Job search
Job Search
Latest news
More news: (showing 1 - 20 of 13969)           
UK only International

Hotel on skis: Mobile cabin allows guests to enjoy Northern Lights from deep within the Arctic wilderness

By Kim Megson    21 Mar 2018
Three rooms, each set on skis, have been made available for booking until mid-April 2018 / Off the Map Travel
The wilderness camp is placed for the winter to give guests the best possible opportunity to experience the Northern Lights and simply enjoy the silence of the Arctic plains
– Jonny Cooper, founder of Off the Map Travel

Remote holiday specialists Off the Map Travel have created another of their mobile semi-transparent glamping cabins, designed to be towed into the remote wilderness of the Arctic Circle so that guests can experience the Northern Lights from the comfort of their beds.

Three rooms, each set on skis, have been made available for booking until mid-April 2018. They are situated in the Aurora Wilderness Camp, six kilometres east of Kilpisjärvi, Finland.

Each of the cosy rooms is 2.5m (8.2ft) wide, 4.5m (14.7ft) long and 2m (6.5ft) tall, and includes a wide bed to lie back on and take in the night sky through the glass roof. There’s also space, just about, for a table, a dry toilet, a gas heater with a thermostat and a gas stove – “providing a combination of adventure and comfort.”

Statistically, the Kilpisjärvi area has more clear night skies and records more Northern Lights activity than any other place in Finland. Experts estimate that if the sky is clear, visitors have more than a 70 per cent chance of seeing the Aurora.

“The wilderness surrounding Kilpisjärvi is known for its remote and uninterrupted Arctic tundra,” said Jonny Cooper, founder of Off the Map Travel. “Away from any man-made light pollution, it’s here that the wilderness camp is placed for the winter, giving guests the best possible opportunity to experience the Northern Lights and simply enjoy the silence of the Arctic plains.”

The guest experience starts at 6pm, where an experienced guide transports guests by snowmobile to their room before teaching them how to make a campfire and grill some local sausages. After the wilderness grill, guests will have the camp to themselves in isolation.

Once the winter ice has thawed, the rooms will be relocated to a new home for the following season, beginning in January 2019.

Off the Map Travel – the stated aim of which is to show people “the wildernesses of the world” – has previously run a similar initiative with the Aurora Bubble Sled, which can be mounted on the back of a snowmobile.

The Northern Lights are a popular draw for tourists, and hospitality developers are starting to cater for this market, often by adopting innovative design ideas.

Snøhetta have unveiled a concept design for the Arctic Circle's first-ever energy-positive hotel, which will be situated at the foot of the Svartisen glacier in Norway. The same firm recently completed a Treehotel hovering 10m (32.8ft) above the ground in Edeforsvägen forest, Sweden.

Meanwhile, the creators of the world-famous Icehotel in Jukkasjärvi, Sweden, are currently seeking designers for its winter iteration.

The guest experience starts at 6pm, where an experienced guide transports guests by snowmobile to their room before teaching them how to make a campfire / Off the Map Travel
Each of the cosy rooms is 2.5m wide, 4.5m long and 2m tall, and includes a wide bed to lie back on and take in the night sky through the glass roof / Off the Map Travel
Statistically, the Kilpisjärvi area has more clear night skies and records more Northern Lights activity than any other place in Finland / Off the Map Travel
/ Off the Map Travel
Off the Map Travel  wilderness  Arctic Circle  Northern Lights  Aurora Wilderness Camp  Kilpisjärvi  Finland  Jonny Cooper 
Sign up for FREE ezines
Related news

Company profile

Company profile: We Work Well Inc
We Work Well is a global premier hosted buyer event company, connecting high-level executives from leading suppliers with pre-selected highly qualified buyers in the wellness and hospitality industries, through scheduled one-on-one meetings, networking activities, community, and purpose.
View full profile >
More company profiles

Featured Supplier

Elevate 2026 to mark 10-year anniversary with biggest ever waterfront drinks reception
Elevate is set to celebrate its 10th anniversary in style this June, with organisers confirming the event’s largest-ever drinks reception as registrations continue to run more than 10% ahead of last year.
View full details >
More featured suppliers

Property & Tenders

Location: Stratford, East London.
Company: Lee Valley Regional Park Authority
Location: Y Felinheli, LL56 4QN
Company: Newmark
Location: Newhaven, Sussex
Company: EiA Real Estate
Location: Tutbury Castle, Staffordshire
Company: Savills
Location: Oxford
Company: University of Oxford
More properties & tenders

Diary dates

13-13 Jun 2026
Worldwide, Various
21-24 Sep 2026
The Langham Huntington Pasadena , Pasadena, United States
06-08 Oct 2026
Messe Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
22-22 Oct 2026
QEII Conference Centre, London
More diary dates