7 Most Unique Polar Resorts in the World

Imagine sweeping views of the auroras, picturesque snowfall, and chilly temps paired with warm drinks and cozy accommodations. The polar regions are home to some of the most extreme weather on the planet but amazingly, they can be witnessed in person in the lap of luxury. While cold weather usually sends people running to the nearest beach, there are certain spots in the world that know how to do polar experiences right and are totally worth a visit, like these seven destinations below.

1. Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort, Finland

Enjoy your very own heated glass igloo with a front seat to the northern lights! That’s exactly what you can expect to find at the Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort in Finland. This spot is quickly gaining notoriety among outdoor lovers because of its skyview-filled accommodations and proximity to the Urho Kekkonen National Park, Finland’s largest. Kakslauttanen has humble beginnings ( just a tent on a plot of land) and has grown into a successful and unique business by putting nature at the center of the show.

2. Arctic Watch Wilderness Lodge, Canada

If you’re truly looking for arctic immersion then the Arctic Watch Wilderness Lodge is the destination for you. Located 500 miles north of the Arctic Circle, you’ll satisfy your craving for adventure with Beluga whale watching, polar bear sightings, hiking, and kayaking like you’ve never experienced them before. You arrive via private plane from Yellowknife and nestle into one of 16 private guest cabins. Good luck finding another lodge that gives you complimentary hot water bottle service to tuck under your sheets at night. During the day you can fill your time with additional activities like paddle boarding and taking in 1,000 year-old archaeological sites.

3. IceHotel, Sweden

Ice hotels and bars have popped up around the world, including strange places like Las Vegas but the IceHotel in Sweden is one of the original ice accommodations. The hotel was founded in 1989 and is reborn into something slightly new every winter. You’ll never have the same accommodations twice. A popular spot for weddings and aurora borealis viewings, you can also soak up sun at midnight and skip across the crystal clear Thorne River when it freezes over and transforms into an arctic looking glass.

4. Ion Luxury Adventure Hotel, Iceland

While the northern lights are visible from many places, if they are the reason you’re on an arctic excursion then the Ion Luxury Adventure Hotel in Norway is where you’ve got to go. Once you get there, your experience is entirely customizable. Want to lounge around, relax, and enjoy the beauty and luxury around you? No problem—they’ve got a spa complete with an outdoor pool that will take care of all your R&R needs. Looking for something that will get your blood pumping? You can chose from a variety of adventures named after the kind of excursion they offer: Fire (volcanoes and caves), Ice (glaciers and snowmobiling), and Water (diving and kayaking).

5. Igloo Hotel, Norway

This sweet spot forged from snow and ice is found in Norway. The Igloo Hotel is dedicated to delivering snowy serenity to all of its guests while offering a variety of outdoor activities from ice fishing to river boating. Art lovers will certainly fall for this the Igloo Hotel in equal measure to nature lovers, since it’s filled to the brim with ice sculptures. Complete with a bar and restaurant, this northern-most ice hotel also sports a wedding chapel for those that want to get hitched in a unique way.

6. Hotel Arctic, Greenland

Their slogan, "A World Beyond Imagination," says it all. Hotel Arctic in Greenland is not only a hotel and adventure resort, but a conference center too. Imagine the fun and adventure this place can bring to your next work retreat! Accommodations consist of 360 degree igloo pods that offer views of the Ilulissat Icefjord that the property is located on—yes, an ice fjord. When hunger strikes, you can feast at the restaurant on premises that has been touted as home to “the world’s wildest kitchen.”

7. White Desert, Antarctica

While this locale is on the opposite end of the world from the rest, it’s got all the extreme and unique characteristics of the others. White Desert is the first and only resort on Antarctica, finally giving non-scientists or extreme polar explorers a chance to visit this vastly unexplored continent. The whole shebang is zero impact (per the Antarctic Treaty) and was started by a couple of those explorers while they were huddled in a tent, weathering a storm one day in 2006. Years later, you can now join them on their icy terrain by participating in one of their three adventure excursions while staying in luxe pods and noshing on delicious food created by Chef Justine Lindsay, previously of the Formula 1 circuit.

Originally written by RootsRated for Craghoppers.

Featured image provided by bjaglin