Why these glass igloos in Finnish Lapland need to be on your winter bucket list

Finland is the place to be next year, says Liz Connor
Igloos at Hotel Kakslauttanen in Lapland
Kakslauttanen
Liz Connor14 December 2016

Tourists have long been flocking to Sweden and Norway for a slice of clean Nordic living, but their much overlooked neighbour Finland is enjoying a moment of its own in the spotlight.

Not only does this magical country offer endless daylight, delicious local cuisine and a slice of Canadian lake living much closer to home, but the Finnish way of life is tipped to be a major contender for Hygge’s crown - the buzzy, Danish lifestyle concept that’s all about living mindfully.

Next year, we’ll all be abandoning the Danes to live like Finns. And who can blame us? Finnish quality of life was voted the best in Europe by Eurostat, and according to the World Economic Forum, this relatively small country has the most fulfilled residents of the 130 countries it measured.

Their laid-back lifestyle is not for those who enjoy being glued to their phone and on-the-go 24/7. The emphasis is on resting and relaxation alongside the exploration of nature - think a day of forest rambling alongside an evening of sauna hopping and celestial displays.

While summer cottage culture is huge on the country's sunny lakeshore spots, in the winter, people head for a cosy patch in the snow. The best way to tap into the Nordic zen is to hunker down in an igloo.

Hotel Kakslauttanen in North-Eastern Lapland is the cream of the crop and has been designed to let you embrace the ‘back to nature’ lifestyle of the Finns in a short period of time.

Their glass igloos, essentially cosy underground bunkers filled with snuggly blankets and down sleeping bags, have huge domed ceilings that offer incredible views of the Lappish wilderness and the polar night skies.

Hotel Kakslauttanen has larger cabins attached to igloos that can sleep six people
Hotel Kakslauttanen

As well as the comforting warmth of hibernating in the snow for a week, the ‘arctic resort’ offers the chance to soothe the soul with various different natural highs, which Finns believe are the best way to recharge your batteries.

Finland - in pictures

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There’s a husky safari, which will see you sledding through the bright winter sunshine via a dog-drawn sled. No petrol fumes, no rumbling engines, no packed Central Line - just you and the call of the wild.

Awaken the senses with a husky safari
Hotel Kakslauttanen

Ice fishing is also a huge part of Finnish culture, and you can spend a pleasant morning bundling up and breathing in lungfuls of fresh air while waiting for a catch in an opening in the snow, before cooking a fish supper over an open fire.

Go ice fishing
Hotel Kakslauttanen

Of course, with ample snow, there’s also the opportunity to ski. Kakslauttanen has 200 kilometres ski tracks and you can get going right from the backyard of your chalet. But unlike the bustling bars and crowded slopes of Verbier and Vals Thorens, Lapland offers miles and miles of beautiful, untouched nothingness which will help you to unwind in tranquility.

It’s not all snoozing and solitude though. There are healthy ways that Finns get the adrenaline pumping too. If you fancy a dip, you can take a bracing swim in the Bay of Bothnia - in a dry suit, thankfully - or rip through the through the wilderness on the back of a snowmobile.

Locals recommend heading to Kakslauttanen during Northern Lights season, which is from August to April, so you can admire the celestial display either from the comfort of your bed on one of their incredible ‘aurora hunt’ experiences. Taken by horseback, the hunts will see you trotting through the snow while soaking up the sights of the rare celestial display.

For a Finnish end to the day, evenings should be spent soaking up the heat in the sauna while meditating on the days activities. While you won’t find widescreen TV’s or other mod cons inside your igloo hideaway, many of the bigger six-person options offer fireplace, where you can curl up with a good book.

Curl up with a good book infront of the fire
Hotel Kakslauttanen

The best thing about the Finnish way of life is that you won't be tempted to booze-away your annual leave and returning to the office even more fatigued than when you first set off.

Fygge? It might just catch on...

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