While researching accomodations for Rovaniemi, we came across many videos of glass igloos and cabins that have a see-through roof. This is so that people can observe the Northern Lights from the comfort and warmth of their beds. Apukka Resort is one such resort with these aurora viewing cabins, and one of the only ones with short-term availability at the time, so we added this once-in-a-lifetime experience into our itinerary to finish off our trip to Rovaniemi.
Our Experience
We stayed in one of Apukka Resort’s Aurora Cabins for our final night in Rovaniemi, as part of our last resort (pun intended) to see the Aurora Borealis, more commonly known as Northern Lights.
The resort is split up into different sections, each containing a different type of accommodation. The aurora cabins are all spread out as to not block the view of the others for the best sky-gazing experience. Around the cabins, the snow was so deep and fluffy that walking on it was so troublesome, and it went all the way up to my knees!
The interior of the cabin itself is extremely cozy while staying quite minimalistic. The queen-sized bed is right under the massive window panes so you can lie down while looking up into the endless sky, with n electric fireplace that acts as the primary heating system located next to it. The windows themselves are also heated, so any snowfall would not affect the viewing experience.
The bathroom comes with the basic amenities, though the inclusion of a bidet was nice. Due to the limited space, the entire bathroom doubles as the shower area. Hot water is a limited resource here, with about 20 minutes of it available every few hours.
Throughout the night, we made warm coffee, tea, and instant noodles that we had previously brought with the provided kettle. Although we stayed up most of the night, and despite the high-ish KP Index of 5, the clouds wouldn’t disappear at all. We fell asleep at nearly 5 AM without seeing the Northern Lights, and our continued failure had sparked the motivation for our next trip to Tromsø, Norway.
The resort is located next to a large lake, which was frozen at this time of the year. Snowmobiling is a great way to make use to the wide open space. There are also sleds for the kids
Right beside the main building is a tubing slide that any guest is free to use with the included snow tubes scattered around. We went tubing for about 30 minutes on the first day because we had arrived early before the aurora cabin was ready. It was Mon’s first time tubing, and I am confident she loved each second of it.
Activities
Apukka Resort offers a wide range of bookable activities, from reindeer rides to snowmobiling to husky safari. We went with the last one based on our last positive experience. Although we had brought warm clothes off our own, the activity provided thermal snow suits, wool mittens, and comfy boots with wool socks. What made this one more unique than our last husky ride was that one of us had to steer and brake!
Read about our Rovaniemi experience! ⇒ Rovaniemi, Finland: The Jubilant Home of Christmas Joy
After the 8km ride, we got to pet and play with the dogs and drink warm berry juice around a toasty fire while the trainers were explaining how the dogs are trained from very young. There were even some adorable little husky puppies that we could interact with! Highly recommended for anyone looking for a thrill.
I highly recommend their brunch and lunch buffet. It is an all you can eat with a wide variety of tasty offerings, both local Finnish like salmon and international foods as well. If the buffet offerings are not to your liking, they also offer a la carte options. And the rustic dining room surrounded by the wooden log cabin ambience is a great setting to enjoy a hearty winter meal.
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