Äkäslompolo

Finland

The village seen from the Ylläs fell.

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.

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 concerts in the larger restaurants and nightclubs.

  • St.Lauri's Chapel. Chapel. Concerts.
  • Yllästunturi Visitor Centre Kellokas, Tunturintie 54 (halfway to the Ylläs fell, by the road to Ylläsjärvi, +358 20-639-7039. 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.

St.Lauri's Chapel. Chapel. Concerts.

Yllästunturi Visitor Centre Kellokas, Tunturintie 54 (halfway to the Ylläs fell, by the road to Ylläsjärvi, +358 20-639-7039. 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.

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, +358 16 569-699. Activity provider, offering all the traditional tours and also one of a kind experiences.

Scandinavian Adventures, Sivulantie 16, 95970 Äkäslompolo, +358 16 569-699. 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, Sannanrannantie 3, +358 40-711-8800. Also petrol for sale. Some other shops in the same building.

K-Market Jounin kauppa, Sannanrannantie 3, +358 40-711-8800. 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, Sannanrannantie 3 (at K-Market Jounin Kauppa, +358 400-818-884. 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, +358 40-088-3060.

Cafe & Bar Routa, Sannanrannantie 3 (at K-Market Jounin Kauppa, +358 400-818-884. 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, +358 40-088-3060.

Postal code 95970 Äkäslompolo.

Yllästunturi Visitor Centre Kellokas, Tunturintie 54, 95970 Äkäslompolo, +358 20-564-7039. Mon–Fri or Mon–Sun 09:00 to 16:00 or 17:00 (depending on season).