Äkäslompolo

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.

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 Ylläsärvi, driving the last 10 km by the slopes of the Ylläs fell.

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.

There are concerts in the larger restaurants and nightclubs.

• St.Lauri's ChapelChapel. Concerts.

• Yllästunturi Visitor Centre Kellokas

  phone: +358 20-639-7039
  address: Tunturintie 54
  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.

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

  phone: +358 16 569-699
  address: Sivulantie 16, 95970 Äkäslompolo
  Activity provider, offering all the traditional tours and also one of a kind experiences.

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

  phone: +358 40-711-8800
  address: Sannanrannantie 3
  Also petrol for sale. Some other shops in the same building.

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

• Cafe & Bar Routa

  phone: +358 400-818-884
  address: Sannanrannantie 3
  Lunch from 11:00 at least in season. Also catering and programme.

• Ravintola Otso Äkäslompolo

  phone: +358 40-088-3060
  address: Tunturintie 15

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

  phone: +358 16 569-211
  address: Tiurajärventie 36 A
  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

  phone: +358 50-494-5709
  address: Heinolantie 5
  Cottage accommodation in a peaceful area near the ski tracks.

• Ylläksen Yöpuu

  phone: +358 400 796 012
  address: Tunturintie 18
  In the middle of Äkäslompolo. Eight full-equipment cottages, with nice services, open around the year.

Postal code 95970 Äkäslompolo.

• Yllästunturi Visitor Centre Kellokas

  phone: +358 20-564-7039
  address: Tunturintie 54, 95970 Äkäslompolo
• Town: infos

• 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.