Travels for Taste

Tales of travel and food with a touch of spice

  • Home
  • About
    • In the Press, Published Work and Interviews
    • PR and Disclosure Policy
  • Food
    • Recipe Index
      • Indian
        • C.K.P recipes
        • Curry – Meat, Seafood
        • Curry – Vegetarian
        • Sides
        • Chutneys
      • Healthy
        • Soups
        • Salads
      • Quick and Easy
      • Baking
        • Desserts
      • Meat
      • Seafood
      • Vegetarian
        • Salads
      • Vegan
    • Product Reviews
    • Events
  • Travel
    • UK
    • India
    • Around the World
  • Lifestyle
    • Home
    • Kitchen
    • Restaurant Reviews
    • Miscellaneous
  • Giveaways
  • Work with me
    • Meet interesting foodie entrepreneurs here
You are here: Home / Travel / Rest of the World / Eco-friendly backpackers hostel in Lapland, Finland -7 Fells resort

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

February 11, 2019 by manjirichitnis 6 Comments

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 Ã„käslompolo 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. 

Filed Under: Rest of the World, Travel

« Baluchi restaurant at The Lalit, London – a Review
Moroccan Afternoon Tea in London at Leila, Ealing »

Comments

  1. Shobha Keshwani says

    September 30, 2019 at 9:51 pm

    Amazing place. You mist have had a wonderful time. The place looks beautiful with snow covered on the rooftop.

    Reply
    • manjirichitnis says

      October 3, 2019 at 10:15 am

      Thanks Shobha, yes we had a brilliant time, our stay was very comfortable and the log cabin was like something out of the movies…

      Reply
  2. Mayuri Patel says

    October 2, 2019 at 9:15 am

    This is an amazing place and so beautiful. I would love to be surrounded with so much snow. When you mentioned hostel, what comes to mind is rows of bed in a room.Seven Fells Hostel is so well appointed and appears so inviting.

    Reply
    • manjirichitnis says

      October 3, 2019 at 10:17 am

      That was exactly what we wanted to experience Mayuri, being surrounded by lots of snow in a remote, quiet and peaceful place. That’s the biggest plus for 7 fells – the various types of accommodation they offer – and manage to be eco-friendly!

      Reply
  3. Chef Mireille says

    October 3, 2019 at 2:52 am

    5 stars
    WOW – what an adventure. I am actually leaving tomorrow to Iceland and hope to catch some sights of the amazing northern lights! – I will definitely keep this place in mind when I make it to Finland!

    Reply
    • manjirichitnis says

      October 3, 2019 at 10:21 am

      Hi Chef Mireille, Thanks for stopping by. Wow! Iceland! What fun! I really hope you manage to catch the Northern Lights! Iceland has been on our must-see list for ages now, hopefully we will visit someday soon!

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Food,travel and lifestyle writer. Photographer.

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Categories

  • Baking
  • Breads
  • C.K.P recipes
  • Cakes
  • Chutneys
  • Cocktails
  • Curry – Meat, Seafood
  • Curry – Vegetarian
  • Desserts
  • Events
  • Featured Food and Drink
  • Featured Lifestyle
  • Featured Travel Adventures
  • Food
  • Healthy
  • Home
  • India
  • Indian
  • Kitchen
  • Lifestyle
  • London and rest of U.K
  • Meat
  • Miscellaneous
  • Product Reviews
  • Quick and Easy
  • Recipe Index
  • Rest of the World
  • Restaurant Reviews
  • Salads
  • seafood
  • Sides
  • Smoothies
  • Soups
  • Travel
  • Uncategorized
  • Vegan
  • Vegetarian

Featured Blogger on Great British Chefs

GBC_blogger-badge_150x300px    

Need a New Power Blender?

13076814_10154185434898293_7387808474266473605_n

Read Travelfortaste’s interview on Gourmandize UK & Ireland

 Sliceoffme interviewed by Gourmandize UK & Ireland

Travelsfortaste is Featured on Expats Blog

England expat blogs

Read Travelsfortaste reviews on Zomato

View my food journey on Zomato!
Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
Squaremeal.co.uk - Restaurant Reviews

About me

Writer and Photographer. Food,Travel & Lifestyle, Blogger and Digital Marketer. Read More…

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recent Posts

  • Easy Spinach and Pea Soup
  • Grenada Chocolate Festival – Festive Giveaway
  • Royal British Legion Centenary Cookbook – Cooking with Heroes
  • The Instagram Foodie Bag – Must have for all Food Photographers
  • Restaurant quality meat – Swaledale Online Butchers – a review

Copyright © 2023 · Foodie Pro Theme by Shay Bocks · Built on the Genesis Framework · Powered by WordPress

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.Accept Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT