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Written by Savi, 186 Comments

This article is Part 4 of our 4 part series on planning the ultimate trip to Lapland, Finland 

Read Part 1 The Ultimate Itinerary for Finnish Lapland (opens in a new tab)

Read Part 2 The Ultimate Guide to Packing for Finnish Lapland (opens in a new tab)

Read Part 3 The Ultimate Guide to Lapland Safaris (opens in a new tab)

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For years we’ve been asked a question – ‘what’s the prettiest place you’ve been to’. We always get confused – Plitvice National Park in Croatia and The Garden Route in South Africa often vie for the top spot but never quite make it. Now we KNOW. That place is Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort.

 

Igloos at Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort
Igloos at Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort, Finland

 

A once-in-a-lifetime experience, the website insists. A surreal experience like no other, claim dozens of ‘Places to see before you die’ lists. Intrigued, we walk through the snow-laden gates of Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort, set amidst frosty Arctic Forests. We stare at the beams of sunlight filtering through slanting Arctic trees and entire fields covered with glistening snow.

 

This hotel, hidden deep within the Arctic Wilderness, is almost at the Northernmost tip of mainland Europe.  The landscape is peppered with reindeer farms, picturesque trees, igloos, and skiing slopes. Dumbfounded by the landscape, we walk into Narnia…..

 

Igloo Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort
Igloos at Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort

 

 

Igloo Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort
Walking to our igloo at Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort, Finland

 

 

Igloo Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort
Our home for a few days 🙂

 

Our igloo is the first one in a queue of rotund ‘hotel rooms’. This is no regular hotel room – it’s a heated igloo with a transparent ceiling. It boasts of beds that can be converted to reclining cinema-style loungers to facilitate the viewing of the greatest show on earth – the mysterious Northern Lights.

 

[box] I’m in raptures – sprinkling snow, chasing sun beams, and dreaming of mythical woodland creatures – even before we’ve opened our room and deposited our luggage.[/box]

 

Once we’ve officially checked in, there is no stopping us. The landscape might be laden with snow but we’re melting – we can’t quite believe the world is home to places such as this! The entire day is spent tobogganing down ice-slides, taking long walks in the snow, and pelting each other with snow balls (no shortage of those here!).

 

Igloos at Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort
Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort made us really really happy 🙂

 

 

Igloo Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort
Inside the igloo

 

 

Igloos at Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort
Such stunning surroundings call for a jump or two eh?!

 

Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort Lapland Finland
Tobogganing – Yayyy 🙂

 

Once we’re well and truly out of breath, we stroll to the dining room at Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort, flushed cheeks and all.  As we devour the three-course dinner at Aurora, the world’s largest log cabin restaurant, we marvel at the effort that goes into putting together elaborate meals at a place as remote as Kakslauttanen. A creamy salmon soup is followed by sautéed reindeer and finally, a luxuriant raspberry panna cotta. There is a wide variety of wines but we opt for a full-bodied red to complement the reindeer meat. We don’t know whether it’s the wine, exhaustion, or sub-zero temperatures, but we’re feeling heady as we tumble out of the restaurant.

 

We should hit the sack. But the Arctic forest has other plans. It’s full moon night and the entire snow-laden is bathed in moonlight. Shadows play hide and seek as powdery snow continues to fall at a mellow pace. We crawl into the loungers in our igloo, wrap ourselves with blankets, and prepare for a night of star-gazing and possibly spotting the Northern Lights. The snow continues to fall like little drops of confetti on the ceiling of our igloo – sometime around 3 am exhaustion takes over and we doze off.

 

We move into a rustic log cabin the next day – each log cabin is well-appointed with a kitchen, fireplace, comfortable beds, private sauna, and everything you could possibly need on a countryside escape. We have a little section of the woods to ourselves, ensuring complete privacy. We spend the next three days huddled on the porch of our cabin in the woods feasting on warm lingonberry juice – a local speciality. The temperatures are well below freezing point but the blanket of pure white snow and endless stunning panoramas ensure we spend minimal time indoors.

 

 

Log Cabins Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort
The two of us at our log cabin

 

 

log cabin at Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort, Lapland, Finland
Our log cabin – straight out of a fairytale

 

 

log cabin at Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort, Lapland, Finland
Blankies, cuddles, and warm mulled wine – the perfect concoction for -20°C 🙂

 

 

Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort Lapland Finland-26
Pelting unsuspecting boys with snow works a treat!! 🙂

 

We spend the days meeting Sami people (indigenous people living at the very northern tip of Europe), herding reindeer with them, nuzzling husky dogs, visiting local reindeer farms and snowmobiling across frozen rivers. Everyday we cross the Arctic Wilderness on a sleigh. Sometimes it isn’t snowing but a gentle breeze sprinkles a generous helping of snowflakes off the trees onto our faces – a blessing from the heavens above?

 

[box]There’s lots to do but we make time for ‘doing nothing’ – running fingers along snow-laden branches, gushing over perfectly-shaped snowflakes, taking in the sumptuous pin-drop silence in the woods, and relishing the feeling of being just so far away from civilisation :-)[/box]

 

Nights are spent looking out for the elusive Northern Lights, with no luck. Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort boasts of over 200 days of Northern Lights in a year but the skies have been overcast on our trip here.

 

Sami people lapland finland
Meeting Sami people in Lapland, Finland

 

 

Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort Lapland Finland
Reindeer sleigh ride through the Arctic wilderness – the stuff dreams are made of!

 

 

Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort Lapland Finland
The two of us with Pentti, a Sami reindeer herder. He showed us around his farm and took us to his teepee

 

On our sixth (and last night) here, we’re walking back from dinner when Vid spots a green streak in the sky. It disappears within a second – perhaps the night sky is playing tricks. Suddenly there’s a flash of green in the sky. There’s surely something magical in the sky – could those be the Northern Lights? We’ve never seen them, we don’t know what they look like!

 

[box] Before we know it, a green rainbow appears in the night sky. We stand transfixed. For the next 20 minutes, the Northern Lights twinkle and disappear, re-appear and dance right in front of our eyes. There’s nothing we can do, except stare.[/box]

 

As they begin to dim, we make our way to the igloo excited to have finally seen the Northern Lights. Vid grumbles because he never got to take a photo. As we change and settle for the night, we catch a glimpse of green peeping through hundreds of stars in the night sky. They are back.

 

Northern Lights Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort Lapland Finland
The Northern Lights over the hotel complex

 

 

Northern Lights over our igloo at Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort
Stunning Northern Lights and hundreds of stars over our igloo at Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort

 

It might not seem like it but the Northern Lights can be overwhelming. The sky, dark one minute, is suddenly lit from within. They’re on one horizon one minute and jump to another horizon the next. They’re neon-green, lime green, violet, and pink all at once. A tear rolls down my face… this show is getting crazier by the second.

 

We don’t sleep a wink that night. We watch the Northern Lights, count the stars, and take a long walk in the sprawling complex early in the morning. As we leave Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort to hop on a flight back to Helsinki, we’re smiling from ear to ear. Once-in-a-lifetime? Hell yeah!!

 

 

 Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort
Star trails outside our cabin

 

 

 Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort
Early morning walks and the Arctic sun 🙂

 

 

Getting There

  • Take a flight from Helsinki (Finland) to Ivalo (Finland). Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort is just 30 minutes away and offers transfers from Ivalo Airport. You could also take a bus from Ivalo Airport – it will drop you in front of Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort
  • Another option is to take an overnight train from Helsinki (Finland) to Ivalo (Finland).
  • We took a bus from Rovaniemi (Finland) to Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort. The bus dropped us at the gate of Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort. We booked our tickets here: https://www.matkahuolto.info/lippu/en/
  • Prices for igloos start at £200 pppn and log cabins start at £150 pppn. You can find the best prices here.

 

 

Know before you go :-

  • Make sure you pack sturdy snow boots, thermals, and warm clothing – you will be unable to enjoy your trip to Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort during the winter if you’re not well clad. We have a detailed article on packing for Finland coming soon 🙂
  • You can sip on cocktails and stare at the night skies at the world’s only heated igloo bar at Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort
  • Kakslauttanen is not a luxury resort. You’re paying for the remote location, heated accommodation in extreme sub-zero temperatures, and the unique once-in-a-lifetime experience. The facilities (rooms and dining options) are great. There are warm toilets, saunas, an expansive dining room, and 3-course dinners but do not expect five-star food quality, dining or facilities.
  • Equip yourself well before you take the train/bus to Kakslauttanen. The resort is hidden deep inside the stunning Finnish wilderness. As a result, the nearest supermarket is over 10 kms away. There are no kettles in the igloos but hot water is readily available. Get a bag full of tea bags, ready to make coffee, and pot noodles with you in your luggage. They will serve you well 🙂
  • Don’t forget to pack a few bars of chocolate or sugary snacks – the cold weather is bound to give you the munchies. You might want to carry some alcohol as well – brandy is apt for the weather but any hard liqueur will do 🙂
  • Make sure you sample a couple of excursions when you stay at Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort – we loved visiting Pentti’s reindeer farm and snowmobiling at midnight and would definitely recommend both those excursions. Check out our video below for a taster of both excursions 🙂
  • The unique resort offers a surreal experience of a lifetime. You are bound to feel like you’re in a film or fairytale – aah!!

 

Still curious about Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort. Here’s a video of our time there 🙂

 ***

Hop over to our You Tube Channel to watch our videos from Lapland

Read about some of our favourite Bucket List Experiences here 🙂

 

Leave us a comment if you enjoyed reading this article or looking at our photos – it makes us happy-dee-da-dum 🙂

186 thoughts on “Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort – Truly ‘Once-in-a-lifetime’

  1. Thank you for taking us on a journey so beautiful. A hundred likes for putting it so well together. Pictures are awesome.

    1. Thanks a million for your comment Mangal – it means the world! We spent so much time compiling this article but your comment makes us feel it was worth it 🙂

  2. I can always trust you two to find yourselves in the most incredibly, out-of-this-world places ever. And that’s a good thing, SO good 🙂 new place added to my ever growing bucket list!

  3. Looks magical …..from the cuddles to the most stunning northern lights … u guys are so lucky !!! touchwood 🙂

    You went to the resort on invite or a self sponsored trip ??

    Please do post the complete itinerary soon , will be waiting for that 🙂 🙂 Happy traveling and amazing pictures from the winter wonderland… can’t stop dreaming 😀

    1. Thanks guys – so glad you enjoyed it. Finland Tourism Board invited us to Lapland 🙂 Hope you read the complete itinerary in our latest post. Happy travels!

    1. Hey Somna – kids are allowed at Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort. In fact, kids love it the most. Where else will they get to play on ice-slides, meet Santa Claus, and ride in reindeer sleighs all day long 🙂

  4. Wonderful shots, guys, especially the one with all the colours of the Northern Lights! One question: if the igloo is glass, can’t anyone who walks past it just peer in?

  5. Wow, what pictures!!
    I have no words, esp. the Northern lights over the Igloo, that is the kind of stuff dreams are made of.
    I feel sometimes after seeing such magnificent creation of nature , one feels so intimidated and so insignificant that we are short of words.
    Oh god there is so much to see and so much to thank about.

    1. I couldn’t have said it better myself- seeing the Northern Lights arched above our heads was absolutely overwhelming and made us feel teeny tiny – just a couple of specks in the universe 🙂

  6. First of all: I really like your style of photography. Very nice.
    I’m a bit two-minded on the igloos though. On the one hand they look really comfy and watching the night sky from one’s bed must be amazing. On the other hand I wonder if something would be missing. The cold biting one’s cheeks, the snow under one’s feet when watching the Northern Lights. Of course, one can simply step out of the Igloo. But would I do that or would I be too lazy? I don’t know. But I think I’d prefer the log cabin with a big fireplace inside 🙂

    1. Thanks a ton – those are some of my favourite photos in a while 🙂 I get how you feel about the igloo situation – we did sleep in a ‘real’ igloo in Switzerland (ice-bed, sub-zero temperatures, and all) that was great too. Infact, Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort also offers igloos that aren’t heated. Guests sleep in Arctic sleeping bags on beds of ice – brrrrr!!

    1. I must say this again – your comment brought the biggest smile to my face. Thank you – it’s good to know there are people out there who have the patience to read articles (as opposed to browsing photos and exiting) because I love writing 🙂

    1. You’d be surprised but we barely felt the cold in our Arctic suits and skiing gear. We were super warm, which is probably why we were frolicking in fields of snow all day 😉

        1. Hey Joann – they are uber warm bodysuits that you get everywhere in Lapland. You just slip them onto regular clothes and they keep you warm at the lowest of temperatures 🙂

  7. Another one to add to the bucket list.. This post was simply surreal and reading it I felt like I was in dreamland myself.. Saving up for the trip started!

    1. Neha you can’t use your savings in a better way – a trip to Finnish Lapland is special in so many ways that we’ve lost count 🙂

  8. The Northern Lights. So damn beautiful. I would need need a better word to describe it. I so wish I get to experience this. Very beautiful post. ♥

  9. What a beautiful video for us and magical memories for you two. Loved the article too!!! I could visualise everything while reading it.

    1. Thanks Vibhuti – we had such a great time and we’re so glad the write up succeeded in conveying that to our readers 🙂

    1. It really was out of the movies Rashmi. Did you watch the video we filmed in Kakslauttanen? Crazy place eh?! 🙂

  10. I am bringing my young family there this Nov. I checked thru website for the bus service but just wanted to ask if the bus stop at the ivalo airport is easy to locate and I assume the bus service is reliable {Don’t wish to get stuck at the airport ….} I am also prepared to be “hijack” by the hotel for dinner but wondering if its easy to get around to the nearby town for groceries as I will be there for 3 days… Thank you for your recommendations

    1. Hey Rudy – yes the bus service is extremely reliable and it’s easy to locate. It’s hard (and expensive) to get to the nearest town for groceries – we suggest getting some groceries (granola bars, pot noodles etc) in your suitcase 🙂

  11. Wow! Stunning photos! This would definitely be a once in a lifetime trip – it all looks and seems so surreal. Hoping we get to experience it one day!

  12. Amazing post, can I ask how long you would recommend here if on a ‘budget’? Would 3 nights be enough….I am deciding between this and the icehotel in Sweden 🙂 thankyou

    1. Hey Jen,

      Sorry for the late response – yes, 3 nights will be perfect here. Out of that you can spend 1 night in a glass igloo and 2 nights in a log cabin to get a taste of both. During the day, you must go for the reindeer safari with Pentti – he is a gem of a person 🙂 We also loved the Northern Lights snowmobile safari 🙂

    1. Hi Maxine,

      You won’t get to see the Northern Lights for sure 😉 But we were told that the log cabins are magical in Summers as well as.

      Cheers

  13. How would thus experience be in late March/Early April? I would like to experience the cold weather and snow very much so?

    1. Hey Tom,

      Late March might not be a good time to witness the Northern Lights. The chances are higher in January/February. As for the snow, I think there’ll still be plenty in late March:)

  14. Hey, great blog post! I would love to visit this place in Feb 2016, but am nervous, what if the northern lights don’t show? Also, my partner is vegetarian, will he find any decent dining options there?

    1. Hi Sandy,

      Northern Lights are never guaranteed, so that’s a risk you’ll have to take. That said, if there aren’t any clouds in the sky, Northern Lights are pretty much guaranteed in the month of Feb.

      Vegetarian options might be a bit limited, so you’ll be better off emailing the resort directly to ask them about the menu.

      Cheers

  15. I’m taking my wife here in a months time as a surprise for her bday. Your article is making me look forward to it immensely! Thank you

  16. Hi Savi and Vid, Can you please advise which month did u visit Finland? and how many months in advance did you make the booking for Glass igloo?

  17. Thank you so much for the in depth review! This is our dream trip and your vlog will help us make the ost of our experience!

  18. Hi,
    I am planning a trip with my wife in february 2016 to Kakslauttanen. Can you please let me know if you can cook in the room. And if there is option for vegetarian food in the restaurant. We are celebrating our 20th wedding anniversary so making sure everything is perfect before we leave.

    Pratish.

    1. Hey Pratish – you can’t cook in the igloo but you can cook in the log cabin. Do beware that there are no supermarkets around (as we mentioned in the article above), so get your provisions with you if you intend to cook. Yes, the restaurant does have 1 vegetarian option at every meal but it’s best to check with them again 🙂 Have an amazing time at Kakslauttanen – staying in an igloo is an incredible experience 🙂

  19. You two are doing what I’ve wanted to do all of my life. The problem was I have no special skills or money. I opted to work on a normal ho hum drum life and settled for staying in one place after having my son. Who I must say was a very unexpected additional mouth to feed and person to care for. He was and still is a joy for me. But I had to care for him on my own. He grew up and is doing well for himself and I now find myself longing desperately to hit the road again. I only manage to travel across the north eastern part of the U S over a period of 2 years. The plan was to go home and then head west. This was back in the late 60s. It didn’t happen. I got a job that paid well and didn’t make sense to leave. I should have. I ended up with child. So I settled and of all places back home. That being said there is not much road I can cover as I am now 65 years old about to retire from a job of 38 years and hope to be able to live on a very modest pension and social security. To top this I am a woman alone. Not your average granny by no means. You’d think after all these years I would call it a day but the hobo in me keep saying what’s holding you back now.
    Who knows I may bump into you somewhere. My kick off is a trip to Alaska my retirement present to myself. After that Singapore, Australia and Europe. I’m in fairly good health and think I can do it. I love to camp and have learned to pack enough gear that I can carry to make a home away from home just about any where I am allowed to set up camp. I’m reading books on how to survive in the wild even though I don’t plan on being to far from civilization. I travel with groups but their range is limited. The longest we’ve stayed out was for a week.
    Life is short. And its what you make of it. Choices you make in your youth can have a profound affect on you later in life sometimes good and sometimes bad. But one has to find out what works for them and what makes them happy. I don’t want to go just to say I went here or there. I want to go because I just want to go. I admire you both. Enjoy. I found myself smiling as I watched some of your videos they made me more determined and my adrenaline to spike. I stumbled on your sight trying to find out where is the best place and time to catch the Aurora Borealis. The top of my bucket list. Will be back on your site from time to time to see where else you’ve been and for inspiration. Thanks.

    1. Hey,

      As they say, better late than never 🙂 You have amazing spirit and we’re sure you’ll have a LOT of fun in Alaska, Singapore, Australia, and Europe 🙂 We completely agree with what you say here: ” I don’t want to go just to say I went here or there. I want to go because I just want to go”

      Hope you continue to enjoy our adventures from around the world. Do share your photos from your trips with us from time to time so that we know what you are up to 🙂

      Much love

  20. you know what, I just fiished my MBA and will be soon looking for a job. I plan on working for a year and save enough money to go to Kakslauttanen arctic resort. I was actually thinking to do the trans siberian railways in russia but I’ll do this instead. Thank you for the blog and wonderful pictures.

    1. So glad to hear you liked it 🙂 I hope you make it to Kakslauttanen super super soon. The Trans Siberian Railway is on our wish list too 🙂

  21. Hi Savi Vid!

    Where is the place which we could spot the northern lights? Is it at the Kakslautannen Resort itself or we need to go further/uphill from the resort?

    Thanks!

    1. Hey,

      We spotted the lights right from our igloo and from within the resort 🙂 We also spotted them when we went out for a snowmobile safari at night

      Cheers

  22. Hi,
    We plan to travel to Finland and Norway this Dec. Should we stay in the glass igloo at Artic Snow hotel or at Kakslauttanen? Should we do the snowmobile, northern light excursion, husky dog safari and vistit the Sami & reindeer farm in Rovaniemi or at Kakslauttanen?
    Thanks
    JJ

    1. Hi Flo,

      You could try a night each at both places? As for the safaris, do the Sami and reindeer in Kakslauttanen and the husky dog and snowmobile in Rovaniemi. If you get clear skies in Kakslauttanen, you won’t need to do a Northern Light excursion – you’ll see the lights very clearly from your igloos 🙂

  23. Hi, I was wondering if you could tell me your opinion about the igloo stay at Kakslauttanen resort? I am really interested in staying there for my visit next year January(well, in a glass igloo to be exact), but I have read so many negative reviews about it – very bad customer service, having to drag your luggages on the sled, not worth the money at all, etc etc. My husband and I will be visiting from US and this is a once in a lifetime experience and we really want to have it memorable. Thanks!

    1. Hey Jess,

      We really enjoyed our stay at Kakslauttanen and constantly find ourselves recommending it to friends and family. Just as I mentioned in the article, a number of people expect a luxurious stay because of the price/night at the igloo resort. However the hotel charges for the remoteness of location, the cost of heating glass igloos etc. It definitely isn’t a luxury hotel.You will love it if you visit with realistic expectations 🙂 You can watch our detailed video above to see EXACTLY what to expect on getting there (including dragging your luggage with a sled!)

      You DO have to drag your luggage through snow – this is true of most 3/4 star hotels in Lapland, so we’d advise taking large backpacks instead of suitcases. They’re a lot more convenient in Lapland during winters.

    1. We stayed at both East and West villages at Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort – igloos in East Village are secluded, so they tend to feel a bit more magical. But do beware that the East Village is quite far from the reception and dining area. Hope this helps.

  24. We (husband and 2 teenage boys) are heading to Kakslauttanen for Christmas this year. Arriving Christmas Eve and spending Christmas Day doing a husky safari and snowmobie safari. The information you’ve provided is enormously helpful. I’ve heard varying reports on what the resort is like and I veer from being wildly excited to being worried that we’ll be disappointed. Then I remind myself that we are there to see the Aurora (hopefully) and experience something we never, ever would at home (we live in Australia). I feel greatly reassured by your experience.

    1. Hey Annette – So happy to hear that. Kasklauttanen Arctic Resort does tend to polarise opinions – As we mentioned in the article, Kaslauttanen isn’t a luxury resort. Many guests come there expecting luxury because of the price per night. The price tag is definitely high for what it offers but it’s a novel experience. You won’t be disappointed if you treat it as a once-in-a-lifetime experience and see the Northern Lights. We saw them everyday while we were there, so we loved it to bits 🙂

  25. What is the likelihood of sseing the northern lights in at Kakslauttanen in the latter end of December, also how would you compare the Ice Hotel in Sweeden to the Arctic Snow Hotel in Rovaniemi?

    1. Hey Matt – the Northern Lights can be extremely unpredictable but the chances of seeing them are quite high in December 🙂 The Ice Hotel doesn’t have heated rooms but Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort does. That makes it a lot more comfortable 🙂

  26. Hello.

    Your article is really helpful.
    Me & my wife are visiting there in December start for 2 nights.
    Do you suggest both the nights in Glass Igloo? Or just a night in glass Igloo and another in Log Chalet.
    Please suggest.

    Thank you. 🙂

  27. Ever since I read your post on Finland it’s been topping my travel list. And it’s finally happening. Thank you for introducing us to such wonders around the world. Love all your posts and pictures.

    1. So great to hear you’re finally visiting Finland Pratyancha. Do send us photos from there – we’d love to share them with our readers 🙂

  28. This post is fantastic. My boyfriend and I are planning on visiting in March. How many nights would you recommend? Would you recommend splitting the nights between an igloo and cabin or more nights in one versus the other?

    1. Hey Caroline – we’d definitely recommend splitting the nights. The igloo is a once-in-a-lifetime experience but it can get a bit cramped because of the layout after a day or two. So do move onto a log cabin if you’re there for a long time 🙂

  29. Mesmerizing article … I was transported to this winter wonderland !! You guys are making it quite difficult for me to keep my bucket list short :).. Well! The bigger the list, the better!

    1. Absolutely – there’s so much of the world to see. Finnish Lapland is extremely special and worthy of bucket-list status 🙂

  30. Hey Savi n Vid ,

    Absolutely love you guys and what you do!!! Its totally brilliant!!!!!

    We are planning our Honeymoon in Feb 2017 to the Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort to see the Northern Lights and experience the other adventures…We have about 10-12 days out of which 4 will be in and around this resort. Need your inputs on a few things.
    1) How likely are we to witness the surreal Northern Lights?….Can they be seen from the resort or do we have to go on excursions to chase ’em?

    2) What other destination would you suggest in Finland to spend another 2 days?

    3) We really wanted to drive around the European country side..Austria n all…., but since it would be snowing, i guess that s out…… what other destinations would you suggest for us to visit…. Spain ? Greece???

    Thanks in advance…and keep up the good work….. Cheers!!

    1. Hey Rahul – it’s impossible to predict whether or not the Northern Lights will show when you’re in Finland. That depends on a variety of factors including the weather, clouds, and humidity. Having said that, you can see Northern Lights on most days during the month of February from the resort itself as it’s quite deep in the Arctic Wilderness. You could spend 2 days in Helsinki to soak up the vibe of city life in Scandinavia.

      It’s quite cold in all of Europe during February but Paris and Lisbon are 2 cities that are quite charming in winter. Do pack lots of woollens and go prepared for unpredictable weather 🙂

  31. What a lovely time you had. I’m taking my husband for his 40th birthday with our little girl and hoping for all the magic you had. Can you tell me who you booked your reindeer safari through? I like the idea of the teepee and the pancakes.
    Thanks

    1. Hey Rachel – hope you have an amazing time at Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort – we booked the safari through the hotel itself 🙂

  32. I was reading online and some articles mentioned northern lights won’t be spotted for the next ten years . Is that true ?

    1. Hey that’s probably false news – 2016 was one of the best years for viewing Northern Lights. The next few years might not be the best but that doesn’t mean they won’t show at all 🙂

  33. Great video and information. I’m headed there with 3 other friends in March. One of my friends really wants to eat the pancakes in the teepee. Is that part of the reindeer safari? Thanks in advance for your help. So glad I found your blog. Beautiful couple and great pics and info!

    Erin

    1. Hey Erin – glad you found our post helpful 🙂 Yes the pancake cooking demonstration was part of the Reindeer Safari 🙂

  34. Hi, I know this post was a couple of years ago but I am visiting Kakslauttanen in a couple of weeks time. Everything is paid for already, including activities and igloo, but we are not sure of how many Euros to take? We would like to pay for most things on card but understand sometimes you need cash. We are going for 3 days in total.

    Thank you for your help!

    1. Dear Jess,

      So sorry for not replying sooner – we were caught up in our travels and could not respond to comments the past few weeks. It’d be good to carry around 100 Euros per person per day 🙂

      Hope you had a great trip!

    1. Hey Kenny, thanks so much for getting back.We are glad you liked the post and learned from it. Happy travels to you!

  35. I am taking the same trip in December this year, but am pulling my hair trying to find out how to get to Kakslauttanen from Rovaniemi, i was told by VR that there is no train to Kakslauttanen, please help me by giving advise as to how do i go about transportation.

    Also, i want to take the night train from Helsinki to Rovaniemi, if you could help me there too would be great.

    Thank you so mcuh

    1. Hi Gulnar,

      There is a bus from Rovaniemi to Saariselka/Ivalo that will drop you right outside the entrance of Kakslauttanen – it’s very convenient 🙂 Unfortunately there is no train from Rovaniemi to Kakslauttanen.

      As for the night train, we didn’t take it so can’t give you much information 🙁

  36. Hey Savi,
    Thanks for the great write up, looks like you are living life. We are headed there in September, hopefully we will get to see the Northern Lights. We booked the Chasing the Northern Lights ATV tour. Now I want to do the Reindeer Safari, how long was that? Trying to fit in as much as we can as we are only there for 2 nights.

    1. Hey Barbara,

      Thanks a lot for your message 🙂 Yeah September is not the best time for Northern Lights but given how far up North Kakslauttanen is, you never know 🙂 We’d strongly recommend the reindeer safari – we loved Penti (the guy whose reindeer farm the safari is at) – what a character. From what I can remember, it took 3 hours in total. You must go 🙂

      Have a great trip and share photos if you can 🙂

  37. Savi and Vid,
    You both are my idols and someday I really hope to be travelling the way you’ll are.. I have been following you on Instagram religiously..and this video was the first one that I have seen so far. I’m pretty sure I’m gonna be hooked onto the rest of the videos too!! Thank you so much for such a wonderful summary of your trip. It’s the first one on my bucket list now as I have never believed in bucket lists before watching this video . Lots of love to you both ❤️

    1. Dear Sneha,

      Thanks a lot for all the love 🙂 Hope you get to travel tons soon 😀

      Much love
      Savi and Vid

      1. YOUR VIDEOS ARE AMAZING AND IT ALSO SHOWS THE LOVE YOU HAVE FOR EACH OTHER. SO ADORABLE. ITS MY DREAM COME TRUE TO GO THE THE ARCTIC RESORT. IM SAVING UP SO I CAN BRING MY HUSBAND AND MY TWO KIDS. I WANNA BE TRANSPORTED TO A MAGICAL WORLD.HOW MANY NIGHT DO YOU THINK WE SHOULD STAY AND WHATS THE BEST MONTH TO SEE THE NORTHERN LIGHT? KEEP US UPDATED ON YOUR ADVENTURES.

        1. Hey there – thanks a ton – hope you make it to Lapland soon. 4 nights are enough for this experience 🙂

  38. May I ask you which month did you visit there please? I am thinking about going in late November during Thanksgiving time.

    1. Hey Jessica,

      We visited in February. November should be a great time to visit too 🙂

      Have a great trip!

      1. Hello! I’m glad that I’ve found your review about Kaslauttanen Resort. We are also planning to visit this resort this coming December. I wonder if we could buy the tickets on the day on itself, or should we buy it in advance? I see that there is a bus service from Ivalo airport to the village but am not able to figure out the timetable for december.The Hotel pickup-drop services at Euro 29, and seems a bit too expensive. Hope you could me. Thank you very much in advance!

        1. Hey JC,

          We’d suggest buying the tickets in advance – sometimes they don’t release the timetable that far in advance – do check closer to the time and you shall be able to book online 🙂

  39. Hi,
    The resort offers two options for reindeer safari: Kakslauttanen Sami Village or Purnumukka Sami Village. Which one is better? Or not much of a muchness?

    1. The difference might be in the duration of the safari – we did the Kakslauttanen Sami village and thought it was ideal 🙂

  40. Greetings from Nashville, TN! I absolutely loved reading, looking at, and watching everything you guys posted about this magical looking frozen picturesque fairytale land! I have family in the UK so I loved the mention of pot noodles and now am weirdly craving ramen noodles. Anywho, I thought you guys looked so adorable and like you had so much on this trip and my boyfriend, Spencer and I love to travel as well and so I love seeing other couples doing fun things I want to try! Thanks for sharing! So happy I found this blog through pinterest<333

    1. Thanks a million for your little note Hayley 🙂 So happy you enjoyed it – hope you make it to Kakslauttanen Igloo Resort super soon

  41. Hi! This has been on my bucket list for years. I checked prices and it clocks to around 1000 Euros a night for the three of us. Do you believe it is worth it? We want to splurge on the cabin with the glass cabin like balcony to get the best of both worlds and also because we aren’t sure about the igloo with a two year old with us!

    1. Hey Architha – The igloos are great but wouldn’t suggest booking this for a €1000 – when we visited it was about €400. Why don’t you try looking for a lodge in the vicinity on Air B&B. It’s easier on the pocket and the experience will be similar, if not the same. You can use my sign up link for $40 off your first link 🙂

  42. Hi Guys,
    You inspire all of us to do what you did. You are both a great advertisement on how to enjoy, explore and live life to the full. From looking at the resort, I found your video and was amazed. Brilliant video and you account of the trip makes it easy for other people to follow in your steps. Full credit to you both. I now plan to bring my wife on this life changing trip. I have been to Finland before but not up the the circle. Best of luck on your future endeavors…. Al & Sue

    1. Thanks Alan for your good wishes and for your appreciation.We are happy to know that you found our posts and videos informative.Happy travels to you both 🙂

  43. Hi,

    i loved reading your posts, particularly this one. i have a question tho. if you could tell me about the camera you use and the SD card. the reason for asking is that we went to switzerland and while on mount jungfrau our camera (nikon D3100) started hanging and the SD loaded with our photos taken up there was corrupted due to cold.
    how did you camera survive -20deg? id there anything specific that needs to be done to avoid this. it would be a great help for our future travels.

    thanks

    1. Hey Mariam we use a Nikon D610 and didn’t have any issue operating it in the cold. I did take extra batteries and changed them when needed 🙂

  44. Hi Savi and Vid.
    Found your post recently and was just amazed what a great job you did and hope you also enjoyed it much to be in Lapland!!! It is a great pleasure to read your articles (can not say it blog :-), as it is a real hard work) and find so many useful tips.

    Would you mind I post a link to your article here at the Glass Igloos Finland Tutorial: https://www.finland-holiday.com/notes/glass-igloo-finland-note.php

    Do you think Kakslauttanen is suitable for DIY travellers or it is more for group tourists?

  45. hey guys!! You guys are truly inspiring for couples!! Can’t just get enough watching your videos and photos.I have booked this resort for 2 days in Nov for our anniversary but not sure if we will be able to catch northern lights.I’m staying in Poland since 5 years ,snow doesn’t excite me anymore but northern light is in my bucket list.

    1. Hey Shruthi,

      Unfortunately there is no guarantee that you’ll see the Northern Lights. That said, this area is considered to be one of the best for spotting Northern Lights 🙂

  46. Hi,

    Fantastic video & pictures, which inspired me to take my family (including two children) to Kakslauttanen this Christmas. Can you tell me which reindeer safari you took and the duration. Did you book directly with the resort, as i notice your Rominevi excursions were booked with lapland safaris. This year Kakslauttanen resort offer one reindeer safari at kakslauttanen Sami village; and one at Purnumukka Sami village. I am unsure which one to go for, as I would like one similar to your video.

    1. Hey yes we booked the reindeer safari with the hotel itself. They used to offer just one at the time and I think it was the Kakslauttanen Sami village but you can email to ask them by giving the reference of the video just to be on the safe side 🙂

  47. Heyy guys ! This place has been on top of my bucket list for past 4 years . Now I am finally planning a solo trip starting from India . I would love some intell from you guys on what to do on solo mission . Also if u can give an estimate of the rides and other expenses that I will have to keep in account would help a lot . I know it’s been some time since u guys have visited Lapland but anything u tell will help . Thanks a ton ?? pls always keep travelling . My next after Lapland is Japan .

    1. Hey Sanjari,

      Hope you get to visit Kakslauttanen soon. For the latest prices of excursions it’s best to check the hotel’s website directly as prices might have changed 🙂

  48. Hey Vid and Savi,

    Have been using information on your website for most of my trips 🙂 and next place I would want to visit is finland. WE are planning a 10 day trip early December. Just wanted to know which month did you guys visit in and hope I get to witness the northern lights 🙂

    Again wonderful job you both with you all the success!!

    1. Hey Stuti – thanks a ton for your kind words. We went in February but you’ll have a great chance of seeing the Northern Lights in December too – ultimately it’s all about luck and Mother Nature’s mood, so all the best 🙂

  49. Hi Savi Vid. Me and my boyfriend are planning an 8 day trip to Finland in the last week of March. I read your blog and it really helped us plan. We want to participate in all of the activities too. But we wanna hang out in Helsinki as well. Should we spend all of the 8 days in Lapland or should we spare 2 days for Helsinki? What do you suggest? Also what is the easiest way to commute to and fro from Helsinki to Rovanemi?. Lastly, what do you think of a 100 Euro budget per day per person? Cheers. Ray.

  50. Hello!

    Thanks for sharing great videos and photos here! Very amazing to view them all here!

    Would like to ask you for the best and correct settings to take photos and videos of the places like these in very cold and icy weather in Finland. I may use GoPro Hero 5 Black which I am very new to. Please kindly share and advise.

  51. Hello!

    Thanks for sharing great videos and photos here! Very amazing to view them all here!

    Would like to ask you for the best and correct settings to take photos and videos of the places like these in very cold and icy weather in Finland. I may use GoPro Hero 5 Black which I am very new to. Please kindly share and advise.

    How did u manage to get your GoPro away from frosting, fogging, moisturing etc? How did u protect them?

    1. Hey Doreen – GoPro isn’t good if you want to capture the Northern Lights but it’s great for activities like Husky Dog rides, Reindeer sleight rides etc. Just carry some battery back ups and your cameras should be good to go 🙂

  52. Hey! I’ve read and reread your articles on Iceland and Finnish Lapland. I’m planning on heading out to Scandinavia with a couple of friends, namely Iceland,Finland and Faroe Islands, in February. Would a 15-20 day time frame be viable for such a trip? I’d ideally want to visit Norway and Sweden as well but I’m on a time constraint. I’d appreciate your input.
    Thanks!

    1. Hey 15-20 says is ideal for Iceland, Finland and Faroe Islands but would suggest leaving aside Norway and Sweden for your next trip – Have fun 🙂

  53. Hi Savi Vid, thanks for sharing your experiences in Lapland, Finland. We’re planning to visit Lapland and hoping to stay at Glass Iglo in late March 2018. Do you think we still have enough time for booking? Thanks, Andy.

    1. Hey Andy – Late March is a tricky time to visit Lapland. Some years the Northern Lights have faded away,in others they’re in full flow. It’s best to check aurora forecasts and drop the hotel an email before you take a call. Hope this helps 🙂

  54. Hi, Thankyou for your exciting vlog. We have just arrived in the resort so are looking forward to our activities. Where did you get the warm lingonberry juice from? The ice bar is currently not open as apparently at -10c it’s too warm! Lol

    1. Hey Emma,

      Hope you finally managed to lay your hands on the lingonberry juice 😉 we actually had it at the reception when we were checking in – they had a big bowl over there. Maybe that has changed now 🙁

  55. Hi! So, I live in Indonesia and I’m planning to visit on late October. Two main reasons why I want to visit this place is that because I want to getaway to somewhere remote to find peace and because I want to see the magnificent northern lights. Reading your post inspire me because I think spending time at this place will truly be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Even so, I’m still insecure about many things since this will be my first solo, overseas trip. And it’s far far far up north. So, I want to ask some things to make sure that I get everything right. It’s an expensive trip, after all, I’ve been saving money since last year. So, here are my questions. -con’t

    1. -con’t What do you think is the best month to visit this place? I’m planning to visit on late October, but I reckon there won’t be much snow, and I think seeing the northern lights will be much better in a cold, snowy environment. What do you recommend to prepare for a solo visitor? As it’ll be remote and chilly, I’m just scared if I get sick or anything I won’t be able to do anything as a first-aid, you know what I mean? Do you think 3-5 days are enough to explore the resort? I’m planning to stay in Finland for 7/8 days so I want to make the best of it. Thank you!

      1. Hey Irene – here’s our 2 cents
        1) October is really not the right time. Would suggest December to maximise your chances of seeing snow and the Northern Lights
        2) First aid isn’t a problem. Finland is extremely developed and there’s always help around
        3) Since you’re travelling solo, you could also just rent a cabin or hotel room in Rovaniemi and do day trips from there instead of going all the way to Ivalo 🙂

  56. Hi There
    we are planning a trip from Australia in December bit unsure of what is the best way to get there.

    Should we do
    Sydney/Helsinki/Ivalo or Sydney/Helsinki/Rovaniemei/Ivalo

    Whole point of the trip is the christmas experience. we will be then travelling to Vienna, Salzburg all the way back up to Munich would be greatly apprecaited.

    1. Hi Charlene,

      For a true Christmas experience you can’t miss Rovaniemi so would highly suggest that you spend 2-3 nights in Rovaniemi and then make your way to Kakslauttenen 🙂

  57. what did you guys have for breakfast.. didn you vlog that ?? food is an integral part of Vacation !! wonderful VLOG.. you BOTH rock.. pls continue to show us the Exotic Destinations around the globe .. TC

  58. Thanks for this thorough review! We are heading to Kakslauttanen in January for five days and this just got me so excited! There are so many mixed reviews on TripAdvisor so I was a little nervous, but I’m starting to think those reviews were written by people who would be better off in a luxury resort on the beach.. 😉

    1. Hey Liz – yes it’s a classic case of expectation vs reality. Kakslauttanen is hella expensive, so that automatically translates to luxury in some people’s minds

  59. Hi guys,
    Firstly love love love your all your posts on Lapland .. I don’t think u need anything else – u guys have penned it down so well!!!!! ❤️❤️❤️
    Was wondering if there is an updated article from the trip you guys just took ?!
    Thanks a ton!!! Keep exploringggg & showing us the world through ur eyes!!!!

  60. Hey guys,

    Great article! Just wanted to check if you’d know if the early morning (~8am) bus (operated by Gold line) from Rovaniemi to Kakslauttanen functions through the year and all days of the week. I’m planning a trip to Kakslauttanen in Dec and wanted to be sure I’d get there ahead of the 2pm check in time to make the most of my one night stay there. Thanks.

  61. Hey Guys

    Amazing pictures and story. I am glad you enjoyed your trip . It is one of the most incredible places . I am actually working here in Kelo Reception and West Reception and even i’m here for few months already i enjoy every day walking around the resort. Your story pictures all the beauty of this place , thank You for that . Amazing job and happy to read more of your stories 🙂

  62. Hi, I want to visit the Northern Lights. However, I am confused between Finland and Iceland. Can you please suggest which of the two will be better and in which month? Also, the flight tickets from India are expensive any tips for that?

    1. Hi Saloni,

      Both are equally nice for Northern Lights. As for months, we’d suggest either November or Feb. Don’t really have any tips for expensive airfares to these destinations – perhaps flying to Finland will be a bit cheaper than flying to Iceland because of the good connectivity between Delhi and Helsinki.

  63. Hello vid n savi …. I am planning a trip in December….. but very confused between rovaniemi n kakslautten…can you please guide me which is better to choose for 5 days

  64. Hey Vid & Savi,
    Thanks for the amazing video and pictures and such a detailed blog! I don’t remember how many times I have watched your video.
    We are planning for Christmas and New Year Holidays there. Here is what we have planned. Does it look good to you?
    Do you think we can easily make it, considering the fact that we will apply for the visa in October and book the most of the trip only then. We have booked the Glass Igloo for 2 nights already 😉 (Such a gamble! lol.)

    We planned the below considering the itinerary all the activities you listed, but do you have any tips/suggestions for our plan besides what you already listed?

    Thanks in advance,
    Rahul and Prerna

    20-Dec 7.15 am Land in Oulu at 7.15 am
    20-Dec 12.30 pm Take train to Kemi at 12.30 pm
    20-Dec 2:00 PM check in at hotel in Kemi
    21-Dec 12.30 pm check out of the hotel, leave bags at hotel, go for Sampo cruise
    21-Dec 8:00 PM leave for Rovaniemi
    21-Dec 10:00 PM Check in at hotel in Rovaniemi
    22-Dec Lapland Safaris
    23-Dec Lapland Safaris
    24-Dec Christmas in Santa Claus village
    25-Dec Food and city tour in Rovaniemi
    26-Dec Arctic Snow Hotel Rovaniemi
    27-Dec RV tour at Apukka Resort in Rovaniemi
    28-Dec leave for Saariselka, check in log hut/chalet in Kakslauttanen
    29-Dec log hut/chalet in Kakslauttanen
    30-Dec check in igloo in Kakslauttanen
    31-Dec igloo in Kakslauttanen
    01-Jan check out from Kakslauttanen and leave for Helsinki
    02-Jan day trip to Tallin, Estonia
    03-Jan Helsinki city tour
    04-Jan fly out from Helsinki

  65. Hi Savi and Vid!

    What time of the year did you visit Kakslauttanen? I’m going at the end of march and am worried about whether 2 nights will be enough to spot the northern lights or not.

    1. We visited in Feb. March is usually a good time to see Northern Lights however you’ll never be guaranteed a sighting as it all depends on the weather. Sometimes people spend a week and don’t see them, and sometimes they spend a night and they see the best show 🙂 2 nights is enough in Kakslauttanen – you could move on from there to Yllas or Pyha or Levi where you’ll have great chances of seeing the Northern Lights as well 🙂

  66. Having a good vacation is not about staying at a property that has great views, location with good access and nice food; it is about have you are made to feel. We traveled with a 1 year old baby and before we traveled we were worried that we may not be able to procure food the way we prepare it for our baby (simple and grounded down to semi paste). Not only did the in-room-dining team prepare baby food for us like we asked for all 3 meals in a day, they didn’t even charge us for it. Starting from how we were thoughtfully given a quiet room that will let us enjoy even with a baby to the way the staff accommodated and served us in the restaurants, it showed that they cared that we have a good time.

  67. It seems that the Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort in Lapland, Finland is a stunning and unique place to visit. The resort features igloos with transparent roofs that can be used to view the Northern Lights, and there are various activities available such as tobogganing and walking in the snow. The dining options at the resort include a three-course dinner at the Aurora, the world’s largest log cabin restaurant, which offers a variety of dishes including salmon soup, sautéed reindeer, and raspberry panna cotta. The resort also offers the opportunity to go on a Northern Lights hunting tour, where guests can take a snowmobile ride through the forest in search of the Aurora Borealis. Overall, the Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort appears to be a unique and memorable destination for those interested in experiencing the beauty of the Arctic wilderness and the Northern Lights.

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