Inspiration
Finnish Lapland
Tucked deep in Finland’s northeastern wilderness, Muotka Wilderness Lodge offers an authentic Arctic escape.
Arctic light and wild Nordic charm
Just 35 minutes from Ivalo Airport but seemingly a world away, this remote retreat is set in the Saariselkä fells, on the edge of Urho Kekkonen National Park.
The surrounding landscape is one of whispering taiga forests, snow-blanketed trails, and vast, open skies – an ideal setting for adventure and quiet reflection alike. Whether you’re chasing the northern lights across a frozen fell, dashing through frosted trees behind a team of huskies, or warming up beside a crackling fire, Muotka’s magic lies in its rhythm: wild by day, peaceful by night.
Pauline Duffin
Pauline specialises in designing highly-personalised adventures, guided by her decades of travel expertise. With a focus on India, South East Asia and South America and a deep love of African safaris, she's renowned for her finely-tuned ability to create experiences that reflect your unique interests.
Welcome to the wilderness
After landing in Ivalo, you’ll be transferred to Muotka Wilderness Lodge: a warm and rustic base set between the forest and river, far from artificial light. You’ll be fitted with full thermal outerwear on arrival and shown to your accommodation: perhaps a pine-clad cabin tucked beneath the trees, or one of the lodge’s signature Aurora Cabins with a glass roof for stargazing in comfort.
Your first evening sets the tone for the days ahead: hearty Finnish food served fireside, snow crunching underfoot, and the possibility of seeing the aurora borealis overhead.
With no light pollution and wide, open skies, this is one of the best places in Finland to witness nature’s most spectacular light show.
Arctic encounters
Now fully equipped for Arctic life, your guided adventures begin. One morning, you’ll head out by snowmobile across the fells to visit a traditional Sámi reindeer herder. Learn about the history and rhythms of reindeer life, then take a gentle sled ride through the snowy forest.
Another highlight is the husky safari – an unforgettable experience where you’ll mush your own team of huskies along winding forest trails. The dogs are as eager as they are charming, and the silence of the snow-covered wilderness makes this a true back-to-nature moment.
In between the faster-paced excursions, you’ll explore the national park on snowshoes or cross-country skis. There’s something powerful about moving through this frozen world at walking pace: just you, the trees and the soft hush of falling snow.
Mush your own husky team through frozen forest trails
There’s a moment just before you set off, when the dogs fall silent, the sled tugs gently at the reins, and the forest stands completely still. Then you’re off, gliding through snow-dusted pines behind your own team of eager huskies. The only sounds are the soft patter of paws, the sled’s whisper over the snow and your own breath in the crisp Arctic air. Steering your sled through winding trails and wide open fells is exhilarating, peaceful and unexpectedly grounding. It’s one of Lapland’s most memorable experiences – part adventure, part connection and utterly unforgettable under a pale winter sun.
The Northern Lights
With the rhythm of the wilderness now in your bones, your final full days give you the chance to soak up Muotka’s quieter side. Wrap up for a slower snowshoe walk along the river, or follow groomed trails into the forest on skis. Stop to build a snowman. Lie back in the snow and watch the clouds drift past. This is what Lapland does best: space, calm and time to reconnect.
And then there are the nights. You’ll join small-group outings to chase the aurora, perhaps snowshoeing into a remote clearing with wide sky views, or warming up by the fire at an Aurora Camp, sipping hot berry juice as the lights appear above the trees. Another evening may take you further afield by car or snowmobile, searching for clear skies and stronger activity. Some nights, the lights appear while you’re brushing your teeth.
Back at the lodge, warm up in the sauna or plunge into the ice-cold river if you’re feeling brave. Swap stories with fellow travellers over dinner, or simply retreat to your cabin and watch the sky.
Lapland
After one final walk through the snow or a peaceful moment in the sauna, you’ll transfer back to Ivalo Airport for your flight home.
Whether you’ve stayed for three nights or a full week, the feeling is the same: the clarity, silence and wonder of the Arctic stays with you long after you’ve left it behind.
Talk to our specialists to start planning your trip
