Just two and a half hours from Helsinki, the Himos-Jämsä region in the Heart of Finland is a vibrant and lively destination with a wealth of exciting activities available for all ages, all year round
Himos Holiday Resort
Beautifully situated at the foot of Himosvuori hill, on the shores of lakes Patalahti and Päijänne, the Himos Holiday Resort is a full-service family resort that provides quality accommodation in private villas, with a wide range of activities to keep everyone happy. Himos.Jämsä also boasts a restaurant selection better than most small towns, and diverse shopping opportunities.
In winter, Himos is the largest and most diverse ski resort in Southern Finland, with 26 slopes, 16 lifts and 3 Snow Parks for free skiers and snowboarders.. Snowmobiles, husky sled rides, and ice-swimming for the brave are also available. For the more experienced skiers and snowboarders there are several black slopes and three different freestyle areas. The snow world Himos Lumila offers lots of fun things for the whole family with two carpet lifts and smooth downhill slopes suitable for skiing, sledding and snow tubes.
Numerous live events are held at the modern Himos Areena at weekends, making the holiday resort one of the most popular with party people who appreciate great après ski! The Himos Ski Resort’s winter season usually begins in late November or early December and continues through 1st of May.
Summer Festivals & Events
In summer, the resort is renowned for the number and quality of its music festivals: Himos hosts their own Midsummer Festival, a live music event with a multitude of Finnish stars, and there are also the Iskelmä Festival, the Jysäri Dance Music Festival, and the FinnHits Festival to enjoy. The nearby town of Jämsä is along the Rally Finland route, attracting race fans every summer. The Himos Trail trail run is held in August, and is open to anyone interested. The course lengths and profiles offer suitable challenges for beginners and competitive runners alike.
Unique Attractions
In Himos-Jämsä visitors will discover the only private moose zoo in Finland; Hirvikartano with its elk, deer, and reindeer is a firm family favourite, and at Restaurant Moose Manor you can be guaranteed to enjoy the best traditional Finnish dishes. Or you can enjoy a local wine matched to local food at Restaurant Patapirtti, which offers wines from its own Uusi-Yijälä winery. At Patapirtti you can also spend the night in a traditional Finnish farmhouse and enjoy delicious dishes created with fresh, local ingredients in the slow-food style!
The most recent attraction in Himos-Jämsä, Sauna Village, hosts the largest number of traditional Finnish smoke saunas in the country. Various saunas in the Sauna Village are heated and open for the general public starting from June until the end of August. Located 12 km from the town centre of Jämsä or 5 minutes from Himos, the village is a real dive into Finnish sauna-culture.
If you are looking for local shopping don’t miss the felt factories located in the village of Partala, 8 km from Jämsä town centre. For great customer service and good quality clothes you should stop in the Vehkala-Jeans store!
The Himos-Jämsä area also has a number of fascinating museums, such as Helminauha Toy Museum, Aviation museum and several local museums.
Summer Activities
Jämsä and Himos’ location in the midst of pristine nature also makes it as ideal for those seeking adventurous activities as those looking to relax in peace and quiet. The lakes and hills are perfect for fishing, boating and canoeing, and for hiking, biking, and for quad safaris etc. There is also a wonderfully designed full-length 72-par golf course which is as good as the best in the capital region. Himos-Jämsä is also a disc-golfing paradise – there are courses in Jämsä located close to the town centre Lamminsuo Park in Puukilankatu, in Jannentie at Halli, next to the forestry school in Myllymäki and at the Kievari Rantapirtti Inn. In the town centre of Jämsä, families with kids can spend many hours enjoying the different activities of the Maauimala activity park! In addition to the great swimming area one can find a kid’s traffic park, discover the longest pump track in Finland and try the world`s first Bukk Off Ice Game Park. There is also outdoor exercise equipment for adults!
Visitors to Jämsä will also discover the longest pump track in Finland, right in the town centre (opposite a traffic park for the kids!). There are great mountain biking trails in Himos, and the Isojärvi National Park’s route is ever-popular. For those who prefer an easier ride, Jämsä has 75km of cycling routes, while the Jämsänniemi routes starting from Himos cover another 85km. The annual HimosEpic is an event organised especially for mountain bikers.
In Alhojärvi, near Jämsä, you can find the largest paintball areas in the Nordics, where multiple teams can fight it out at the same time, and where every summer it hosts the international Big Game. Close by Himos, you can also find the Jämsä Airsoft Games field where trenches add a new twist and challenge to the sport.
There are great biking trails in Himos, and the Isojärvi National Park’s route is very popular. For those who prefer an easier ride, Himos-Jämsä has 75km of cycling routes, while the Jämsänniemi routes starting from Himos covers another 85km. The annual HimosEpic is an event organised especially for mountain bikers.
In Alhojärvi, near Jämsä, you can find the largest paintball areas in the Nordics, where multiple teams can fight it out at the same time, and where every summer Jämsän Paintball hosts the international Big Game. Close by Himos, you can also find the Jämsä Airsoft Games field where trenches add a new twist and challenge to the sport.
Natural Attractions
There are a number of excellent nature destinations around Jämsä and Himos. The Juveninkoski waterfall is a great small stop if biking around or when driving by Partala village. Other fine trails exist in Himos, Rotkojärvi and Synninlukko or Pukinvuori which is located right in the town centre.
Kayakers and canoeists will discover the 75km long Wanha Witonen route which runs from Petäjävesi through Koskenpää, Jämsänkoski and the centre of Jämsä to Lake Päijänne. Well marked and ideal for canoing, there are small rapids and chutes along the route, as well as beautiful lakes and sections of river. There are many attractions along the way, including the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Petäjävesi Old Church, the Aarresaari and Pälämäki local museums, Rasuanniemi Nature Reserve, as well as many resting areas, accommodations, and restaurants. For those who prefer a more sedate and relaxed time while traveling on the water, there are cruise boats operating on Lake Päijänne.
