ByKriszti Last updated: Finland

Hotel Review: Wilderness Hotel Nellim (Lapland, Finland)

Wilderness Hotel Nellim is a remote escape in Finnish Lapland, perfect for those looking to experience the region’s wild beauty away from the crowds. Located near the shores of Lake Inari, it offers cozy accommodations, exciting winter activities, and some of the best northern lights viewing in the area.

We stayed in the Arctic Sky Cabin, their newest accommodation, designed to give you the best possible view of the northern sky right from your bed. In this review, we’ll share our experience at Wilderness Hotel Nellim, from the location and activities to the food and overall atmosphere.

*Disclosure: This post contains a few affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission, at no cost to you, if you make a purchase through my link. Please note that we were invited to stay at Wilderness Hotel Nellim, however, all thoughts and opinions are my own, as always.*

basic information

Wilderness Hotel Nellim

Address: Nellimintie 4230, 99860 Nellim, Finland
Email: sales@wildernesshotels.fi
Phone: +358 400 809 949
Website: https://wildernesshotels.fi/wilderness-hotel-nellim/
Instagram: @wildernesshotels

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The living area of the Arctic Sky Cabin at Wilderness Hotel Nellim, with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the snowy landscape. A black fireplace stands in the center with a fire burning inside. A woman in a white dress and knee-high socks sits on a beige chair, sipping a drink while looking outside at the winter scenery.

Location

Wilderness Hotel Nellim is part of Wilderness Hotels, a family-owned company that operates several hotels across Finnish Lapland.

Each of their properties is designed to offer an authentic Arctic experience, with a focus on cozy accommodations, outdoor adventures, and northern lights viewing. Nellim is one of their most remote locations, making it ideal for those looking to escape into nature.

The hotel is located in the small village of Nellim, near the shores of Lake Inari, Finland’s third-largest lake.

The area is far from major towns and cities, meaning there’s almost no light pollution – perfect for spotting the northern lights. Despite its secluded setting, the hotel is still accessible, with Ivalo Airport about a 45-minute drive away.

If you’re visiting without a car, Wilderness Hotel Nellim offers airport transfers for an additional fee. However, renting a car can be a good option if you want more flexibility to explore the area on your own. Free parking is available for guests.

Accommodation

Wilderness Hotel Nellim has a wide range of accommodations, from simple wilderness rooms to spacious Arctic suites, cozy log cabins, and private lakefront villas.

If you’re traveling with family or a group, this is a great place to stay, as many of the cabins and suites can accommodate multiple people. The hotel has a welcoming, family-friendly atmosphere, and there are plenty of options to suit different travel styles.

If you’ve ever dreamed of sleeping under the Arctic sky, the aurora cabins are a fantastic choice. These glass-roofed cabins sit right by the lake, giving you a front-row seat to the northern lights on a clear night while still keeping you warm and comfortable.

  • A rustic log cabin at Wilderness Hotel Nellim with a thick layer of snow on the roof, set among tall trees under a cloudy winter sky.
    Log cabins
  • A row of Aurora Cabins at Wilderness Hotel Nellim, partially covered in snow, surrounded by tall pine trees with a soft glow of light in the sky.
    Aurora cabins

Arctic Sky Cabin

We stayed at the Arctic Sky Cabin, one of the newest additions to Wilderness Hotel Nellim. It was just completed for the 2024/2025 season, so everything felt brand new.

The cabin is a standalone unit, offering more privacy than a typical glass igloo. The highlight for us was the floor-to-ceiling windows, which gave us an incredible panoramic view of the frozen lake and surrounding forest. While there’s also a glass ceiling above the bed, we found that the large windows made the space feel much more open and connected to nature.

It also comes with a private sauna and an outdoor terrace with a hot tub. We really enjoyed soaking in the hot tub while taking in the views, it was definitely one of the best parts of our stay!

Since there’s only one Arctic Sky Cabin at the hotel, it’s best to book well in advance if you want to stay here. If you’re looking for something more private than a glass igloo but still want great views and northern lights potential, this is a fantastic option.

  • The bedroom of the Arctic Sky Cabin at Wilderness Hotel Nellim, featuring wooden walls and a large bed with a brown fur throw. A skylight above the bed allows natural light to enter.
  • The bathroom inside the Arctic Sky Cabin at Wilderness Hotel Nellim, featuring wood-paneled walls and ceiling, a large round backlit mirror, and a sleek concrete sink. Towels and toiletries are neatly arranged, with a modern toilet and a handheld bidet next to it.
  • The living area of the Arctic Sky Cabin at Wilderness Hotel Nellim, with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the snowy landscape. A black fireplace stands in the center with a fire burning inside. A woman in a white dress and knee-high socks sits on a beige chair, sipping a drink while looking outside at the winter scenery.
  • The interior of the Arctic Sky Cabin at Wilderness Hotel Nellim, showcasing a cozy living space with large glass windows facing the snow-covered forest. A black wood-burning stove is positioned near the glass wall, with a beige armchair beside it. A woman in a white winter outfit stands on the outdoor deck, looking out at the frozen lake and surrounding trees.
  • A woman relaxing in a hot tub on the terrace of the Arctic Sky Cabin at Wilderness Hotel Nellim, surrounded by snow-covered trees. She is wearing earmuffs and holding a glass of champagne while looking at the winter landscape.
  • A close-up of a glass of champagne being held over a steaming hot tub at the Arctic Sky Cabin at Wilderness Hotel Nellim, with snow-covered trees in the background.

Northern Lights

Wilderness Hotel Nellim is in one of the best locations for northern lights viewing in Finnish Lapland. Since it’s far from any major towns, there’s almost no light pollution, which means you get incredibly clear skies when the weather cooperates.

The hotel is right by Lake Inari, so there are plenty of open spaces where you can step outside and scan the sky for aurora activity.

One of the best ways to maximize your chances of seeing the northern lights is by using the hotel’s aurora alert system, though it comes at an extra cost. For €10 per day, you’ll receive a small device that beeps loudly when the aurora is spotted.

It’s not an automatic system – staff members manually trigger the alert whenever they see activity, and it works until around 1 am when the reception closes for the night.

We found it totally worth the price because, without it, we would have missed out on an incredible northern lights show right above our cabin! On our second night, there was some aurora activity, but it was too cloudy to see much.

  • A dark wooden cabin at Wilderness Hotel Nellim with a snowy entrance, set against the night sky with the Northern Lights glowing above.
  • A woman in winter clothing standing on a snowy path, looking up at the Northern Lights surrounded by tall trees at Wilderness Hotel Nellim.

The hotel also offers several guided aurora excursions for those who want to go hunting for the lights with a bit more adventure. You can choose between an aurora snowshoe hike, an aurora snowmobile tour, an aurora hunt by car, or an aurora camp experience.

We decided to join the aurora camp, which was a really fun and relaxing way to spend an evening.

We were seated in a sleigh pulled by a snowmobile and taken to a frozen lake, where our guide set up a fire. We roasted marshmallows, sipped warm berry juice, and listened to stories about Lapland and the aurora.

Unfortunately, we weren’t lucky that night, and the lights didn’t make an appearance, but the experience itself was still really nice.

  • A wooden cabin at Wilderness Hotel Nellim surrounded by snow and trees, with vibrant green Northern Lights streaking across the sky.
  • A view of the Northern Lights through snow-covered treetops at Wilderness Hotel Nellim, with the sky glowing green against the night.

Activities

Wilderness Hotel Nellim offers a great selection of winter activities, making it easy to experience the best of Lapland without having to leave the property. Whether you want to explore the snowy landscapes, meet local wildlife, or go on an adventure, there’s something for everyone.

Some of the most popular activities include husky safaris, where you can drive your own team of sled dogs through the Arctic wilderness, and reindeer experiences, where you can learn about Sámi culture while meeting and feeding these iconic animals.

For those who love speed, there are snowmobiling tours that take you across frozen lakes and through snowy forests, as well as ice fishing trips, where you can try your luck at catching fish the traditional way.

One of the best things about staying here is that the hotel provides all the winter gear you might need. On your arrival day, you can visit the Safari House, where you’ll be fitted with thermal overalls, warm boots, extra socks, and gloves.

If you need any additional gear for specific activities, such as helmets or snowshoeing equipment, you can pick them up at the start of your tour.

Finding your scheduled activities is also really easy. There’s a large screen by the reception displaying all the next day’s tours, along with the guide’s name, start time, and meeting point. This made everything super organized, and we never had to worry about where to go.

We took part in two different activities during our stay (plus the Aurora Camp I already told you about).

The first was a gentle snowshoeing trip, which was our first time trying snowshoes. It felt like a leisurely walk through the forest, and the quiet surroundings made it such a peaceful experience. We were also lucky enough to spot some reindeer along the way, which made it even more special!

  • A snowy forest landscape at Wilderness Hotel Nellim with a narrow trail of footprints leading into the trees. Tall pines dusted with snow stand against an overcast sky.
  • A woman wearing a blue and black winter outfit with a white beanie stands in the snow holding trekking poles while snowshoeing through a dense forest of tall, snow-covered trees at Wilderness Hotel Nellim.

On our second day, we went on a snowmobiling adventure. We chose the afternoon option, which started close to sunset, so we got to ride across the frozen lake while watching the sky turn beautiful shades of pink and orange.

It was a great way to experience the landscape from a different perspective. Two people share one snowmobile, and you can switch drivers at the halfway point if you want to.

There are plenty of other activities available as well, from husky safaris to ice fishing and reindeer encounters. No matter what you choose, everything is well-organized, and the guides make sure you have an amazing time.

  • View from a snowmobile ride across a frozen lake at Wilderness Hotel Nellim. The snow-covered landscape stretches into the distance with a tree-lined horizon. The sky shows a mix of orange and yellow colors. A snowmobile windshield is partially visible in the foreground.
  • Two people sitting on a snowmobile in the middle of a frozen lake at Wilderness Hotel Nellim, dressed in winter gear. The sky has orange and yellow tones, and the ground is covered in snow.

Dining

All stays at Wilderness Hotel Nellim include breakfast, with the option to upgrade to half board (breakfast and dinner) or full board (breakfast, lunch, and dinner). Drinks are not included in either of these packages exception for water.

We chose the full board option, so we had all our meals at the hotel’s restaurant.

Everything is served buffet-style, and we were really impressed with the selection. The food was high-quality, and the menu changed daily, which was a nice surprise. Even though we stayed multiple days, we never felt like we were eating the same thing over and over again.

I’m usually not a big fan of buffet-style dining, but we were pleasantly surprised by the food here. It was a really convenient option, especially since the hotel is in such a remote location.

If you’re planning to spend your days out on activities, I’d definitely recommend upgrading to half board or even full board, it just makes things a lot easier.

  • The dining area at Wilderness Hotel Nellim, featuring wooden tables and chairs, a chandelier made of antlers, and a fur rug mounted on the wall. The rustic interior includes dim lighting and small candles on each table.
  • A table set for two inside the restaurant at Wilderness Hotel Nellim, with plates of food and a dessert near a large window overlooking a snowy landscape. A wooden cabin and tall pine trees are visible outside.

Final Thoughts

Our stay at Wilderness Hotel Nellim was an incredible experience. The remote location, cozy accommodations, and wide range of activities made it the perfect base for exploring Lapland. The Arctic Sky Cabin was a real highlight, giving us amazing views of the frozen lake and the northern lights right from our terrace.

The activities were well-organized, and we loved how easy it was to gear up and find our tours each day. The tours themselves were also great, and everything felt really smooth and well-planned.

Thanks to the northern lights alert system, we were able to experience an unforgettable aurora show right above our cabin. Having that extra alert made all the difference, and it was definitely worth it!

We also really enjoyed the full board dining option. The quality of the food exceeded our expectations, and the changing menu kept things interesting throughout our stay.

If you’re looking for a remote but comfortable Lapland experience with great northern lights potential, Wilderness Hotel Nellim is a fantastic choice. Whether you’re here for adventure, relaxation, or both, it’s a place that truly delivers.

Book a stay at Wilderness Hotel Nellim

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  • Hotel Review: Wilderness Hotel Nellim (Lapland, Finland)
  • Hotel Review: Wilderness Hotel Nellim (Lapland, Finland)
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