1 min read
The night sky in Finnish Lapland can be charcoal black when the clouds disperse making a superb starry canvas for the colourful Northern Lights.
But the snow on the ground is deep and temperatures tend to plummet in the winter months (October to March) to -25 degrees and beyond. This makes standing outside to gaze at the heavens a challenge.
That's why spending a night or two in a plush, heated, glass-domed igloo with 360-degree views is such an exciting prospect.
The Golden Crown resort is located on the Levi fell (small mountain) in Utsuvaara around 350m above sea level - a location ideal for star gazing.
It comprises eight beautifully decked-out igloos that offer superb vistas of a white, undulating Lappish landscape, the lights of the town below, the surrounding forest, the night sky and whatever celestial glories it throws out.
Looking up from a comfy (and adjustable) bed or sitting in one of two red armchairs aside an ornate glass side table sipping a glass of bubbly is cosy and calming. By design there is no distracting wi-fi or TV. The amazing ergonomic design has fitted so much comfort into just 23sq m: a kitchenette whose fridge is stocked with breakfast, an ensuite shower with a rainforest shower head, hair dryer, some storage and a CD player with easy listening CDs. And when you want to nip out to explore, there is a shuttle service to and from Levi town a short 10km hop away.
Rates: from £209 per person per night based on two sharing. Breakfast and shuttle included. inghams.co.uk