The Invisible Forest Lodge in Finland is a unique Arctic Circle resort. Located just minutes from Rovaniemi’s town center, this accommodation is nestled in the Lapland forest, giving it a secluded atmosphere.
We stayed here for a few days after one of our Northern Lights tours, and it was the perfect place to recharge and enjoy some solitude. The lodge is open year-round, but visiting in February was a magical experience, as the snow-covered trees made us feel like we were in a winter wonderland.
I’ll share all about our stay at this igloo hotel in Rovaniemi and tips for your stay.
- What is the Invisible Forest Lodge in Finland?
- Our experience at the Invisible Forest Lodge
- Tips for visiting
What is the Invisible Forest Lodge in Finland?
The Invisible Forest Lodge is a boutique resort less than a 10-minute drive from Rovaniemi’s town center. The resort offers several accommodation options, from adventurous aurora igloos to its namesake invisible suites and traditional log cabins. All of the units are pet-friendly, too.
Accommodations
The aurora huts are the smallest accommodations, designed for two adults. These glass igloos are extra cozy and include a bed, a composite toilet and sink, and heated windows with a 150° panoramic sky view. Outside, there’s a hot tub and fire pit, perfect for staying warm while stargazing. These huts are among the best igloo hotels in Rovaniemi, so I recommend them if you’re looking for a Northern Lights hotel in Finland. As soon as we saw images of the aurora huts, we fell in love and knew we had to stay there.
However, the resort is named after the invisible forest suites, which feature mirrored exteriors to camouflage them among the greenery. It’s incredible how these stunning cabins disappear into the misty landscape!
Accommodations at Invisible Forest Lodge
These are larger accommodations, big enough for up to four guests, with a full kitchen. The bathroom has heated floors and a walk-in shower and leads to the sauna. A private hot tub is on the deck, steps from the suite’s front door.
Finally, the log cabin is the homiest option, giving visitors a comfortable experience amidst the forest. This eco-friendly lodge features a full kitchen, a sitting area, a bathroom with heated floors, and a walk-in shower. It accommodates up to four guests and has a sauna, a terrace with lounge chairs, and a grill. There are also panoramic windows, making it an excellent Northern Lights cabin in Lapland.
Amenities
Finland’s Invisible Forest Lodge provides complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi even at the remote aurora huts we stayed in. Along with its unique accommodations, the lodge has a restaurant and spa that’ll make your visit unique. It was my favorite part of the resort.
The restaurant’s menu features local dishes and specialties like reindeer and salmon, along with other hot items to keep you warm. You can also choose from the hot rock grill menu and cook dinner on a lava stone. Also, we enjoyed a delicious complimentary breakfast buffet each morning that kept us full until our early dinners.
The restaurant is located in a spacious open area, which also houses a bar, the reception desk, a cozy fireplace lounge, and the spa. The showers and dressing rooms are in the same building, and the incredibly friendly staff provide bathrobes, towels, slippers, and cozy socks, so you’re all set for your sauna experience in no time. I’ve never felt so well taken care of!
Amenities at Invisible Forest Lodge
However, the true gem of the complex is the Finnish sauna, featuring a modern design and enough space to accommodate at least 10 people—though we were lucky enough to have it all to ourselves. The sauna also boasts huge windows that offer a stunning view of the forest, creating a truly peaceful and immersive experience. To top it off, there are several outdoor hot tubs where you can relax while enjoying the surrounding natural scenery.
Also, if you don’t rent a car, the lodge can take care of organizing various activities and excursions for you including husky safaris, reindeer farm visits, snowmobile tours, ice fishing and more.
You can even book special Arctic experiences like a three-course dinner in a heated dome or a spa and dinner combo.
Seasons
The Invisible Forest Lodge is open year-round, although most people visit in the winter. While it’s open throughout the year, there is an adults-only season as well as a time for self-catered stays:
- Adults-only: October 15th-April 15th
- Self-catered: April 16th-June 12th
Our experience at the Invisible Forest Lodge
After finishing our Finnish Lapland photo tour, we came to the Invisible Forest Lodge to enjoy a few relaxing nights alone.
Settling in
When we got there, the staff warmly welcomed us and quickly loaded our bags onto a snowmobile, whisking them off to our hut to save us the effort. The aurora cabins are pretty secluded; to get there, it’s a 2-minute walk downhill from the designated parking area. The lot is 3 minutes from the reception by car or a 10-minute walk. The staff also gave us the resort’s WhatsApp number so we could call them anytime we wanted to get a snowmobile ride back to the reception area, restaurant, and spa.
Our accommodation
We stayed at the Alta aurora hut, which was super cozy. There was a temperature control panel and an A/C unit, but it was -25°C when we visited, so we definitely weren’t going to use that! One of my favorite features was the in-wall Bluetooth speaker for playing music; it added to the homey atmosphere. There were USB chargers and power sockets everywhere, which was perfect for us since we needed to catch up with work.
Dan and I had plenty of room, even with two extra-large suitcases, two camera bags, and two backpacks. It was a perfect fit, although ideally, I would’ve consolidated the clothing we needed for the next few days into one suitcase and left the other suitcase in the car.
Our accommodation at Invisible Forest Lodge
Half the igloo is glass, and the windows were super clean, so you get the clearest night sky views. On our first night there, the Northern Lights forecast was very low (KP 0). We woke up every hour to check the skies, but no luck. Even so, the stars were crystal clear, and we had a little moonlight, which was beautiful. Our second night, it was all cloudy, but I can imagine this being one of the best Lapland igloo hotels for seeing the aurora in Finland!
When we wanted some privacy, we just pulled the curtains out to cover the sides of the igloo. The ceiling is always uncovered, which gives a magical feeling to the place.
Outside, a couple of chairs surrounded a fire pit, but we didn’t spend too much time there. We preferred soaking in our cozy private hot tub just outside our igloo. We didn’t even have to worry about setting it up; we just removed the cover and got in! It’s big enough for four adults and was set to 36°C, so it felt amazing.
Jacuzzi at our Invisible Forest Lodge accommodation
Even though the hot tub was just a few meters from the igloo, the real challenge came after soaking—getting back inside was tough in the biting cold, especially while wet. Earlier that day, we had accidentally locked ourselves out of the hut by entering the wrong code on the keypad too many times, so we were anxious about being stuck outside again while using the hot tub.
Our solution was to stick our tripod in the door to keep it propped open just a tiny bit. That way, we could quickly get from the tub to our warm igloo without freezing in the cold, and our igloo didn’t get too chilly even with the door propped open.
The Invisible Forest Lodge experience
Beyond the cozy igloo huts, the Invisible Forest Lodge is worth every moment for the experience alone—and trust me, it’s one you’ll remember! This place has a quirky charm, especially with its laid-back approach to relaxation. They encourage guests to wander from the spa straight to the restaurant in their bathrobes, which I found both curious and kind of fun.
The Invisible Forest Lodge experience
On our first night, though, Dan and I didn’t quite get the vibe right. I wore a thick sweater, thinking it’d be cool inside, but the restaurant was toasty warm—set high to keep the bathrobe-clad spa guests comfortable.
The next day, I was determined to embrace the full Invisible Forest Lodge experience. Before dinner, we headed to reception, where the friendly staff handed us bathrobes, towels, and slippers. Dressing rooms and showers are next to the sauna, doubling as a convenience since the igloo huts lack their own. The sauna itself is a work of art—steamy, serene, and beautifully designed—making it the perfect prelude to dinner.
We spent an hour there, looking at the forest from the big windows, soaking in the outdoor hot tubs and warming up by the lobby firepit. At some point, gliding from the steam room to the restaurant in our robes started to feel normal, and honestly, it added to the lodge’s unique, carefree vibe.
Finnish sauna at Invisible Forest Lodge
Speaking of the restaurant, the food is from another world. On our first night, I went for the chicken curry, and Dan opted for the salmon—both were delicious and packed with flavor. It’s not a cheap spot, though; we shelled out €70 per person, but that included a salad buffet, soup, a main course, and a dessert buffet, which felt like a fair deal for the quality. The second night, we splurged on the hot rock grill experience, which was pricier but totally worth it. Cooking our own meat on sizzling stones at the table added a fun, interactive twist to the meal.
The Invisible Forest Lodge restaurant
For me, the Invisible Forest Lodge wasn’t just about the accommodation; it was about letting go and embracing the robe life, savoring every bit and immersing yourself in the simple joy of slowing down—because here, relaxation isn’t just encouraged, it’s a way of life.
Final thoughts
Our experience at the Invisible Forest Lodge in Finland was incredible. We had a wonderful time relaxing and taking in the breathtaking scenery. Even though we didn’t see the Northern Lights during our stay, this ranks among the coolest aurora igloos in Finland, and I would come back here in a heartbeat.
Tips for visiting the Invisible Forest Lodge
This is one of the most unique igloo hotels in Lapland, Finland, and we had a fantastic time. The overall experience was better than we imagined, from the comfortable aurora hut and the wonderful location to the friendly staff, delicious food, and spa.
Tips for visiting the Invisible Forest Lodge
There are a few things I wish I had known or done differently, mainly bringing less luggage.
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I recommend the Invisible Forest Lodge to those seeking a one-of-a-kind experience in the Finnish Lapland. It’s an especially nice place for couples, although the suites and cabins are great for groups or families.
I hope you enjoyed my review! It’s truly a place you have to see for yourself. Let me know in the comments if you’ve been here or are planning a visit! Have a fun trip!
