In a previous post, we covered all there is to know about the Northern Lights. This truly beautiful phenomenon is sought after by many and if you know where to go, experiencing them can be a real delight. A wide variety of accommodation is available throughout Scandinavia to help make your trip as memorable as possible. We cover some of our top picks below and some of the best areas to alleviate the illusiveness of aurora borealis.
Photo by: federicocappon/Fotolia
Treehotel, Sweden
Located in Harads, Sweden, there are only a handful of these eco-friendly ‘treerooms’. Each individually and uniquely styled, the rooms provide a fantastic view of the Lule River and surrounding forests. Designed by leading architects from Scandinavia, spend the night in the UFO, Mirrorcube, or the Bird’s Nest. Built 4-6m above ground in the trees, these rooms are built in a sustainable way that has very minimal impact on the surrounding environment. With a minimalist approach, you’ll have the bare necessities with other facilities nearby. All electricity comes from hydro-electric power.
Treehotel offer a photography tutoring package as part of their activities which takes you out to Bodträskån where the Northern Lights are visible. Running between November and March, you’ll spend 2.5 hours late in the evening learning tips and techniques on capturing the lights above you so you have your own perfect photos to take home.
Hotel Rangá, Iceland
This is currently the only 4-star resort in Southern Iceland and is located 1 hour from Reykjavik and 2 hours from Keflavik Airport. With their log cabin-style accommodation, Hotel Rangá was the first in Iceland to be recognised as one of the Great Hotels of the World. Access their on-site observatory to experience more starry sights than just the Aurora Borealis. There is very minimal light pollution here as the hotel is built in a rural area. When the Northern Lights are on display, the hotel switches off their outside lights to enable guests the best views. You can also schedule wake-up calls from on-site staff so you’re alerted when the lights are visible.
Basecamp Hotel Explorer, Svalbard
Stay in the northernmost town of Longyearbyen in trapper-styled accommodation. This traditional lifestyle may not suit all, but there are some incredibly activities on offer such as dog sledding and guided treks across the arctic. The glass-roofed lounge allows views of the Northern Lights. Polar night season, where visibility for the lights are enhanced, runs from October to mid-February. You may even experience daytime sightings when daylight hours are severely decreased.
Aurora Sky Station, Sweden
Named as Lonely Planet’s best place to experience the Northern Lights, this centre is located in Abisko National Park, Sweden on Mount Nuolja, 900 metres above sea level. Abisko is located in the middle of the aurora zone which makes it a perfect location for aurora hunting. Take the chair lift ride to the station and visit the exhibition centre to learn more about the science behind the phenomenon. Have the experience enhanced by onsite cameras, radio receivers and the look-out tower. There are a couple of hostels nearby to make access to the station easy.
Igloos in Kakslauttanen. Photo by: Beelix/Fotolia
Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort, Finland
The accommodation style found here is becoming more typical for those seeking the Northern Lights in Finland. A unique way to spend the night, there’s igloos made of snow where you’ll sleep on a bed made of ice in temperatures between -3 and -6 degrees. You’ll also find pine tree log cabins with glass roofs over the bedroom and Kelo-Glass igloos. The world’s largest smoke sauna can be found on-site. Witness the Northern Lights from the comfort of one of the hot tubs available.
Icehotel Jukkasjärvi, Sweden
The first ever hotel made from snow and ice gets an upgrade in November 2016 with rooms available made from ‘snice’ all year round. Temperatures of rooms available vary from -5 to 21 degrees, so to make the most of your stay, you should plan to spend at least one night in a ‘cold room’ and the rest in a ‘warm room’. Ice sculptors from all over the world have contributed to the designs seen in and around the hotel. Venture out to Kiruna on snowmobile with a guide who will show you the best sights for the Northern Lights.
Pack your thermal underwear
Some of these styles of accommodation will need warmer clothing so pack wisely and do your research on what temperatures to expect before you go. Remember to read our previous guide for aurora hunting tips including best times to catch the lights and where offers the best views. Have you seen the Northern Lights? We’d love to know where you saw them. Share any photos you have with us on social media.
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Written by Jessica Juby.
