Sleep Under the Northern Lights in a Glass Igloo at Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort

Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort – Finland

Guest post by Malorie Mackey

Hidden up in the Arctic Circle in the middle of Finnish Lapland, you’ll find a resort that you have to see to believe. Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort, commonly referred to as “Santa’s Resort” is currently the only resort that offers guests the opportunity to sleep beneath the northern lights in glass igloos. There are plenty of arctic resorts out there, but none quite as unique as Kakslauttanen.

Kakslauttanen was founded by Jussi Eiramo in 1974 after he fell in love with the beautiful nature of Lapland, having been stranded there when he ran out of fuel. Kakslauttanen started as a cafe to feed travelers heading to North Cape before growing, little by little, into the gorgeous resort that it is today. After becoming an Instagram sensation, in just a few years, the resort grew from one village to two. People come for the glass igloo accommodations, but they find so much more when they visit Kakslauttanen.

Seasons at Kakslauttanen

During the winter, snow covers every treetop, rooftop, and bridge in Kakslauttanen. Everything is painted in a sheet of white, and it is one of the most breathtaking sites you’ll ever see.

If you travel to Kakslauttanen during the end of December or in early January, you will experience the “polar night.” This means that you will never see the sunrise during your trip. Instead, during a few hours of the day, it will sit just below the horizon, giving a small amount of indirect light. Aside from that, it will always be dark.

On the other hand, during the summer, Kakslauttanen feels like a totally different place. Beautiful green plants and rushing rivers surround the campsites, and hiking, gold-panning, and kayaking become the main activities. Not to mention, for a few weeks out of the summer, the sun doesn’t set, and you get to experience the “midnight sun.”

The Villages at Kakslauttanen

Kakslauttanen consists of two villages: the East Village and the West Village. Each offers unique benefits, so it is important to try to experience both during your stay. The East Village is the smaller, older, and quieter of the two, offering a sense of solitude and tranquility more akin to camping than staying in a bustling resort.

The West Village is the newer village, thus it has become far more developed. The West Village is also much larger, housing all of the kelo-glass igloos, Santa’s House, and the new art display, as well as its igloo villages and cabins.  The Aurora Restaurant is also larger and busier than the restaurant in the East Village; however, the personalized design and wood-carved art displayed throughout the restaurant is spectacular. The beautiful hanging chandeliers and Sami-inspired blankets and tapestries strung around the buildings are incredibly inspiring.

The Accommodations at Kakslauttanen

The iconic glass igloos attract thousands of visitors to Kakslauttanen every year. The glass igloos come in two sizes: small and large. While the small igloos aren’t equipped with their own showers, they do have a restroom. Saunas and showers are available for igloo guests a short distance away from the igloo village. The large igloos have showers in them. The small igloos are the perfect size for two, as there is just enough walking room around the beds. It is the best location to snuggle up under the glass ceiling to watch the stars. The beds are adjustable, and the room has a warm water machine to make hot cocoa, tea, or coffee. In addition to being skillfully designed from an architectural perspective, they are also incredibly functional. For example, the glass panes will not frost over or steam, leaving you with the perfect view of the night sky.

Though many go to experience the Aurora Borealis, being a natural phenomenon, it is not always predictable. Though many get lucky, an especially cloudy or snowy day will spoil your chances. That being said, the experience is still magical with or without the Aurora Borealis dancing in the sky. Watching the snow come down from the warmth of your very own glass igloo will always be an extraordinary experience. (For the adventurers out there, you can choose to stay in an actual snow igloo, as well.)

New to the Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort, kelo-glass igloos offer the warm, spacious cabin made from kelo wood with a glass bedroom extending out from the cabin. These glass bedrooms are dome-shaped much like the igloos. The purpose of the kelo-igloos is to provide the warmth and space of the cabins while also providing the bedroom of the igloo, thus allowing you to watch the sky. Though it is harder to watch the sky in the kelo village, as trees surround the bedrooms, it is still an amazing accommodation. Plus, the kelo igloos have a functioning kitchen, your own personal sauna, and a full shower and bathroom so you can lock yourself in the warmth without having to leave. For a full family, the kelo-igloos are the best accommodation. Kakslauttanen offers a variety of standard cabins, as well. The cabins are made from kelo wood and feature a gorgeous, rural design. They are also equipped with a kitchen, sauna, full bathroom, and shower onsite.

Activities

Kakslauttanen offers a variety of activities, which change depending on the season. Since most venture out to the arctic resort in the winter, it’s important to discuss the winter activities. You can choose to ski or take a snow mobile out for a ride across this winter wonderland. You can go ice fishing or trudge through deep snow on top of a horse as you enjoy the surrounding view of crystallized trees and bushes.

There are two winter activities, however, that stand out at Kakslauttanen are reindeer sledding and husky sledding. Reindeer sledding is an event like no other. Reindeer are a very important part of the culture up in Lapland, so it is incredible to see these magnificent creatures up close. Each sled is pulled by one reindeer, and they are all tied together in a row, creating a chain of reindeer sleds. The sledding takes you into the heart of the woods where you can take a break to enjoy hot juice inside of a winter teepee.

For each activity, Kakslauttanen gives guests a thermal winter suit to insulate them from the frigid temperatures. This was especially necessary when husky sledding. Husky sledding can be a bit more intense, as you must learn how to drive the sled, so the first part of the adventure is learning how to steer, break, and slow down. Then, each couple or group of two receives their sled with a team of 5 or 6 huskies per sled. For those who are concerned about the well-being of the huskies, be assured, these dogs are extremely happy. They are found howling, pulling, and excited to run through the woods. They will cry, jump, and pull until they are released to go running down the track, bringing you behind them on the sled. Your sled goes through the wilderness for severale miles as you stand on your sled or ride inside it. After the husky-sledding experience, guests gather in a winter tee pee to have lunch and warm juice around a flickering fire.

What Makes Kakslauttanen so Unique?

One of the most unique things about Kakslauttanen is the resort’s deep appreciation for Lapland’s traditional culture. Almost everything at the resort has been created locally by craftsmen and artists from Finnish Lapland and nearly all the food is traditional Finnish food brought in from local markets. It is this deep connection to the local culture that truly sets Kakslauttanen apart from other resorts.

Kakslauttanen truly is a place that any travel enthusiast should try to visit eventually. It’s a true bucket-list worthy destination.

About the Author:

Malorie Mackey is a travel blogger at www.maloriesadventures.com. She started writing full-time after publishing her book “My Playboy Story: Hopping from Richmond to Hollywood” in 2016. Since then, Malorie’s short story “What Love Has Taught Me” was published in the anthology “Choices”, and she has been managing content for Fashionisers.com.