Villa Usva: A year-round haven in Lapland’s outdoor paradise

Villa Usva is an atmospheric rental cottage in the centre of the village of Ylläsjärvi in Lapland, Finland. The cottage boasts some of the country’s best skiing, biking and hiking trails right on its doorstep, making this an ideal place for guests all year round.

Accommodating four people, Villa Usva is an apartment at one end of a terraced house in the peaceful area of Tunturipalo. At the other end of the house is Ilvesmaja, which can comfortably accommodate up to six people.

The cottage’s walls have been lovingly crafted from kelohonka, a polar pine tree, which has been used as traditional building material for centuries in Finland. “The cottage is beautiful both inside and outside, and the polar pine adds to the cosy and warm atmosphere and the magic of Finland’s Lapland,” says Heidi Pukander, owner of Villa Usva.

The rental cottage is located close to local restaurants, supermarkets and shops, so it’s easy for guests to make the most out of their holiday and explore the numerous activities on offer.

Activity-packed wonderland in all seasons

With Finland’s largest network of cross-country skiing and biking trails and all-year sporting opportunities just 200 metres from the cottage, guests don’t need to go far to enjoy them. The Ylläs region, 115 kilometres north of the Arctic circle in Finnish Lapland, is well-known as a paradise for active, outdoorsy people, boasting a ski centre and over 300 kilometres of cross-country ski trails.

Outdoor activities are not just limited to the winter months. In summer, there are plenty of opportunities for hiking, mountain biking, foraging and kayaking. The ski lifts are open all year round, and visitors can take bikes in the gondola lifts to the top of Ylläs, where Ylläs Bike Park offers scenic routes down the fell.

The nature and scenery are stunning throughout the year. In summer, the region is known for its nightless night, when the sun doesn’t set beneath the horizon for months. During autumn, the ruska – when leaves take on various shades of red and yellow – is a breathtaking sight. And in winter, Ylläs is a prime location for spotting the Northern lights.

“We’re a family business, and proud and happy to be able to show others the mind-blowing beauty of the region’s nature. There are seven fells, eight seasons and no shortage of activities – and of course some of the purest air in the world too. Our cottages are ideal places to relax and use as a holiday base all year round,” Pukander concludes.

Web: www.villausva.com
Facebook: yllasusva