Half an hour from Rovaniemi, down a winding forest road that makes you wonder if you've taken a wrong turn, sits a resort that manages to be both deeply luxurious and authentically Finnish. Aito Igloo & Spa Resort offers panoramic treehouse accommodation overlooking a frozen lake, a proper wellness center with volcanic sand baths, and restaurants serving reindeer that actually tastes good. The Northern Lights appear regularly above the property, there's ice fishing on demand, and the spa includes a traditional sauna followed by a plunge into Lake Palojärvi – which, depending on the season, might be properly freezing.
Deep Forest, Dark Skies
The resort sits on the banks of Lake Palojärvi, surrounded by Arctic forest. You'll leave the main road and drive another 10 to 15 minutes on a narrow forest track before reaching the entrance – the kind of journey that makes arriving feel like a discovery.
The remote location means minimal light pollution, and the lakeside position facing north creates ideal conditions for aurora viewing. When the lights appear, you can simply walk down to the lake rather than organizing a chase into the wilderness.
Aurora Northern Grills
Aurora Northern Grills
This restaurant pays homage to the kota, the traditional wooden hut used by reindeer herders, with a rustic design centered around live fires.
The menu focuses on ingredients from Finnish forests and lakes – think open fire-grilled Arctic salmon with flatbread, salmon soup with archipelago bread, and Lapland porcini soup. There's also traditional Lapland cheese served with cloudberry jam and forest berries. The crackle of the fires and the wood-smoke aroma make it feel appropriately remote.
Wildwoods
Wildwoods restaurant
The main restaurant combines dark wood accents with mirrored tiles for a more refined atmosphere than Aurora Grills. The kitchen works with locally sourced ingredients and pays attention to wine pairings.
The menu includes sautéed reindeer with mashed potatoes, pickled cucumber and lingonberry jam, alongside pan-seared duck breast with blueberry jam and porcini mushrooms. There's also a ribeye steak and smoked salmon pasta. Breakfast is served here each morning. This is where you'll eat if you want the meal to feel like an occasion rather than an experience.
Deluxe Room
Lake View Deluxe Room
The standard rooms capture Arctic minimalism with large wood paneling running from ceiling to wall, surrounding a draped bed. The bathroom design nods to the wellness facilities downstairs. Each room has forest or lake views through generous windows – you'll either gaze at the treeline or watch the sky stretch across the water. The rooms include a flat-screen TV, espresso machine, minibar, and the usual amenities including bathrobe and slippers. It's quietly elegant rather than showy.
Junior Suite
Junior Suite
This apartment-style space accommodates up to seven people with two queen beds, a single bed, and a sofa bed. There's also a full kitchen with stove, refrigerator and dishwasher, making it practical for families or groups who want to handle some of their own meals. The design feels cottage-like but modernized, with 47.5 square meters of space and forest views.
Junior Suite's bathroom has a private sauna
The real draw is the private sauna – one of Finland's great traditions, available without leaving your room.
Aurora Nest
Aurora Nest
A mobile igloo boat with panoramic glass walls and ceiling that floats on Lake Palojärvi year-round.
The 12-square-meter space includes a double bed, composting toilet, kitchenette, and even an ice fishing hole built into the floor. You'll drift slowly across the lake during summer's midnight sun or sit stationary on frozen water during winter, watching the Northern Lights through the glass ceiling.
It's proper glamping – minimal space, maximum scenery, and just enough comfort to make it feel luxurious rather than challenging.
Aurora Treehouse
Aurora Treehouse
The accommodation that looks computer-generated but isn't. These cottages perch on three-meter pillars among the evergreens, with a panoramic window commanding lake views.
The interior combines pine paneling with Finnish design – clean lines, warm wood, a king-size bed that converts to twins on request. There's a kitchenette with sink, stove and refrigerator, plus a sofa bed for two additional guests.
At 29.2 square meters, it's cozy without feeling cramped. The front-row treehouses offer views of the resident reindeer. When the aurora appears, you're watching from your bed through floor-to-ceiling glass.
Thermal Suite
Aito Spa relaxing area
The wellness area sits in the main building, accessed via stairs from reception or a direct outside entrance. You'll check in with your wellness card and receive a towel, bathrobe and slippers for a two-hour session. The relaxation area features a fireplace, reading corner, and hanging loungers for drifting off between treatments.
Aito spa Himalayan salt beds
The Himalayan salt beds use heated mineral-rich crystals to ease muscle tension – you lie on the warm salt while it releases negative ions meant to support respiratory function and mental clarity. The volcanic sand therapy lounge uses mineral-rich Icelandic volcanic sand or crushed jade for a deeply grounding experience.
Aito spa indoor pool
The Thermal Suite includes an outdoor hot spring fed by 31-degree water, a vitality pool kept at 30 degrees for calm swimming, and a steam bath offering gentler heat than a dry sauna.
There are also outdoor hot tubs overlooking the lake where steam rises into the Arctic air.
Lakeside Sauna
Lakeside Sauna
The exclusive lakeside facility sits separate from the main spa, featuring an open-air terrace, two six-person hot tubs, the volcanic sand lounge, and an authentic Finnish sauna hut crafted from pine logs.
The real experience is the traditional Finnish routine: heat up in the sauna, then take a dip in Lake Palojärvi.
Lake Palojärvi
During winter, this means ice bathing in freezing water – a beloved Nordic ritual that locals swear by and visitors find startling. The lakeside terrace provides a simple space to recover between rounds, breathing in clean Lapland air while your body recalibrates.
Seitarannantie 437, 97240 Rovaniemi, Finland
