Santa, Sleighs and Igloos in Finland

Do you believe in Santa Claus? What if I told you that the letters you address to “The North Pole” actually make it to a small town in Finland, where Santa and his helpers sit at their desks and read each and every letter? You probably won’t believe me, thinking it was a made up kids story. But really, it is actually true and I have seen it with my very own eyes!

I flew to a city called Ivalo, in northern Finland, located inside the Arctic Circle. Even in April, there was snow as far as my eyes could see. Reindeers appeared wandering around the alpine forests, as I took a 30-minute shuttle ride to Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort in Lapland.

Most people say they have never heard of Lapland, until I mention the “igloo hotel.” The iconic photo of a village dotted with glass igloos glowing against the twilight sky in wintery wonderland, has appeared across many social media posts. I had only dreamt of going there myself someday, and here I was.

igloo resort finlandThe shuttle dropped off the passengers at a log cabin used as the reception area. We fetched our keys and were told to use the sleighs kept outside to carry our luggage to our respective cabin rooms or igloos.

While it was snowing heavily outside and temperatures dipped under 30F (“unusually warm for this time of the year” they informed me), I dragged my wooden sleigh to my cabin.

laplandThere are three kinds of rooms at the resort. The first and most popular are the glass igloos, available in two sizes – sleeps 2 (with toilet, no shower) or 4 people (with shower and toilet). The igloos have limited space to store luggage and almost no privacy, since they are made entirely of glass. Though you have to walk through the snowy cold weather to get to the igloo, once inside, it is nice and toasty.

The second option is to get a log cabin. Here, you can get a very comfortable king size bed, kitchenette, breakfast area, as well as a personal sauna. Now, that’s luxury! For those who cannot decide between the igloo or the cabin, there is the Kelo Glass Igloo, which combines a cabin with an igloo, so you get the best of both worlds. Store your luggage in the cabin, enjoy a nice hot sauna, and sleep in the igloo at night.

kakslauttanen_kelo-glass_igloo_rgbPicture yourself lying in bed, looking at the sky, while the Aurora Lights dance around in their green, orange and red hues. That is the main reason to come here. In Lapland, you can see northern lights almost every night from August-April, in their full splendor. The resort also offers activities “Aurora Hunting” on snow mobiles or reindeer sleighs.

During the day, guests can enjoy winter sports such as cross country skiing, dog sledding, hiking, riding snow mobiles, and more.

dsc06915For lunch, there is always all-you-can-eat soup (two choices) and homemade breads. Dinner at the restaurant is also quite good. The menu features local ingredients and Lappish dishes, such as reindeer stew, Alaskan crab, grilled salmon, and stewed cloudberries.

reindeer & salmon

The resort is actually quite large and worth exploring for a few hours. First, you want to visit Santa’s house. Here, resident Mr and Mrs Claus live, meet guests and participate in activities through the season. The Celebration House is where Santa throws elaborate parties. It is also used for weddings and events. There are other small workshops, an ice chapel, and of course, the local wildlife. Couple of dozen reindeers live on the property.

Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort is one of it’s kind. It was started by a visionary, Jussi Eiramo. While on vacation, he discovered this patch of beautiful area where he could camp and see the Northern Lights almost every night of the year. So, he opened a souvenir shop about 40 years ago, then made ice igloos for people to stay at, and later designed the first glass igloos using unique Finnish technology.

Today, Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort is a bucket list destination for those who seek adventure, romance and off the beaten path travel. It is a place where families flock to in the winter to celebrate the holiday season, party with Santa, and enjoy the essence of the North Pole.

10 Dishes You Must Eat in Finland

When you think of Finnish food, what comes to mind? Actually, I never saw a Finnish restaurant outside Finland, or came up close with a Finnish chef or famous Finnish recipe. I did know they had reindeer and fish, so perhaps I would find something reasonable to eat in Finland?

Well, there are actually quite some delicious dishes in Finnish cuisine. Having an abundance of lakes and forests, the country has access to fresh seafood, game, berries and root vegetable. The Fins like to eat simply prepared, healthy and wholesome foods. Here are the top 10 dishes you must try when you visit Finland…

  1. Karelian pasty – Karjalanpiirakka is a traditional Finnish dish made from a thin rye crust with a filling of rice. Butter, often mixed with boiled egg (egg butter or munavoi), is spread over the hot pastries before eating.finland rice pastry
  2. Rye bread – Sounds simple, but this may be the best bread you would have tasted! They also add flax seeds and spelt so the bread is hearty and healthy. Spread with homemade jams, butter, and cheese. I looked forward to breakfast each day. fish soup and rye bread
  3. Hernekeitto – Fins love to eat soups and stews for lunch. This one is a split pea soup, which is traditionally eaten on Thursdays with pork or pancakes.
  4. Salmon – Fresh and smoked salmon (gravlax) is probably one of the best in Scandinavia. The fresh cold waters of the fjords allow for the salmon to stay pink in color (vs the Alaskan red) and is fattier. There’s hardly a meal in Finland where you can escape salmon.finland smoked salmon
  5. Herring – Baltic herring is another popular ingredient found in Finning cuisine. Smoked herring and pickled herring are commonly served as appetizers, sometimes accompanied by small potatoes called uusiperuna which literally means new potato. I also tried fried herring at the historic Sea Horse restaurant in Helsinki.
  6. Crayfish – I am a big fan of shellfish and some of the best crayfish I have ever eaten has been in Helsinki. Tender and juicy chunks are tossed with mayo and spread on toast, with a sprinkle of fresh dill and lemon juice. Best place to eat it is at the Old Market Hall near the Helsinki harbor.
  7. Reindeer – In a country where reindeers are allowed to roam free and not raised for meat, this is the most sustainable protein. You can find reindeer sausages, kebabs, hamburgers, stews, jerky, steaks and every imaginable meat dish. No matter which form you eat your reindeer in, it is good to know that the meat contains only 4% fat and is rich in omega-3, omega-6, B-12, zinc and iron.reindeer stew
  8. Cloudberries – Found in the northern forests of Finland, cloudberries are little orange tart berries packed with vitamin. At the Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort in Lapland, I had all kinds of cocktails, jams and desserts with cloudberries. The Lappish squeaky cheese baked with cloudberries is the most popular dessert. Cloudberries are a source of youth, as they contain a lot of anti-oxidants that protect against cancer and heart disease, and reduce the process of aging.cloudberries
  9. Salty licorice – Salmiakki is made with ammonium chloride, making the candy very salty. It comes in different flavors and textures, from soft and chewy, to hard and brittle. It is an acquired taste but the Finns love it.
  10. Salmiakki kossu – Is a premixed alcoholic drink with vodka, and peppery licorice. It is dark charcoal color and has a strong flavor. Finlandia is another popular brand of Finish distilled vodka made of barley.

Do you have a favorite Finish dish? Share it below…