Wilderness River
Äkäsjoki is river wilderness at its best. The versatile river offers narrow straits and wider sections, as well as rapids and calm waters, all surrounded by Arctic nature in the municipality of Kolari. The Äkäsjoki River is a popular spot for fishing and kayaking.
The 46-kilometer river can be divided into two sections. Firstly, it runs in the wild from Lake Äkäsjärvi to Lake Äkäslompolo by the Ylläs travel center. From Äkäslompolo, the river flows right by the roads Äkäsjoentie and Ylläksentie all the way to the Swedish border river, Muonio. The latter section of the river is easy to access: there are parking lots right by the water, as well as a few bridges that cross the river.
While the upper section of the river is a bit wilder, there are no heavy rapids in the lower section of Äkäsjoki. This makes it especially suitable for productions that wish to film in boats.
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Accommodation
The Äkäsjoki River flows through the Ylläs travel area and its good selection of accommodation. Ylläs offers modern hotels, luxury apartments, holiday villages and isolated cabins, and its accommodation capacity is approximately 23 000 beds.
Restaurants & Catering
As with accommodation, there is a wide range of restaurant options to choose from in Ylläs and Kolari, from fast food eateries and cafés to à la carte restaurants.
Other Services
Some additional local services that may be useful when filming at the Äkäsjoki River include:
- Guide services
- Fishing equipment
- Kayak and canoe rentals
- Transportation services
But this is just to name a few.
Lapland is the most connected wilderness in the Arctic. Thanks to its five airports, vast and well-maintained road network and efficient public transportation, getting around is effortless throughout the year.
By Plane
The Kittilä Airport (1 h by car) offers a daily connection to Helsinki year-round, as well as connections to some European cities during the winter season. The second nearest airport is in Enontekiö (1 h 45 min).
By Train
There is a railway station in Kolari. For timetables and tickets for trains, visit VR.
By Bus
You can travel to Kolari and Ylläs by bus. For timetables and tickets for buses, visit Matkahuolto.
By Car
As all of Lapland, Äkäsjoki is easy to reach by car. There are multiple options for car rentals across the region.
Crew & Filming Equipment
There are a number of production service companies that operate across Lapland. We’re happy to tell you more, so please get in touch.
Permits & Safety
Thanks to the Finnish concept of the Everyone’s Right, most of the Lapland nature is free to film in. In the case of the Äkäsjoki River, this means that if your production is on a smaller scale and does not cause disturbance to nature, there is a chance you may not need to worry about permits at all. But if you’re unsure, it’s always best to ask.
The Äkäsjoki River flows partly through state-owned areas, which are managed by Metsähallitus (Parks & Wildlife Finland). In these areas, permits are required for all off-road traffic and any temporary structures. Metsähallitus handles filming and permit applications on a case by case basis. For more information, please see their instructions for permits for film production in state-owned areas in Finland.
The Everyone’s Right covers hook-and-line fishing, but you need a permit for all other fishing activities. For permits and more information on fishing at the Äkäsjoki River, visit Eräluvat.
Film Lapland does not issue permits, but we’re more than happy to help you determine whether you need one and with the permit process, so please don’t hesitate to contact us.
