On this page you will find answers to our frequently asked questions. Please don’t hesitate to contact us in case you can’t find your answers here.

The house

Is there free WiFi?

Yes, there is free WiFi in the house.

Is there running water?

No, there is no running water in the house. You will find a well in front of the house with the freshest and cleanest water you have ever tasted. Of course we have buckets where you can keep the spring water in the house.

Is there electricity?

Yes, there is electricity in the house. In the other buildings (the sauna, the outhouse, the shed and the stables) is no electricity. The toilet and sauna are well lit with battery powered lights.

Is the house located near the water?

Jutkula is surrounded by beautiful fields and forests. The closest water is Hossan joki (Hossa's river), which is just a bit further down the road. Here you can fly-fish and dip your feet in the fresh water. 


If you prefer to have a proper swim, there are many crystal clear lakes nearby where you can jump in. Hossa’s crystal clear and sand-bottomed waterways are made for swimming. Many prefer the shore of Hossan Lumo at Hossanlahti, Iikoski at Hypäsjärvi and the Karhunkainalo camping area at Öllöri.

Does the house have an indoor toilet or bathroom?

One of the best parts of staying at Jutkula, is that you get to experience the luxury of an authentic Finnish sauna. Here you can enjoy your bathing ritual in peace and quiet. In the olden days these sauna's were built outside of the house, like we have at Jutkula. The sauna is heated with wood from our own forest. 


In our outhouse you will find an eco-friendly dry toilet, like it was 50 years ago. The toilet contains of a plank with 2 holes (adult and child sizes). You will find the outhouse around the corner of the sauna. It has a locked door, but if you want you can leave the door open and enjoy the view of the open field and edge of the forest. Maybe you will see a reindeer walking by.


red white outhouse finland

How is the kitchen equipped?

Our kitchen is equipped with everything you need for your holiday in Hossa:

  • Refrigerator
  • Oven
  • Electrical stove
  • Coffee maker*
  • Kitchen table + seats
  • Glasses, plates + cutlery
  • Pots & pans
  • Cooking knives


* A good old filter coffee maker. We're not the fancy George Clooney Nespresso kind of people. 

How many bedrooms are there?

Jutkula has 2 bedrooms:

  • 1 double bed (160 x 200 cm) upstairs
  • 1 twin bed (2x 90x200 cm) downstairs


In the livingroom you will find a sofa bed which has space for 2 more people.

Are bed and bath linens included?

Yes, you will find freshly made beds with crispy, white sheets. We also provide enough bath and kitchen towels for all the guests for the duration of your stay.

Do you have mosquito protection?

Our precautions to protect you from the little buggers are:

  • Each bed is equipped with a mosquito net.
  • The windows have mosquito covers.
  • There is an emergency stash of mosquito repellent available
Is the house wheelchair friendly?

Unfortunately Jutkula isn't wheelchair friendly since the house, sauna and toilet are accessed by short stairs. Also there are door sills inside the house.

Do you have any neighbours?

The closest neighbours are about 200 meters away (looking from the backside of the house). On the left, right and the front we don't have any neighbours. The place is all yours!

Do we need to share the house with other guests?

No, the whole property is all yours to enjoy in private! The price per night includes the use of all the amenities on the property. 

Wat does the name 'Jutkula' mean?

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Mauris tempus nisl vitae magna pulvinar laoreet. Nullam erat ipsum, mattis nec mollis ac, accumsan a enim. Nunc at euismod arcu. Aliquam ullamcorper eros justo, vel mollis neque facilisis vel. Proin augue tortor, condimentum id sapien a, tempus venenatis massa. Aliquam egestas eget diam sed sagittis. Vivamus consectetur purus vel felis molestie sollicitudin. Vivamus sit amet enim nisl. Cras vitae varius metus, a hendrerit ex. Sed in mi dolor. Proin pretium nibh non volutpat efficitur.

What power plug do you need in the house?

In Finland the power plugs and sockets are of type F. 

Travel

How do we reach Hossa?

Hossa is located in the municipality of Suomussalmi, in the region of Kainuu, Finland. By far the easiest way to get to Hossa is to drive by yourself. Or take a domestic flight to one of the airports and continue your journey by car. The nearest airports are:

  • Kuusamo - 80 km 
  • Kajaani - 200 km
  • Oulu - 250 km


Oulu has the most variation between flight schedules and operating airlines and offers rental cars as well. Flying from Helsinki to Oulu or Kuusamo takes approximately 1 hour.


The driving distance from Helsinki to Hossa is about 750 kilometers.

Do you arrange airport transfers?

Unfortunately we can't arrange any transfers from or to the airport. There are taxi's and rental car companies available at the airport. Our experience is that the earlier you book, the better the price.


We highly recommend to arrange a rental car since public transport around Jutkula isn't really excisting. Also being able to drive around will add so much freedom and pleasure to your Hossa Holiday experience. 

What is the currency in Finland?

Our currency is the Euro (€). In most places you can pay with cash, debit card or credit card. 

Hossa

Q1

Answer

Q2

Answer

Q3

Answer

Weather

Q1

Answer

Q2

Answer

Q3

Answer

Activities

What activities can we do near Jutkula?

Lucky you! All year round there are endless outdoor activities to do within close proximity to Jutkula. 


Whether you want a calm and peaceful holiday in Hossa or one filled with fun and action; it's all here. 


Read more about the different activities.

We would love to go fishing. Do you provide fishing gear?

ANSWER

Do you also provide guided tours?

Answer

Wildlife

Will I see bears?

Around the house? (Un)fortunately, no. Even though Hossa is bear territory, they are very shy creatures and prefer to stay deep in the forest. Even if you would try really hard, they will smell or hear you from a kilometer away and will run for it.


If you want to see bears, there are multiple options. You can go and visit the Large Carnivore Centre in Kuusamo. Or go for a real, guided bear watching trip at Martinselkonen in Ruhtinansalmi.

What other wildlife is there?

Besides the Finnish brown bear, the forests in Hossa are home to other large carnivores like wolves, wolverines and lynxes. Like the bear, these animals are very shy as well.


Depending on the time of year, you might see a moose or fox. And the chances of seeing reindeers are huge. They can even walk into our own yard at Jutkula. How exciting is that!


Other (small) animals you might see are:

  • Otters
  • Beavers
  • Hares
  • Squirrels
  • Pine martens
  • Stoats
Are the mosquitos really that bad?

Yes and no. Honestly? They can be a huge pain in the ass when they come with many. We call them the Finnish Air Force. Also it is almost impossible to tell IF and when they will be around, since it really differs from year to year. Luckily, protecting yourself against them isn't rocket science. There are really good mosquito repellents available in almost every shop, pharmacy and gas station in Finland. Also we recommend to take long trousers and a hoodie with you. 


Important to know is that even though they can be nasty, they don't carry any diseases with them and they are harmless for your health. That said, it might be wise to take your antihistamines with you if you have had mild allergic reactions to mosquito bites before.

Sauna

I have (a history of) heart problems. Is it safe to go in the sauna?

Even though the sauna has multiple mental and physical health benefits, we strongly advice you to contact your doctor about this question. 

Why do you hit each other with a whip of branches when sitting in the sauna?

A vihta (or vasta, depending where you are in Finland) is traditionally made from birch branches that are tied together.

The vihta serves multiple uses:

  • The - ahum - spanking gets your blood flowing which also makes your skin look rosy and glowy
  • This movement stimulates the air circulation as well
  • A fresh vihta adds a lovely scent to the hot sauna.
How do I turn on the sauna?

Our sauna is a traditional Finnish sauna with a wood-burning stove. This means that you need to fill it with logs and light those on fire. The stove also has a reservoir for water. This always needs to be filled when you use the sauna. You can mix this hot water with cold water to wash yourself. 


Risto is happy to show you how this all works. We also have a manual that provides all the information you need.

miscellaneous

What about food & groceries?

There are not many restaurants closeby. Depending on the time of your stay, you might find a simple buffet restaurant and/or a pizza truck at the Hossa National Park. Therefore we recommend to do your groceries before arrival. Kuusamo (80 km) is the nearest city with multiple bigger supermarkets and pharmacies. Closer by home you will find the small village shop in Juntusranta (25 km).


Our kitchen cupboards are stocked with basics like:

  • Flour
  • Olive oil
  • Dishwasher liquid
  • Salt & pepper
  • Sugar 
  • And such ...
We would like to buy a souvenir. Are there any gift shops?

Thank you for supporting our local businesses. You can find small gift shops at the Hossa Reindeer Park and the Hossa Visitor's Centre