Things to Do in Äkäslompolo & Ylläs in Winter
Our favourite ways to spend a winter in Äkäslompolo and Ylläs, from Ciara and Susi.
Winter in Ylläs
Our top things to do in Äkäslompolo
Äkäslompolo is a small village at the foot of Ylläs fell, with Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park on its doorstep. Here is how we would spend a winter week.
1. Walk with a husky. Meet the huskies up close on a Husky Trail Walk: you are paired 1:1 with your own Alaskan husky in a waist harness and walk quiet forest trails together. Small groups of up to 5.
2. Snowshoe into the national park. Snowshoeing is the easiest way into Lapland’s deep snow. Our Snowshoe Adventure runs in the morning and evening, with hot berry juice along the trail.
3. Ski the fells on OAC skis. Wide OAC skis, sometimes called sliding snowshoes, make open fells and forest easy to explore. Join our guided Arctic Ski Tour or rent skis and head out on your own.
4. Cross-country ski the groomed trails. Ylläs has one of Finland’s largest cross-country networks, with more than 330 km of groomed tracks through fell valleys and frozen forest, plus cosy wilderness cafés along the way.
5. Downhill ski or snowboard on Ylläs. Ylläs fell has slopes on both the Äkäslompolo and Ylläsjärvi sides, with ski schools for every level. It is also a great way to build confidence before a skijoring retreat.
6. Try skijoring with a husky. Ski together with your own husky and a pulk on our five-day Women’s Dog Skiing & Cabin Retreat, one of the most memorable ways to experience Lapland.
7. Look up for the Northern Lights. With little light pollution, Äkäslompolo is a wonderful place to see the aurora from late August to early April. Clear, dark nights away from the village lights are best.
8. Warm up in a Finnish sauna. Sauna is part of everyday life here. Many cabins have their own, and a roll in the snow afterwards is a true Lapland experience.
9. Stay in a cabin in the wild. The cabin stays we host are about 25 minutes from Äkäslompolo, with no streetlights and the forest at the door. Add snowshoe or ski rental and explore at your own pace.
Book with Ciara & Susi
Winter adventures with Move with Nature
Small groups, personal guiding and time for connection: with nature, with the dogs and with yourself.
FinlandDay tourÄkäslompolo, Finnish Lapland
Husky Trail Walk
Walk 1:1 with your own Alaskan husky through snow-hushed forest in Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park.
- Huskies
- Beginner-friendly
- Up to 5 guests
FinlandDay tourÄkäslompolo, Finnish Lapland
Snowshoe Adventure
Step into the stillness of the Arctic forest on snowshoes, with hot berry juice along the trail.
- No experience needed
- Up to 6 guests
- Evening tours
FinlandDay tourYlläs, Finnish Lapland
Arctic Ski Tour
Glide across the fells on wide OAC skis, the stable, playful way to explore deep snow.
- OAC skis
- Up to 6 guests
- 4–5 hours
Finland5 daysÄkäslompolo & wilderness cabins
Women’s Dog Skiing & Cabin Retreat
Five days of skijoring with your own husky and a Fjellpulken pulk, with nights in two cosy cabins.
- Women only
- Max 4 guests
- All meals included
FinlandCabin stay25 min from Äkäslompolo
Your Own Cabin Retreat
Stay in a wooden cabin in the wild and add husky walks, snowshoe tours or ski rental to your days.
- Cabins in the wild
- Add any tour
- Ski & snowshoe rental
When to visit
The Ylläs winter, month by month
December. The polar night brings soft blue light and cosy evenings. Ski and snowshoe rental with us is available from 15 December.
January and February. Deep snow, crisp cold and the light returning a little more each day. Our day tours run from January.
March and April. Long, bright days and the best snow conditions of the year, perfect for skiing, snowshoeing and husky walks.
Getting here
How to reach Äkäslompolo
By air. Kittilä Airport (KTT) is about an hour away by car or airport bus.
By train. The overnight sleeper train from Helsinki runs to Kolari, a short drive from Äkäslompolo.
From Levi. Levi is less than an hour’s drive, so Ylläs is an easy day trip or a quieter base.
More tips. Read our full Northern Finland Travel Guide for seasons, packing and getting around.
Good to know
Questions about winter in Äkäslompolo & Ylläs
With Move with Nature you meet huskies on foot and on skis: the Husky Trail Walk pairs you 1:1 with your own husky (max 5 guests), and the Women’s Dog Skiing & Cabin Retreat teaches skijoring over five days. Several kennels around Ylläs also offer husky sled rides.
The aurora season runs from late August to early April. The darkest months, from October to March, give the most hours of darkness; clear, cold nights away from village lights are best.
Temperatures are often between -10°C and -25°C in mid-winter and can drop lower. Dress in wool layers, a down jacket and boots one size larger than normal; we can advise on clothing rental.
Yes. Snowshoeing and husky walks need no experience, Ylläs has ski schools for every level, and our small groups move at a pace suited to everyone.
It is about an hour by car or airport bus. Transfers are included on our women’s retreat, and we collect day-tour guests from the meeting points or their accommodation in Äkäslompolo.