Ilonka Farm & Cafe - Enare

Chris E.

Amazing experience at Ilonka. Warmly welcomed by Lily who explained everything about the farm, offered the use of sledges to pull the kids around towards farm walk (kids made the most of this) Very well kept and loads of information around around farm surrounding Finnish culture, myths etc...

The connecting with huskies and kids sleigh ride was amazing and worth the small extra charge, the kids had an amazing time cuddling the huskies and driving their own sleigh, memories both they and I will never forget.

Thank you Lily.

Eve W.

Our 14 year old said it was one of the best days of his life today after our visit this morning.

Everything about the private experience was as we hopes it would be. We spent some quality time with the huskies, all had a chance to drive the husky sledge and enjoyed the nature walk. Lily was great and we even all enjoyed the painting at the end which us something I thought our 2 sons (17 and 14) would never do again.

Thank you for a perfect Lapland memory

Luischen

Wir waren vor 2 Wochen zu Besuch auf der Husky-Farm und hatten so tolle Erlebnisse. Eine der Besitzerinnen begrüßte uns sehr freundlich und führte uns in eine der Hütten, in der ein Lagerfeuer brannte und bot uns etwas zu Essen und zu trinken an. Die Hütte war so wunderschön und detailreich gestaltet. Es hingen ganz viele Socken an der Wand, die die Oma des Hauses selbst gestrickt hatte. Zu Essen gab es für uns die hausgemachte Fischsuppe und eine Zimtschnecke, sowie leckeren selbst gesammelten Tee und Kaffee. Dann bekamen wir eine Einweisung von dem Familienvater, mit welchem wir die Tour machten. Er erklärte uns alles genau und kümmerte sich um unsere Ausstattung, die wir die nächste Stunde an unserem Körper trugen. Die Huskys haben sich bei unserem Ankommen riesig gefreut und jeder von ihnen wäre am Liebsten mitgegangen. Wir bekamen einen Männlichen und einen Weiblichen Husky (was ich sehr umsichtig fand, da meine Kraft für einen Männlichen Husky nicht ausgereicht hätte). Die Tour war super. Wie liefen in einem Waldgebiet und bekamen für die Dunkelheit Kopflampen. Unsere Fragen wurden geduldig beantwortet und wir hatten mehrmals die Möglichkeit die Hunde zu streicheln. Zurück an der Farm konnten wir noch in einer weiteren Hütte mit heißem Johannesbeersaft und Zuckerkuchen (nach dem Rezept vom Uropa) ein tolles Gespräch führen. Der Ausflug auf diese Farm war rundum sehr schön. Wir sind froh zu dieser kleinen familiären Farm gegangen zu sein, da diese mit so viel Liebe zum Detail arbeitet. Die Kommentare zu Kosten und Preisen kann ich nicht verstehen. Die Familie macht dies beruflich und lebt von den Einnahmen, die man von außen bekommt. Wir danken Euch liebe Familie der Ilonka Farm für die herzliche Aufnahme und tolle Tour und wünschen euch für euer Projekt alles Gute 😊 Luise und Peter

Amanda M.

What an unexpected delight!

Lilly was a gracious and friendly host when we dropped in for lunch and a husky walk. She’s an excellent baker and cook! We had the fish soup with arctic char, veggies, and potatoes, but the pie of the day looked out of this world. It was nettle and feta with a gorgeous pasty crust. The cafe has a beautiful open fire in the center to warm the place. It’s decorated with hand knitted wool socks and mittens which turned out to be quite warm and cozy. We took some home!

The meal alone was worth the trip, but meeting her 17 sweet and friendly huskies was also a wonderful experience. Lilly’s lovely parents help with the farm. Her dad kindly led us on a walk through the forest with two of the dogs. We wore harnesses, and they pulled us up the hills.

After our walk we sat in their experience hut by another warm fire and enjoyed tea and a baked sweet treat while Lilly sat and chatted with us.

If you’re in Ivalo and looking for something to do, 100% check out Lilly’s farm. It’s a wonderful and unique experience!

Tammy A.

Beautiful husky farm. We visited on a private tour, got to spend time with the huskies and enjoyed some sleighing. Really fun but also learned alot. The huskies were well looked after. We enjoyed the farm trail and the crafts too

Benjamin W.

We visited with our family and had an unforgettable experience! The atmosphere was incredibly welcoming, and it was clear how much love and care is given to the huskies and the whole farm. You could feel that the animals are well taken care of, and the entire family is dedicated to making this a special place.

What we did:
We began by exploring the nature trail, which was a peaceful and educational experience, offering a glimpse into Finnish mythology and the deep connection to nature. Afterward, we enjoyed the husky walk, where we were each attached to a husky and walked through the beautiful forest. It was a unique experience to be connected to such energetic dogs as we explored the wilderness.

After the activity, we relaxed in the cozy Lappish hut by a warm fire, enjoying hot beverages and a delicious treat, which was the perfect end to the adventure.

The tour was led by Lilly’s father, who was friendly, knowledgeable, and took great care of us throughout the experience. His passion for the huskies and the farm really showed.

We truly appreciated how well thought out and organized everything was. The whole visit had such a personal, family-oriented feel, and it was clear that a lot of love and attention to detail goes into each part of the experience.

Bottom line: A must-visit for anyone looking for an authentic, heartwarming experience in the Finnish Lapland. Whether you’re a dog lover or just looking to connect with nature, this is the perfect place to do it. Thank you to the whole Ilonka team for making our visit so special – we will definitely return! 💕🐾

Nahshon

Husky farms with very cute huskies. We understand from the owner that the farm just opened, so there will likely be more features and attractions as they develop (we understand that they may be adding new animals!). The farm is much smaller compared to other more established farms we have been to in Lapland (for the same price!).

The huskies were very friendly and cute, they really want your attention and would run alongside you as you walk. Enzo and Edgar were really adorable! Owners were very hospitable and friendly, explaining and introducing us to all their huskies.

There is also a cafe that sells some snacks and drinks. We also happened to visit during the Easter event, so there were other special activities such as egg painting and branch decorating being conducted.

Stacey

Lilli and her family were so incredibly kind and welcoming! We loved meeting all of the dogs, exploring the beautiful property and eating the delicious food!

We got to meet the dogs, explore the property, make a beautiful finish handicraft, and have a home cooked, amazingly delicious meal for four adults and four kids!

This farm "saves" the dogs from other farms, the ones that are too old to pull tourists so really felt like they are doing amazing work!

Definitely suggest visiting this amazing place!!