Wilderness Hotel Inari – Auroras by the Frozen Lake
- Details
Details
Lake Inari is a mystical and spiritual place, particularly for the indigenous Sámi people. Wilderness Hotel Inari is located on its shores, and it is no surprise that some otherworldly Northern Lights displays have been witnessed here, which have contributed to the legends and myths surrounding the Aurora.
Scientifically speaking the location is ideal. It is 250km above the Arctic Circle and in an area of very little light pollution. The lake freezes in winter and the vast outlook offers unobstructed views of the northern sky. These conditions contribute to spectacular Auroral displays and we have made sure to include dedicated hunting opportunities with local and knowledgeable guides.
During your holiday you will hunt the Northern Lights from the cosy warmth of a minibus or car, enjoy a peaceful snowshoe walk and visit a strategically placed Aurora camp, which is located on the southern shores of the lake.
No trip to Lapland would be complete without exploring the pristine winter landscapes which surround the hotel. Most of us have only seen snow like this on television, but in reality, nothing can prepare you for the crispness of the air and the magnificent sea of white which stretches out on the frozen lake. This picture-perfect, winter backdrop is an ideal setting for a host of our most popular winter activities.
Your daytime activities allow you to immerse yourself in the pristine winter environment with cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, reindeer encounters, and a thrilling dog sled safari all included in the holiday.
The activities outlined will all be included in your holiday, however, the order listed in the agenda is for guidance only, and your final timetable will be confirmed on arrival.
Please note if you are travelling over New Year, you will enjoy a festive dinner and celebrations on the 31st of December.
Important Information
The order of activities listed in this agenda is provided for guidance only. Your final and detailed itinerary will be provided either with your final travel documents (which will be emailed to you around a week prior to departure), or upon arrival.
Itinerary
On arrival at Ivalo Airport, you will be met by your driver and transferred* to Wilderness Hotel Inari. It may well be dark when you arrive so keep an eye out for any flickers of light en-route!
Following check-in, you’ll enjoy an evening meal in the restaurant. Cold weather clothing will be distributed either this evening or in the morning.
The remainder of the evening is yours to spend how you wish. The location of the hotel, close to the lake, is ideal for a short stroll and given that there is very little light pollution, you may be lucky enough to be welcomed to Lapland by an Aurora display.
Please note that the order of activities listed in this agenda is provided for guidance only, your final itinerary will be provided on arrival at your accommodation.
*Transfers are based on a scheduled group shuttle that may stop at a few nearby hotels. If you would prefer to upgrade to private taxi transfers please ask our Travel Experts for a quotation
Included Meals: Dinner
Dog sledding is one of our guests’ favourite activities, not least because of the dogs themselves, but also for the experience of crossing a pristine winter landscape some 250km north of the Arctic Circle in such a time-honoured fashion.
Today will be provided with a full safety briefing, as well as tuition on how to drive the sled before you meet the dogs. If you have a dog and have experienced their excitement when you return from work, multiply it by ten and you may begin to understand the enthusiasm of a sled dog when you arrive for the safari.
After the sled’s anchor is released, the dogs will soon settle into a comfortable pace. Travelling two per sled, with one person driving and one-person sitting as a passenger, you can simply admire the serene and silent winter landscapes as they unfold before you. You can then swap over at the halfway point. The husky sledding will last 45-60 minutes including some time at the end for you to meet the dogs and take some photographs.
You’ll have some free time to relax during the day before dinner at the hotel. This will be followed by your first Aurora hunt with an experienced, local guide.
Your inaugural hunt for this natural light show will be in the warmth of a car or minibus. This allows you to cover greater distances and hopefully outrun any localised cloud cover. Inari has a fantastic Northern Lights record, so keep an eye out for any flickers of green in the night sky.
Enjoy breakfast before getting into your cold weather clothing for another exciting day of winter fun.
Your first tour of the day will give you an insight into Lappish culture as you visit a local reindeer farm. Reindeer are synonymous with Lapland and they have contributed to the survival of the indigenous Sámi people during the long Arctic winters for generations.
Next, you will enjoy your surroundings via snowmobile, which is perhaps the most effective mode of transport in this part of the world. After a safety briefing with full instruction, you will follow your guide to see more of the wintery landscape. You will travel two people per machine, and you must be 18 years and over and hold a full driving licence to drive a snowmobile. The activity will last for around two hours.
During the evening you will enjoy a meal in the restaurant before embarking on a second hunt for the Aurora.
Lake Inari is an ideal location for Aurora viewing. The expansive frozen lake offers unobstructed views of the night sky and it is at the heart of the Aurora Zone. Naturally, it has a fantastic Northern Lights record and our expert guides have various Aurora camps which are set up on the lake’s shores. Tonight, you will visit one of these.
Keep your eyes directed towards the night sky and search for any flickers of colour. No two displays are the same, but either way, it can be mind-blowing and entirely otherworldly. Hot drinks are included and you will travel to the camp on a sled pulled by your guide’s snowmobile.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
One of the most popular pastimes with the Inari locals is cross-country skiing. Today it is your turn to enjoy the freedom of the local trails with a cross-country skiing lesson and a short ski trip with your guide. In total the activity will last around two hours. Should you get hooked on this sport, then equipment can be rented at the hotel if you want to explore independently.
During your free time, we highly recommend talking a walk to Inari Village which is around 45 minutes away from the hotel on foot. Here you will find some souvenir shops and local cafes to enjoy.
After this evening’s dinner you shall venture out on your final Aurora hunt. You will strap on a pair of snowshoes and make your way through the peaceful wilds, with your guide leading the way to some excellent vantage points. With a little luck the lights will appear above you and bid you farewell.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Following breakfast, it is time to head home but you will have hopefully had an absolutely wonderful winter break in Finnish Lapland, with memories of a special Aurora show. You will be transferred back to the airport in preparation for your flight.
Included Meals: Breakfast
What's included?
- Return from London to Ivalo (either direct or via Helsinki). Flight routes are subject to change
- Return airport transfers
- 4 nights in twin/double hotel room. Upgrade options available on request
- 4 breakfasts, 3 lunches and 4 dinners
- Husky safari
- Reindeer farm visit
- Cross country skiing
- Aurora snowshoeing
- Snowmobile safari
- Aurora camp
- Aurora hunting by car or minibus
- Cold weather clothing for the duration of your stay
- Fully qualified guides and instructors during activities
- 24/7 assistance from our UK based operations team and in destination support from our local partners
Accommodation
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| Situated on Lake Inari’s shores, Wilderness Hotel Inari is one of the most spectacular destinations we feature. Offering excellent levels of comfort and some serious ‘wow factor’, it is the latest addition to the Wilderness Hotels owned by our good friends Jouko and Mari Lappalianen. Importantly it is also slap, bang in the middle of the world’s best Aurora hunting territory and the hotel has implemented some innovative Northern Lights features to help maximise your viewing potential. Wilderness Hotel Inari is ideally located around 40 minutes’ drive from Ivalo Airport and just five minutes from Inari Village, which is the centre of Sámi culture in Finland. There is a variety of accommodation on offer here, including cabins, Aurora cabins and hotel rooms, all of which are separate to (but within very easy reach of), the central restaurant building. The hotel provides modern accommodation with décor which combines both comfort and charm. A huge amount of thought has gone into creating this very special place to stay. Hotel Facilities
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Double/Twin Wilderness Room
The bedrooms are located in two separate buildings around 50 metres from the main building.
Each room has been decorated in a traditional Arctic style with inspiration taken from the local environment. They are around 30m² and have either a queen-sized bed or twin beds. Coffee and tea making facilities are provided in your room as well as either a comfortable sofa or two armchairs. If you can’t face being detached from the “real world”, the rooms also come with free Wi-Fi. Every bedroom is en-suite and comes complete with hairdryer and toiletries.
These rooms are designed for two people to share but a third person can be accommodated on a camp bed or pull-out sofa (supplements apply).
Log Cabin
These cosy cabins are built in the traditional way, with walls constructed from huge logs. The ground floor covers 70m² and the loft area offers an additional 20m².
On the ground floor, you’ll find a spacious dining/living room, comfy seating, and a wood burning stove which can be turned to face where you are sitting. There is also a kitchenette and dining area, although all your meals are provided in the restaurant. The main bedroom with a queen-sized bed can also be found on the ground floor. The cabins also provide free Wi-Fi although the signal is not strong in all of them. It can, however, be used in the lounge area of the main building if needed.
The bathroom and toilet (hairdryer and toiletries are provided) are also on the ground floor and the cabin comes with the luxury of a private sauna.
The loft area upstairs can accommodate three more single beds and, thanks to the pull-out sofa in the living area, the capacity of these cabins ranges from two to six people (although we would recommend a maximum of 4 adults). They are ideal for couples looking for a very romantic hideaway or for small groups of friends or family.
The cabins are between 15m and 100m from the main building.
Please note that this accommodation option requires an upgrade supplement. Please contact our Travel Experts for a quotation.
Arctic Chalet
These semi-detached, designer Arctic Chalets, are a fantastic addition to Inari’s range of accommodation options. They are designed to offer couples or families an air of Arctic luxury in their own holiday hideaway.
The modern interiors are sleek and beautifully designed. Each features a bedroom with an en-suite shower, private sauna room and king-size bed. The separate living area is well equipped with a cosy sofa, an electric fire and small kitchenette – they are very cosy and perfect to relax in following a day of adventures.
The lounge sofa can also convert into a (very comfy!) bed which can sleep an additional two people, the chalets are a much more spacious option than the standard hotel rooms and just a short walk from the main restaurant building.
Please note that this accommodation option requires an upgrade supplement. Please contact our Aurora Experts for a quotation.
Aurora Cabin
With the potential of seeing the Northern Lights above, you won’t want to take your eyes off the Arctic sky. Luckily, with Wilderness Hotel Inari’s Aurora Cabins, you won’t have to. These amazing structures are all equipped with an expansive heated glass roof to give you unobstructed views of the northern skies at all times.
These cosy cabins come with twin beds (which are typically pushed together), a sofa or armchairs in the small living area and an ensuite shower room (toiletries and hairdryer are provided). You will also have coffee and tea making facilities. Some of the cabins will also accommodate an extra person on a sofa bed. The cabins are 34m² in size. The Wi-Fi signal isn’t as strong in the cabins so you may need to use the main restaurant or use the time to switch off!
The cabins are between 20 and 50 metres from the main building.
Please note that this accommodation option requires an upgrade supplement. Please contact our Travel Experts for a quotation.
Tour Map
Additional Info
Price is based on 2 persons travelling
Tour terms, click here
Booking conditions click here
Payment and Cancellation Terms:
Snow coverage in early December
If you are travelling early in the winter season and there is not enough snowfall, then some activities may be adapted by the local team, or alternatives provided, to ensure everyone’s safety and comfort. For more information on this, please see section 11 of our booking terms and conditions.
Key Facts
For your best chance to see the Northern Lights, contact the UK’s only Aurora specialists
