Some places find you at exactly the right moment.
A few years ago, we spent Christmas in Saariselkä. I had just recovered from a serious illness, and something pulled us north, to Lapland — further than we had ever been before. We had never experienced anything like it: the silence of the polar night, the vast open fells, the colours of the sky that words can’t capture. The nature was cold and raw, yet so inviting — we wanted to hold on to every moment, store them in memories to return to again and again.
Saariselkä surprised us. Silent forests, snowy light and a stillness we didn’t even know we needed. We climbed to the top of Kiilopää — in the middle of recovery, it was more than just a hike. That first trip felt like learning to breathe again.
After that, we kept coming back to Saariselkä. And after a long search, we found a place that became dear to us: Arctic Villa Aava.
The Name Says It All
Our sailboat is named Aava. In Finnish, aava means open, vast space — the horizon where the mind settles and thoughts are free to roam. We have felt the same on the open sea and in the Lapland wilderness — surrounded by wind, silence and nature.
We spend our summers at sea, sailing the Baltic. Winters call us north. Having our own place in Lapland had long been a dream.
We found it by chance, during a sailing trip. Something about the place drew us in immediately. We were in a hurry to get back from the sea, drive 1,100 kilometres north and see if this was it. It was only standing there that it began to take shape — not just that this was our place, but how we would make it truly ours.
This became Villa Aava — a place to breathe deeply, slow down, and be for a moment in your own vast open space.
Villa Aava is Evolving
We are renovating the villa from the ground up — the kitchen, sauna, bathroom and changing room are all being rebuilt with care and thought. The original kelo log spirit and Lapland atmosphere will remain, while quality is raised. We want Aava to be a place people return to — year after year.
Now we want to share it with others — those looking for something genuine, peaceful and beautiful. A place that stays with you.
Villa Aava is waiting. Come and experience it for yourself.
Follow the journey on Instagram @arcticvilla.aava — and come see for yourself in autumn 2026.