Kaukonen is a picturesque village on both banks of the Ounasjoki, south of Kittila. It is listed among Finland's nationally significant built cultural environments, with traditional buildings that survived the destruction of the Lapland War better than many settlements in the region.
The village is a quiet cultural stop rather than a major sight. It pairs naturally with the nearby Sarestoniemi Museum, which helps explain the landscape and artistic life of this part of Lapland.