19 Of The Best Northern Lights Igloos And Bubble Domes
Picture this: in the chill of a winter’s night deep in the snowy wilds of Lapland or on the shores of a frozen, forest-rimmed lake far north of the Arctic Circle, you’re drifting off on your reindeer hide. Then suddenly the Nordic gods flick on the northern lights and ribbons of green float through the sky like a laser show from the heavens. But there’s no need to grapple with thermals to stomp out into the bitterly cold night — just snuggle down and see the whole incredible thing from the comfort of your bed in your glass-ceilinged igloo.
Igloos vary in size, price, style and degrees of hot tub-filled luxury, but all are far-removed from light pollution and offer staggeringly clear views of the night sky, with a chance of seeing the northern nights peaking from September to April. If you want more, hunt the aurora down: by husky sled, snowmobile, reindeer sleigh and snowshoe, on skis or horseback. From the icebergs of Greenland to Finnish Lapland and Alaska, we’ve rounded up the best glass igloo hotels for aurora-gazing. Admittedly they don’t come cheap, but there’s nothing like your own private light show to make you think to hell with the budget. Here’s our selection of the best northern lights igloos and bubble domes.
Main photo: Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort in Finland (Booking.com)
This article contains affiliate links, which may earn us revenue
1. Grænn & Blar, Hella, Iceland
££
Rock up at this duo of off-grid, eco-friendly, glass-built cottages in the snow-iced lava fields of southern Iceland and you might never want to leave. Such silence is rare and precious — as are the night skies glittering with distant galaxies and fiery auroras. This is the land of volcanoes, glaciers, waterfalls and black-sand beaches, and the northern lights are the icing on the cake. Choose between Grænn (green), inspired by the colours of the aurora, and Blar, glacial blues. Both are decorated with local driftwood art and hand-knitted cushions, and you’ll shower in well water. Admire winter birds and soul-stirring skies from the outdoor hot tub too.
2. Ice Dome, Ivalo
££
Finland’s reindeer-herding Sami people are silent in the presence of the aurora borealis — and you’ll see why when you visit their heartland in this region of Lapland. And where better to watch the northern lights dance than at this geodesic dome, immersed in nature, with heart-soaring views of snowy fells and forest. But a snowball-throw from Lake Inari’s frozen shores, the wintry landscapes here are proper fairytale stuff. Petri, your host, is a gem — picking you up from Ivalo by 4×4 and snowmobile, and providing skis and snowshoes so you can explore the trails on the doorstep. But the clincher is the dome’s terrifically secluded location — when the aurora appears, it’s as if the light show is for you alone.
3. Troll Dome Tjeldøya, Norway
££
It’s hard to overstate the dramatic backdrop of this glass-fronted dome for two on the isle of Tjeldøya in northern Norway. Snow-frosted mountains whoosh above the fjords and, when solar activity peaks and skies are crystal-clear, the lights dazzle in all their otherworldly green glory. Turid and Ragnar offer a welcome as warm as a hug — fizz and snacks on arrival; superb dinners rustled up with freshest local produce delivered to your dome; robes and towels for the jacuzzi and sauna — but it’s the starry, aurora-spangled night skies, best viewed beside a hissing firepit or the comfort of a well-made bed, that are the real showstopper.
4. Borealis Basecamp, Alaska
££-£££
You can really feel the heartbeat of the Arctic at this back-to-nature base camp, snuggled away in 100 acres of boreal forest, though still only 25 miles from the Alaskan city of Fairbanks. When the northern lights come out to dance, they ripple across the entire sky as the region is right under the aurora oval. Riffing on the igloos used by polar explorers, the geodesic domes have birch-finished interiors and curved transparent ceilings with staggering views of night skies. After a day of husky-sledding, snowmobiling and photography workshops to capture the aurora borealis, swing across to the yurt-style restaurant for local king crab and elk burgers.
borealisbasecamp.ne
5. Wilderness Hotel Inari, Finland
££
Finnish Lapland is at its most phenomenally white and wild in the far, far north, where the Sami and their reindeer roam across snow-cloaked fells and tundra. On the shores of Lake Inari, this nouveau-rustic escape is all about the northern lights during winter’s deep freeze. Hole up in glass-roofed, laser-heated aurora cabins for sensational northern light shows and stargazing. Or if you prefer understated Scandi luxury, the fire-warmed Arctic chalets with private saunas are just the thing after gliding through the snow on snowshoes, cross-country skis or husky sled.
6. Northern Lights Resort & Spa, Canada
££ | SPA
The tug of the Arctic is rarely greater than in the lonely, mountainous, whoa-there’s-a-bear-over-there Yukon territory of northwestern Canada, which is the full-on winter wonderland deal when the flakes fall. And this resort hits the dark-sky sweet spot, despite being just 15 miles south of regional gateway Whitehorse and its airport. The name gives the game away: here you can get your northern lights groove on in a glass-fronted aurora chalet without sacrificing luxury. A spa, a restaurant bigging up seasonal flavours, and all manner of snow fun, from ice fishing to snowshoeing, plug the gaps perfectly between aurora-gazing moments.
7. Apukka Resort, Finland
££-£££
With snow-iced forest backdrop and dark night skies where the aurora regularly arcs and sways, Apukka Resort feels nicely secluded despite being 15 minutes from Finnish Lapland’s Santa HQ, Rovaniemi. Sitting atop the Arctic Circle, this is a prime spot for northern lights action, with glass-roofed aurora igloos channelling contemporary Nordic design in monochrome tones and reindeer hides. For added fantasy, book the aurora wagon and be wheeled out into the forest or up to a frozen hilltop for at-one-with-the-lights time by a campfire. A lakeside sauna fires you up for aurora-watching: be it by snowmobile, reindeer-pulled sleigh or on horseback.
8. Icehotel, Sweden
£££
There’s no frostier welcome than at the world’s first and biggest ice hotel, which has given Swedish Lapland the Narnia edge since 1989. On the banks of the Torne River, 125 miles north of the Arctic Circle, you are — clear conditions permitting — guaranteed phenomenal northern lights shows right in front of your hand-sculpted igloo. Those same lights dance on in your head as you drift off in a reindeer hide-draped ice bed. The clincher is all manner of wintry fun (husky-sledding, snowmobiling, reindeer rides — you name it) and a fine-dining restaurant putting a sophisticated spin on local reindeer, moose, fish and berries.
9. Hotel Arctic, Greenland
££
The thunderous rumble of a calving glacier, immense icebergs floating on by and the aurora flashing away in crystal-clear night skies — Hotel Arctic is the fully fledged winter dream. Hugging the shores of the Unesco-listed Ilulissat Icefjord, the hotel itself is surprisingly slick, with a wine bar and Arctic fine dining, but if you’re here for big, in-your-face wilderness, check into one of the expedition-style, aluminium-built igloos, with front-row views of Disko Bay and its surreal light. There’s no place quite like this for watching the northern lights dance.
10. Arctic Snow Hotel, Finland
££-£££
Rovaniemi is but a whisper away, but this Arctic snow hotel in Finnish Lapland delivers solitude, silence and startlingly clear night skies. Overlooking the frozen expanse of Lake Lehtojarvi, the northern lights are out of this world when conditions oblige. Top billing goes to the heated glass igloos, commanding 360-degree views of the aurora borealis floating above, with adjustable beds so you can get just the right angle. An aurora alarm ensures you don’t miss the action. More? You can borrow snowshoes, toboggans and kick-sleds for free, warm up in a snow sauna, and slide across to the Ice Bar and Restaurant for drinks and Lappish grub served at tables of solid ice.
11. Sorrisniva Igloo Hotel, Norway
££-£££
The northern lights often parade across night skies in Alta at 70 degrees north. And with winter’s seasonal dump of snow, Sorrisniva’s igloos, beautifully handcrafted from ice, are hands down some of the finest places to don thermals, grab cameras and watch the aurora borealis shaking her stuff. Aurora hunting is massive here, whether you fancy seeing them by snowmobile or reindeer-driven sleigh. The lights are the icing on the cake after drinks at the snow bar and dinner in the stylish lodge restaurant, where chefs take pride in sourcing local moose, salmon, reindeer and wild berries — all cooked and served with flair.
12. Wilderness Hotel Nellim, Finland
££-£££
Give civilisation the slip at this astonishingly secluded wilderness lodge, tucked away in snow-daubed pine forest in Finnish Lapland, just a few miles from the Russian border. There’s a dash of hygge to these rustic-chic lodgings, with blazing fires, furs, candles and fragrant timber. The insanely romantic aurora bubbles, with just enough room for two to snuggle into bed and watch the lights perform, have the wow factor, but then so too do the Sami-inspired kota huts and aurora cabins. A flurry of aurora-hunting activities ramp up chances of seeing the northern lights. Best of all is the trip to the River Paatsjoki, which never freezes and therefore offers perfect reflections for photography.
13. Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort, Finland
££
Seen from a distance, the rows of neatly aligned igloos at this Arctic resort look like fireflies as they glow in the blue twilight of the Lappish winter. With mile after mile of silver-white spruce forest rolling to the remote fells of the Urho Kekkonen National Park, the landscapes here are pinch-yourself pretty. Whether you stay in a glass igloo, a luxe pine cabin — with its own sauna, fireplace and stargazing dome — or a snow igloo, it’s all about watching the northern lights (the season here is remarkably long, running from late August to April). Go ice fishing, skiing, husky-sledding and aurora hunting by reindeer or horse-drawn sleigh, returning for a blast in Finland’s biggest smoke sauna.
14. Lyngen North, Norway
££-£££
At the tip of the far-flung Spakenes peninsula in Arctic Norway, Lyngen North thrills from the first with its sense of utter solitude and heart-racing views of the ragged, snow-frosted Lyngen Alps. Bringing lots of privacy in a place of exhilarating beauty, the five glass igloos here are so close to the ice-blue fjord that it feels as though you could float away in an instant. And when the northern lights flicker here, as they so often do, the magic is complete. Choose from glass-walled 180-degree igloos or glass-ceilinged 360-degree ones — either way, you’re in for a treat.
15. Levin Iglut, Finland
££-£££
Days spent carving fresh powder on the slopes of one of Finland’s most-fêted ski resorts spill into nights spent gawping up at ravishing displays of northern lights at Levin Iglut in Finnish Lapland. This resort dives into the knee-deep Arctic snow, offering the whole shebang of winter activities and a selection of highly luxurious glass igloos, with expansive views across forest and valley, and unobstructed views of the night sky. If budget is of no concern, blow it on the suite for a private terrace, outdoor hot tub and champagne on arrival. The restaurant serves regional ingredients like reindeer, mushrooms and berries with the lightest of creative touches — or you can grill your own sausages over an open fire in the Sami-style kota tent.
16. ION Adventure Hotel, Iceland
££-£££ | SPA | POOL
Iceland has yet to get properly in on the igloo act, but ION Adventure Hotel in Nesjavellir drops you in at the aurora deep end. An hour’s spin from Reykjavik, this slickly modern hotel — glass-fronted and propped on stilts — has a sensationally wild setting, backdropped by snow-frosted peaks, dormant volcano Hengill and lava fields, and peering out across ice-sculpted Lake Thingvallavatn. It’s pure drama for northern lights gazing and the hotel arranges aurora-hunting tours from mid-September to mid-April, as well as a roster of other activities from glacier snowmobiling to ice caving. Warm up in the spa and geothermal hot springs pool.
17. Snowhotel Kirkenes, Norway
££-£££
In Norway’s northeastern corner, a snowball throw away from the Russian border, this snow hotel on the shores of the Bokfjord in Kirkenes is the full-on winter wonderland deal, beautifully sculpted from ice and open 365 days a year. You’ll want to rock up in the coldest, darkest months for the northern lights, naturally. The magic is easily grasped, with tours and dogsleds whisking you out in search of the aurora the minute there’s the faintest green glow on the horizon. Whether you opt for an ice-carved igloo or a rustic Gamme Northern Lights cabin, inspired by Norway’s traditional hunting and fishing huts, digs are pretty romantic. Fish for your on with a king crab winter safari or swing over to the restaurant for reindeer burgers and waffles.
18. Northern Lights Ranch, Finland
££-£££
Wrapped in snow-blanketed forest near the low-key ski resort of Levi in Finnish Lapland, this ranch is a proper back-to-nature experience. Its sprinkling of sky-view cabins have floor-to-ceiling glass windows and heated glass roofs ensuring that you don’t miss a single second of the aurora action. Interiors play up Scandi design with plush fabrics and furnishings and a palette of wintry whites and greys. Go superior for a private sauna or deluxe to survey those dancing skies from your outdoor hot tub. Warmed by an open fire, the restaurant riffs creatively on Nordic ingredients and overlooks a reindeer enclosure. It’s the icing on the cake after going for a stomp and twirl on the hotel’s snowshoeing trail and illuminated ice rink.
19. Isbreen – The Glacier, Norway
£££
Ice blue and pearl white — the view from your minimalist-cool geodesic dome is exclusive, as only here can you see Europe’s solitary glacier calving directly into the sea and the Finnmark Alps punching high above. Isbreen, in the Arctic north of Norway, bombards you with fierce, wintry beauty and dazzling northern light displays, which are best appreciated when ski touring, dog-sledding, bubbling in the outdoor hot tub, or over locally fished and foraged meals. The aurora domes are divinely cosy, with ice-inspired colours, goose-down duvets, wood-burning stoves, as well as telescopes and vast windows to maximise the light-spotting potential.
theglacier.no
Take me there
Inspired to see the northern lights but yet to book your trip? Here are the best packages from Tui and Not in the Guidebooks as well as the best tours from our trusted partners.
No comments for "19 Of The Best Northern Lights Igloos And Bubble Domes"
Post a Comment