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Surrounded by beautiful rapids of River Raudanjoki, lush shoreline forest and pristine nature, the Arctic Circle Wilderness Lodge offers traditional Finnish log cabin accommodation. Romantic atmosphere, sounds of silence and excellent cuisine are making the Lodge a perfect holiday cottage for those who want to enjoy pure nature and hunt for Northern Lights not too far from Rovaniemi.
The property is also called Vaattunki in Finnish and it is the gate to the Arctic Circle Hiking Area, a wilderness destination ideal for year-round outdoor recreation. The hiking area's trail network 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, ride to downtown takes 20 minutes by car.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
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I would highly recommend this accommodation if you’re visiting Finland and want to stay somewhere that feels remote but is also convenient for the airport, Rovaniemi and Santa Claus village. Although I saw a fair few taxis coming and going I think having a car is really valuable here. Public transport when we were there was twice a day and it was great to have the freedom. And convenient to park outside your own cabin. The panoramic cabin was of high quality. Yes the bathroom is tiny but more than adequate with a decent shower. The main reception cabin also contains the restaurant where there is a good breakfast and food options for lunch and dinner. The bar will also serve drinks but we did miss a cozy bar area. If you didn’t want to eat and just wanted a drink you were still sitting at a restaurant table. Do try the sauna and hot tub but remember to book this in advance of your visit. Even though we were off season there was limited availability when we arrived. Please be very careful of the ice around the hot tub. Once wet from others getting in and out it was slippy to the point of no grip and o sustained a nasty fall down the stairs here.
We really enjoyed our visit and despite my large hot tub steps bruises would definitely come back!
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Date of stay: November 2024Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:Book the hot tub/sauna before you arrive as it is very popular!
Mind the ice around the hot tub...
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We stayed at this resort with some friends for 4 nights between Christmas and new year. The resort is stunning. There is a husky farm at the resort which was amazing. We had a husky ride down the frozen river. We also went out with Safartica on a day time and night time safari snow mobility which was fantastic. Santa Claus village was ok but not the highlight of our trip. We stayed in the Stella cabins at this resort. Two families of 3. If you are tall I would recommend requesting room 2 or 5 as the eaves in the other rooms are very low. However this resort is magical. On New Year’s Eve we saw the northern lights over the river at this resort. It was spectacular.
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Date of stay: December 2024
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Trip type: Travelled with friends
Room Tip:The Stella rooms up stairs are low and access is very steep. not suitable for very young...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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We booked a five-day trip to Lapland with various activities and stayed in a cabin with a panoramic window at the Vaattunkiwildernessresort. The location in the forest was very quiet, idyllic and romantic. You could go on lovely hikes directly from the resort. The restaurant and reception in a rustic log cabin were stylish and cozy. The food, meat and fish dishes, was delicious and varied. There were fresh salads, soup, biscuits and cakes for every meal. The cabin was functional, bright and decorated in a Nordic style. It was rather small and had little storage space. The bathroom was tiny, the sink too small to use. There was not enough hot water for two people to shower. It was a successful stay in beautiful surroundings, with some limitations in terms of comfort.
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Date of stay: March 2024Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Campsite Disappointing, can not be called resort in my opinion. Continuous request for money!! There is no cleaning of the room until the end when you leave the same thing for the linens for charity if you want sell the service after as an extra, the sauna for a fee 90 euros is terrible huge and with undersized heater so cold max 40 degrees the jacuzzi super hot but smells of chlorine to suck for FinlandI think it's absurd. The top is that if you go to get coffee or whatever you paid for with the half-board formula if you want to drink it or bring it to the room you have to pay ... crazy stuff .. money making machine 2500 euros 4 nights in a prefabricated bungalow style with dolls bathroom and people walking past you by the window... the feeling here is to be seen as an ATM with legs... Nearby rovaniemi has become Gardaland. Better to go to inari or ivalo another level. I wrote in Italian because the campsite is 90% frequented by Italians. Positive has the location outside the city in a fantastic place, the comfortable bed and the nature that surrounds it creates us interesting text.
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Date of stay: January 2025Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
My brother and I stayed in December 2023. We took a triple room with private bathroom. When we arrive, the place seems warm and immersive in the Lappish nature, however disillusionment when opening our “room”. Room equivalent to a closet. Chalet shared with another person, our room overlooked the entrance part of the chalet which meant that the other guests left their shoes and clothes in front of our door. Below you will find the details: - bed width ranging from 90 to 130 cm. We measured: 80cm for 6cm thickness. - cleaning not done daily except extra charge - no change of towels and when we asked for the first time; the receptionist wrote the room number on a piece of paper and when we returned in the evening nothing had been changed. The next day we were asked again at breakfast time (which was otherwise bland) and the same scene: room noted on a sheet which must have probably been thrown away afterwards, and we asked why we did not have a towel clean and finally we knew that the hotel only had the exact number of towels depending on the number of customers. - the bedroom windows do not open.. what to do in the event of a fire?? - dust in the room - dirty towel in the cupboard from previous guests - stripped wire for light - staircase to go up to the very steep mezzanine - half-loft mezzanine with the second bed with only 57 cm height above its head - bathroom which floods after 2 minutes And many more When we left, the receptionist asked me how my stay was, I said that I had known better and she laughed! IN SHORT TO RUN AWAY!!
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Date of stay: December 2023Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:Cher pour rien
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
1. Refund Policy and Ethical Standards: Upon our arrival on December 24th on a 4 Am flight, it was evident that there were no auroras visible in the sky. As soon as we arrive we immediately approached the reception to request a refund for the "Aurora photo hunting tour." Unfortunately, we were informed by a receptionist who appeared to lack experience that a refund was not possible due to the 24-hour cancellation policy. I explained to her that other excursion providers had refunded my friend's money as they were well aware that December 24th was extremely cloudy, making it highly unlikely to witness the Northern Lights. Despite the efforts of Maria, who tried to negotiate with the management on our behalf, we were unsuccessful in obtaining a refund. This situation has left me questioning the ethical standards of Safartica management.
2. Receptionist Inexperience: I must express my disappointment with the level of professionalism demonstrated by the receptionists, Maria and Nea. It was evident that they lacked proper training in hotel management. Whenever we approached them with inquiries or requests, their responses were strictly limited to following protocol, often resulting in unhelpful and negative answers.
3. Double Standard: Another matter that has greatly disappointed me is the double standard concerning the punctuality of services. We had booked the snowmobile tour six months in advance, with a stated start time of 10 am and a meeting time of 8:45 am. However, due to miscommunication, we waited at our room, once received the call we rush to the reception area arrived at the reception mere two minutes missed the bus. When we requested that the bus be called back, we were met with a firm refusal, stating that they strictly adhere to the scheduled departure times. However, I couldn't help but notice that when it came to the shuttle service, which was supposed to depart at 5:15 pm on Dec 26, the departure was delayed until 5:38 pm. This inconsistency in their approach, coupled with the receptionists' tendency to argue with customers rather than offering a sincere apology, demonstrates a lack of professionalism.
4. Lack of Attention to Detail: I would like to highlight a specific incident that exemplifies the lack of attention to detail at the resort. When the bus left without us, the receptionist called a cab for us. Unfortunately, the taxi driver dropped us off at Lapland Safari instead of Safartica. This miscommunication caused us great frustration and inconvenience, as we had to walk back to Safartica.
5. Overall Resort Experience: Finally, I must express my disappointment with the overall experience at Vaatunki Wilderness Resort. The term "resort" implies a certain level of service and professionalism that I did not witness during my stay. The staff members require better training, and the management should prioritize customer satisfaction over financial gains. In my opinion, the resort can be best described as a basic cabin-like hostel rather than a true resort.
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Date of stay: December 2023
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Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:Service is bad! Management just want cash wrap. Dotn sign up any tour that's run by Safartica.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Wonderful place, friendly and attentive staff. Beautiful trekking route to do in the snow, beautiful rooms and from the parking lot (darkest place) it is easier to see the aurora. Beautiful river that runs along the resort. There are sledges free to use. If you are there for a few days, better use a rental car because taxis are more expensive. There is a cheap shuttle from the village to Santa Claus Village. Highly recommended.
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Date of stay: January 2025
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Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We spent three nights at this beautiful resort and we didn't want to leave! The location is so peaceful, it's just on the edge of the Arctic Circle Hiking Area with incredible views in every direction and hikes and ski trails on your doorstep. We stayed in a panorama hut and were really impressed by how clean, comfortable and well appointed it was. All the staff were so friendly and helpful. The food was simple and delicious, we had two vegans and one vegetarian in our group and were very well catered for. One morning they arranged a early breakfast for us so that we could set off early to take a long hike. A highlight was the night time snowshoe hike which we booked through the resort, walking out onto the frozen river in our snowshoes and then into the dark forest was magical. The resort is a little way from Rovaniemi (about 30 minutes by car) and not all tour operators will pick you up from here, so sometimes we had to take taxis to nearby attractions, as we didn't have a car. However, we found that was worth it to stay somewhere that felt so quiet and connected with nature. If you are looking for a romantic getaway or an adventure in the forest with a group of friends, I highly recommend this place.
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Date of stay: March 2022
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Perfect place in the woods with children to get the real Lapland experience. We stayed in the 2 bedroom cottage and it was spacious and clean with everything we needed. Sleds for kids were available which made their stay even more enjoyable and great walks right outside the door to go for a hike. Would recommend hiring a car though and staying a few nights to be able to enjoy the walks.
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Date of stay: November 2023
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Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:Car rental to get here would be advisable and to stock up on food at the supermarket during...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The resort is located inside the National Park, allowing us the freedom to explore the Nature Trail on our own. We could simply arrive with our winter clothes, and Safartica provided everything we needed to stay warm for all outdoor activities throughout our entire stay. Everyone was soo friendly, time seemed to slow down, and the food was simply amazing. The resort also offered a free shuttle service to and from Santa's Village or the city. Our vacation was absolutely perfect - highly recommended!
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Date of stay: December 2023
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Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Accommodation options include a luxury hut, shared bedroom, or self-contained unit in a complex.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
There are more places to choose from in the Rovaniemi area.
PRICE RANGE
€116 - €282 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
FORMERLY KNOWN AS
Arctic Circle Wilderness Resort
LOCATION
FinlandLaplandRovaniemi
NUMBER OF ROOMS
42
Prices are provided by our partners for one room, with variable occupancy rules as provided by the property, and reflect nightly room rates, including all taxes and fees known to our partners. Please see our partners for more details.
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