Summary
The following day, after a relaxed breakfast, we organized our luggage and took a moment to bid adieu to Muotka Wilderness Lodge.
While enjoyable, we would soon transition to a new accommodation for the ensuing days here (this arrangement had been confirmed with Inghams Holiday prior to our arrival, so there were no unexpected events).
As we had a carefree morning ahead, we ventured towards the Northern Lights Village, which serves as a hub for various engaging activities in Lapland.
This area offers accommodation equipped with glass ceilings, granting guests the ability to witness the Northern Lights from the comfort of their beds, along with amenities such as a sauna, traditional Sami dwellings, and activities like reindeer interaction and dog sledding.
Our morning commenced with a leisurely stroll around the village, a perfect activity for the chilly atmosphere.
This charming locale allows one to easily feel secluded in nature, enveloped in its tranquil beauty.
Fortuitously, we stumbled upon a Sami reindeer farmer attending to his reindeer, who graciously shared his knowledge.
In just 10 to 15 minutes, I gained valuable insights into reindeers—including their habitats, diet, summer roaming behaviors, and their interactions with predators like eagles.
After expressing gratitude to the farmer, we proceeded to the hotel for lunch, still reminiscing about the previous day’s delightful salmon stew, opting for the same menu once again. This dish was certainly one I could enjoy daily during our stay.
Following our meal, the clouds began to dissipate, revealing an already stunning landscape accentuated by the sun’s warm tones.
Now, our destination for the night would be the Star Arctic Hotel, and we arrived just in time to witness a splendid sunset.
The sun doesn’t typically rise here; however, as we are gradually approaching spring, the sunsets become more pronounced and are absolutely magnificent!
We did not proceed to check in until we thoroughly appreciated the beautiful sunset. 😀
So, what prompted the shift to the Star Arctic Hotel?
In Finnish Lapland, it is often desirable to seek out the Northern Lights; although not mandatory, it is certainly enjoyable. The most relaxing way to experience them is comfortably in bed.
The Star Arctic Hotel features glass ceilings that allow guests to witness extraordinary celestial shows, even while in bed—provided they are awake, of course.
After checking in, we proceeded to the hotel’s restaurant for dinner, which exceeded the standard expectations of a typical hotel meal in Lapland.
Typically, dining at Finnish Lapland hotels involves buffet-style meals, though there are options to dine out. However, at this hotel, the dining experience was a-la-carte—truly delectable!
This delightful aspect caught me off guard as I had not anticipated it. My voracious appetite (for reasons unknown, as our day had primarily involved relaxation) dominated my focus, leaving little mental bandwidth for anything beyond satisfying my hunger.
We commenced our meal with local white fish, followed by my choice of goose and Lloyd opted for reindeer.
Dessert consisted of baked apple for me and a chocolate brownie for Lloyd—perfect conclusions to the delightful dining experience.
Using the Northern Lights forecast application I had downloaded earlier, the weather predictions indicated a high likelihood of visibility for the lights, prompting us to ascend the hill for a post-dinner walk (conveniently adjacent to the same location we enjoyed lunch the previous day) to check for their appearance.
And indeed, they were visible, albeit not intensely. I could observe their presence, but based on previous encounters with the Northern Lights, I knew they could present an even more vivid display.
We lingered for a while, awaiting brighter lights, before ultimately deciding to retire for the night. Indeed, there could hardly be a more comfortable viewpoint than our cabin. 😀
