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Overnight on lake ice
The story
"I enjoy going on lake ice to see the northern lights wider. There in cold evening of winter 2012 I got the idea of building up a warm portable cabin for my own purpose. It was fun so I made another. Now we have 8 unique cabins for our guests to experience the lake." Esko, founder
"I came in as employee in 2021. Just loved the brilliant consept, and then in 2023 Esko gave me his shoes to continue offering this amazing experience." Atte, manager
This is how it goes
Base camp is near Inari village by Lake Inari. There you can join activities, enjoy famous sauna and local dinner by open fire or just rest in your cabin before night on the lake. Main building facilities are available as well: shared kitchen, dining room, living room, showers and restrooms.
At 8-9pm the guide toes the cabins by snowmobile to the lake ice for overnight. You are inside your cabin during moving.
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Northern lights are seen about 90% of the nights in September-April. About 50% of nights are cloudy... but normally not all night so be patient :-)
At 8-9am (or earlier if you wish) the guide starts to toe the cabins back to the base camp there you can wash up and enjoy breakfast by fire place.
Safety on ice
In the past years the safe ice-season has started:
in 2014 on 15th November
in 2015 on 6th December
in 2016 on 20th November
in 2017 on 22nd November
in 2018 on 25th November
in 2019 on 31st October
in 2020 on 1st December
in 2021 on 22nd November
in 2022 on 21st November.
Safe means at least 20cm clear "steel" ice. In the end of March the ice is at the thickest about 70cm and starts getting weaker in mid April.
If the weather forecast is below -30 degrees with wind chill or wind forecast is too hard then the cabins will be shorter time on lake ice, stay nearer than 1,5km or stay at the base camp. It happens a couple of times / season that lasts about 140 nights.
If you feel yourself ill, please let us know before you check in and enter the main building. We have organized more space in the main building to keep safe distances. Remember to wash and desinfect hands. If you feel ill we cannot move your cabin to the lake ice but stay onshore at the base camp.
There at the base camp you have same chance to see the northern lights. Often they are seen already before 8pm and transfer to the lake ice.
In Christmas time when daylight is short it may be possible to see northern lights between 3pm and 9am. In March the time is about between 9pm and 3am and we get some 15 minutes more daylight every day. Average temperature in winter is -13 degrees celcius.
Warmly welcome to Inari,