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The words ‘genuine’ and ‘unspoilt’ are used all too freely to describe travel destinations. In Nellim’s case they are wholly appropriate. Every year we try to come up with words to describe the beauty of Nellim and the vast wintery expanses of Lake Inari. However, words alone just don’t do it justice, sometimes you have to see to believe. For a break from the hustle and bustle and a return to a much simpler way of life, we would struggle to name a better destination.

This tiny “one street” village, in the far North-East corner of Finnish Lapland, is on the shores of Lake Inari and just a short distance from the Russian border. The terrain here is hillier and more rugged than in other parts of Finland and the spectacular winter scenery is all the more dramatic for that.

To add to the magic, this far North there is an excellent chance of seeing the Northern Lights. Indeed, three of us here at Activities Abroad saw the Aurora for the first time while visiting Nellim so it holds a special place in our hearts. There’s so much here that is different. For example, if you walk close to the Finnish/Russian border fence then motion sensitive cameras follow your movements. It’s spooky and exciting at the same time!

Despite Nellim’s remote wilderness location you are assured of a warm and genuine Lappish family welcome from your hosts Jouko and Mari. In our opinion, Jouko is probably the hardest working man in the world.

Among his many projects in recent years has been the construction of some fabulous new apartments across the courtyard from the main building.

After a day of activities during one of our many programmes at Nellim you may want to sledge down the small hills near the hotel. Alternatively you can grab a reindeer skin lie back, insulated against the frozen ice, and gaze skywards at probably the best free entertainment anywhere in the world.

Now that’s not something you get to do every day is it?

You know....

“We are back after having an amazing time a holiday of a lifetime!  We saw the Aurora on our first night it was fantastic, absolutely unbelievable and beautiful. Thank you for all your help!  I have already started recommending it to everyone!”  Anne Hodgkinson – January 2011

Day 1: Flights, arrival and transfer

On arrival at Ivalo, Finland’s most northerly airport, your transfer to the hotel takes about one hour travelling through increasingly beautiful winter countryside. After settling into your accommodation, there will be an introductory meeting with your guide before dinner.

Day 2: Cross country skiing, Aurora Workshop and Northern Lights snowshoe safari

Cross-country skiing is practically a religion here in Finnish Lapland and, love it or hate it, you should really give it a go. You’ll receive tuition (we assume no prior experience) before setting out on an easy paced trail. 

Following dinner this evening, there will be a Northern Lights presentation prior to your first foray into the Arctic night, a snowshoe search for the Aurora.

Day 3: Wilderness snowmobile safari
There are few places more beautiful in winter than this corner of Finnish Lapland and the best way to see as much of the stunning wilderness in a short space of time is by snowmobile. An 80km safari will show you the very best of the snowy landscapes.

Day 4: Snowshoe trek and visit to Aurora Camp
Snowshoeing is vastly underrated but many of our clients tell us it was their absolute favourite during their holiday. Try walking on deep snow without them and you could sink down to your waist but with them, you can explore the silent forests watching closely for signs of the local wildlife.

Nellim has various Aurora Camps offering the very best vantage points. Depending on the conditions locally, your guide will pick the best one for your evening of Aurora hunting.

Day 5: Day with a Reindeer herder and Aurora snowmobile safari
Today you will experience the life of a reindeer herder joining him in the forest as he heads out to track down his reindeer and give them their feed. He will tell you about his life and the importance of the animals to the area.

This evening you will be back on the snowmobiles for a thrilling adventure in the wilds which surround Nellim. The forest becomes a magical place at night and hopefully the Aurora will add to the mystique.

Day 6: Husky safari and minibus hunt for the Northern Lights
This is a real highlight of any holiday in the North. You will be given full instruction and tuition before testing your mushing skills during a safari lasting approximately 2 hours.

If the Lights have been temperamental so far then tonight you will head out on a minibus search. Your guides will use the forecasts and attempt to hunt them down for you. This mobility is a fantastic advantage when hunting for the Aurora or the best vantage points from which to watch them.

Day 7: Departure
Today it is time to head home or you may wish to extend your stay at Kakslauttanen Igloo Village.

The Kakslauttanen Igloo Village

Hotel Kakslauttanen
Kakslauttanen is about getting away from it all and certainly isn’t the place if you’re looking for wild nightlife. Our advice is to take a good book and revel in the peace and quiet of your log cabin. But don’t forget to pop your head out the door and look skyward from time to time, we don’t want you missing the Aurora!

In a central log building you’ll find reception, a small souvenir shop and the main restaurant. From there, all snowy paths lead to the log cabins, the snow igloos and the hugely popular (and warmer) glass igloos. Amongst the different accommodation you’ll find the world’s largest smoke sauna, a wedding chapel and ice bar.

Kakslauttanen Log Cabins
There are 40 very cosy and comfortable cabins here at Kakslauttanen. We recommend the “standard” cabins which vary in size making them suitable for groups of two to ten people. Each cabin has an open plan kitchenette and lounge area with fireplace, shower/toilet room, bedroom or bedrooms and sauna.

Kakslauttanen Glass Igloos
Fabulous idea! Take an isolated site in the Aurora Zone and build glass igloos with unbelievable views of the Arctic night sky. Even better, use special thermal glass that ensures the igloos stay at a comfortable room temperature and prevents the windows from frosting over. Each igloo has two luxury beds with remote control positioning (so you can prop yourself up to watch the Aurora) and a discreet toilet and wash room.

Kakslauttanen Snow Igloos
For a slightly more extreme bedtime why not try a snow igloo? As the name suggests, they are built entirely from snow but the temperature inside is always between -3°C and -6°C. However, everything has been done to make sure that you remain warm as you’ll be provided with a down sleeping bag, woollen socks and a hood.

Tourism in Finnish Lapland has become the main source of employment and income, replacing traditional industries such as forestry. Working within this growth industry in rural and remote areas means that we must take a great deal of responsibility; socially, environmentally and economically. We fully appreciate the impact of tourist visits on local communities and their residents and strive to ensure that we are having a positive effect.

The wilderness hotel in Nellim is owned and run by the Lappalainen family, whose Sámi routes have been in this area for centuries. They have a strong sense of tradition and we encourage all of our clients to respect and embrace the lives and culture of all Nellim’s local inhabitants by learning a few important words: hello, goodbye, please, thank you etc. We have also included activities with a cultural base. In addition, we always encourage our clients to get involved in local events and activities which help to sustain traditional values and customs.

In all of our destinations we ensure that we use local accommodation, transport and activity providers, enabling locally owned businesses and the economies in which they work to benefit directly. The hotel in Nellim also serves as much local produce as possible and stocks locally made souvenirs. Through the tourism multiplier effect, this all helps to generate incomes and employment where the drift might otherwise be towards larger employment areas such as towns and cities. In a small and remote village such as Nellim the effects of such a drift could be devastating.

The use of small family run hotels and businesses means that the tourism income, generated by our presence stays where it should, in the local economy. We firmly believe in paying a fair price for all the services provided by our suppliers regardless of where they are in the world.

Our holidays rely on visiting beautiful and un-spoilt areas, and they don’t come more un-spoilt than Nellim. Naturally we wish to maintain the natural settings in which we work, not just for the future of our company, but also for future generations. We will always insist that our local providers are equally conscious of this need.

We do appreciate that some may feel that snowmobiles should not be included in such itineraries however in areas such as Nellim they are a way of life. They are the only means of keeping in contact with remote reindeer herders and communities as the road infrastructure is not extensive. All trails are well managed. The alternatives to snowmobiles would in most cases be large, gas-guzzling off road vehicles. All snowmobiles are regularly serviced and kept as fuel efficient as possible. The snowmobile service industry is also another vital source of employment in these remote areas.

We always ensure that all litter is removed from any of our activity sites, we strongly encourage group transfers to reduce traffic volumes and we make our clients aware of their obligation to the environment. We always offset our air travel emissions and would encourage you to do the same.