Kuusamo and Ruka information
The joining point for Upitrek tous is Kuusamo airport, with only a few exceptions. If you have some extra time before your airport transfer or flight, below you’ll find suggestions on how to spend your free time in Kuusamo.
You’ll also find information about accommodation and activities in Kuusamo and Ruka if you’re planning to extend your stay. Please note that pre- and post-tour nights are usually not available at the tour accommodation. We therefore recommend staying in Kuusamo or Ruka before or after your tour.
A short stopover
If you have 3–4 hours we recommend visiting Holiday Club Kuusamon Tropiikki to enjoy the spa or have a meal at the restaurant. There is an airport shuttle to the hotel, read more below. Alternatively, you can spend some time in Kuusamo town centre, where you’ll find shops, cafés and restaurants.
Please note:
* There is no bus service from the airport to the town centre; a taxi is required.
* On Saturday afternoons and Sundays, most small shops are closed.
* Luggage storage is not available in Kuusamo town centre or at Kuusamo Airport.
* Please make sure you return to Kuusamo Airport in time for your designated pick-up.
Half a day or more
If you have some more time, you can also visit Ruka Ski Resort by bus (journey time approximately 30 minutes). However, few hours are usually only enough to explore the village, enjoy the scenery, and have a meal or a coffee rather than take part in activities. Luggage storage is available at Ruka-Kuusamo Tourist Information, located in Shopping Centre Kumpare. Please check the opening hours on the Tourist Information website. Please note that skis cannot be stored.
KUUSAMO
Accommodation in Kuusamo
Holiday Club Kuusamon Tropiikki – spa hotel located approx. 5 km from Kuusamo town centre and 6 km from the airport.
Spa: Open Mon–Sat 12 am–8 pm & Sun 12 am–7 pm. Tickets adults 25 €, 4–14 v 19 €.
Activities at the hotel
Equipment rental: Escaperoom Kuusamo, located in the same complex with Tropiikki, offers eg. cross-country skis for rent.
Hotel Kuusanka – Family hotel located in the centre of Kuusamo.
Hostel Aurora – Budget-friendly accommodation located about 2 km from the town centre.
Getting to hotels
Taxi fares from the airport to hotels start from approximately €24.
We recommend pre-booking your taxi eg. with these companies:
Otaxi
Rukan Taksi ja huoltopalvelu
If you have booked a post-tour night at one of the previously mentioned hotels, the hotel drop-off is available at prior request.
Airport shuttle to Holiday Club Tropiikki
You can reach Holiday Club Kuusamon Tropiikki also by airport shuttle. The service is available for scheduled Finnair, Edelweiss, Eurowings, Lufthansa and airBaltic flights.
Please note that the airport shuttle is not scheduled to meet charter flights (e.g. TUI). However, passengers arriving on charter flights are welcome to use the shuttle service if one of the scheduled departures suits their arrival time.
We recommend booking your ticket no later than 24 hours before departure. However, if seats are available, you can also purchase your ticket when boarding.
Tickets can be purchased on the Matkahuolto website.
Route: Kuusamo Airport–Tropiikki (Kuusamo). Price 8,90 €/person/one-way.
Returning to the airport
* The shuttle to Finnair flights departs from Tropiikki 1 hour 25 minutes before the scheduled departure time.
* The shuttle to Edelweiss, Eurowings, Lufthansa and airBaltic flights departs from Tropiikki 2 hours 10 minutes before the scheduled departure time.
* If you need to return to the airport for your pick-up, please check the flight schedule for that day and choose the shuttle that best matches your pick-up time.
RUKA
Accommodation in Ruka
If you are extending your stay, Ruka offers a wide selection of hotels, apartments and holiday cabins.
These two hotels are centrally located in the heart of Ruka village:
Scandic Rukahovi
Hotel Arctic Zone
You can also choose from numerous apartments and cottages throughout the resort.
Things to do in Ruka
Equipment rental (cross-country skiing, downhill skiing, snowshoeing)
Ski passes
Downhill skiing and cross-country skiing lessons
Winter weekly program
Husky safaris
Snowmobile safaris
Getting to Ruka
The airport shuttle to Ruka is available for scheduled Finnair, Edelweiss, Eurowings, Lufthansa and airBaltic flights.
Please note that the airport shuttle is not scheduled to meet charter flights (e.g. TUI). However, passengers arriving on charter flights are welcome to use the shuttle service if one of the scheduled departures suits their arrival time.
We recommend booking your ticket no later than 24 hours before departure. However, if seats are available, you can also purchase your ticket when boarding.
Tickets can be purchased on the Matkahuolto website.
Route: Kuusamo Airport–Ruka. Price: €15.90/person/one way.
Returning to the airport
* The shuttle to Finnair flights departs from Ruka 1 hour 45 minutes before the scheduled departure time.
* The shuttle to Edelweiss, Eurowings, Lufthansa and airBaltic flights departs from Ruka 2 hours 30 minutes before the scheduled departure time.
* If you need to return to the airport for your pick-up, please check the flight schedule for that day and choose the shuttle that best matches your pick-up time.
Ruka ski bus has several daily connections between Kuusamo town centre (including the bus stop “Ervastin aukio”) and Ruka.
Schedule for the winter season 2026–2027 will be available later.
https://www.ruka.fi/sites/ruka/files/inline-files/ruka-kuusamo_skibus_aikataulu_2025-2026.pdf