Äkäslompolo

Äkäslompolo is a resort town and a village of 600 inhabitants (2022) in Finnish Lapland, around the namesake lake in the municipality Kolari. It is a hub for travellers of the Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park both in the summer and winter, part of the Ylläs ski resort and also a destination of its own, with a large track and trail network for skiing, snowmobiling, hiking and mountain biking.

Understand

The Ylläs fell seen over the lake Äkäslompolo

As a ski resort in Lapland, the main season is during the schools' winter holidays in February and especially at Easter, but the large network of trails and tracks attract people all year, with peaks also in summer and the ruska time of September.

Note that the town of Äkäslompolo is not directly on the slopes, but a few kilometres away, so if you're looking for a ski-in-ski-out experience, stay at Ylläs instead. If you come for after ski, likewise, Ylläs (and especially Levi) has a livelier scene, although there is a decent number of restaurants and pubs also in Äkäslompolo.

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.

The municipalities of Kolari, Kittilä and Muonio have their tripoint close to Äkäslompolo; trails and tracks often cross the borders and some nearby facilities in the latter neighbouring municipalities are handled in this article.

Get in

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

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 seen from the Ylläs fell

The village is not very big: you can explore it by walking, although if your cabin is a bit off, you will appreciate a vehicle. In skiing season there are ski buses around the Ylläs mountain, single ticket is around €2. Matka.fi includes information about some long distance bus routes that can be used for local travelling.

See

Varkaankuru in September

There are concerts in the larger restaurants and nightclubs.

• St.Lauri's Chapel (in the village). Chapel. Concerts. 
• 1 Yllästunturi Visitor Centre Kellokas, Tunturintie 54 (halfway to the Ylläs fell, by the road to Ylläsjärvi), ☏ +358 20-639-7039, kellokas@metsa.fi. 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). Souvenirs. Fishing and hunting permits. Café and restaurant. Free. (updated Jan 2018)
• 2 Varkaankuru nature trail (start at Kellokas). A 4-km-long circular trail through the narrow Varkaankuru valley. The microclimate in the valley is peculiar and the vegetation is exceptionally lush. 

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.

In summer and autumn also mountain biking is big, with good trails and several bike rentals. Perhaps half of the bikers use e-bikes.

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 near the supermarket on Sivulantie. Go and check out the different companies before booking your tours! Some providers might offer special trips or good discounts if booking more than just one activity.

Buy

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

• 1 K-Market Jounin kauppa, Sannanrannantie 3, ☏ +358 40-711-8800, fax: +358 16 569 437, jounin.kauppa@nic.fi. M–Sa 08:00–21:00, Su 10:00–21:00. The self-proclaimed "most famous grocery in Lapland" is well and truly a cut above your average corner store: it has a deli selling freshly made sushi, a cheese and wine bar, and smokes its own meat and fish. If you don't have a car, order online and they can deliver for €13.90. (updated Mar 2022)

Eat

There are restaurants, but most of them are only open seasonally. In skiing season all of them are open, probably also in the peak ruska season. There are several cafés around the trails, some offering also meals, and many places for grilling your sausages or setting up your camping stove.

In town

• Cafe and Bar Routa, Sannanrannantie 3 (at K-Market Jounin Kauppa), ☏ +358 400-818-884, mikko@routa.net. M–Sa 09:00–18:00, Su 12:00–17:00 (might vary on/off season). Lunch from 11:00 at least in season. Also catering and programme. 
• 1 Otso, Tunturintie 15, ☏ +358 40-088-3060. 

On the trail

• 2 Latvamaja (2 km east of Kesänkijärvi), ☏ +358 40-588-0080. Open in season, 10:00–17:00. (updated Sep 2024)
• 3 Kotamaja (Kolmentunturinkuru, between Kukas, Lainiotunturi and Pyhätunturi, 8 km north-east of Äkäslompolo), ☏ +358 44-997-6666. In season only. (updated Sep 2024)

Drink

In town

• 1 Pirtukirkko, Äkäsentie 10 (at Äkäshotelli), ☏ +358 16 553-000, akashotel@laplandhotels.com. Midsummer–Sep, 15 Nov–1 May; dinner buffet and à la carte 17:00–22:00, dancing 21:00–01:00, nightclub F–Sa 22:00–04:00. Äkäshotelli's "Moonshine Church" is probably the liveliest place in town, with live concerts by touring Finnish bands and a nightclub in the basement. The hotel itself mainly provides holiday apartments (3–6 persons, 40–60 m²). (updated May 2022)
• 2 Joikupub, Tunturintie 7, ☏ +358 40-772-1101. Tu–Su 21:00–02:00; Eväskori 12:00–21:00. Pub with karaoke, sharing house and kitchen with Eväskori, which serves pizzas etc. Pizzas €15–18. 

On the trail

• 3 Kesängin keidas (east end of Kesänkijärvi, 4 km east of town), ☏ +358 40-551-2185. Daily 11:00–17:00. Café on the trail. Pets welcome. (updated Sep 2024)

Sleep

Near the slopes there are hotels, you can search and you will find them. If you want more space and privacy you can rent a wooden cottage instead. If you are a group, some cottages may serve as budget options, especially off season.

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 running water, heating is with a wood-fired stove, and the toilet is an outhouse one.

• 1 Holiday Resort Seita (Lomakeskus Seita), Tiurajärventie 36 A, ☏ +358 16 569-211. 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. 
• 2 Harjun Mökit, Heinolantie 5 (north of the lake), ☏ +358 50-494-5709. Cottage accommodation in a peaceful area near ski tracks. 
• 3 Ylläksen Yöpuu, Tunturintie 18, ☏ +358 400-796-012. In the middle of Äkäslompolo. Eight full-equipment cottages, with nice services, open around the year. 

Connect

Postal code: 95970 Äkäslompolo.

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 – but some stretches of the summer route are dangerous in winter.