not find in many places, Kaikkonen reflects.
Kaikkonen’s wooden handicrafts can be purchased on site after trying them out. In addition to disposable and coated aspen plates, the selection includes a griddle spatula, a camping stool, a canoe paddle and firewood carriers in various sizes. He began hewing logs after completing training in summer 2026.
– We make saunas and lean-to shelters to order, Kaikkonen says.
Hossa also offers accessible services. The area has fishing platforms, a lean-to shelter and rental cabins suitable for people with reduced mobility, and some of the trails are wheelchair accessible.
A label alone is not enough – actions matter
For a sole entrepreneur, the different aspects of sustainability come together naturally. Kaikkonen names the company’s visibility on the Metsähallitus website as one significant benefit of the STF programme.
– A label alone does nothing. What matters is what the company actually does in practice, he points out.
He has not found the STF programme difficult or laborious. And even a little extra work would do no harm.
– In any case, you need to develop and review your operations every few years. I assume it is even easier for a small company than for a large one. The STF label sends a positive signal, he says, encouraging other tourism businesses in the area.
Read more:
Sustainable Tourism in Ruka-Kuusamo
Kainuun Luontoretket
Published: 29.9.2026
Text: Pauliina Toivanen
Photos: Kainuun Luontoretket
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