# Pyhä

    Formerly there was a Pyhätunturi ski resort in Salla as well. Now that one is known as Sallatunturi
Pyhä or Pyhätunturi is a holiday resort and skiing centre mostly in the Pelkosenniemi municipality in Finnish Lapland. Small part extends to Kemijärvi. Being located next to one of the most popular national parks in Finland, the Pyhä-Luosto National Park, Pyhä offers activities around the year. The nearest major town is Kemijärvi 57 km away.
The after ski is moderate; Pyhä isn't as heavy party grounds as Levi.

## Understand

The very prominent Pyhätunturi fell has been a sieidi, a sacred place, to the Sami people for ages. When Christianity arrived here, the Pyhänkasteenlähde (Holy Baptism Spring) pond was used for baptism, from 1620 until 1680. The exceptional nature values of the area were officially acknowledged in 1938 when Pyhätunturi National Park was established.
To be exact Pyhätunturi is not a single mountain but a group of five separate peaks. From east to west these are Kultakero, Ukonhattu, Noitatunturi, Laakakero and Peurakero. Noitatunturi is the highest top while all the pistes are on Kultakero. The ravines between the peaks are steep and impressive but during winter avalanches are common.
Pyhä has been popular grounds for cross-country skiing since the 1930s even though there weren't even roads to the area then. The first piste with a lift was opened in 1964 and a small hotel with a restaurant was opened in 1966. All the founders were locals. Since 1987 Pyhä has operated under the same company that runs Ruka resort in Kuusamo. During the 1990s Pyhä got a lot of fame as a party place for people in their twenties.
In 2005 the national park was extended to the Luosto fells in the north, forming the current Pyhä-Luosto National Park. There were 174,000 visitors to the park in 2018. Thanks to the national park, Pyhä is attractive also during the summer and there is strong will to develop the area, keeping the environment the first consideration and avoiding mass tourism.
During the 2010s there's been huge financial investments to the resort. Today Pyhä has 14 pistes. The Huttu-Ukko piste is the steepest maintained piste in Finland. FIS-class Piste Palander is also used for training professional alpine skiers. The resort has 5,300 beds, most of them in cottages and holiday apartments.

## Get in
### By car

If you arrive by car via E63, turn to road number 962 at the village Vuostimo. If you arrive via E75, turn to road 962 at the village Torvinen. The resort is well signposted. You can also take an overnight train to Rovaniemi or Kemijärvi and unload your car there for driving only the remaining distance. The price for an overnight journey, including cabins with bunk beds for four persons and car transport (check dimensions, including any add-ons), is about 2·€250+€150.

### By bus

There are daily coach connections called SkiBus from Rovaniemi via the resort Luosto. The SkiBus calls at the railway station, bus station, city centre and airport before it heads to Luosto and Pyhä. A bus ticket from Rovaniemi costs €31/adult, €21/young person, €15/child or Finnish student. The trip takes about 2½ hr.
Daily coaches from Kemijärvi railway station or Kemijärvi ABC to Pyhä cost about €12/adult; the trip takes about an hour.
Check Matkahuolto for details. Use "Pyhätunturi" as your destination.

### By train

Sleeper trains go from the south to Rovaniemi and Kemijärvi. If you use "Pyhä" as the destination, you might (in peak season?) get tickets that include a direct bus connection from the station to the resort.
A one-way train ticket from Helsinki to Rovaniemi or Kemijärvi costs around €200–250 for two adults sharing a sleeper cabin with bunk beds, cheaper when bought well in advance.

### By plane

The nearest airport is in Rovaniemi, which has good national and some international connections. The SkiBus runs daily between the Pyhä resort and Rovaniemi airport via Luosto. The SkiBus waits for delayed flight for one hour. If your flight is delayed more than that contact Kutilan Liikenne Oy and inform them about your situation. The SkiBus costs €31/adult, €21/young person, €15/child or student.

## Get around

Area is relatively small so things are mostly reachable by walking or skiing. Notice however that the resort is on the slope of the fell and there is notable elevation differences in the area.
From January to April the Pyhä shuttle drives a circular route around the resort. The shuttle is free of charge. Otherwise you need to use taxi or the long distance coaches. Check Matkahuolto for details. A SkiBus trip between Pyhä and Luosto costs €7.
* Taxi Haikonen, ☏ +358 400-656-500.
* Smartphone apps: Valopilkku, 02 Taksi

## See

* 67.019627.2521 Pyhä-Luosto visitor centre Naava, Luontotie 1, ☏ +358 20-639-7302, pyhaluosto@metsa.fi. Year round daily 09:00/10:00–17:00. Municipal tourist information. Exhibition about the Pyhä-Luosto fell area, its geology and nature, and about the history of the forest Samis. Restaurant. Maps and other information about nature destinations in eastern Lapland. Keys for the rental huts in the wilderness. Free.
* 67.0227.1992 Isokuru ravine, holy baptism spring and waterfall (by a nature trail about 3 km from the resort). Isokuru-Pyhäkuru ravine is a very impressive place and has many fascinating geological features. The Samis were baptised to Christianity at Pyhänkasteenlähde ("Holy Baptism Spring"). The pond is very deep and the site has been holy to the Sami people for ages. There is a 17-m waterfall next to the pond. Free.
* 67.013727.14833 Noitatunturi fell. Noitatunturi means the Witch Fell. The highest top of the Pyhätunturi fells offers incredible sights over the surrounding landscape. A circular marked trail from the resort to the top is 14.7 km long. The trail is occasionally rocky and the climb during the trail is over 300 meters. Free.

## Do

* The pistes open in November and the winter sports season usually ends in late April.
* 67.05427.0191 Pyhä-Luosto National Park. 24 hours daily. Pyhä-Luosto National Park covers old-growth forests, large mires and treeless fells. Several marked hiking and skiing trails from a 4-km circular route to an extensive 35-km trail all the way to Luosto. The MTB routes are 12–35 km. More information from the visitor centre Naava. Free.
* 67.033427.23342 Pyhä Unplugged. Semi-acoustic music festival in early August. The main stage is the totally unique Aittakuru stage at the bottom of the Aittakuru ravine. Free.

## Buy

* 67.018127.25051 K-market Pyhäntähti, Kultakeronkatu 4, ☏ +358 16 882-810. M–F 09:00–18:00, Sa–Su 10:00–18:00. Groceries and souvenirs. Mail service. Gasoline. Prescription-free drugs. Alko pick-up point, delivery within 4 days from order.
* 67.018927.25242 Lettovilla, Kultakeronkatu 2, ☏ +358 400-200-306, sisko.lettovilla@luukku.com. Tu,Th,F 11:00–16:00, Sa 11:00–15:00, M,W,Su closed. Gifts and souvenirs.
* The nearest pharmacy is in Pelkosenniemi village (25 km) and Alko in Kemijärvi (57 km).

## Eat and drink

* 67.019427.25251 Café Loimu, Luontotie 1, ☏ +358 40-196-4750, ravintola@cafeloimu.fi. Daily 09:00/10:00–17:00. Buffet restaurant and café at visitor centre Naava. Lunch.
* 67.022127.25122 $^{[deadlink]}$ Huttu-Uula, Luontotie 8, ☏ +358 400-271-839, ahti.isojarvi@huttu-uula.fi. M–Sa 10:00–22:00, Su 10:00–21:00. À la carte restaurant and slope restaurant. Awarded with Chaîne des Rôtisseurs shield.
* 67.021427.2423 $^{[deadlink]}$ Colorado Bar & Grill, Kultakeronkatu 21, ☏ +358 40-643-4116, pyha@ravintolacolorado.fi. Daily; restaurant 12:00–22:00, bar 12:00–23:00/04:00. Burgers and BBQ. Lapland specialities.
* 67.018827.24234 Restaurant Huttuhippu and Huttu-Pub, Ukonhattu 1, ☏ +358 16 882-821, huttuhippu@eatlappi.fi. Pub with pub food. Open from November to April.
* 67.036127.22445 Pyhä Wurst, Pohjoisrinteentie 1, ☏ +358 400-101-681, info@pyhawurst.fi. Pub food. Open during the winter season.
* 67.023827.22436 Tsokka, ☏ +358 40-744-5057. November–April daily 10:00–17:00. This café is located on top of the Kultakero fell.
* 67.018727.25061 Sportbar Pyhä, Kultakeronkatu 4 (info@sportbarpyha.fi), ☏ +358 400-330-801. Daily 17:00–24:00/02:00. Bar and pub food. Games and sport. Karaoke. K-18 after 10pm. Open year round.
* 67.022627.24242 Calle house, Kultakeronkatu 21, ☏ +358 40-160-9958, calle@calle-talo.com. Daily 12:00–24:00/02:00. Legendary after ski. Live show at Tuesdays. Food in the day.

## Sleep

The most accommodations at Pyhä resort are cottages.
* 67.021727.24241 SKI-INN Hotel Pyhätunturi, Kultakeronkatu 21, ☏ +358 8 860-0500, myynti@pyha.fi. Rooms and apartments. Sauna and gym. Breakfast included. From €99/night.
* 67.017427.24562 Metallikero apartment hotel, Laakakero 3, ☏ +358 8 860 0500, myynti@pyha.fi. Check-in: 16:00, check-out: 12:00. Small hotel next to the family pistes. 12 rooms for 2 persons and 6 rooms for 3 persons. Bookings via SKI-INN Hotel Pyhätunturi. Discount price if you are member of Finnish Industrial Union.
* 67.021227.25373 Pyhä caravan area, ☏ +358 8 860 0400, myynti@pyha.fi. Check-in: 13:00, check-out: 12:00. Caravan park next to the resort. WC, shower, sauna, dishwasher and washing machine. Free WiFi. Available also in wintertime. Reception at SKI-INN Hotel Pyhätunturi. summer €32/night or €143/season; winter €59.50/night or €1095/season.
* 67.014927.24674 Pyhä Igloos, Kerontie 3, ☏ +358 400-448-160. Aurora igloos for 2–4 persons. Aurora watch. Sauna with outdoor tub. Car rental. Private transport from/to Rovaniemi. €339–499/night.
* 67.033127.2585 HolidayClub Pyhä (3 km from Pyhä resort), ☏ +358 300 870 900, asiakaspalvelu@holidayclub.fi. M–F 08:00–18:00, Sa 10:00–15:00. Two holiday apartment villages in the forest about one kilometre from each other. Intended primarily for families.
* 67.018527.25016 Pyhähippu booking centre, Kultakeronkatu 4, ☏ +358 16 882-820, info@pyhahippu.fi. M–F 09:00–17:00. Pyhähippu booking office has over 120 cottages for rent around the area.
* 67.021627.24227 Pyhä Booking, Kultakeronkatu 21, ☏ +358 8 860 0400, myynti@pyha.fi. Pyhä booking office has more than 120 cabins and cottages for rent.
* 67.05127.20698 Pyhän Asteli Resort, Astelintie 1 (5 km from Pyhä resort), ☏ +358 40-188-7777, sales@pyhanasteli.fi. Holiday apartment village with aurora igloos and aurora suites. Various winter activities. During the summer caravans and camping. Winter restaurant.
* 67.065827.23989 Lucky Ranch Snow Igloos, Pyhäntie 1210 (8 km from Pyhä), ☏ +358 40-754-0683, antti@luckyranch.fi. Accommodation in real snow igloos. Lots of different activities around the year, horses as speciality. Restaurant & bar open by request. Snow igloo €130/night.

## Stay safe

There are two private medical stations at Pyhä: 67.022327.24291 Bene Finlandia at Hotel Pyhätunturi and 67.018327.25092 Pyhä Medical Services at the shopping centre. Check your insurance. The public healthcare station is at Pelkosenniemi village.
If going off-piste check carefully the situation for avalanches. The steep, treeless ravines on the area are risky.