ONLY FOR THE MORE ADVENTUROUS ONES! A log cabin built in the 1960s, on a small island. This is the only property on the island, there are no other cabins, houses, or whatsoever. You are alone in peace. This is not your usual Airbnb. Here, you will have to get your own water from the well or the lake. Chop some firewood. Start a fire. But you will surely have a once-in-a-lifetime experience. This is a unique opportunity to experience a true Finnish lifestyle in the best way possible.
The space
!!ATTENTION!!
PLEASE UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU ARE BOOKING! READ ALL OF THE DETAILS ABOUT THE PROPERTY BEFORE YOU BOOK!
Please, only book this place if you have at least some basic knowledge and skills for camping: starting a fire in the fireplace (there is dry firewood) chopping wood with an axe and so on. You will be on your own on the island and even though there are excellent instructions on how to use the house and the amenities at the cabin, you will have to rely on your own skills to manage during your stay.
If the dates you are looking at are booked, check out my other cabin on Inari Lake in a very similar location, on an island with the name "Maura Wilderness Cabin".
For bookings for the months of APRIL/MAY and OCTOBER/NOVEMBER, depending on the ice conditions, the only way to get to and from the island is by hydrocopter. This is only a few days in Spring and a few days in Autumn. Using the hydrocopter is an adventure itself but it comes at an additional cost if it is needed. Ask for a price if you are booking for these months! See the picture of the machine!
The cabin is comfortable and perfect for 2 guests. There are 4 beds available, but floor space is much more limited with more than 2 guests. For more than two guests (up to 6), I recommend booking my other cabin "Maura Wilderness Cabin".
I recommend spending a minimum of 3 nights to get a real feel for the environment. It is the best place to disconnect from the rest of the world, relax in a natural environment and have the best possibility to see the Northern Lights or do some stargazing.
The nearest place where you can leave your car for parking for free (during the whole year) is Nangunniemen Venesatama, a harbour that is located 1,1km from the island. The road is kept open also during the winter months. In the late Spring (April-May), the road can be soft and muddy. It usually isn't a problem to drive it but it can be slow and a bit challanging.
Bed linen, towels, environmentally friendly shampoo and shower gel, toiletpaper, oil, salt and pepper and a few more spices are provided for your stay as well as firewood, a gas heater and a fully equipped kitchen.
The property is situated on Munhaissaari, which is one of the 3300 islands on Lake Inari. It is only accessible either by water (in the Summer and Autumn), or on the ice (in the Winter and in Spring). There are no other residents or houses on this island, so you won't be disturbed and you can discover the whole area during your stay. D
During the Summer months, you can rent a small motorboat that you can either use to get to the island or to discover the surrounding areas. Please ask for a quote for this motorboat. Airbnb insurance does not cover any damage caused to the motorboat and the self-risk is 1500 EUR. If you wish to use the motorboat during your stay, there will be a 1500 EUR deposit made on your credit/bank card that is reimbursed if there is no damage.
In the Winter, to get to the island, you can either rent snowshoes or a snowmobile. You can of course also walk to the island, but depending on the snow conditions, this could be difficult.
The cabin can accommodate up to 4 guests, however, it is the most comfortable for two (couples, friends, etc). Or for families with two kids. 4 guests will still have 4 proper beds with mattress and everything needed, but it will mean that floorspace in the cabin will be limited and the sauna is also a bit too small to have 4 guests at the same time.
You will find three buildings: the main building, a traditional Finnish sauna building, and a storage/dry toilet.
The main building has a newly renovated living room with a large dining table. There is a wood-burning stove for your use and a gas heater in the Winter months. You will also find a kitchen that is well equipped, with quality kitchenware and basic cooking ingredients (oil, salt, pepper, some spices, etc.) as well as a refrigerator and a gas stove with an oven. The main building is located appx 35m from the shore of Inari Lake. In the Summer, the clean fresh water can be carried from our own natural spring just 15 meters from the main house. In the Winter, you can get fresh water from the lake. There is a potato cellar located in the yard, that works great as a fridge, even on the hottest summer days.
The property is equipped with a solar panel/battery system that provides 230V electricity in all of the buildings. This provides lights on the property and also makes it possible to charge your phone or other basic electronic devices.
!!! From November to February THERE IS NO ELECTRICITY AVAILABLE!! In this period, bring headlamps and power banks. You will find candles and battery-powered lamps to use. Also in case of extreme cold (-15C or under), the battery system shuts down and there is no electricity!!!
The traditional Finnish sauna building is by the lakefront and is the best place to relax after a long busy day of exploring the surrounding areas. The sauna stove is wood-heated and has a water tank where you can heat your water for your shower. If you are courageous enough, you can do as the Finns and just walk 5 meters to the lake and have a dip. It is believed that Finnish women are so beautiful because they dip in the water in the crystal-clear lakes of Finland. We many times even enjoy a cold beer or two while in the Sauna.
If you are even braver and if you inform me in time, for a small extra cost (50 EUR), I will cut a hole in the ice where you will be able to have a dip in-between your sauna rounds.
The third building is where you will find the woodshed with plenty of firewood to heat the house and the sauna. It is always a good exercise to chop some wood ready. The sauna feels much better afterward. In this same building, you will find the ecological, bio-composting dry toilet. For the sake of the environment, I ask you to use firewood responsibly and only burn as much as you need.
Next to the house, you will find the tower terrace, which is a 3-meter high structure, perfect for a morning coffee or an afternoon snack, as well as a viewpoint to see the lake or the Northern Lights.
If you are looking for a place to see the Northern Lights, the island is probably one of the best places to stay from September to early April, as it is on the lake with zero light pollution. The nearest light source is about 10km south of us, meaning that there is absolutely no light pollution towards the Northern sky. Also, thanks to the micro-climate of the lake, the sky is more often clear of clouds than in other parts of Lapland or the Inari-Ivalo-Saariselkä area.
The basic rental fee is for 2 guests. Should there be more guests, there is an extra charge of 20 EUR per guest per night.
The cottage has all the basic amenities that you might need: bed linen, towels, shampoo, shower gel, candles, gas for the fridge and the heater (only in the winter) toilet paper, soap, cleaning stuff, and cooking gear.
The cottage is suitable for babies and young children in the Summer, but please inform me beforehand (at least 3 days), so that I can arrange any necessary items like a baby bed, high-chair, and other amenities. Even if the cabin is Winter-proof and can be kept warm, I do not recommend staying in the cabin during the Winter months with children of a very young age.
I welcome pets on the island as well as in the buildings. Please, inform me BEFOREHAND if you have a pet with you. I don't charge any extra, I just need to know. I ask you to make sure that pets don't damage the property or the wildlife in the area, as well as to collect anything that your dog would leave in the well-visible areas near the walkways and buildings. Thank you!
Inari Lake is a fascinating place for fishing trout, grayling, whitefish, perch, vendace, pike, or arctic char and a few more... You can prepare the daily catch on the open fire on the grill. Make sure you get all of the fishing licenses that you need for fishing in Finland and on Inari Lake.
You may walk around freely on the island and either go to the peak of the small hill or to the other side of the island where you will find a small cliff with a lovely view of the Lake and the surrounding islands. It is also a great spot to see the sunset. From Summer to Autumn, you might find blueberries, cloudberries, lingonberries, and a handful of different kinds of mushrooms, as well as see some arctic hares and foxes and dozens of birds. Sometimes even reindeer and moose might swim to the island. No need to worry, none of these animals are dangerous, just remember to respect nature and leave no traces behind.
Please note, that getting to the island can depend a lot on the weather and the ice conditions. In the Summer, strong winds or storms can make it difficult and dangerous to go out on the lake. In the Spring (May to early June) and in the Autumn (Late October to early December) the access to the island depends on the ice situation. This is different every year and is unpredictable. In case of unsafe ice conditions or very strong winds, it might happen that you can only check in one day later or you might have to leave one day early. In this case, you will receive a refund for the lost day. This is not at all common, but it can happen and I consider your safety to be the most important!
To get the 100% full "True Finnish Experience", you should book the program called "Day with a Local". This is a 6-hour private tour with a local guide from Ivalo who will take you on a wonderful day trip to show you the best parts of Inari Lake (in a sleigh pulled by a snowmobile), take you snowshoeing (to tell you about nature), and teach you how to fish under the ice both with ice-fishing rods and with nets. This is before preparing a delicious meal on the open fire, as well as the fish if you catch some. This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience to get a taste of how life is on the Lake and how people live and have lived traditionally in these areas. This activity needs to be pre-booked in advance, and availability is limited.
The "Cleaning fee" only includes the changing of bedlinens/towels and DOES NOT INCLUDE THE FINAL CLEANING OF THE CABIN. The guest booking is responsible for:
-washing all the dishes
-taking out the garbage
-sweeping the floor
-shaking off the rugs outside
Guest access
The whole property is at your own use, and you are welcome to roam around on all of the island and in the surrounding areas.
Other things to note
ATTENTION: Please, only book this place if you have at least some knowledge and skills for camping, which would include: starting a fire in the fireplace (there is dry firewood) and chopping wood with an axe (provided). You will be on your own on the island and even though there are excellent instructions on how to use the house and the amenities at the cabin, and you can always call on the provided number to receive help, you will have to rely on your own skills to manage.
ATTENTION: For bookings during the winter months: the cabin is not pre-heated so if there has been nobody at the cabin before you in the previous days, it does take several hours for the cabin to heat up during the coldest days. Be prepared for this when you plan your journey and I do recommend that you don't arrive too late to avoid having to find the cabin in the dark.
ATTENTION: The electric system works with batteries and it does not work if the outside temperature is below -20 Celsius and on the darkest winter days (November to February) there is no charging from the Sun. Always bring headlamps and extra batteries with you, as well as a power bank to be able to charge your phone!
The "Cleaning fee" only includes the changing of bedlinens/towels and DOES NOT INCLUDE THE FINAL CLEANING OF THE CABIN. The guest booking are responsible for:
-washing all the dishes
-taking out the garbage
-sweeping the floor
-shaking off the rugs outside
The phone signal on the island is not the best but it is always enough to make phone calls if needed. Mobile data connection is mostly okay outside the cabin but can be poor inside the cabin.
