Star Arctic Hotel & Activities

My wife and I travel a lot, and our time in Saariselka was more amazing than we could have imagined. The staff were friendly, accommodating, and respectful, and we absolutely loved the place. If you're after an Arctic Circle experience, with Northern Lights, dog sledding, snow machines, reindeer sleighs, snow showing, or ice fishing, this is the place. We'll be back.

The staff were exceptionally friendly, helpful, and professional, and our stay felt like a magical Arctic wonderland. I loved the location, though the road to the Saariselka center is about 2.5 kilometres, which may not suit everyone. I enjoyed the winter scenery on the way there, but the uphill return could be tough if you're not in good shape. There are pricey taxis or a ski bus for 6e for the whole day, so the distance shouldn't necessarily put you off. Star Arctic is a great place to immerse yourself in an out-of-this-world Arctic experience.

The views of the northern lights were clear and beautiful from up on the hill, while other hotels in the village were often covered in fog. The staff were great, and the activity center worked smoothly with the hotel, keeping activities personal and avoiding mass tourism. The food was another highlight, almost like eating in a Michelin restaurant.

After winter activities during the day and evening, it was lovely to warm up in the private sauna in our comfortable room, which also had a bathtub. Breakfast was included and nice, though nothing special. They also provide very warm thermal snow suits, gloves, boots, and mittens, which really helped us stay warm. The staff were very helpful, and we loved the snowmobile tour and husky experiences. My favorite thing about the hotel was the manager's Alaskan malamute, such a friendly dog who hangs around the reception. We arrived just after Christmas, when prices were extremely high, about twice the normal cost, which was unfortunate.