Ukonloma Cottages

Aimola was one of the best places we’ve stayed as a married couple traveling as tourists. We wanted somewhere remote in the forest, and this small, cute cottage was just that. The snowy scenery felt magical, and Jouni, the owner, was polite and discreet. He cleared the path for us and our vehicle. You’ll need a car with navigation because it’s remote. The sauna was great, easy to use, and had unlimited use. Jouni explained it, and there’s also a small instruction booklet in the cabin. The place has cutlery, crockery, two electric stoves, and a small fridge-freezer. There’s no TV, but we preferred enjoying the quiet, nature, and time together. We had a fantastic stay and hope to visit Rovaniemi and Aimola cottage again.

With our kids, aged 4 and 6, the snow and cold made it feel like Lapland should. We loved the beautiful cottage by the lake, with a private sauna, and the feeling of having no neighbors around. It really is isolated: you drive more than 4km along a private road to get there. The owner was so thoughtful and wanted us to be comfortable. Our plane was late and we had trouble with the car rental, so we arrived late, and he was even sorry we’d had that delay. One thing to keep in mind: if driving a snowy unpaved road or being isolated worries you, this place may not be for you. If that suits you, go for it. The Google address points to where the owner lives, not the cottage itself. He’ll guide you to the cottage on your first trip, and you should save its location in your GPS for the drive back each day.

We loved stepping outside at night in early January and seeing the northern lights two nights in a row. The second night they were bright enough to see colors with the naked eye. The cabin is a single room at the end of a private road, about 10km from Rovaniemi city center and a 50m walk from the lake. It sleeps two and has electricity, WiFi, a small fridge, a sink with instant hot water, and a two-burner hotplate. The water tasted exceptionally good. There’s a wood stove for atmosphere, while electric radiators heat the cabin. The hot tub and sauna both burn wood, and the woodshed had plenty of cut firewood for us. The main drawback is no bathroom inside. The toilet is in a small heated facility beside the cabin. Cooking space and equipment are limited, so plan to eat most meals in town or bring basic groceries and plan ahead. Most visitors will probably want to enjoy the features and the area.

Such a beautiful spot, right in the forest with no neighbours. It brought back memories of my childhood.