Fellfields
Northernmost Lapland is home to tundra-like fells and fellfields, easily accessed film locations for productions seeking old, weathered hills without trees.
Some of the most beautiful tundra-like fellfields in Lapland can be found in the municipality of Utsjoki. (A fell is a hill worn down by Ice Age glaciers.) The landscape of the area is typically made of heath and mountain birches, with hills and fells of varying altitudes covering the lands. Although the rugged Arctic fellfields are beautiful all year round, they are at their most striking during the fall color season–that is, September and early October.
There are a great deal of fellfield locations to choose from in Utsjoki, many located along Route 970, which has been named the most beautiful road in Finland. For example, the Ailigas Fell right by the town center offers an impressive view over the Teno River Valley, with a road leading all the way up to its top. The Muotkatunturi Wilderness Area is another location to consider, as are the various well-maintained roads that take you across treeless wilderness, such as the Pulmankijärventie Road in Nuorgam.
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Accommodation
Accommodation is provided by tourism and wilderness activity providers throughout Utsjoki, including holiday villages, cozy cabins and a few hotels.
Utsjoki’s accommodation capacity is approximately 480 beds.
Restaurants & Catering
Utsjoki’s restaurant services are often attached to the accommodation providers; this includes à la carte restaurants and cafeterias. Catering services are offered by some local businesses.
Other Services
Filmmakers in the Utsjoki fellfields might find the following services useful:
- Guide services
- Transportation services
- Husky & reindeer experiences
- ATV & snowmobile rentals
For more information on the services available in the northern fellfields, Explore Utsjoki.
Even the distant northern fellfields of Utsjoki are not hard to reach, thanks to Lapland’s five airports and network of roads and highways.
By Plane
Utsjoki’s nearest airports are in Ivalo (2 h 15 min by car) to the south and Kirkenes in Norway (2 h 45 min). The Ivalo International Airport offers daily connections to Helsinki all year-round, as well as additional connections to European cities in winter.
By Train
Unfortunately there is no rail service all the way to Utsjoki, with the nearest stations being Kemijärvi (5 h) and Rovaniemi (5 h 15 min). Visit VR for train tickets and timetables.
By Bus
You can travel to Utsjoki by bus. For example, there are connections from the Arctic Circle and Inari all the way up to Finland’s northernmost village, Nuorgam. Visit Matkahuolto to purchase tickets and peruse timetables.
By Car
The fellfields of Utsjoki are easy to reach, as there are major highways and public roads that offer access to the base of many fells. (You may have purchase a one-time permit to drive onto the fells themselves.)
Crew & Filming Equipment
You might be surprised to learn that Lapland’s professional production service network extends all the way to the northernmost villages, but it does! Get in touch today, and we’ll find the right ones for your Arctic production.
Permits
In the case of the fellfields of Utsjoki, Everyone’s Right means that if your production is smaller and does not disturb the wild, you probably need not worry about permits at all. And if you’re uncertain, you can always drop us a line.
The large, state-owned wilderness areas in Utsjoki are managed by Metsähallitus (Finnish Forest Administration), which requires permits for off-road traffic and any temporary structures. Metsähallitus considers permit applications case by case. For more details, check out their instructions for permits.
The wilderness areas in Utsjoki are used for reindeer pasturing, so larger productions are asked to inform the local reindeer herding districts on their filming plans in advance.
You need a permit to access the roads that lead up to the tops of the three Ailigas Fells. For the road to Ailigas Fell located by the town center, permits can be purchased at the Giisá Village House for a few euros.
Film Lapland does not issue any permits, but we’re happy to help with the permit process, so don’t hesitate to contact us.
