Amazing accommodation near Rovaniemi: Yurts by the river

The snow sparkles underfoot, the water in the river is frozen. It’s quiet. Sometimes too quiet. You can hear the sounds of the road somewhere in the distance. It smells of forest and frost.

You are leaving your yurt and looking at the sky. Will it work out today?

In this post, I’ll tell you about a place where evenings look exactly like this.

Yurts by the river near Rovaniemi are one of the most interesting and amazing places I’ve slept in during my many trips in recent years.

If you’re going to Rovaniemi, check out if this accommodation is for you.

(other accommodation options in Rovaniemi and the surrounding area you can find in this separate post).

Yurts practically

Where exactly are the yurts

The yurts are located about 20 minutes from the centre of Rovaniemi (about 23 km). Right by the river, and by the forest. There are walking or trekking paths in the area as well.

There are no city lights in the area, which is why it is a great place to observe the Aurora Borealis.

How to get there

You can get to the yurts by car or taxi. You have a parking space next to each yurt. So if you rent a car, there will be no problem.

It is only worth remembering all the safety rules, as the road to the yurts was very icy.

The second option is a taxi, and that is how we got there. It is best to just write the message to the place a little earlier and ask them to order you a taxi. Then you will have a pre-agreed price. At the end of November 2024, the ride cost 60 Euro one way.

On the way back, we took a taxi with guests from another yurt, so the cost was divided in half.

Is it warm in the yurts?

I’m answering this question as of the first, because I admit that it worried me a bit, too.

Yes, the yurts were warm. There were radiators inside, the temperature of which could be set. To be honest, it was warmer in the yurt than in the flat in the city centre.

Bathroom

The bathroom may be the only inconvenience, but that’s only because you have to get out of the warm yurt to get there.

Because there are no private bathrooms inside the yurt. They are shared, in small houses, and there are four bathrooms for guests in total. The bathrooms are very nice, modern and comfortable, each has a toilet, shower and sink. And most importantly – they are also warm.

It’s not a long distance, because they are located a dozen or so meters from the yurts.

We also get towels as usual.

Overnight stay in yurts: Food

A small breakfast is included in the price, and it is prepared in the fridge in advance. It is not much, bread and something for bread, juice, yogurt, etc. Don’t count on a big hotel breakfast, but it will be enough. You can also ask for coffee to be brought to you.

There is a kettle in the yurt, so you can make tea.

Coffee and various snacks can also be ordered during the day and delivered to the yurt.

You can use the bonfire in the barn to prepare dinner. There are many places for bonfires in Finland, on trails, in nature. During one of the trips, our guide laughed that roasting sausages is almost a national sport.

A bonfire is also available in the Yurt District. And it is under the roof in the barn, so the weather does not affect its use. The price of accommodation includes lighting a bonfire. It is worth using this as an idea for dinner. You can buy basic necessary products on site, but I think it is best to buy it yourself in the city before arrival, whatever you like eating.

How to book accommodation in yurts

Yurts are very popular, so it is worth booking them in advance. We were lucky, we managed to find a free yurt for one night about two weeks before arrival.

Reservation is available on Booking.com, here.

You can also contact the owners via messages on Booking after you booked, e.g. about a taxi.

Why I recommend this accommodation

If the accommodation deserved a separate blog post, it’s a sign that it was truly exceptional😊

What did I like most about the yurts?

Location

Location: By the river, in the middle of ‘nowhere’, in nature. Environment for which I think we go to Lapland. Silence, peace and darkness.

Darkness, which makes it easier to observe the aurora. In addition, the yurts have a window in the ceiling, so you can watch the aurora even from your bed.

We didn’t succeed though, because it was very cloudy, but if the conditions are good, the aurora will be clearly visible.

(I wrote more about the aurora and apps that inform about the aurora in this post. In yurts, it’s worth checking the Aurora Alert Realtime app, and setting notifications for the Arctic SnowHotel, which is nearby).

Interiors and uniqueness

Attention to detail and very friendly service.

In the catalogue lying in the yurt, I read that the yurts are hand-made to special order and were brought from Ulan Bator.

This approach and attention to detail can be seen and felt at every step. Firstly in the refined interior of the yurt, which is simply nicely decorated. I really liked the Nordic patterned bedding. This can also be seen throughout the facility (barn and bonfire, lights) and the equipment.

It was easy to rent, for example, headlamps to go for a walk when it got dark.

But also in the approach of the staff, which I think is particularly important in such places.

The owners were very nice and always available.

We ordered coffee, and shortly afterwards the coffee was delivered in a basket to the yurt.

You ask about lighting a bonfire, and shortly afterwards you roast a sausage.

Uniqueness. It’s not another hotel or apartment where you stay just because you have to sleep somewhere. The stay itself is an incredible attraction, something exceptional. For various reasons. Because of the attention to detail and the approach to guests. And the type of accommodation itself, and the overnight stay in a handmade yurt.

And because of the location and the atmosphere.

Yurts in Rovaniemi: Summary

Yurts are of course not traditional Lappish style accommodation, they come from Mongolia. However, they fit this location incredibly well.

It is not a cheap accommodation, but compared to accommodation in glass igloos stylized as traditional ones, the price is still very good.

In my opinion, it is a great place both in winter and summer. I would gladly go to Lapland and to the Yurt District again, specifically in summer.

You do not have to spend your entire stay there, especially if you do not have a car. You can spend one night in yurts, which will already be a great attraction.

I liked everything there. Well, maybe apart from the clouds, which made it impossible to see the Northern Lights and the rain in the morning, which made it difficult to walk around the area.

I sincerely recommend it, and I think that it is not without reason that the accommodation has such good ratings.

Check (and maybe even book?) accommodation in riverside yurts in Rovaniemi at this link