Fly into Kajaani Airport. Airport pickup and drop-off can be organised. Vuokatti is around 30 minutes from the airport.

No. You can absolutely do ELAA without one.

Vuokatti has a local bus service connecting the resort area with Sotkamo, ski areas, shops and other useful stops, so it is possible to get around without driving.

That said, if you drive and it fits your budget, we would recommend considering a rental car. Everything in the area is fairly spread out, and having a car gives you much more freedom for exploring, spontaneous plans and day/ weekend trips to Lapland.

It is not required, but it can make the month more flexible.

Vuokatti has a local bus service connecting the area with Sotkamo and useful stops around the ski resort, shops and local attractions.

The nearest useful stop to the cottages is around a short walk away, so residents can use the bus for everyday trips without needing to rely on taxis.

Walking, cycling and taxis are also options, and we may have bicycles available on site for residents to borrow for shorter local journeys.

If you want to travel much further outside the Vuokatti–Sotkamo area, a rental car will give you significantly more freedom.

The nearest supermarkets are around 3–3.5 km from the cottages, roughly a 40-minute walk depending on winter conditions.

There are local supermarkets in the Vuokatti area, with larger shops, cafés and other services available in nearby Sotkamo.

Grocery delivery is also available locally, and the local bus can make supermarket trips easier if you do not have a car.

We also plan to have bicycles available on site for residents to borrow for short local trips such as grocery runs.

Absolutely not. Beginners are welcome. Vuokatti is a great place to learn, while experienced skiers and snowboarders can do their own thing.

This is not a scheduled retreat. There will be a welcome dinner organised by the community manager, Finnish baking evening and informal plans, but there is no expectation that everyone does everything together.

Yes. That is essentially the point. You arrive independently, but you’re joining a deliberately small group of people for the month.

No. Remote workers, founders and freelancers are an obvious fit, but someone on sabbatical, taking time off or simply able to spend four weeks away can also apply.

A proper Finnish winter means snow, short daylight hours and potentially very cold temperatures. You’ll need proper layers and clothing suitable for a Finnish winter.

No, unless specifically listed in the inclusions. Skiing, huskies, snowmobiling and other excursions are optional and paid separately, so residents can choose what they want to do and build their own month.

ELAA is intentionally small, so there will always be people around without anything feeling forced.

A community manager will be on site to host the welcome dinner, organise airport transfers, share local recommendations and help throughout your stay.

We’ll also have a private WhatsApp group for activities, plans and spontaneous ideas, whether that’s skiing, a co-working café day, huskies, a winter run or a movie night.

Join as much or as little as you like. You won’t have to do things alone unless you want to.

Residents cook for themselves.

Residents need suitable travel insurance and relevant winter-sports or activity cover.

Apply → applications are reviewed personally → successful applicants receive an answer about acceptance → a €500 deposit secures the place → the remaining balance is due according to the payment terms.

January is the inaugural women-only cohort. ELAA itself isn’t permanently women-only. February is mixed and MArch is woman-only again.

The application already lets you register your interest in future February and March cohorts.

Yes. If there is availability you are welcome to extend your trip by contacting [email protected] for another 4 weeks at a 20% discounted rate.

Yes. We’re looking for travel and lifestyle content creators who would like to experience ELAA while helping us capture the month from a resident’s perspective.

Selected creators may receive 20–30% off their four-week stay, depending on experience and agreed deliverables.

This isn’t intended to be a full-time content role. We want you to actually experience the residency. Deliverables will typically include around 1–2 edited Reels per week, alongside the raw footage used to create those Reels.

We’re especially interested in creators with experience shooting travel, hospitality, lifestyle or experience-led content.

To apply, email [email protected] with a short introduction, links to your social channels, your portfolio and examples of your strongest travel or lifestyle work.

Creator places are limited and applications are reviewed based on fit, portfolio and the needs of each cohort.

Yes! We offer two ways to pay for your ELAA Winter Residency.

Option 1 — Pay in full
Pay the full residency price at checkout to secure your accommodation.

Option 2 — Pay in 3 instalments
Secure your accommodation with a €500 non-refundable deposit, followed by two instalments:

€500 deposit — due upon booking
Second instalment — due 30 November 2026
Final instalment — due 31 December 2026

Separate Stripe invoices will be emailed to you for the remaining payments. You are welcome to pay your balance earlier.

Your deposit secures your accommodation and represents your commitment to the residency. Full payment terms will be provided during booking.

A €500 non-refundable deposit secures your accommodation, with the remaining balance due one calendar month before arrival.

For our January 2027 residency, an exception applies, with the final balance due by 31 December 2026.

Full cancellation, refund and payment conditions are outlined in our Booking & Cancellation Terms, available to review below or before completing your booking.