The Aurora Zone Blog

My time in the Northern Lights Village, Levi

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The much-loved Northern Lights Village in Saariselkä, in the North East region of Finnish Lapland, opened a new resort for the first time for the winter 2019/2020 season. I was fortunate enough to be amongst the first ever guests to stay here. Located in Levi, a ski town south west of Saariselkä, the hotel is only a 25-minute transfer from Kittilä airport. Despite the short transfer time, Levi is a remote location far away from light pollution - perfect for Northern Lights viewing.

Upon walking into the main building, the resort has a modern and stylish look complemented with Scandi décor. Contemporary but cosy furniture surrounds the open stone fireplace – very much the centrepiece and the first thing you lay eyes on as you walk into the building. The restaurant is large with an open kitchen to see what culinary treats the local chefs are preparing as well as views of the stunning Finnish landscape through the surrounding windows.

Once we checked-in, we were shown where we would be spending the night. Undoubtedly, the main attraction of the Northern Lights Village is the accommodation. Levi consists of forty brand new Aurora Cabins each with a slanted glass roof on one side to gaze outward at the night sky. The glass is laser-heated so the snowfall doesn’t obscure your view.  There are many Aurora Cabins located around Finland which are only offered as an upgrade for one night. At Levi, you will stay in an Aurora Cabin for the whole duration, maximising your chances of viewing the Northern Lights from the comfort of your bed! The cabins are spacious with a generously sized bathroom, they can be double or twin with the option of adding a double sofa bed.  All cabins point away from the main building towards the forest line and facing north – for optimal Aurora viewing potential.

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Dinner that night was delightful, with a great variety and a real sense that the dishes are inspired by the local area. The restaurant proved very accommodating for dietary requirements and served some delicious dishes for my vegan and vegetarian colleagues.

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After our dinner, we retired by the cosy fireplace in the lounge area before setting off on an evening snowshoe activity. Lead by a knowledgeable local guide, we talked about life in the north as we trampled through the thick snow under a starry sky in search of the Northern Lights. Unfortunately, on this occasion, we didn’t catch a glimpse of the Auroras, but I now have a new appreciation of the night sky in this remote part of the world.

My night’s sleep was a restful one, as you would expect from such a peaceful location, and in the early morning, after a hearty breakfast, we continued our Finland adventure northbound.

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Image credits: Neil Walton and the Northern Lights Village

Read 3584 times Last modified on Tuesday, 09 March 2021

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