Sleep in a glass igloo under the Northern Lights, 250 km north of the Arctic Circle. Mush dog sleds, meet Santa, and watch auroras through thermal glass from August to April.
Sleep under the Northern Lights in a glass igloo at Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort, 250 km north of the Arctic Circle in Finnish Lapland. You can mush your own dog sled team through pine forests, meet Santa in his wooden chalet, and watch the aurora borealis through thermal glass from August to April while staying in modern igloos or traditional pine cabins.
Two villages - East and West - sit along opposite banks of a small river. The glass igloos accommodate two to four people, with larger units including private bathrooms and showers. In the kelo log cabins, built from naturally aged pine trees, you'll find private saunas and fireplaces. For an arctic experience, spend a night in a snow igloo at -3°C, insulated from external temperatures that can drop to -40°C.
The dark skies away from urban light pollution make this location ideal for northern lights viewing. The thermal glass roofs prevent frost formation, giving you clear views of the sky. Aurora season runs from late August through April, with peak visibility from February to April when skies are typically clearest. An alarm system notifies you when the lights appear.
Take control of your own husky sled team on wilderness trails, learn aurora photography techniques during night workshops, or guide a reindeer sleigh through the forest. You can try ice fishing in frozen lakes or explore the landscape by snowmobile. In winter, children can visit Santa's red chalet, just 5 minutes from the main resort, to meet Santa and his reindeer.
Ivalo Airport lies 30 minutes away, with daily flights from Helsinki and seasonal connections from London and Frankfurt. The resort's transfer service takes you directly to your accommodation. To maintain the arctic atmosphere, rooms don't have TVs or WiFi. The nearest grocery store is in Saariselkä, 10 km away. Check-in starts at 14:00, and wooden sleighs are available to transport your luggage.
The Aurora restaurant occupies a large log cabin, while a second restaurant includes a heated glass igloo bar for northern lights viewing. You can warm up in any of the six saunas across the property, including a traditional smoke sauna. The Santa Claus Celebration House caters to group meals by special arrangement.
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