Aurora Tracks See Northern Lights

4 Amazing LAPLAND-FINLAND Glass Igloo Stays

lapland finland glass igloo stays

Whether you’re a seasoned aurora-chaser or new to the thrill, staying in a glass igloo to watch Northern Lights as you fall asleep is high on many wish-lists of ‘must-do’ experiences. In this article, we head to Finland to explore your Lapland and Finland glass igloo accommodation options and we list our top five Finland glass igloo recommendations.

Aurora Borealis, also known as the Northern Lights, is a breath-taking natural phenomenon of ribbons of green and violet lights that hang in the night air, swaying and sometimes crackling as they undulate beneath the stars. In Finland they are called revontulet, or “fox fires”, with folktales telling of an elusive mythical fox that runs across the snow, it’s tail sweeping snow into the air and setting the skies on fire.

Imagine watching the spectacular Northern Lights from the comfort of your own glass igloo, surrounded by nothing but snow and the beauty of the arctic wilderness. This is exactly what you can experience when you book a stay in a glass igloo in Lapland, Finland.

The best places to see the Northern Lights in a glass igloo in Finland is above the Arctic Circle in the aurora zone, beginning at Rovaniemi and stretching to the uppermost northern parts of Finnish Lapland. We recommend heading to the northern most parts of Finnish Lapland such as Saariselkä, Inari and Kakslauttanen, away from light pollution. The further north you go, the better your chances of seeing the lights are.

With a range of glass igloo accommodations available, it can be hard to choose the right one. To help you make a decision, look to our top picks for Finland glass igloo accommodation options below.      

Lapland & Finland Glass Igloo Accommodation Options

Staying in a glass igloo is an adventure of its own. For many travellers in Finland, catching the train from Helsinki to Rovaniemi is a budget-friendly option, with onward travel deeper into Finnish Lapland completed using public transport or self-drive by hiring a car at Rovaniemi. For those that wish to maximise their time in Finnish Lapland, flying to Ivalo or Kittilä airport then arranging a private transfer from airport to your resort is an excellent option.

Some of the resorts we’ve picked below offer packages with return airport transfers and other inclusions such as Husky safaris and Reindeer farm visits to maximise your Lapland adventure in Finland, so be sure to check those out too.

Now for our top four Finland glass igloo accommodation options.

#1 Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort

Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort in Saariselkä, Finland offers a range of glass igloos and traditional log cabins for guests to choose from with costs approximately $400 to $600 per night.

Kakslauttanen’s glass igloos are the iconic, original glass igloo experience that started it all. The world-renowned resort is a mere 35 minute drive from Ivalo airport and is nestled between Urho Kekkonen National Park on the east and Hammastunturi Wilderness Area to the west. The glass igloos come in two or four person igloos and are available from 24 August to end of April for the Aurora season each year.

The resort has 50 glass igloos, divided into East and West villages with the West village being the most popular amongst travellers when asked for their travel tips.

#2 Levin Iglut Golden Crown

Levin Iglut, also known as Golden Crown Levi Igloos, is an intimate style boutique resort that offers glass igloos for approximately $400 to $900 per night. The resort offers three Suite Igloos that come with an outdoor jacuzzi and private terrace, nine Prime Superior Igloos, and fifteen Superior Igloos.

All glass igloos can accommodate two adults and two children and are designed to be luxurious and self-contained. Each igloo has its own bathroom, small kitchen, privacy curtains, motorized beds, WiFi, a television, air-conditioning, and bathrobes and slippers.

The igloos are a 15 minute drive from Kittilä Airport on the Utsuvara slope in Levi, and is open from September to April each year. Guests can dine in the glass-ceilinged Restaurant Utsu, which is open for breakfast and dinner year-round, but only opens for lunch in the winter. Travellers recommend bringing kid-friendly snacks and food you can prepare in the igloos, as each is equipped with basic facilities such as a microwave and minibar fridge. There is also a communal fire pit which is great for toasting marshmallows or sausages.

#3 Arctic SnowHotel & Glass Igloos

The Arctic SnowHotel & Glass Igloos is located on the shores of Lake Lehtojärvi on the outskirts of Rovaniemi. It offers accommodation in traditional snow igloos or in glass igloos with panoramic views of the Northern Lights, and costs approximately $200 to $400 per night. Travellers can stay in an ice igloo from 20 September to end of March.

Whilst situated lower north in the aurora zone than other options for aurora viewing, this is an excellent option for travellers wanting to stay in Rovaniemi. The Arctic SnowHotel and the glass igloos are a mere 40 minute drive from Rovaniemi airport and half an hour from Rovaniemi town centre.

The 39 glass igloos feature motorised beds that can be adjusted for optimal viewing, and the glass ceilings are well-insulated with electrically heated glass designed to melt snow and ice off the roof. The Kota restaurant, ice bar, and snow sauna are highly recommended by fellow travellers (including Pentikäinen herself, owner/manager of Aurora Tracks – see firsthand images below). Our tip is to be aware that rooms can be cold and sleeping bags are sometimes not warm enough for larger bodies. If you find yourself too chilly during the night, you can book into the hostel for a small additional cost if it gets too uncomfortable. 

arctic snow hotel snow sauna
Pentikäinen says: Arctic Snow Hotel Restaurant with authentic snow sauna in background – yes, if you’re naked diners will see you; after a couple of drinks, that didn’t stop us though! And yes, the sauna melts while you’re in it, that’s why the snow sauna sessions are limited to about 10-20min only. There is also an awesome outdoor hot tub just there. It was so cold (-28°C) that your hair freezes and snaps off in the hot tub. (Image Source: Pentikäinen / Aurora Tracks).
arctic snow hotel bed pentikainen
Arctic Snow Hotel bed with Pentikäinen sitting on it (Image Source: Pentikäinen / Aurora Tracks)
arctic snow hotel northern lights glass igloo finland
Arctic Snow Hotel Finland glass igloo exterior at night. It was very dark and not a good camera, but gives an idea of how far spaced out they are. (Image Source: Pentikäinen / Aurora Tracks)

#4 Aurora Village

This village is located in Ivalo, Lapland and offers glass-ceiling cabins with a view of the Northern Lights at a cost per night is approximately $250 to $450.

Whilst the TripAdvisor rankings and enthusiastic reviews from travellers show this resort to rank high, we put it last on our list because while a great stay, Aurora Village’s glass igloos lack that wow factor that we look for when we imagine what a glass igloo should be.

Aurora Village’s Aurora Cabins are free standing circular wooden cabins in Indigenous Sami style, with a section of glass ceiling. You will still get a great aurora show from the comfort of your bed but it is not the true immersive 360 degree experience of glass igloos. For those travellers looking for comfort, privacy and other bucket-list experiences, Aurora Village is among our top recommendations for aurora viewing.  

You can stay in one of the Aurora Cabins year-round, with aurora viewing activities available from September to April.

Final Thoughts on Finland Glass Igloo Stays

Each of these Finland glass igloo accommodation options offers a once-in-a-lifetime experience of viewing the Northern Lights from the comfort of your own private igloo. The prices and ratings we have quoted vary based on the season and availability, with each resort regularly updating and changing their service offers and packages. We recommend hunting out the best package and location that suits your needs and interests.

Whether planning an adventure to watch the fox fires as they sweep across a Finnish night sky, or you just want to add this to your package of experiences in Lapland, you’re sure to find viewing aurora borealis from the comfort of a glass-ceiling igloo a memory that will stay with you always.

As always, make sure you are well prepared in advanced so you don’t waste your money, by researching and choosing the best time of year to visit Finland to see the aurora borealis.

Happy aurora watching!

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