Lieksa & Ruunaa

Introducing Lieksa & Ruunaa

The small lakeside town of Lieksa is pri­marily a base and service town if you’re planning any outdoor activities in the region. In winter, husky tours and snowmobile safaris along the Russian border are popular; in summer, hiking, fishing and white-water rafting are all the rage.

The tourist office (248 5312; www.kareliaexpert.fi; Pielisentie 7; 9am-5pm Mon-Fri Jun-Aug, 9am-2pm Sat Jul, 8am-4pm Mon-Fri Sep-May) is the place to stop for information on accommodation, fishing, canoeing, smoke saunas and national parks, as well as local hiking maps.

One of Finland’s largest open-air museums, the Pielinen Museum (689 4151; Pappilantie 2; adult/child €4.50/1.50; 10am-6pm mid-May–mid-Sep) is a slightly jumbled complex of almost 100 Karelian buildings (many relocated from Russia) and historical exhibits – along with an indoor museum of local war and folk history. The indoor hall is also open in winter.

The Ruunaa Recreation Area, 30km east of Lieksa, is a superb, accessible and carefully managed wilderness area perfect for fishing, white-water rafting, wildlife spotting and easy hiking. The drawback is that public transport barely exists, but you should be able to hitch a lift from Lieksa (or go with an organised tour) in summer. The Ruunaa Nature Centre (02-0564 5757; www.ruunaa.fi; 9am-7pm summer), near the bridge over the Naarajoki (Naara river), has lots of information and is where most boat trips end.

Last updated: Feb 17, 2009