Recently I had the pleasure of visiting one of the cleanest and most unspoiled destinations in the world – Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort in Lapland, Finland.
I began my stay at a husky farm located just across from the resort, home to approximately 250 big, energetic huskies. These beautiful and loyal creatures took us on an unforgettable ride through the tranquil frozen forest. The husky safari is a must-do experience for anyone visiting Lapland.
In this beautiful icy wonderland the air was so crisp and cold I could feel it deep down in my lungs. And the water is so pure you could drink it straight from the streams. When the sun rose, the blanket of white snow reflected the pinkish glow of the horizon.
It’s hard to say whether Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort was more magical in the daytime with the sunlight glinting off the diamond-dust ice crystals, or at night when it was lit up with warm glowing lights.
This enchanting resort is prized as one of the most magical luxury resorts in the world and it does an amazing job of integrating itself into its wild natural surroundings. It is located on the edge of the wilderness in Finnish Lapland, 250km north of the Arctic Circle.
One of the most unique features of the Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort was the glass igloos. Sleeping under these clear domes, gazing up at the dazzling blanket of stars, is an experience not to be missed.
These igloos are an engineering marvel. Made with special thermal glass, they stay cosy and warm even when the outdoor temperature is minus thirty degrees Celsius. These igloos are actually very comfortable, with their own sauna, fireplace, bathroom and kitchenette.
After a very pleasant night’s sleep, we were picked up early the next morning for our snowmobile safari, leaving behind the crackle of a roaring fire to explore the frost-covered wilderness. To protect ourselves from the chill, we bundled up in socks, boots, gloves and a thermal suit – squeezing our helmets down over our hats.
After a quick lesson covering the basics of driving a snowmobile, it wasn’t long before we were zooming through the forest on these powerful machines. Aside from the roar of our snowmobiles, the forest was silent and still, the trees heavy with snow.
A lot of people travel to Finnish Lapland to see the Northern Lights. I was lucky enough to witness this amazing natural phenomenon for myself first hand.
Known as nature’s fireworks, the Northern Lights are the result of electrons colliding in the high upper reaches of the Earth’s atmosphere. They become energised and fall towards earth, where they transfer their energy as they collide with nitrogen and oxygen in the atmosphere.
This energy is released in the form of light, similar to how neon signs work. This causes a magic glowing light diffused across the sky, often in shades of green but sometimes in blues, purples and other hues.
The most common auroral colour is a pale green. But we were also treated to rare blue and orange aurora colours during our stay in Kakslauttanen. No matter how many times you hear the scientific explanation, there is still something magical and otherworldly about this unbelievable light show in the clear, cold Arctic sky.
Visiting a place like Lapland is a once in a lifetime experience. And from a photographer’s perspective, it’s a dream to photograph. I treasure the memories I brought back with me on my return to Australia, together with the many, many photos I took, which capture the minimalist beauty of this winter wonderland.
My Lapland photo collection is available as prints and comes in a variety of framing options. Please get in touch to find out more.
