Staying in a Glamping Igloo Under the Northern Lights (near Luleå)
Something I think should be on everyone’s travel bucket list is staying in a glass igloo under the Northern Lights! While a lot of people go to Finland for this, that’s not the only place you can have this experience…
We recently went to Luleå in Northern Sweden, where we had the most incredible stay at one of these glass igloos. It was everything we’d dreamt of and so much more…
Not only did we get to sit in a hot tub and look at the clear night sky at -30C, we also got to have the most amazing dinner at their restaurant, and we tried out snowshoeing for the first time, starting a fire on top of the snow, enjoying the heat while drinking Swedish hot chocolate.
This stay completely exceeded all of our expectations, and in this post, we’ll share our review of this experience so you can learn more about what you can expect if you go too!
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What Ice and Light Village is all about
Ice and Light Village is a remote, but magical, little “village” not far from Luleå in Northern Sweden, next to the Bothnian Coast.
You can stay in one of these famous igloos (or their remote cabin), go for dinner at the cozy restaurant, try to catch the Northern Lights while soaking up in the hot tub, and enjoy some of the different tours that Explore Luleå offers on the property.
There’s a minimum stay of two nights at the Ice and Light Village, and it makes so much sense! While Dom grew up in cold Canada, we’d surprisingly never had a winter stay like this before – but it definitely won’t be our last.
Pontus Frank (the owner), whom you’ll most likely meet, has really turned his property into a little outdoor winter paradise. Suddenly we felt like 2 days wasn’t enough.
We were surprised by, and loved, how much there is to do, from enjoying the sauna to snowshoeing in -20C (without feeling cold!). We quickly realized that this stay is so much more than a night in an igloo – it’s a full experience!
If you love anything from saunas to delicious home-cooked food to learning survival skills out in nature (like making fires and snowmobiling), you will absolutely fall in love with this place.
The only mistake we made was not staying longer at the village…next time! 🙂
TL-DR: The Ice and Light Village is an amazing place to stay. Check out prices and availability here 🌌
Where is Ice and Light and Luleå?
In case you’re not familiar with this part of Sweden, Luleå is a small city in Northern Sweden along the Bothnian Coast – just 1 hour and 40 minutes from the Finnish border (by Happaranda and Tornio).
While it might seem pretty remote, Luleå actually has an airport, and there are daily direct flights from Stockholm and frequent flights from Göteborg as well.
Once you get to Luleå, you can either rent a car (if you’re planning on exploring around on your own), or you can pre-organize a pickup from the Ice and Light Village.
The village is located 30 minutes from the airport down the highway, so it’s super easy to get to!
Staying in the famous glamping igloos
If it’s a bucket list item of yours to stay in a glamping Igloo in Swedish Lapland under the Northern Lights, then this is the place to do it!
These Igloos have a cabin inside and are surrounded by floor-to-ceiling windows. You can see the sky, or you can lie in bed, or sit in the cozy glass-enclosed indoor-outdoor section, where you get amazing views of the Swedish night sky (this area can be heated too for extra comfort).
On the property, there are 5 igloos next to each other, each facing north so everyone gets clear views (and a better chance of seeing the Northern Lights from your igloo)! You truly feel like you’re out in nature all by yourself.
If you want, you can even see the amazing views of the night sky from the comfort of your own bed. This also means you can get lucky and catch the Northern Lights while you’re in bed!
During the winter, when the property is covered in snow, it’s absolutely magical! It’s like a mini winter wonderland, and staying in the Aurora Igloo is the cherry on top of this stunning place that Pontus has created.
Staying at the cabin in the woods
While the igloos are our personal favourites at the Ice and Light Village, there is an alternative stay, that’s completely off-the-beaten-path stay – and that’s the cabin in the woods.
This is an even more remote stay! This was used as a hunting cabin back in the day, and has now transformed into this peaceful cabin on the edge of Pontus property, where you truly feel like you’re in the middle of Swedish nature.
The beauty of staying in this cabin is that you still have access to the restaurant and all the other facilities (as well as the activities Pontus offers), but you still get to feel like you’re in the middle of absolutely nowhere. There’s no wifi or anything, so you can truly enjoy a few days disconnected from everything and everyone!
It’s a great alternative if the igloos are booked or if you’re looking to completely disconnect for a few days!
Enjoy the cozy restaurant
There’s a restaurant on the property in one of the traditional red-painted Swedish buildings. We ate dinner there one night, and it was so good!
They’ve created a beautiful little restaurant where both guests and locals can come and eat in the evening. With the fire and lamps, it has this really nice ambiance and cozy feel to it… Plus, the food is incredible.
They don’t have a set menu and basically make a different starter, main, and dessert every single day. Even if you spend a few nights there, there’s a good chance you’ll have a few different meals.
Try out the sauna, cold plunge, and hot tubs
One thing we loved about our stay at the Ice and Light Village was in the evening, when we got to enjoy the sauna and sit in the hot tubs under the night sky.
You’ll be able to go between the sauna, the outdoor hot tubs, and the cold tub if you’re up for it. Or if you’re extra crazy, you can even roll in the snow like we did, haha!
If you’re lucky, you might also see the Northern Lights (this is another reason why we suggest staying for longer)! If you look closely at the photo above, you’ll notice that we got photo-b’d by the Northern Lights, but we didn’t even realize until the next day!
It’s a great way to finish off the night, and it’s super cozy. I personally love the small details like the little lamps placed outside, and a fun fact about the sauna is that Pontus actually cut the tree himself and made the planks for the sauna, which is really cool!
I don’t know if the evening experience was my favourite thing we did at Ice and Light because there are so many fun things to do there, but it sure was a magical way to finish off the night!
Activities to do at the Ice and Light Village
On top of everything we’ve already mentioned about the Ice and Light Village, there’s so much more to do here than just staying at the famous Igloos.
Even before Pontus Frank started the village, he ran an outdoor adventure company, which he still runs today (Explore Luleå).
From snowmobiling to learning how to start a fire and cook your own food in nature, he offers a ton of different activities that you can book during your stay. Some of these activities are: snowmobiling, chasing the northern lights, snowshoeing, learning Nordic Skills, ice fishing, and dog sledding!
Snowmobile Tour
If you’ve never tried snowmobiling before, you must try it up here in Luleå. It’s one of the most adrenaline-packed activities you can do in Northern Sweden during the winter months.
You’ll get a chance to cruise around on this snow sled on top of the snow-packed surface. You really don’t know how much fun it is until you’re behind the wheel and cruising in the countryside on one.
Chasing the Northern Lights
This is likely the activity that enticed you to go to Scandinavia during winter in the first place, so when in Sweden, you must go chasing the Northern Lights!
You’ll hop in a car or van, and Pontus or one of his guides will take you around and try to follow where the lights might be.
Keep in mind that on this tour, you’re slightly dependent on Mother Nature to do her thing, so the tours mostly run when there’s a high chance of seeing the lights somewhat nearby.
The day before we got there, the Northern Lights had been in full force, and they’d seen them clearly with the naked eye – but sadly, we didn’t see them during our stay.
There’s no guarantee, but if you go during the winter, the chances are good. This is also why we suggest staying at least for a few days, because then you’ll have a better chance at seeing them!
Snowshoeing in nature
This was one of my favourite activities simply because the nature out in Luleå is so stunning, and just being outdoors walking and enjoying the beautiful outdoors is something I absolutely love.
It also feels like a proper, authentic experience snowshoeing out in nature, building a fire, having some hot chocolate, and enjoying the beautiful snow-covered trees.
Ice Fishing out on the sea
When in Sweden, you must try ice fishing. This area is very unique because of the low salt concentration in the sea, which means the sea around Luleå freezes.
If people have ice fished, it’s probably been on a lake and not out at sea, but here you’ll get a chance to ice fish on the sea.
You’ll learn to drill your own fishing hole, what to look for, and of course, how to catch your own fish. It’s another one of those authentic experiences worth doing while you’re here, and who knows if you’ll get another chance.
Learn Nordic skills
This is a cool one and truly a local experience. You’ll try everything from starting your own fire with just a few pieces of wood to building outdoor shelters! It’s a cool tour where you’ll gain some new skills.
You’ll learn a lot about Nordic culture and gain new outdoor skills that you can bring with you on your future travels. I’d say this is one of the most authentic experiences you can have up here around Luleå, and definitely one worth doing.
Dog sledding in the Nordic wilderness
Of course, up here in the Nordics, you’ll also get the chance to guide a dog sled expedition through the Swedish forest and meadows. It’s a completely different type of experience than snowmobiling or snowshoeing, as you have animals that are guiding you on this extremely quick sled.
There are, of course, so many things to do here at the Ice and Light Village, and you’ll probably want some time to relax and enjoy the igloos, but this is a very cool trip to do.
You may also like…
- 7 Reasons Why You Should Visit the Gammelstad Church Town (near Luleå)
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Recap of Igloo Glamping in Luleå
The Ice and Light Village is so much more than just a stunning Igloo Glamping site. The whole facility, from the cozy little restaurant with locally made dishes to the saunas and all the tours you can do, this place is so unique – and truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience!
We recommend coming for at least two nights to truly experience this Swedish winter wonderland. And after your stay, you can continue along the Botnian Coast and explore more of this beautiful part of Sweden and Finland.
Let us know if you have any questions about staying at the Ice and Light Village, exploring the Bothnian Coast, or this part of Sweden in general. You can DM us on Instagram @redwhiteadventures or leave a comment down below.
This part of the country is filled with amazing activities, indoors and outdoors, and there’s no better way to do it than by staying in an Igloo in the Swedish countryside!
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