Giellajohka — Hotel in Northern Lapland

We stayed in Giellajohka during the X-mas holidays. What a brilliant place to stay if you want to go to (Finnish) Lapland in mid-winter, but don't want to stay in the more touristic places like e.g. Rovaniemi.

It's located quite a distance from the surrounding villages and having own transportation is a must. But despite all the snow and ice, the roads are well maintained and driving is in general not much different than on non-icy roads. But mind the crossing reindeer ;-)

The staff are very friendly and will do everything they can to make your stay as you want it to be. We stayed in the Routa riverside cabin and were very pleased with that. It was well insulated, and the heating could easily maintain 21 degrees inside while it was freezing 30 degrees outside. All amenities we needed were in the kitchen and we also used the sauna frequently. Also the WiFi in and around the cabin is excellent! The drying closet is doing its job well, your wet snowgear dries within no time!

They have a Whatsapp group to post about upcoming or present Auroras and because of the total darkness around Giellajohka you can see the Aurora really (!) well.

The restaurant, although not quite cheap, serves high-quality food. I can very much recommend the reindeer kebab.

We had an excellent holiday and would truly recommend staying at...

My friends and I spent two nights at Giellajohka and wished we could have stayed longer. It was one of the highlights of our trip. We lodged in the Riverside Cabin - Taiga and were warmly greeted by a gentleman named Jouni. The cabin matched the images on the booking platform perfectly, with convenient parking nearby and a well-equipped kitchen. Although the kitchen ventilator was slightly dirty and caused some oil droplets to fall onto our cooking pot while we were preparing meals, it didn't significantly impact our experience. Waking up to the stunning snowy landscape outside our windows, with two rooms overlooking the lake, was truly enchanting. The breakfast selection was outstanding, and the food and beers were exceptionally delicious, leaving a lasting impression. The adorable cats and the soothing sounds of birds made our stay incredibly peaceful and comfortable. Additionally, we participated in the snowmobile activity led by Jouni, which was incredibly enjoyable; traversing the river was a particularly amazing experience! Notably, they have a WhatsApp group for guests to receive Aurora forecasts, and we were fortunate enough to witness the spectacular Aurora Borealis right outside our cabin, even venturing to the lake for a closer look. We will definitely return to this wonderful place. Highly...

I'm here now. What can I say ...||The staff, super friendly, from Anita to Jouni and all the rest. Very helpful and always smiling.||The location, wow!! If you want an epic wilderness to do some adventures, then Giellajohka is your place. I've been snowshoe trekking which was exhilarating. Today I went ice fishing with Samu a guide from Giellajohka, was like therapy for me. So calming sitting on a frozen lake catching loads of fish after the holes were drilled through the ice. Then Giellajohka kitchen cooked the fish for me when I got back. Brilliant!||Northern Lights - 2 nights I've stayed here, 2 immense Aurora shows both nights. They even have a teepee with wood fire to keep you warm when you watch the show.||Food - They have excellent facilities and kitchens to cook your own. But I booked breakfast, which is a lovely filling buffet. I also have reindeer soup every evening, it's tremendous.||Activities - Lots to do, I'm doing snowmobiling tomorrow, then cross country skiing Wednesday. Also gonna do the traditional hot then ice Finnish sauna. They also have a reindeer farm. ||So glad I was recommended here. I'll post a few pics as well. But really, there's a reason Giellajohka gets top reviews. Brilliant please, it's like therapy for me, the calm and silence, at one with...