This is the amazing view we saw sometime after 1:00 a.m. from the glass igloo before falling asleep on March 29, 2014! The experience of a lifetime!!
My family and I took the adventure of a lifetime this past weekend when we boarded a plane for a short one and a half hour trip up to Northern Lapland, Finland. We stayed at the Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort in Saariselkä. We decided to stay in one of the log cabins for the first two nights after reading some reviews and did the last night in the glass igloo (no shower, only a sink and toilet), but overall more spacious than we thought it would be. It ended up being one of the most exciting adventures of our lives!
We flew into the very small Ivalo airport and were picked up by a transfer bus to the resort. We were then dropped off right in front of our cabin and given our key. It was very convenient and the staff was very friendly (the owner who claims to be Santa’s brother even gave Mia a stuffed reindeer). They served us and the rest of the small group on our bus dinner at the restaurant even though we didn’t arrive until sometime close to 11:00 p.m. Breakfast and dinner were included, but I would recommend asking for their á la carte menu for more local choices for the dinner.
We were so determined to see an amazing show from the northern lights before we move in less than two months and we not only had one evening with an amazing show, we were completely shocked when we saw them 2 nights in a row (over one hour each night)!! The first evening was too cloudy, so we waited and waited the next evening and finally saw them sometime after 11:00 p.m. on Friday evening. One couple was so excited about seeing them that they got engaged right in front of us!! We gave up around midnight on Saturday evening after standing in the cold for so long, but then saw this amazing sight in the photo above sometime after 1:00 a.m.! We ran outside in the cold again and watched an even better show than the night before!! Everyone around us was so excited and I even had to email 4 different groups of people photos that we took to those who couldn’t take a clear enough shot from their cameras. It was a very exciting weekend for all of us at the resort!!
This was right after we landed. Transfer bus to the glass igloos! We were so excited!!
This was the cozy 2-bedroom cabin we stayed in the first two nights. It included a kitchen, living area, dining area, fireplace and also a sauna in the master bathroom.
Mia and I in front of the glass igloos. There are only three rows of them (20 in total). A very special serene setting on a hill.
This is Mia and I in front of one of the beautiful glass igloos lit up before dark.
Wow!!! The beautiful Northern Lights! Amazing things happen to those who wait… very patiently! The show of a lifetime!!
One of the happiest moments of my life… standing in front of the northern lights! Amazing!!!
It looks like the northern lights are coming right out of the Snow Chapel! Breathtaking!!
This is the only shot with Mia in it before she fell asleep on a sled at midnight all bundled up in blankets! She said she had her best sleep on that sled under the stars!
Danny in front of the beautiful northern lights. We worked so hard together trying to get the lights to show up in our shots with us in them. Photographing the auroras was extremely challenging while you are freezing!!
This shows one half of the beautiful arch from the northern lights.
This is one of my favorite shots from Saturday evening (March 29, 2014)!
I was so excited to be standing in front of such an amazing show from the northern lights… one of the most exciting moments of my life!
This is a day shot of the area (snow chapel) where we viewed the amazing northern lights! I believe this is the best location at the resort to see them with no trees blocking your view.
Entrance sign at the Igloo Village Kakslauttanen.
There are many beautiful art pieces around the resort. This one was my favorite!
My family and I really enjoyed our weekend trip to the Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort and overall had an amazing experience that we will never forget! For more information on the resort, you can visit:
Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort in Saariselkä, Finland 99830.
For more information about Aurora Hunting and photography tips (I stumbled upon an article with Andy Keen and found his tips which were a great help to me although I still have lots to learn). I do hope to experience his “The Great Aurora Hunt” in Norway one day… what a dream that would be! Please visit:
For more information on the best times to see Auroras, please visit these two very helpful sites (I checked these often before our trip and almost every 15 minutes during our trip):
Aurora Forecast (Includes the very important Kp tracker while aurora hunting. We only needed a Kp2 to see the auroras since we were so far north).
My next post will include our first experience ever snow skiing and snowboarding as well as our visit to Santa’s Home at Santa’s Resort. We can now mark another Red Pin Adventure off our Travel Bucket List:
Stay in a glass igloo in Lapland (see an amazing aurora borealis show)!
Red Pin Adventures 
Amazing! Truly a bucket list item x2!!
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Thanks Anne! It truly was a must see! I hope you can mark it off your bucket list one day! 🙂
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I loved this post! What amazing photos of such a magical experience! WOW, that igloo looks so cool!! I would love to have been there with you all!! 🙂 Miss you!!
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Hi Babs! It truly was a magical experience!! I’m ready to go back (as long as it’s during aurora season). Let’s plan to go one year! 🙂
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Amazing photos. We have never been in Kakslauttanen, but in Saariselkä of course few times. When visiting Lapland we make road trips in summer or autumn and we hikes. Hiking to keep us in good condition.
Hopefully You’ll find more wonders of Finland when the time passes!
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I think my family and I should try to take up hiking too! Maybe that will help to keep us in good shape like your family so we can travel longer in life. I noticed a lot of people cross country skiing while we were in Saariselkä. I think that would be very peaceful as well. I was signed up for a lesson here in Helsinki, but it was cancelled because most of the snow had already melted here. Maybe one day… 🙂
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I love Your answer. Near to Helsinki there is the place called Nuuksio. Next summer some weekend, You should try it.
If You go to Saariselkä, it is also great starting place for small walks / hikes in the pure nature. I made three posts from Saariselkä and here is the first one:
Saariselkä 1.
It contains links to the next. I this part I presented gorgeous log cabins.
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Thanks! I will look into Nuuksio and I will check out the link for Saariselkä! 🙂
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Sorry, but I forgot one excellent nature place very near to Helsinki also. It is called Kaitalampi. Can be reached by bus.
Here is my old post; I am sure that this could be nice place to start to explore nature:
Kaitalampi.
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Great! Thanks again, will check it out!
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My last tips for today. I You have car in one hour; You can visit easily the town called Hämeenlinna, if not by train also in one hour.
In Hämeenlinna there is the castle called by the same name, park called Aulanko (fantastic for Sunday picnic) and the Lake Vanajavesi beside the castle and it takes about one hour to walk around it. When living in the South we visited many times in Hämeenlinna and visited those sites which I just told.
My links to these places:
Park of Aulanko in Hämeenlinna
Casle of Hämeenlinna
Lake Vanjavesi
Have a nice day!
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This is great! Sounds like it would make for a nice day trip one weekend soon! Thanks for the great suggestions today. I appreciate it!
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The link to castle is not working, but once again:
Castle of Hämeenlinna
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Awesome photos! So glad you shared! Seeing the Northern Lights is on my bucket list too!
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Hi Alma,
I hope you can see the Northern Lights one day too! It is such an amazing experience that you truly cannot believe you are actually seeing them with your own eyes. They change so quickly too.. So, you never know what to expect next! Thanks for stopping by!
~Christine
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What a neat experience. We have seen the Aurora a few times here in Michigan but never from the comfort of my own glass igloo! Thanks for stopping by my blog.
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Wow!! That is great that you have seen them a few times in Michigan! Hope you can make it to Finland one day to experience them from a glass igloo. What an amazing experience it was!! 🙂
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Reblogged this on amelialancaster123 and commented:
The northern lights are a definite must see! I saw them about 6 years ago & I am saving up for a trip to Finland to see them again!
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Hi Amelia,
I hope you can see the northern lights again when you visit Finland! I hear of so many people that try several times and never see them. I have also found out from talking with a few Finns here, that although they have lived here their entire lives, they have not seen them yet! It makes me feel even luckier to have seen them! Thanks for stopping by!
~Christine
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Glass igloos – looks amazing!
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Wow! That does look like an amazing trip! I’m off to check out the rest of your bucket list now?
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If there’s one thing I want to see it’s the Northern Lights. Those glass igloos are awesome!
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Hi Maria, I hope that you get the chance to one day see the Northern Lights too! I heard they are building some nicer igloos that are a little bigger with showers, so may be worth the wait! I look forward to following your adventures in Palawan! 🙂
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I’ve seen pictures of the Northern lights but never in person. It must be an awesome experience.
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Very interesting blog. I’ve never seen northern lights, or been to Finland, but would love to some day.
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