Kakslauttanen Glass Igloos: Sleeping Under the Northern Lights in Finnish Lapland

Forget five-star hotels. How about five billion stars and a bedroom ceiling made of glass?

There are hotel rooms with ocean views, mountain views and occasionally a magnificent outlook over the neighbour's air-conditioning unit. Then there's Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort (opens in a new tab) in Finnish Lapland, where the main attraction is directly above your pillow.

Located near Saariselkä, around 250 kilometres north of the Arctic Circle, this remarkable resort lets you sleep beneath the stars in a heated glass igloo, hoping Mother Nature decides to switch on the Northern Lights.

And unlike camping, you won't need three layers of thermals just to survive the night.

A Room With a Seriously Impressive View

Kakslauttanen's famous glass igloos are designed around one rather brilliant idea: why stand outside freezing your backside off watching the Arctic sky when you can enjoy it from a warm bed?

The specially engineered thermal glass helps prevent frost and snow from obscuring the view, while the igloos remain comfortably heated despite temperatures outside plunging well below zero.

The resort offers small glass igloos (opens in a new tab), larger versions accommodating families, and rather spectacular Kelo-Glass Igloos combining traditional Finnish log cabins with glass-roofed bedrooms.

The smaller igloos are cosy rather than enormous, but newer configurations include private showers and saunas. For something more spacious, the Kelo-Glass Igloos accommodate up to six guests and feature a fireplace, kitchenette, living area and private sauna.

It's a particularly memorable escape for couples, honeymooners and bucket-list travellers, although families with older children will love the larger accommodation options.

And if the Northern Lights don't appear? You've still got one of the world's most extraordinary bedroom ceilings.

More Than Just a Pretty Igloo

Kakslauttanen is divided into East and West Villages, surrounded by snow-covered forests that look suspiciously like someone has spent far too long decorating a Christmas card.

The West Village offers an impressive collection of facilities, including traditional Finnish smoke saunas, an art gallery and even a planetarium.

For dinner, Aurora Restaurant (opens in a new tab) serves Lappish-inspired cuisine in a distinctive Arctic setting. Afterwards, the resort's Igloo Bar provides somewhere suitably unusual for a drink.

And yes, sitting in a bar surrounded by snow while enjoying a cocktail is every bit as appealing as it sounds.

Adventures Beyond the Bedroom

You could spend your entire visit staring at the sky, but that would mean missing some exceptional Arctic experiences.

The resort's husky safaris (opens in a new tab) take visitors through snowy wilderness behind teams of enthusiastic sled dogs. It's exhilarating, spectacular and considerably more energetic than your average hotel shuttle.

Alternatively, a reindeer safari offers a quieter journey through the forest, providing a glimpse into an important part of Lapland's traditional culture.

For independent travellers, hiring a car opens up the surrounding Arctic landscape. The drive north from Rovaniemi is a wonderful introduction to Finnish Lapland, although winter conditions demand appropriate tyres, patience and a healthy respect for icy roads.

Pro Tips: Before You Go

• Choose your season: Northern Lights viewing is possible from roughly late August through April, but sightings depend on clear skies and solar activity. Nothing is guaranteed.
• Stay longer: Book at least two or three nights to improve your chances of seeing the aurora.
• Choose your igloo carefully: Check the size, facilities and village location before booking. Not all accommodation is identical.
• Driving: Winter tyres are essential in Arctic conditions. Allow extra travel time and avoid treating snow-covered roads like a Finnish rally stage.

Kakslauttanen isn't simply somewhere to sleep. It's somewhere you might spend the entire night hoping you don't fall asleep.

And that's a fairly unusual compliment for a hotel.

Find out more - Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort