Komake Oy — Hotel in Koillismaa sub-region

I stayed at the Hotel Herkko again for my summer vacation. Im pleased to say that the standard is still as excellent in the quieter summer months as it was in the winter. I hiked for two days covering 37km from Taivalvaara to Kylmaluoma. There are shelters that you can use on route which are stocked with firewood for you to use on the designated fireplaces so you can cook your own food. It gives you a greater feeling of being part of the wilderness. You can also camp in these areas. The route is well marked with orange markers on the trees and signs are at certain points giving clear indication of which direction and distances. I didnt meet another hiker so no worries about it being too busy. The trail is a mixture of woodland path through silver birch, forest tracks through red pine, alongside lake edges and on duckboards through vast areas of swamp. The wildlife is abundant, small and large - from frogs to reindeer and all kinds of birds. Quite a challenging trail in as far as distance and remoteness with a heavy backpack but could be extended to more days. Im wishing I had taken a fishing rod with me too. I could have spent hours fishing at the many lakes enroute and cooked them over the open fire for tea. Daylight 24/7 too allowing for an easier day and not getting caught out by the dark. The Hotel Herkko kindly offered to pick me up at Kylmaluoma and take me back to the hotel. A satisfying hike giving you a greater feeling for the remoteness and hidden wilderness areas of Taivalkoski. I took Iso-Syote-Taivalvaara-Kylmaluoma map 1:50 000 with me which I managed to get on-line although the hotel had the same map but a more up to date...

from the moment we were picked up from Oulu airport by the staff from Herkko, we felt we were in capable hands. ||The hotel as well as the 8 person house we stayed in was located in a winterwonderland. Massive amounts of snow, quiet and a convenient walk to the hotel for food, drinks and activities. The house offered very nice views, the berooms were small, but convenient and the kitchen was very well equipped. It felt like home...||||We did it all, walks with snowboots and ice-fishing, dog sleds, reindeer, singing in a Kota and eating pancakes, hot sauna's and ice-dipping, motor-ski's and a trip to the nearby small ski-resort. All taken care of by the staff from Herkko. Patient, never tired to tell us about the culture, nature, the food and even the music. ||The staff in the hotel was always helpful, even with last minute requests.||||We didn't see the northern light, but honestly, everything else was so overwhelming that we didn't really MISS it. ||||Last but not least, the food in the hotel; perfect! One of us suffers from a lactose intolerance and could eat almost everything. The food is simple but fresh, tasteful and there was plenty. Most men went for seconds every single day! The staff was always smiling, helpful and understanding. Maybe that was the trick during the whole week: we felt like real guests. And maybe that's not so normal...

We spent a week at the Herkko Hotel in January 2023 with our two daughters (14 and 16), and had a great time. Initially, the hotel and the rooms look a bit simple, but this was compensated with many other things.

The team at the Herkko Hotel is most friendly; at the bar, Jousi (our guide for the snowscooter tour), Lasse (our guide for different other tours), but basically everyone is most friendly and helpful.

The experiences (snow scooter tour, dog sled tour, snow shoe & ice fishing) were all done in relatively small groups, which made these events truly magical.

When I had a minor accident, the lady owner of the Hotel even was so kind to take us to the hospital and assisted when help was needed to translate.

Pros:

The area The staff at the hotel The food (don't expect French cuisine but it was all fresh with a good variety and even for vegetarians they arranged something) The sauna and swimming pool The warm suits, gloves, shoes

Cons:

Hotel interior a bit simple Perhaps the fireplace in the restaurant could be used on some occasions?

All in all, we had a fantastic holiday, because of the magical area and tours, but also because of the friendliness of the...