Northern Lights Village Saariselkä

Finland, Saariselka

Located in far Northeast Finland, the Northern Lights Village sits on the outskirts of the ski resort of Saariselka. Tucked away from the town, the location is ideal for viewing the Northern Lights but is still within walking distance (around 1000m) of the towns amenities. The ski slopes can be accessed via a shuttle (small charge applies) or a pleasant walk of around 40-50 minutes.

The Northern Lights Village offers accommodation in Aurora Cabins which are half-roofed with glass. The twin or double beds are situated beneath the panoramic roof and provide the chance to view the Northern Lights from your bed!

There are 80 cabins in total, all of which are within a 5-10 minutes walk of the Villages central facilities which include the restaurant.

Facilities

The Village restaurant is an atmospheric place, inspired by traditional wooden kotas (Finnish teepees). Breakfast is a buffet of continental options and some hot dishes. Evening meals are a buffet with starters of soups and salad, a choice of local meat or fish will follow (the reindeer and white fish in this region are delicious!). Typically, a cake will be served for pudding, keeping you well-fuelled for your nocturnal Aurora hunting adventures. Dietary requirements are all well-catered for as long as we are informed at the time of booking (you will also need to make staff aware of your requirements locally because of the buffet service). Theres also a large bar and lounge area.
The Northern Lights Village has an onsite reindeer paddock and all activities start in the village so there is no need for transfers.
Saariselka is around a 20-25 minute walk from the Northern Lights Village (40-50 minutes to the ski slopes) which means that all of the amenities, shops, cafes and local restaurants are within easy reach.
Guests can pay extra to use the hot tub, sauna and ice pool.

Aurora Cabin

The Aurora Cabins have a half-glass roof which is laser heated to keep it clear of ice, and they all face the Northern sky.

Each cabin has a double (separate duvets) or twin beds and some have an additional sofa bed, suitable for an additional adult or two small children. There is a shower room (with underfloor heating) and a toilet, as well as a luggage storage area, Tea and coffee-making facilities, free WiFi, a hairdryer and a minibar (payable locally) are also included.

Importantly for duvet-based Aurora hunting, a timer switch can be used to heat the glass roof should your view be obscured by snowfall. It takes approximately 5-10 minutes to heat and melt the snow so there’s no need to go and sweep the roof in your pyjamas!

A few housekeeping notes we always like guests to be aware of – cabins are not cleaned between arrival and departure unless requested from reception. Additionally, towels can be exchanged at reception if required. The hot water is plentiful, but not unlimited (10-15 minutes per half hour), so please bear this in mind.

Polar Sky Suites

There are 16 Polar Sky Suites situated at the top of Kaunispää Hill with expansive views of frozen lakes and forests stretching to the horizon.

Each suite has a half-glass roof, allowing you to look up into the sky in search of the Northern Lights and out across the snow-covered fells. The suites are located on the southern slopes of the Kaunispää Hill, close to Saariselkä’s ski slopes and above the tree line. The suites have an open-plan design, consisting of twin beds (made into a double), a kitchenette area, dining table, TV, and a sofa that converts into a sleeping space for up to two extra people. There is a separate bathroom with a toilet, shower and sauna.

When staying in the Polar Sky Suites, complimentary shuttles between the suites and Northern Lights Village Saariselkä are included. The regular shuttle service will take you to the Northern Lights Village for all of your meals, as well as your activity starting points; the journey time is approximately 7-10 minutes one-way.

Please note that 8 of the suites will be newly built for Winter 2025-26 and therefore their inclusions and layout may differ from the description above and the images displayed.