Äkäslompolo

Äkäslompolo is a village in Finnish Lapland, in the municipality Kolari. It is a hub for travellers of the Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park both in the summer and winter and also part of the Ylläs ski resort.

The village seen from the Ylläs fell.

Understand

As a ski resort in Lapland, the main season is during the schools' winter holidays in February and especially at Easter.

If you come in late autumn, midwinter or late spring, be aware of the implications, such as darkness, low temperatures or, in spring, flooded trails. There are services all year, although some shut down off season.

Get in

There are buses going to Äkäslompolo from Rovaniemi, Kittilä, Kolari and Enontekiö.

The nearest airport is in Kittilä, there are several flights from southern Finland like from Helsinki and Tampere. Coming from Sweden, Pajala airport may be worth considering.

The nearest railway station is in Kolari. Off season you might have to take the train to Rovaniemi instead.

By car, drive along E8 to Kolari and 10 km farther north. Then turn to Äkäslompolo by road 940. You can also come from the east, via Kittilä and Ylläsjärvi, driving the last 10 km by the slopes of the Ylläs fell.

Get around

The village itself is not very big, you can explore it by walking. In skiing season there are ski buses around the Ylläs mountain, single ticket is around 2 euros.

See

There are concerts in the larger restaurants and nightclubs.

• St.Lauri's Chapel (in the village). Chapel. Concerts. 
• Yllästunturi Visitor Centre Kellokas, Tunturintie 54 (halfway to the Ylläs fell, by the road to Ylläsjärvi), ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. M–F 09:00–16:00, in season daily with longer hours. Information and advice on the national park, reservation of lodgings, maps. Exhibitions and video presentations on the nature and culture of the area. Logging museum. Nature trails and guided tours (guiding to be reserved in advance, €50/hr). Café and restaurant. Free. (updated Jan 2018)

Do

Start of cross-country skiing track.

Most people come here for skiing. There are downhill slopes at the Ylläs fell and also a lot of cross-country skiing tracks, combining with the tracks of Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park. The downhill tracks are quite good for Finland, and very well maintained. The cross-country tracks offer wonderful journeys in the nice forest, and they are also well maintained. There are quite a few wilderness huts in the national park for those going for longer journeys, but they are often crowded in season.

The area is very good for hiking. There are many wilderness huts where you can spend a night on longer trips.

Travel agencies offer practice of Lappish activities like husky or reindeer sleigh trips, visits to reindeer farms and traditional Sami lávvus, as well as snowmobile safaris. The safari providers are located near the Supermarket on Sivulantie. Go and check out the different companies before booking your tours! Some providers might offer special trip and/or good discounts if booking more than just one activity!

• Scandinavian Adventures, Sivulantie 16, 95970 Äkäslompolo, ☎ [phone]. Activity provider, offering all the traditional tours and also one of a kind experiences. 

Buy

In the lower part of the village there is a K-Citymarket where you can buy everything you need. Prices are a bit higher that in K-Citymarkets in south Finland.

• K-Market Jounin kauppa, Sannanrannantie 3, ☎ [phone], fax: [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Also petrol for sale. Some other shops in the same building. 

Eat

There are restaurants, but most of them are only open seasonally. In skiing season all of them are open.

• Cafe & Bar Routa, Sannanrannantie 3 (at K-Market Jounin Kauppa), ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Mon–Sat 09:00–18:00, Sun 12:00–17:00 (might vary on/off season). Lunch from 11:00 at least in season. Also catering and programme. 
• Ravintola Otso Äkäslompolo, Tunturintie 15, ☎ [phone]. 

Sleep

Near the slopes there are hotels, you can search and you will find them. If you are on a budget (and/or you want something traditional) you can rent a wooden cottage instead. If you really want to feel the wilderness you can rent a wooden cottage in the national park (office is in the town), it's cheaper but no electricity or water, heating is with fire, nature toilet.

• Holiday Resort Seita (Lomakeskus Seita), Tiurajärventie 36 A, ☎ [phone]. The house is known for its good food. After having breakfast you may pack your picnic lunch with you from breakfast buffet. After sauna dinner buffet is waiting for you. 
• Harjun Mökit, Heinolantie 5, ☎ [phone]. Cottage accommodation in a peaceful area near the ski tracks. 
• Ylläksen Yöpuu, Tunturintie 18, ☎ [phone]. In the middle of Äkäslompolo. Eight full-equipment cottages, with nice services, open around the year. 

Connect

Postal code 95970 Äkäslompolo.

• Yllästunturi Visitor Centre Kellokas (Visitor Centre of the National Park), Tunturintie 54, 95970 Äkäslompolo, ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Mon–Fri or Mon–Sun 09:00 to 16:00 or 17:00 (depending on season). 
• Town: infos

Go next

• Hetta by the Hetta-Pallas hiking trail through Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park. The trail is the oldest in Finland and quite popular. In winter you can ski more or less by the same route.