Karhunkierros 82km hike, everything you need to know.

Information and advice on how to hike Karhunkierros in northern Finland. Where is it, how to get there, where to sleep at night, what equipment, who can do it...
Links:
Detailed information about Karhunkierros with maps etc. found here:
www.nationalparks.fi/karhunki...
All travel links to Kuusamo found here:
Ruka - Getting here
www.ruka.fi/en/getting-here
All travel links in the Ruka area found here:
www.ruka.fi/en/getting-around
How to get to Ruka:
NB on Prices!
All prices here are approximations only as of spring 2022 - they should be used only as a guide. Please check current prices and timetables using the links provided.
1. Onnibus to Rovaniemi, then 2 Matkahuolto busses to Ruka (Total approx. 84€ one way)
Onnibus to Rovaniemi
www.onnibus.com/home
+ Bus from Rovaniemi to Kuusamo - Matkahuolto
+ Bus from Kuusamo to Ruka - Matkahuolto
www.matkahuolto.fi/en
2. Matkahuolto bus to Ruka via Oulu and Kuusamo (Total approx. 90€ one way)
Bus to Oulu
+ Bus from Oulu to Kuusamo
+ Bus from Kuusamo to Ruka
www.matkahuolto.fi/en
3. Train from Helsinki to Rovaniemi + 2 busses to Ruka (Total approx. 115€ one way)
www.vr.fi/en
Train Helsinki to Rovaniemi - VR
+ Bus from Rovaniemi to Kuusamo - Matkahuolto
+ Bus from Kuusamo to Ruka - Matkahuolto
4. Fly to Kuusamo + bus to Ruka (Total approx. 242€ return spring 2022)
Finnair from Helsinki to Kuusamo
www.finnair.com/au-en
+ Bus to Ruka
www.matkahuolto.fi/en
How to get from Ruka to the Karhunkierros start point (Karhunkierros Visitor Centre) from Ruka
Bus to Hautajärvi 10-15€
www.matkahuolto.fi/en
Taxi reservations
Rukan Taksipalvelu: [phone]
Taksikeskus (Otataxi) [phone]
Private taxi approx 90€
Shared taxi - ”Kimppataksi”:
2 people = 45€ each
3 people = 30€ each
4 people = 22.50€ each…
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
01:57 What is it?
03:15 Where is it?
03:35 Getting to Ruka
06:32 Getting to the start point
07:51 Who can do it?
08:48 What do you need?
09:30 Tent or cabin?
11:54 Stops and timetable
14:25 Day 1 & Taivalköngäs
16:00 Day 2 & Jussinkämppä
16:55 Kiutaköngäs
17:52 Day 3 and Porontimajoki
19:04 Day 4 & Ruka
20:48 Finally
22:03 Info cards
25:06 Other videos

[@sharoni71]

Excellent video. Lots of very useful information

[@arikaiponen6737]

Hi, i think there is free parking in Ruka sport center area, near Ruka village. Im plannimg to go to Karhunkierros at June. Lets see how it goes. No timetable for me. Maybe 5 or 6 days 🙂

[@Penguin428]

Many thanks Ari 👍 Yes, it’s spring, nearly time! I’d love to do it again this year too, but no timetable yet… Enjoy, maybe see you there 😊