Inside OCTOLA Private Wilderness, Finland's most exclusive lodge

With wild reindeer mooching outside, OCTOLA is a part of nature. Allowing you to also be at one with the Finnish countryside, the resident wilderness guide can help navigate your entire stay. From off-road skiing, sledding and snowshoeing in the winter through to foraging and nature walks in the autumn and summer months. When in season - between August and April - and on clear nights, the wilderness guide also hosts Northern Light viewing tours to offer you the chance to see the elusive ribbons of dancing light across the starry sky. However, with OCTOLA’s remote position in the Finnish wilderness, the lights come to you with spectacular viewing opportunities from the lodge’s front door!

 

Also included in your stay is a typical Finnish activity: a sauna experience teamed with ice-swimming in a private pond in the winter months. And, of course, it wouldn’t be a trip to Finland without at least one snowmobile safari, with special mini snowmobiles available for children. All these activities are included complimentary with your booking, alongside protective outer clothing, transfers in Mercedes vans and a butler service.

But what about the food? All meals are included and prepared by a five-star chef and boast authentic Finnish flavours crafted using a blend modern and ancient cooking techniques. Comforting soups and delicious fresh salmon are all on the menu, with reindeer – an extremely nutritious meat – featuring heavily. 

Available at OCTOLA – however not included in your room rate – is a vast itinerary of fun activities. They include, but are not limited to: husky dog sledding; winter ice driving;, downhill skiing; handcraft workshops; private Santa Claus experiences; cookery classes; helicopter tours; ice skating; survival skills lessons; ice fishing; ice and snow sculpture carving; boat tours; meeting a Northern Lights scientist and so much more. If you can dream it, then the experienced team can probably make it come true!

But what you probably could never imagine is the sheer attention to detail that you’ll experience throughout your stay. From hand-knitted slipper socks upon arrival (no boots inside) made by the Sami people, through to providing a baby monitor for those staying with small children, every moment of your visit will have been pre-prepared and at hand before you even knew you needed it.

In addition, OCTOLA is expanding, and new for 2021 is a glass roof cabin complete with a double bed that’s perfect for watching the Northern Lights. Plus, there’s the new addition of a barbeque and karaoke bar that serves bear burgers! What’s more, the luxury accommodation has announced that it’s been approved by AFRY as having a ‘negative carbon footprint’ running on solely renewable energy comprising wind-generated electricity and geothermal heating.