Wednesday, 11 November 2009

8 Unusual, Unique Places to Stay for Northern Lights spectacle

One of the most amazing natural phenomenom you are ever likely to witness, has to be the beauty of the Aurora Borealis or 'Northern Lights'. The lights naturally occur in the Northern Hemisphere anywhere between late August and late April, but no guarantees are certain, nature has its own agenda! Rare Retreats has hand-picked a selection of unique, unusual places to stay so hopefully, you can enjoy this experience for yourself either snug and warm in a glass igloo, a converted rail-car, a ship/boat or perhaps a converted fishermans cabin overlooking the sea.
Hotel Kakslauttanen & Igloo Village, Saariselka, Lapland, Finland
Style: Glass igloos

Hotel Kakslauttanen & Igloo Village is home of the famous, unique Glass and Snow Igloos and the World's Largest Snow Restaurant. In addition, guests can enjoy all the other Lappish winter activities. The Northern Lights (Aurora borealis) are visible from late August to late April.

Inside Info: Rates from EUR 138 per person, per night. Includes breakfast & evening sauna.

When sleeping in the Glass Igloos the customer is able to marvel the amazing northern lights and the millions of stars in the sky. The experience is also unforgettable when there is a snowstorm. Kakslauttanen is a very good place for seeing the Northern Lights, Aurora Borealis, as in the area there are not so many electric lights outside and it is north enough so that the probability of them is very high from late August to late April.
The Glass Igloos have been built from a very special thermo glass. Because of that, the temperature inside the Igloo is always a normal room temperature. It also prevents the glass from not getting white frosted, hence keeping the view clear even when the temperature drops under -30 C. To increase the comfort of the customer, the Igloos have a toilet and luxury beds. Every morning there is also a sauna and a possibility to swim in an ice hole nearby.

Style: Igloo/Cabins

Staying at ICEHOTEL is a must for the modern adventurer – an experience utterly unlike other hotel stays. At ICEHOTEL in Jukkasjärvi you can choose between several different types of accommodation. The ideal is to combine one cold night in ICEHOTEL with several warm nights in our hotel rooms or hotel chalets. This in order to fully enjoy the ICEHOTEL experience.

Inside Info: Rates from SEK 3,500 per person, per night (cold accommodation), SEK 1350 per person, per night (warm accommodation).

Style: Igloo

Dive into the world of the Hôtel de Glace and contrast the frenzied thrill of the unknown with the ensuing calm and sense of well-being. Spending a night at the Hôtel de Glace gives you a break from the bustle of the outside world; it's a cocoon that cuts you off from the rest of the world and its daily stresses.

Enjoy the nordic relaxation area with its outdoor spas and saunas to prolong your getaway. The fairytale surroundings will have you relaxing beneath the snowflakes in no time.

Inside Info: Rates from CDN $349.50 per person, based on 1 night's stay.

Kirkenes Snowhotel, Kirkenes, Norway
Style: Igloo

Every guest in snowhotel sleeps as Snow Queen and Snow King! Spacious, white, decorated, enlightened SnowSuites is especially designed for our guests. In every room there are many beautiful design art made from snow and ice. Welcome to a world of white snow!

Inside Info: Rates from NOK 2,100 per person, per night.

High Country Inn, Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada
Style: TV Location/Unique

When you stay at High Country Inn, you’ll never forget where you are. You simply can’t beat the “local colour.” Maybe it’s the 40-foot wooden Mountie that guards our entrance like the legendary Sergeant Preston of the North. Maybe it’s the rustic décor of our Yukon Mining Company Saloon, the Deck, where you can try northern cuisine and even pan for gold. Maybe it’s the fact that the heated deck, the largest in town, is the perfect spot to soak up our extended daylight or watch the Northern Lights. Or maybe it’s all those long-time Yukoners who come here regularly to wash down tales of their exploits with locally-produced beer.

In the winter months, the Ice Road Truckers spend time here when not hauling loads on the ice roads.

Inside Info: Rates from CDN $149 per night.

Style: Isolated/Remote Cabin

The Algonquin Wilderness Eco-Lodge, located on the southern border of Algonquin Park (only 3 hours from Toronto or Ottawa), is a wilderness enthusiasts' dream! Summer or Winter, there is always plenty to do and see. With over 60 km of groomed trackset and wilderness trails inside Algonquin Park, the Algonquin Eco-Lodge is a leader of hotels for cross country skiing, dog sledding, hiking, canoeing, and mountain biking. In fact, they have one of the largest single trail systems in Southern Ontario, and offer one of the best wilderness experiences in Canada! And the fall colours are truly spectacular! Hiking our trails, or paddling a canoe on our private lake in the autumn is an unforgettable way to experience our famous fall colors.

Your experience begins with a leisurely 2.3 km walk, or cycle, or ski (about 25 minutes) through Algonquin Park to reach our front doors. Don't worry - your luggage can be transferred for you (optional).

Inside Info: Rates from CDN $190 for 2 nights, CDN $285 for 3 nights. Meals are included.

Two night minimum stay in winter and no pets or babies allowed.

Alaska Wilderness Cabins, Homer, Alaska
Style: Ship/Boat, Train/Caboose

Alaska Adventure Cabins are located on Baycrest Hill overlooking the most breath-taking view in Homer. The panoramic view is so spectacular, that the State of Alaska located the popular scenic pull off right up the hill from our cabins. You will enjoy views of glaciers, the Homer spit, Mt. Augustine volcano, Kachemak Bay and Cook Inlet. Two cabins, a timber frame lodge, a ship, and a rail car, each with its own unique features, Alaska Adventure Cabins are like having your own private home with all the amenities.

Inside Info: Rates from $345 per night (ship/boat accommodation), $245 per night (train/caboose accommodation). Based on up to 4 people.

Svinoya Rorbuer Hotel, Svolvaer, Norway
Style: Unique-Converted fisherman's cabins

All of the 30 original or newly built rorbu cabins maintain extremely high standard. Each cabin has from one to three double bedrooms, a well-equipped kitchenette in conjunction with the living room, and a modern bathroom with shower and toilet. All the cabins are winter insulated. Considerable emphasis has been placed on maintaining the authenticity of the rorbu cabins. Time-honoured craftsmanship and timber have been preserved in order to provide a feeling of what a rorbu cabin was like in the days when the fishermen harvested the seas of Lofoten on boats with only oars and sails.

Inside Info: Rates from NOK 925 per night.

View Unique, Unusual Places to Stay & Spot Northern Lights in a larger map

0 comments:

Post a Comment