Services in Tarvantovaara Wilderness Area

Customer Service and Guidance

• Fell-Lapland Visitor Centre
  • Information on the area
  • Sale of maps and permits

Services offered by enterprises and other organisations

Following enterprises and other organisations offer services in the Käsivarsi Wilderness Area. Some of those also offer services in the Tarvantovaara Wilderness Area. These enterprises have a cooperation agreement with Metsähallitus and they follow the principles of sustainable nature tourism (metsa.fi) when operating in the wilderness area.

Meals, Where to Buy and Prepare

Shops, Kiosks, Cafés and Restaurants

• The place with the most services, such as restaurants, shops and kiosks, is the village of Hetta.
• There are cafés and kiosks in the villages of Kaaresuvanto, Hetta and Palojärvi.
• Restaurants can be found in the villages of Kaaresuvanto and Hetta.
• More information is available on the municipality of Enontekiö website (tosilappi.fi).

Wilderness Huts and Campfire Sites

• It is easiest to prepare food at open wilderness huts, which all have an iron stove.
• In Northern Lapland Metsähallitus allows building campfires if you use fallen branches and twigs as firewood.  When selecting a spot for your campfire use an old campfire site if you can find one.
• Lighting campfires is forbidden when there is a wildfire warning (ilmatieteenlaitos.fi) in effect.
  • ​This prohibition does not apply to cooking shelters or other fireplaces with a flue.

Drinking Water

• The water in the area's rivers is usually safe to drink, but during hot weather it should be boiled first.

Waste Management

• The wilderness area's two open wilderness huts still have waste bins. Visitors are encouraged to bring there own waste out of the wilderness area.
• Biodegradable waste should be placed in a dry toilet or composter, and small amounts of clean paper and cardboard can be used as kindling in a campfire.
• Hiking without Littering

Toilets

• There are dry toilets at all the open wilderness huts.

Overnight Stays

Camping

• Camping is permitted as an Everyman's Right (ymparisto.fi).
• You need to carry a tent or equivalent, even if you plan to stay in open wilderness huts.
• It is recommended to camp on the grounds of the open wilderness huts or at places which have been previously used for camping, to avoid wearing of the ground.

Open Wilderness Huts

Open wilderness huts are intended for hikers, skiers and other individuals moving under their own steam to use as resting points or for overnight stays. There are two open wilderness huts within Tarvantovaara Wilderness Area. They are intended for one to two night stays.

• Salvasjärvi open wilderness hut is located by the Norwegian border on the north west side of Salvastunturi Fell on the east shore of Lake Salvasjärvi. It is situated by the Hetta-Kilpisjärvi snowmobile track.
• Syväjärvi open wilderness hut is located on the south shore of the River Jietajoki. The River Jietajoki has its source on the southwestern edge of Lake Syväjärvi. The hut is 2 km down stream from the lake.

Lodging in the Surrounding Area

• Tourist enterprises in the villages of Kaaresuvanto, Kuttanen,  Leppäjärvi, Palojärvi and Hetta have rental cottages.
• There are camping grounds at the villages of Kaaresuvanto, Hetta, Leppäjärvi and Palojärvi.
• Hotels can be found in the villages of Hetta and Kaaresuvanto.
• Caravan parking areas with electricity can be found at Hetta, Leppäjärvi and Palojärvi.
• For further information see the municipality of Enontekiö website (tosilappi.fi) and on the Lapland tourism website (lapland.fi).

Equipment Rental

• Enterprises that have cooperation agreement with Metsähallitus offer services in the Tarvantovaara Wilderness Area.
  • Enterprises of Hetta Area
  • Enterprises of Käsivarsi Wilderness Area

Services for the Disabled

• There are no specific services for the disabled in Tarvantovaara Wilderness Area.
• The building, which houses Fell Lapland Visitor Centre is accessible by wheelchair. The nature centre is located in the village of Hetta. A campfire site shelter by the nature centre is also accessible by wheelchair.
• Fell Lapland Visitor Centre has an accessible toilet.

Other Services in the Surrounding Area

• The closest bank, post office and pharmacy are in the village of Hetta the centre of the municipality of Enontekiö. Hetta is 20 km from the wilderness area's southern boundary.
• There are medical centres in the villages of Hetta and Kaaresuvanto.
• There are shops in the village of Hetta.
• There are a fuel distribution points in the villages of Palojärvi, Hetta and Kaaresuvanto. There are also service stations in Hetta and Kaaresuvanto.
• Fishing permits are sold by Fell Lapland Visitor Centre and tourist enterprises in the area.
• Find out more about visiting Lapland (lapland.fi/visit/).