Destinations

Finland Takes ‘Glamping’ to New Heights

Northern Finland is the site of a new hotel experience where a well-appointed “glamping” cabin is towed into a remote wilderness location, deep in the Arctic Circle.

The cabin is one of three rooms that are then moved to an optimal spot for lying back to experience the Northern lights from the comfort of your bed. Located 6 km east of Kilpisjärvi, Finland, the new mobile rooms, set on skis, include a clear Aurora viewing roof.

The Aurora Wilderness camp, three rooms, is available to book through Off the Map Travel until mid-April. After the end of the season, the Aurora Wilderness Camp will reopen in January 2019.

Those staying in the new wilderness rooms will enjoy a cozy cabin which measures 2.5 m wide, 4.5 m long and 2 m tall, and includes a comfortable, wide bed to lie back and take in the night sky, a table, dry toilet, gas heater with thermostat and gas stove to ensure a warm and peaceful night.

Guests will also have exclusive use of the cabin’s snowshoes and kicksleds, offering the chance to explore the local area during the stay.

“The wilderness surrounding Kilpisjärvi is known for its remote and uninterrupted Arctic tundra,” notes Jonny Cooper, founder of Off the Map Travel and Arctic travel expert. “Away from any man-made light pollution, it is here that that the wilderness camp is placed for the winter, giving guests the best possible opportunity to experience the Northern Lights and simply enjoy the silence of the Arctic plains.”

With three mobile rooms available to book, each comfortably sleeping two people, the new cabins combine to create the Aurora Wilderness Camp situated optimally for Northern Lights hunting. Once the winter ice has thawed, the rooms (on skis) will then be relocated to a new home for the following season.

The experience starts at 6 p.m. where an experienced guide transports guests by snowmobile to their room before teaching them how to make a campfire and grill some local sausages. After the wilderness grill, guests will have the camp to themselves to hunt for the Northern Lights and enjoy the peace of the Arctic wilderness. To fuel guests’ Northern Lights hunting, local snacks and hot drinks are provided, with a warming breakfast also included in the overnight experience.

Statistically, the Kilpisjärvi area has more clear night skies and records more Northern Lights activity than any other place in Finland. Experts have estimated that if the sky is clear, visitors have more than a 70% chance of seeing the Northern Lights.

As with any itinerary from Off the Map Travel, every itinerary can be tailor-made to fit the wishes and requirements of any guest. As an example, a three-night, four-day itinerary costs from £1599 per person, based on two adults sharing on a full board basis. This includes private transfers to and from the airport in Tromso, accommodation for two nights in a cozy log chalet and one night in the Aurora Wilderness Camp, including all meals.

(https://www.offthemap.travel/aurora-wilderness-camp)