Arctic Circle Wilderness Resort

Surrounded by beautiful rapids of River Raudanjoki, lush shoreline forest and pristine nature, the Arctic Circle Wilderness Resort offers traditional Finnish log cabin accommodation. A romantic atmosphere, sounds of silence and good cuisine make the Resort a perfect holiday location for those who want to enjoy pure nature and hunt for northern lights not too far from Rovaniemi center.
The property is also called Vaattunki in Finnish and it is the gateway to the Arctic Circle Hiking Area, a wilderness destination ideal for year-round outdoor recreation. The hiking area’s network of trails is diverse and has a variety of hiking destinations and possibilities.
The location is easy to access at all times of the year – only a 15-minute drive from Rovaniemi international airport and a ride to downtown takes 20 minutes by car.

Accommodation

The Arctic Circle Wilderness Resort is the dream destination for people looking for peaceful accommodation in Rovaniemi area not too far away from services. The four room types available offer cozy options for couples, families and groups. The atmospheric cabins and elegant huts located in the middle of the quiet wilderness leave an impression on every visitor.

EMBRACE YOUR OPTIONS

Activities

Nestled in the forest and on the shoreline of the Raudanjoki River, the location of the Arctic Circle Wilderness Resort offers you the perfect opportunity to indulge in the spectacular winter activities. Take a look at the great selection of experiences available to you.

All the activities include transfers from the Arctic Circle Wilderness Resort.

EMBRACE THE ADVENTURE

Weddings and celebrations

Have you been dreaming about your wedding happening at a very exotic location, or are you having a big anniversary or birthday coming up and are looking for an extra special venue? The Arctic Circle Wilderness Resort is ready and willing to answer to both simple and grand requests. Share your wishes and let us make your dream come true!

EMBRACE THE NORTH

Restaurant

The cozy restaurant located in the main building of the Arctic Circle Wilderness Resort invites guests to step in and enjoy delicious food in a warm atmosphere. The impressive logs used as the building material, tasty meals with local ingredients and a warm fireplace make you feel at home in Lapland. During the winter season the restaurant is open daily, and groups are served all year round.

HAVE A CLOSER LOOK

Sauna

Trying out the traditional Finnish way of refreshing relaxation in a hot steam is a must during your visit. This lovely experience will certainly make you understand the mindset of the Finns more deeply and is the perfect way to shrug off the cold after a day outside. The spacious sauna is located at the beautiful riverside and can be booked privately for both shorter and longer slots.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The seasons
How to get to Rovaniemi
What to do in the Arctic Circle Wilderness Resort
The seasons

Summer facts

June - August
Temperature +15 - +25 degrees (the hottest temperature recorded is +30,6 °C)

Daylight 24 hours
Midnight sun brings with it wonderfully long sunlit days, meaning plenty of time for summer activities.

Activities include canoeing and boat trips on the lakes and rivers of the area, visiting huskies and reindeers, hiking, fat-biking, berry picking, sauna experiences and visiting Santa Claus.

Autumn facts

September - mid November
Temperature -5 - +15 degrees

People head to the forests in search of berries and mushrooms. Aurora starts to dance in the night sky. The first snowfall is usually experienced by mid-November.

The autumn colours of oranges, reds and yellows start to appear. To witness this transformation of colour enjoy one of our tours visit Autumn activities.

Activities include berry and mushroom picking, nature photography, sauna experiences and visits to a local museum.

Winter facts

Mid-November - mid-April
Temperature -5 - -30 degrees
(the coldest temperature recorded is -45,3 °C)
with rivers and lakes freezing over.

The shortest day of the year is December 21st or 22nd (varies annually), and thanks to being located right on the Arctic Circle, on this day, the sun doesn’t rise at all in Rovaniemi.

Beautiful winter landscapes highlighted by the brightness of the snow which on average stays for 183 days of the year.

See the vast selection of our Winter Activities.

Spring facts

Mid-April - May
Temperature -15 - +15 degrees

The snow starts to melt although many winter activities can still be enjoyed.
The days get longer and warmer, the ice starts breaking up in the rivers and moves downstream in great floes.

Nature (flora and fauna) wakes up and Rovaniemi starts to become green again. In Ranua Wildlife Park you can witness the animals getting ready for the summer.
The focus of the Activities in Rovaniemi includes both winter and summer experiences during this indecisive period.

How to get to Rovaniemi

Rovaniemi is situated in Finnish Lapland, right on the Arctic Circle. Despite the northern location, getting here is easy – Rovaniemi is well connected to the rest of the world via various means of transport. From abroad, the easiest way to get to Rovaniemi is by plane, either via Helsinki or direct. Inside Finland, Rovaniemi can be reached by plane, train, coach or car.

Flight connections
Daily flights between Rovaniemi and Helsinki are operated by Finnair and Norwegian throughout the year. During the winter season, November - March, EasyJet and Norwegian operate direct flights from London Gatwick to Rovaniemi.

Train connections
Finnish railroads are operated by state company VR.
Rovaniemi is easy to reach by rail from many Finnish towns, with several trains running to and from Helsinki every day and a night train every evening. Trains run year round, despite the harsh weather at times.

Coach connections
The coach services operated by Matkahuolto and Onnibus cover most of Finland’s road network and provide a well-priced option for getting to Rovaniemi.

Road connections
Rovaniemi is easy to get to by car from all directions although distances can be long. If you plan on travelling around Lapland by car, be sure to allocate enough time for the long distances and changing weather conditions, particularly in the winter. Note that during the winter period of snow and ice it is compulsory to have winter studded tires on your car.
Up-to-date information on road conditions is published by the Finnish Transport Agency.

What to do in the Arctic Circle Wilderness Resort

The Arctic Circle Wilderness Resort is perfectly located away from the city lights – 25 km’s from Rovaniemi centre, nestled in the arctic forest, on the shores of Raudanjoki River and at the gateway to the Arctic Circle Hiking Area. This tranquil and peaceful setting allows you to unwind, de-stress and be at one with nature. There is ample opportunity to explore the natural surroundings, with several hiking trails starting from the resort area. The trails are accessible by foot throughout the year, but are best enjoyed by forest skis or snowshoes during the winter season when the amount of snow makes hiking by foot hard going. These are available to rent from the reception of the resort.

Located away from the lights of the city opens up great opportunities to observe the northern lights as well. Simply stepping out from your accommodation will provide you with a good location for seeing the lights. Good photo spots are in abundance and you can ask for tips from reception on where to walk for a great shot.

We also offer many exciting and wonderful safaris for you to enjoy, all with transfers from the resort. You can try your hand at snowmobiling, enjoy the thrill of a husky ride through the arctic forests of the area or even enjoy a peaceful reindeer ride. Have a look at activities at the resort and see what would interest you.

For those who simply want to relax and de-stress without the bother of wrapping up warm for the snowy conditions, the resort restaurant has a cosy lounge area with a fireplace where you can snuggle down on a sofa with a good book and get lost in your own world.

However you choose to un-wind on your holiday the Arctic Circle Wilderness Resort will surely have an activity for you to enjoy.