A solitary glass igloo in the middle of the lake
Think about this: A solitary place in the middle of a frozen lake during the Lappish winter, plus 21 degrees celsius inside that let you stay lazy in your glass igloo, minus 26 degrees celsius outside, a spectacular view from your bed of the wild nature just some meters from you. And when the polar night comes the Northern Lights spectacle begins just in front of you. At least this was my hope.
Driving through Lapland, the first day
In February I spent 2 nights at the Aurora Igloo Hotel in Jokkmokk.
From Lulea airport it’s about a 200kms drive in a snowy and peaceful landscape. Jokkmokk is the crossroads between the airport and Kiruna, a famous Swedish place for winter holidays.
I met Bjorn, the Aurora Igloo host, some minutes after midday on monday and shortly after the presentations he brings me to the private parking lot. The igloo is nearby after a short walk through the frozen forest. This short walk is amazing, cold, dreamy.
Then the igloo appears: around only the icy lake, the white forest trees, the coldest temperature I’ve ever lived, the crackling of my feet on the snow and the sparkling frosty air trough the nose and the mouth. I closed my eyes and I felt a sense of freedom and serenity that I thought I had left somewhere.
Probably you can feel to be in the space or in a different planet because everything is white. Snow snow snow like you had never seen. I loved it.
Intimate moments inside the igloo, a life experience
Inside there’s a kitchen, a toilet and the main room with a double comfortable bed. And on the bed a complimentary basket with Chardonnay Wine and a spiced one.
“Drink this hot, you’ll love it” said Bjorn
We tried hot that evening and it seemed like the italian “Vin Brulé”. So good!
May you imagine the beauty you can see from the room?
It’s extraordinary better than each other Lappish Igloo hotel I’ve ever seen because, there, you are alone and you don’t have to share your Northern Lights emotions with other guests. Your Aurora polar experience will be exclusive. The lake in front of your eyes is only for you and your dreaming soul.
I lighted a campfire, I have been sit down on the snow, I spent the late afternoon there waiting for the sun falling behind the horizon with the roaring sparks of the flames jumping on the icy snow.
Can you ever imagine about a better intimate moment?
Northern Lights SHOW at Aurora Igloo
When the night came the Northern Lights appears in the clear sky.
It’s Mother Nature’s greatest spectacle, a mesmerizing and spellbinding light show upon you eyes into the infinte night sky.
This lightshow originates 93 million miles away on the surface of the Sun and travels across the frozen wastes of spaces.
There are lots of myths about Norther Lights: cultures across the north understood them through imagery that ranges from poetic to somber to horrifying; for the Sámi people, for example, the lights were energy from the souls of deceased ancestors. When the lights appeared, people were to behave solemnly. Disrespecting them could result in sickness or even death.
What I did, it was simply to lay down on the icy snow looking at the sky when the lights appears strong in a way I had never seen, neither in Finland nor in Iceland. My heart was trembling when the green Aurora Borealis lights were dancing above my head. It has been the first time I could see its waves clear with the naked eye. Exciting and unforgivable.
During the day you can take part at some activities like snowmobile tour in the surroundings or icebath in the frozen lake in front of your igloo. I took part at both activities but the icebath is something special: you will take your body out of its normal state of equilibrium and it feels regenerating! After the initial fear I loved that moment.
One night at the Aurora Igloo Hotel is ok but if you want to enjoy completely the adventure I suggest you to spend at least 2 nights. Your time, there, will be rewarded with an exclusive personal and intimate experience.
Luca Oliveri 