North Pole Igloos will be Earth's northernmost hotel – for 1 month a year. Price? $105K
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![1. The Yukon Territory, CanadaThe Yukon Territory, in the northern reaches of Canada, is blessed with pristine northern lights viewing from August through April. The best place to catch the show is the Northern Lights Resort and Spa in Whitehorse.Rooms at the bed and breakfast start at $250 per night Aug. 1 to April 6, but all-inclusive packages can run all the way up to $2,890 per person for an eight-day stay. Consider it a life-changing trip thats worth the cost.The ultimate Arctic escape dedicated to the wonder, the hotel offers a number of aurora packages and photo tours. Watch the neon sky from the comfort of the outdoor Jacuzzi, from the back of a dog sled or trekking through the wilderness in snowshoes. Dont have your own camera equipment? The hotel offers DSLR cameras and tripods for rent by the day.]()
1 of 15![Fairbanks, AlaskaThere are plenty of must-visit destinations in Alaska, and Fairbanks is one of them. Fairbanks is perfectly positioned under the auroral oval, where the northern lights are visible. A major tourist attraction from Aug. 21 until April 21, you can see them by dog sled, on a Sno-Cat or even flightseeing in the sky.You can find specially designated cabins called auroriums, created to view the lights from an idyllic heated lodge. Or, Aurora Borealis Lodge offers rooms and chalets with a view rates start at $169 per night.]()
2 of 15![Kangerlussuaq, GreenlandSeptember through the beginning of April is northern lights season in Greenland. The country is particularly fascinating for seeing the sky as the Inuit people have many legends surrounding the phenomenons origins.You can experience the Auroras from just about everywhere in the country, but you can opt to camp at the incredible Russell Glacier, where the immense ice cap will be front and center in your photos. A three-day tour through Greenland Tours costs about $1,400.]()
3 of 15![Lofoten, NorwayThis colorful fishing village beneath the auroral oval is one of Europes best northern lights destinations between late September and late March.Make your base at Svinya Rorbuer, which has traditional Norwegian cabins framed by the ocean and the mountains. The property offers guided northern lights tours and photo lessons, but you can also explore the area by horse, kayak and snowshoe on your own.Rates start at $145 per night. But if you dont want to visit Lofoten, there other destinations in Norway where you can see this amazing sight.]()
4 of 15![Luosto, FinlandIf youre wondering where to see the northern lights, Lapland is famous for its viewings, which are available over 200 nights a year from late August through mid-April.Santas Hotel Aurora offers lavishly appointed glass igloos with the touches youd expect from a luxury hotel, plus photogenic charm. Igloos rent for $450 per night, while standard hotel rooms start at just $109.]()
5 of 15![Abisko, SwedenHome to the Aurora Sky Station in Abisko National Park, you have a good chance of seeing the northern lights between November and March thanks to special cameras, radio receivers and near-perfect weather conditions. In fact, Abisko is blessed with more clear nights than virtually any other destination in the auroral oval.You can stay nearby at Abisko Mountain Lodge, with double rooms starting at $109. If you want to visit more national parks like the Abisko National Park, consider one of these breathtaking national parks around the world.]()
6 of 15![Anchorage, AlaskaIf youre keen on coupling a northern lights trip with a city getaway, consider venturing to Anchorage. The northern lights are best experienced from September to April.Alaska Photo Treks can help you capture the auroras beauty. Theyll take you through a variety of mountain, rainforest and coastal backdrops until the brilliant colors are in full view.Post up at the landmark Anchorage Hotel its one of Americas most historic sites, and its listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Rooms run about $235 per night.]()
7 of 15![Thingvellir National Park, IcelandThingvellir is a popular place to see the northern lights, and youll want to come when the skies are the darkest and clearest between September and April.You can camp right at the National Park and World Heritage site for as little as $11 per night. But bundle up because winter in Iceland is no joke.If youre looking for a day trip, go see the inside of nearby dormant Thrihnukagigur Volcano, and take the six-minute elevator into its magma chamber.]()
8 of 15![Kakslauttanen, FinlandIf you want to plan the ultimate northern lights trip, the famous Finnish igloos at Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort should be at the top of your bucket list. Available from the end of August until the end of April, the modern glass domes or hybrid cabin-igloos are a way to cozy up in style.But the real ice homes will test your tolerance for cold. Youll be provided a down sleeping bag, but be aware: The temperature inside runs from 21 to 26 degrees Fahrenheit, with everything made of snow. Small glass igloos start at $445 per night, while snow igloos start at $526 per night.]()
9 of 15![Ilulissat, GreenlandHotel Arctics igloos are a bit modern and even include WiFi access. Made of sturdy aluminum, theyre stationed at the edge of a UNESCO-World Heritage listed Ilulissat Icefjord.For approximately $300 a night, you can sleep under the stars from May through October, which overlaps a bit with Greenlands northern lights season, which is September through April.]()
10 of 15![Churchill, CanadaIn Manitoba, Churchill offers a northern lights experience like none other the most brilliant displays can be seen January through March. Churchill Hotel sets up the Aurora Domes, or heated plexiglass bubbles, from which viewers can watch the magical sky.Churchill Wild offers an even more unique sky-chasing experience coupled with a polar bear safari. Youll be flown to one of their remote eco lodges to truly get one-on-one with nature. Prices start at $9,788 for the seven-day all-inclusive adventure.]()
11 of 15![Cairngorms National Park, ScotlandScotland shares the same latitude as Norway and Alaska, making it a great place to see the northern lights. Whimsically named Mirrie Dancers in the Highlands, the ladies come out to perform in autumn and winter.The national park is one of the best places to catch the show, as the region is home to five of the U.K.s six highest mountains, with a total of 55 peaks scattered among sprawling forests of ancient trees. Watch the free-grazing reindeer, and visit the 13th-century castle set atop an island.Cozy up at the Dulaig BB, which received an AA Guest Accommodation of the Year award for 2016. Rooms start at just $237 per night.]()
12 of 15![Troms, NorwayIf youre wondering where the best place to see the northern lights is, Troms is home to the Northern Lights Festival, which pairs top musical acts with the incredible outdoor show. A feast for all the senses, prime viewing happens September through April, when you can see the phenomenon on land or on the water.Cozy up at the Sommary Arctic Hotel, which has a variety of standard hotel accommodations, sea houses and cottages. Single rooms start at $167 per night.]()
13 of 15![Blaskogabyggd, IcelandThis settlement in Western Iceland has a fun claim to fame: heated bubbles. The 5 Million Star Hotel offers several bubble lodges that look like grounded UFOs, making Icelands stark landscape all the more otherworldly.Plan your visit September through March for the best chance at seeing colors dance through the sky. Rates are about $490 per night, but there is a long wait list.]()
14 of 15![Yellowknife, CanadaThere are actually two aurora seasons in the Northwest Territories: autumn (when the land and lakes are still balmy warm) and winter (when the land and lakes are frozen tundras). You can watch the lights from the intimate Aurora Village, an Aboriginal-style tepee village filled with tents, wood stoves and viewing platforms designed to maximize your comfort.The village offers add-on tours like dog sledding, ice fishing and snowshoeing. There is no charge for relaxing with your fellow travelers in the general teepees, but there are rental fees associated with booking a private teepee.]()
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Next year, you can now go glamping at the North Pole, provided the pockets in your down jacket are deep enough.
For $105,217.25 per person, travelers can stay at the North Pole Igloos, which their founder is billing as the northernmost hotel on the face of the planet.
The package includes:
- 2 nights in Svalbard Islands, Norway
- Flights between Svalbard and the North Pole
- 1 night at the North Pole
- Chef-prepared meals
- Security
- Arctic wilderness guide
The igloos, which have been tested in all types of extreme weather, are heated and have their own toilets, saving guests from making bathroom trips in subzero temperatures. They also feature a glass ceiling and wall so that guest can fully experience the northern lights.Â
But because the weather only allows safe travel for a short window of time, the igloos will only be positioned at the North Pole during the month of April 2020.
The igloos are the brainchild of Luxury Action, a 10-year-old Finnish private-travel company specializing in the Arctic and other Nordic regions.
“I decided this will be most experimental and best way to show our clients,” founder Janne Honkanen tells USA TODAY. He says it’s time to give tourists the opportunity to experience the North Pole with along with scientists and arctic explorers and do so in a safe way.
The concept, he says, is movable and sustainable but “still a little extreme.” (The team will move the igloos to the safest places around the Arctic glacier depending on weather conditions.)
For the remainder of the year, travelers can spend three nights in the igloos in Lapland, Finland, or Svalbard for about half the price: $53,166.96.
Honkanen’s mission for the North Pole Igloos is twofold. In addition to giving eager explorers access to the North Pole, he wants visitors to witness the effects of climate change firsthand and spread the word when they return home.
In the Arctic, he explains, the impact of climate change is clear to both year-round inhabitants and visitors. And it is particularly evident the North Pole.
In fact, the situation in the North Pole is rapidly quickly enough that Luxury Action will decide whether to operate the hotel in the North Pole during April on a year-to-year basis.
“The weather is warmer and warmer every year,” Honkanen explains. “We don’t know how many years we will be able to operate at the North Pole.”
Follow Morgan Hines on Twitter: @MorganEmHines.
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![Antarctica: For many travelers, Antarctica is the wildlife trip of a lifetime. The climate is hostile and the journey to get there is long, but the rewards are many: Picture elephant and fur seals, humpback and orca whales, and thousands of penguins, all set against a backdrop of ice in every possible shade of white and blue. If you have the time and budget, consider booking a trip that includes a stop in South Georgia to see its massive penguin population (including king penguins, which are more difficult to find on the Antarctic Peninsula).]()
1 of 10![India: There are few sights more magnificent than a 400-pound Bengal tiger stalking across the grass, muscles rippling under its sleek striped coat. Tigers are most easily spotted in a string of parks across India, including Corbett and Bandhavgarh national parks. The most appealing, though, may be Ranthambore National Park; once the hunting grounds of Jaipurs maharajas, the park features not only plenty of tigers but also temple ruins and other wildlife such as leopards and sloth bears.]()
2 of 10![Blue-footed boobies in the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador.]()
3 of 10![Alaska: With bald eagles soaring overhead, humpback whales flashing their flukes in the water, and hungry bears stalking rivers in search of salmon, Alaska offers a feast of wildlife travel adventures. Denali National Park is a good place to spot Alaskas version of the African Big Five: moose, caribou, Dall sheep, wolves and grizzly bears. Many visitors come on cruise ships through the Inside Passage, where you can often see marine animals such as sea otters, Steller sea lions, harbor seals and various types of whales.]()
4 of 10![Rwanda and Uganda: Imagine crouching in a dense green forest just a few yards away from a mother gorilla cradling her baby, or a 400-pound silverback foraging for food. There are only about 880 mountain gorillas left on the planet, and Rwanda and Uganda are the best and safest places to view them. Uganda is a better option for travelers on a budget, as permits and accommodations tend to be cheaper; its also easy to add other adventures onto your wildlife trip such as spotting lions and elephants in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Meanwhile, Rwanda has better infrastructure, shorter driving distances, and the chance to see playful golden monkeys.]()
5 of 10![Svalbard, Norway: Located halfway between mainland Norway and the North Pole, this cluster of icy islands is one of the few places on the planet where you can see polar bears stalking across the ice in their natural habitat along with reindeer, Arctic foxes, puffins, walruses and seals. Most people visit in the summer, when the midnight sun shines all night long.]()
6 of 10![Sea of Cortez, Mexico: Also known as the Gulf of California, the Sea of Cortez is the body of water between the Baja California peninsula and the mainland of Mexico and its teeming with wildlife. Blue, gray, sperm, fin and humpback whales migrate through these waters at various times of year, while dolphins and orcas are year-round inhabitants. You can even go swimming alongside playful sea lions and gentle whale sharks.]()
7 of 10![Tanzania: No wildlife lover should pass up a chance to see Africas legendary Big Five: lions, rhinos, elephants, leopards and Cape buffalo. In Tanzania youll find them all plus many more, including hippos, giraffes and zebras. The country is most famous for the Great Migration, when millions of wildebeest move en masse from the Serengeti in Tanzania to the Masai Mara in neighboring Kenya; June and July are the best months for viewing the migration in Tanzania.]()
8 of 10![The Pantanal, South America: Sprawling across parts of Brazil, Bolivia and Paraguay, the Pantanal is the planets largest system of freshwater wetlands. The Pantanal has an even denser concentration of wildlife than the Amazon; visitors can spot jaguars, caimans, macaws, river otters, monkeys, egrets, anteaters and many more in the regions broad floodplains.]()
9 of 10![Borneo, Southeast Asia: Covered in old-growth rainforest and split among the nations of Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei, Borneo entices travelers with the chance to spot orangutans swinging through the trees or catch a glimpse of Asias smallest elephant. Love monkeys? Dont miss a trip to Kinabatangan Wildlife Reserve, home to a whopping 10 different primate species including proboscis monkeys, orangutans and multiple variants of macaques and langurs. Keep an eye out for the elusive Malayan sun bear and its distinctive white or gold patch of chest fur.]()
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