General Information
“Suopunki” (the name refers to a type of a lasso used by locals for herding reindeer) is a vacation property, built in a Lapponian fashion and handcrafted using pine log. It is the larger side of a semi-detached house, the smaller one being occupied for 6 weeks a year at most.
The total floor area of Suopunki is approximately 100 m2 (roughly 1080 ft2). The property contains a spacious lounge area with a large fireplace made of natural stone, and dining facilities as well as sofa seating for six people. There is also a highchair for children available. The sitting area also boasts a new 50” widescreen television and a stereo system.
There are three separate bedrooms downstairs, each one furnished with a 120 cm wide small double bed. From the lounge area there is also access to two indoor balconies, one of which contains 5 separate beds that can alternatively be arranged into two double beds and one single bed. The balcony located above the downstairs bedrooms includes a play space for children, a travel bed for a baby, and two separate single beds.
The kitchen is fully equipped with a refrigerator and a freezer, an electric stove, a new dishwasher, a wine cooler, a microwave, both a filter coffee machine and an espresso machine, and a raclette grill.
There is a sauna in the shower room of the property, containing an electric stove with a soapstone surface. This space also has a toilet, a shower, and a modern washing machine. Between the room and the kitchen there is a smallish dressing room. A separate, small toilet can be found in the hall of the property.
Internet connection is available in the house, and the associated router is located in the back corner of the hall area. There is a door separating the hall from the living quarters. This door can be closed if so desired.
Using the Property
The house is heated using electric radiators and an air-source heat pump, for which you can find the remote control on the wine cooler located on the stone countertop (see attached picture). The best way to control the temperature inside is by using the heat pump and burning wood in the fireplace. For your safety, it is essential to open the chimney flue before using the latter. This is done by pulling the hatch of the chimney open as demonstrated in the attached picture. The fireplace is a heat storing one, meaning that heat is collected in the large stone mass of the structure (see pictures).
The sauna stove heats by using electricity, and the sauna is ready for use after approximately an hour of preheating. The lower edge of the sauna stove contains a control panel that is used to switch it on. The button on the right controls the heating time in hours - usually the ideal time is between 2 and 3 hours, after which the stove turns itself off. The button on the left is used to adjust the temperature of the sauna. Once the sauna is fully heated, there is room for a few people on the benches. Depending on your preferences, you can toss cold water onto the stove for added steam. Typically, Finnish people tend to enjoy their sauna experience at 80-100 degrees Celsius. See the attached pictures.
For those not faint of heart, in winter it is possible to run into the snow outside after using the sauna. This is something many Finns are keen on doing, and it certainly is refreshing. The back door of the property has access to a private back yard, in which one can find enough snow to enjoy - this can often be as much as over 1m (around 3ft). When going outside, it is a good idea to keep looking to your right, as this means facing North where you can often spot the bright Aurora Borealis, also known as the northern lights. The ideal time for looking at the aurorae is considered to be between 10pm and midnight, but this stunning phenomenon can often be witnessed throughout the night. The pictures attached have been taken from the yard of the property on a regular winter's evening.
Staying at Kiilopää
Kiilopää is a part of the holiday complex of Saariselkä. Saariselkä is a bit over 200km or by car 250km north of the Arctic Circle. The distance from Kiilopää to the Saariselkä holiday village is around 18 km (roughly 11 miles) by car, which can be driven in under 15 minutes. This distance can be cut to 10 km (6 miles) by using a snowmobile or a bicycle, or by going on foot.
Kiilopää is ideal for those whose primary purpose of coming to Lapland is to enjoy the surrounding nature and the possibilities it offers. Suopunki is adjacent to the Urho Kekkonen National Park, named after a former Finnish president and consisting of 2,550 square kilometers (around 984 square miles) of untouched nature. There are marked paths suitable for hiking as well as tracks for cross-country skiing. For the adventurous, there is also the option to sleep in one of the various uninhabited sheds scattered across the park free of charge. The Kiilopää tourist center also arranges a range of scheduled, guided activities.
Restaurant Services
The Kiilopää tourist center has a restaurant serving a daily breakfast, soup lunch, and a dinner buffet. You can reach the tourist center for example by foot - all this takes is a left turn from the cabin area, walking for about 70 meters / yards, after which you will reach a walking path adjacent to the road. After another left turn the walking distance to the tourist center is roughly 600m / 650 yards. In addition to the restaurant, the centre also hosts a small convenience store. The phone number of the center is +358 16 670 0700
The town center of the Saariselkä holiday village is home to a variety of good restaurants catering to every taste. Slightly before the turn to Saariselkä there is Laanilan Kievari, which specialises in game meat and the Lapponian cuisine. The Restaurant Teerenpesä (tel. +358 16 668 001) never disappoints. Particular recommendations include the reindeer carpaccio starter, and for the main course the risotto with locally picked porcino mushrooms. The reindeer dishes and the local fish dishes also make for a tasty choice. Restaurant Pirkon Pirtti (tel. +358 16 668 050) is a traditional spot known for its good food serving lunch and dinner. They are also famous for their Finnish-style thin crust pizzas, on which you can also get more exotic toppings such as salmon and reindeer. Restaurant Petronella offers a fine dining experience, with prices matching this title. The wine selection is good, and the local grouse meat is delicious.
The Neste petrol station and garage offers a good and affordable lunch buffet on weekdays. They also have a selection of burgers and pizzas. There is also a traditional fast food place MuossiGrilli - this style of grill kiosk food is particularly popular among Finns who want food after a few pints. For those who want to try something local there are options such as a “porilainen” (a burger which is filled with a thick slice of sausage instead of a beef patty) and a “lihapiirakka” (literal translation is “meat pie”, a doughnut pastry filled with a mixture of ground beef and rice, a combination far better than it sounds).
The Panimo pub with its authentic atmosphere is a favorite of visitors and locals alike. Those who enjoy dancing head to either Teerenpesä or the Hotel Tunturi. Central Saariselkä naturally has a selection of other restaurants as well. One can also go to the Holiday Club and find a good tropical spa, massage services, and a reasonable restaurant.
If one wants to hike up a fell from the Saariselkä center, there is the Kaunispää fell next to the village, to the peak of which there is a good walking path. The walk is under 2 km (a bit over a mile) long. Besides the stunning views, the peak is home to the restaurant Huippu, which is open during lunchtime. “Huipun leike” is a minute steak filled with the local specialty bread cheese (a Finnish squeaky cheese) and a thin slice of cold smoked roast reindeer, and topped with smoked reindeer sauce. This is always a failsafe option! Another specialty to try is the Finnish creamy salmon soup.
Recreational Activities
There are different traditional activities available in the Kiilopää and Saariselkä region, such as hiking, cross-country skiing, and mountain biking. Equipment can be rented from the Kiilopää tourist center. Many also enjoy picking mushrooms and berries in the autumn. These are included in the Finnish definition of “Freedom to Roam” - anyone is allowed to do so, even on land owned by someone else. The Kaunispää fell provides rather easy downhill skiing slopes, as well as Europe's longest slope that can be experienced by sledding.
If you want to do something extraordinary during your trip, you can contact Visa Ruokokoski (tel +358 40 816 2926). He is a wilderness guide working together with all notable safari providers. Visa is happy to help arrange activities such as rafting in summer, snowmobile trips to the surrounding areas or even as far as the Arctic Ocean, reindeer and husky safaris, and fishing in both summer and winter.
Transport in Kiilopää
Central Saariselkä and other nearby areas are conveniently accessible by taxi. One can be booked from the numbers +358 100 84 669 and +358 400 696 914. There is also a Ski Bus operating between Saariselkä and Kiilopää during the tourist season. A day ticket costs €5.00, and the schedules are accessible on www.skisaariselka.com.
Renting a Car
The Ivalo airport hosts car rental operations from the following agencies: Avis, Europcar, Sixt, Hertz, Budget, and Green Motion. The roads are in good condition, so driving in Lapland is easy. The speed limits range from 80 to 100 km/h (around 50 to 62 mph) and there is very little traffic. However, caution is advised as it is good to remember there are more reindeer in Lapland than there are people. Reindeer tend to run through the roads, and it can be difficult to understand the logic of these half tame animals.
Driving Instructions from the Ivalo Airport to Kiilopää
Driving instructions will be delivered after booking. The driving takes just 30-35 minutes from the airport.