Eco-friendly backpackers hostel in Lapland, Finland -7 Fells resort

January and February have brought icy cold weather, wind chills, and snow to many parts of the world.

Reading about the recent polar vortex causing shockingly low temperatures in Chicago, reminded me of our trip to Lapland last year.

We were chasing the Aurora and with that thought in mind wanted to book a slightly remote getaway.

I found the cottages at 7 Fells Resort at Akaslompolo very attractive and was very excited about our trip.

A lot of firsts were to happen on this trip to Finland!

• First ever experience of being surrounded by so much snow
• First ever stay in a secluded cottage
• First ever attempt at chasing the Northern Lights – the elusive Aurora Borealis

But before setting off on our big adventure, we thought it would be a good way to acclimatise to the weather and so we stayed one night in Helsinki at a lovely Air BnB before heading to Lapland.

After a short but great overnight stay we landed at Kittila airport – it a was magical experience landing into a place that is nothing but a  pristine white winter wonderland. The airport itself is tiny but brilliantly managed.

We took the very reliable public transport bus from just outside the airport which goes to most of the popular ski resorts and also towards 7 fells.

Our rest was a short walk uphill (50m) after the last stop on the bus. Now here’s the tricky bit for people like me. It was snowing heavily, the road had no vehicular traffic passing, it was absolutely quiet and all the road signs were covered in snow. All I knew was that we had a short walk uphill and the resort was on the right.

To add to this experience, which felt like we were in a scene straight out of a suspense film, the whole area was suddenly engulfed in semi-darkness with only the weird yellow glow from streetlights. The light from these was barely enough to light the path and seemed to struggle to break through the curtain of heavy snow that was pouring down fast and thick.

Because we had taken a late afternoon flight into Lapland, we made it just before sunset.

Obviously, there was no one around to ask for directions! We ended up walking past the resort, uphill, dragging our suitcases. My lungs were exploding, the snow was coming down so heavily now, it was getting difficult to see properly and the heavy jacket that I was wearing was weighing me down a lot.

Luckily, the resort turned on the lights and we saw a faint light leading down a path behind us… Alleluiah! So much drama for a 600m distance …. lol

As soon we entered the heated reception area, everything seemed perfect again 🙂 As the relief washed over us, the realisation that we had finally made it to our destination began to sink in.

The beautifully done up lounge and the toasty warm interiors are very inviting. One can sit for hours on the comfy couch and watch the snowflakes land softly outside…sighhh

A short wait later, a very friendly staff member checked us in and showed us to our studio cabin.

It was love at first sight for us. This beautiful log cabin has everything one could ask for.

A super comfy bed, a spotlessly clean shower, a very cute kitchenette, a mini-refrigerator, table and chairs, a jar of oats, tea, and coffee. The kitchen is very well equipped with everything one could possibly need to cook a meal – cutlery, glasses, dishes, a kettle, and coffee maker, also packets of spices and soup cubes left behind by previous occupants. Loved that they also kept an eco-friendly wash-up liquid.

One of the main reasons we picked 7 Fells Hostel was because of its location. Located in the beautiful village of Äkäslompolo in Kolari, Lapland, it is conveniently situated for skiers and adventure sports seekers alike. Also, we really wanted to experience what it would be like to live in a little cabin in the woods.

This gorgeous eco-hostel is run by an enthusiastic backpacker Tinja and offers a selection of accommodation options to suit every need.

One can book into single or twin rooms or dorms with shared facilities in the main hostel area. Apart from these rooms which are located in the main building, there are cosy log cabins called studio apartments which come fully equipped with their own shower and kitchenette and there is also a luxury chalet with its own sauna and fully fitted kitchen.

But the most amazing part about this hostel is that it is eco-friendly. They use green energy, provide organic tea and coffee, use eco products for washing up, and the rooms are all painted using plastic-free odourless paint.

After we settled into our room, we walked down to the village supermarket – Jounin Kauppa Supermarket. It is located 1.8 km away from the hostel.

After browsing through the huge and very well stocked supermarket, which has a pharmacy and a cafe inside too, we plodded back uphill, this time our eyes better adjusted to the light. We also had our hiking equipment headlamps so those helped. It is important that I mention this here – the road leading to the supermarket from the main road is very brightly and well-lit and we did see many people walking and driving into the area.

Cooking dinner in our little cabin was great fun and very quick and easy. We enjoyed a spicy chicken and vegetable soup which I made using all the fresh ingredients I’d just purchased from the supermarket.

We had a long day of exploring our surroundings planned starting early the next morning, so we decided to turn in early on our first night in. A bowl of chicken soup and a hot shower later, I think I fell asleep before my head hit the pillow.

I love the whole concept behind this hostel. To be able to provide such a beautiful experience on a budget in a remote location, keeping it eco-friendly, warm and welcoming is something to be admired. Plus, ensuring that all rooms and common areas are so well equipped and kept clean is a brilliant achievement. The opportunity to meet and interact with friendly people is an added bonus. So to our lovely Belgian friend Anita, if you are reading this – thank you for all your travel tips, for sharing your chocolates, and for being so warm and friendly 🙂

7 Reasons to book 7 Fells Hostel:

1. Budget-friendly private log cabin – like a huge studio apartment with a kitchenette and private en-suite
2. Eco-friendly
3. Convenient location for transport links, activities and local amenities
4. Fantastic Sauna available for use after a long day
5. Free wifi in the huge lounge
6. Free organic tea and coffee, free food shelves, Free kicksleds and bikes to borrow
7.  Walking distance from Bus stop from Kolari Train Station and Kittilä Airport bus, Frozen lake a short walk away, Ski tracks and Ski Resort Ylläs close by, Restaurant, Pubs and a well stocked Supermarket a stone’s throw away.

I could go on but honestly, you can’t put a price on an experience like this. I am positive that I will return to this beautiful gem of a place, to be one amongst nature once again. And hopefully, be rewarded with stunning views of the Northern Lights.

Make the most of your stay in Finnish Lapland with this list of exciting adventure activities to do. Akaslompolo has so much to offer other than skiing!

Fantastic Finland – Top 10 – To-Do list while Akaslompolo, Lapland

While in Helsinki for our first night in Finland we booked an amazing apartment for our one-night stay. It was a massive apartment conveniently located for transport links and we had the whole apartment to ourselves:

Helsinki Plus Apartment Kallio in Finland – Overnight stay review

* I planned this entire trip on my own and have paid in full everywhere I have stayed at and eaten at, all travel including flights and local transfers and for all activities. As always all opinions expressed are as always my own.