Sleep with the aurora borealis dancing directly above your bed. Kakslauttanen Glass Igloo Village in Finnish Lapland offers exactly this: a dome of thermal glass that keeps you warm at minus thirty degrees while the winter sky performs its green and purple ballet overhead. Reindeer wander past the igloos as snow muffles every sound, creating a silence so complete you can hear your own heartbeat.
From the height it looks a bit like UFO landing site. Shining glass balls situated in the snow and geometrically perfectly arranged in the middle of the forest… But in fact it is a glass igloo village Kakslauttanen, built by Finns in Lapland at Saariselkä ski resort, about 250 km above the Arctic Circle.
In a glass igloo village Kakslauttanen you have a unique opportunity to stay in one of 20 glass igloos, or in a snow igloo. You can enjoy a cocktail in a bar “kota” designed in the shape of a traditional Lapp teepee and snow restaurant for 50 to 150 people. Those interested can also accommodate in one of 40 wooden cottages, most luxurious of them are equipped with bath, fireplace and a Finnish sauna.
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Northern Lights above the bed
Glass igloos are built from a special insulating glass, which prevents the icy windows, even if outside temperatures drop below -30 °C. While inside maintains a pleasant temperature between 20 and 22 °C. Guests can observe the aurora (northern lights) directly from their warm beds. Each igloo has its own bathroom.
Snow Igloo is suitable for the rugged natures, in which the temperature ranges from -3 to -6°C. Guests, however, get sleeping bags designed for temperatures up to -32 °C, woolen socks and thermal covers.
Village Kakslauttanen is well equipped and prepared for visitors and offers two saunas for about 100 people. Each sauna is equipped with rest rooms, fireplace, showers and toilets. Hardy can go straight from the sauna to the icy cool pond.
If you visit Kakslauttanen in December, you can participate on ice sculpture contest, which is held annually here. The statues then remain in the ice gallery throughout the year.
Glass Igloo Village is usually open from December or January and remains in operation, depending on the weather, until the end of April, but this area is interesting during the whole year, so you can stay in some of nearby hotels.
For further information about this village visit the site kakslauttanen.fi
View Glass Igloo Village Kakslauttanen – watch Northern Lights above the bed in a larger map
The Snow Restaurant and Smoke Sauna Experience
Dining at Kakslauttanen goes beyond the expected. The snow restaurant, rebuilt each winter, features walls and furniture carved entirely from compacted snow and ice, with reindeer hides covering the seating benches. The temperature inside stays at a constant -5°C, and guests are issued thermal overalls before sitting down to a three-course Lappish tasting menu. The kitchen specialises in local ingredients: sauteed reindeer with lingonberry sauce, Arctic char caught from Lake Inari, and cloudberry sorbet for dessert. The meal costs €89 per person (as of 2026) and includes a pre-dinner cocktail served in an ice glass from the on-site ice bar. After dinner, the smoke sauna offers an experience unique to Finnish Lapland. The sauna is heated for 12 hours before use by burning birch logs in a stone chamber, with the smoke vented out before guests enter. The walls are blackened with decades of soot, and the gentle radiant heat reaches 60°C. Following tradition, guests run from the sauna directly to a hole cut in the frozen pond, an invigorating plunge that Finns believe improves circulation and mental resilience.
Best Season and Practical Booking Advice
The Northern Lights season at Kakslauttanen runs from late August to early April, with peak viewing probability between September and March when the nights are longest and darkest. September and October offer mild daytime temperatures around 5°C and the aurora appearing as early as 7pm, ideal for photographers. December through February brings the coldest temperatures, often dropping below -30°C, but the skies are clearest and the snow cover deepest at 60 to 80 cm. March offers the best balance of cold nights and sunny days, with cross-country skiing and reindeer sledding operating fully. Book glass igloo accommodation at least 6 months in advance, as the 20 original igloos sell out quickly. Prices start at €499 per night in low season and rise to €899 in December. The Arctic Resort offers additional igloo types: the Kelo-Glass Igloo combines a log cabin with a glass-roofed bedroom, sleeping up to 6 guests at €1,090 per night. All rates include breakfast, access to the smoke sauna, and use of thermal winter clothing.
Would you trade a warm bed for a glass igloo under the Northern Lights? 🌌
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