The village of Äkäslompolo, in the municipality of Kolari, one of the most beautiful parts of Lapland, has a lively community of around 500 residents. Travellers to the area are drawn, in particular, to the Ylläs Ski Centre, where visitors can enjoy a wide range of both winter and summer sporting activities. The region’s majestic fells and natural forests are ideal destinations for hunters and trekkers alike. Because Lapland is always an adventure, Äkäslompolo is the perfect holiday destination, whether it is in the heights of winter, or during the summer when the sun never sets.
Äkäslompolo’s economy previously relied on fishing and deer hunting but now, its main source of income is tourism. Located near a lake of the same name, Äkäslompolo offers a wide range of accommodation, despite its size, and is home to the Jouni shopping centre, made famous on social media, and offering a diverse array of amenities. One of Lapland’s most celebrated dance halls, Riemuliiteri, provides a sense of nostalgia for lovers of nightlife on the northern side of the lake.
A holiday in Äkäslompolo, more often than not, means winter-skiing, and the nearby ski slopes of Ylläs offer a challenging, though fun-packed, experience. Sail down the two-kilometre long Harrinrinne piste, or try the twist and turns of Käärmemäki Hill with the kids. The ski trails at Ylläs are much longer than what any other ski resort in Finland has to offer, and skiers are bound to find a route best suited to their skill level. Snowboarders are also catered for, and they can show off their acrobatic prowess at the Ylläs-Ski Fun Park, or at Ylläs Park.
The skiing season and summer vacation periods are the region’s busiest periods so, if you are after a cheaper holiday in Äkäslompolo, consider visiting in the spring, before the white nights begin. Enjoy the stark beauty of Lapland as it emerges from its winter sleep, and walk along the duckboards over the marshes and waters of Teuravuoma, Finland’s largest area of bog land. Spring does not arrive in Äkäslompolo until May/June, and the fresh hiking trails are usually ready to be explored at the start of the summer holidays.
The sheer beauty of the countryside around Äkäslompolo is a dazzling sight all summer long. The best natural tourist attractions are in Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park, just north of Äkäslompolo. Between the Ylläs Ski Centre and Äkäslompolo is the Yllästunturi visitor’s centre, Kellokas, where trekkers can find out about trails and paths in the National Park, and what’s on in the area, generally.
There is plenty to see everywhere in the Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park. So, if you are on holiday in Äkäslompolo, you can simply focus on the park’s southern sections. Try the walk over the volcanic remnants of Linkupalo, for example, which is more than two billion years old. Or visit the mill close to the Äkäsjoki River waterfalls. Outside the National Park, there are also some very interesting nature sites worth exploring. Admire the lake set in a gorge at Äkässaivo, and the steep banks of Lake Pakasaivo – once ancient places of worship for the Sami.
Äkäslompolo is easy to reach by train, to Kolari station, or from the airport at Kittilä. Gorgeous summer landscapes and snowy winters aside, it is worth coming to Äkäslompolo when the area is ablaze with the colours of autumn, and when there is a chance to see the glorious Northern Lights.
