Situated miles away from any possible source of light pollution, high up in the Arctic at just the right latitude, Nellim is one of the best spots from which to see the northern lights. As a family-run hotel, Nellim provides a homely, welcoming atmosphere with colourful upholstery bright against the muted warm tones of the wooden walls and floors. All the pleasures of an old-fashioned log cabin holiday can be enjoyed here, in between sky gazing, dog sledding and other Arctic adventures.
Eat
Dinners at Nellim are served buffet-style, with a wide selection of delicious Lappish treats to choose from, from salads to seafood and warming soups and stews, the latter involving reindeer meat slow cooked to perfection. Wild herbs and mushrooms, cloudberries, lingonberries and blueberries all add an extra dimension, as does the vodka served alongside.
Sleep
There are a range of chic timber cabins to choose from, each a delightful blend of traditional rustic style, modern comforts and chic furnishings. All have spacious private bathrooms, and some rooms come with a private sauna. Particularly exciting is the Sarmi Wilderness Camp, tucked far into the wild pine forest, and the Aurora Bubbles, a cabin with a glass dome through which the Northern Lights can be seen.
Do
Out in the wilderness there is an endless list of activities to take part in, many of which involve typically Lappish pastimes such as showshoe trekking, dogsled safaris and cross country skiing. On top of this is a unique way to see the northern lights, in an Aurora Sledge. These glass-roofed cockpits are drawn out across the snow by snowmobile, and all you have to do is sit back and watch the neon green lights illuminate the sky.
