Find Your Glow at Aurora Hill Resort | Rovaniemi’s Highest Resort
During a previous trip to Rovaniemi we stayed at the Postmaster Hotel and the owners told us about the future plans for Aurora Hill Resort. So we came back to Rovaniemi to experience this new resort and here is our review.
Last year we visited Lapland Winter Park, located on Olleronvaara, just 10 minutes from the center of Rovaniemi. Back then, this winter activity park was the only thing located here. It even felt a bit strange at the time, with no other businesses around.
Fast forward 12 months, 5 new resorts have established themselves on the same Olleronvaara. One of them is the brand new Aurora Hill Resort.
This blog was written by travel writer and Traveltomtom team member Ashley. She stayed at Aurora Hill Resort, on behalf of Traveltomtom, and wrote this blog about her experiences.
Location
Aurora Hill Resort is located at Olleronvaara, making it the highest located resort in Rovaniemi. Keeping the Northern Lights dreams of many guests and travelers in mind, this is obviously a huge plus for Aurora Hill Resort. The high location of the resort ensures unobstructed views towards the North, exactly what you want.
So if you are looking for the best hotel in Rovaniemi to watch the Northern Lights consider the Aurora Hill Resort.
The resort is located roughly 10 minutes from the city center of Rovaniemi. The airport of Rovaniemi and Santa Claus Village are located 20 minutes away from the resort. Since you are basically at least 10 minutes away from everything, it is very convenient and almost necessary to have your own car here.
It is, of course, difficult to move suitcases through the snow to your cabin. Aurora Hill Resort has special sleds that allow you to transport your suitcase and other luggage super easily. Additionally, they also have kick sleds at the resort that allow you to get around easily or just have a lot of fun with it.
Cabins Aurora Hill Resort
Aurora Hill is a small-scale resort consisting of handcrafted wooden cabins. The most important key features of these cabins are stunning views and cozy comforts.
You can choose from three different types of cabins here: the Aurora Suite, the Aurora Suite Plus, and the Aurora Family Suite. The cabins differ mainly in size and suitability for the number of people.
The Aurora Suite is the most basic cabin of the three offered at Aurora Hill Resort. The Aurora Suite is suitable for a maximum of two guests. If you are looking for a little more space and comfort, the Aurora Suite Plus might be a good option. With a sofa bed and main double bed, it’s ideal for 2–3 guests.
Check here the Aurora Hill Resort rating and prices on Booking.
Aurora Family Suite
Then there is also the Aurora Family Suite. This is the largest cabin they offer at Aurora Hill Resort.
With two beds and a large sofa bed for two, the Aurora Family Suite is suitable for four people. The family suite has a separate bedroom for some added privacy. It has a cozy living area with a large floor to ceiling window with forest views. The interior of the suite combines Nordic design with warm touches and details of Lapland tradition. The Nordic interior makes you feel at home instantly.
The cabins are fully self-sufficient. There is a fully equipped kitchen where you can prepare your own meals. They offer everything, a microwave, refrigerator, stove, pans and pots and dishes and cutlery. If you lovecooking and preparing your own dinner, you can absolutely do so here.
Checking in at Aurora Hill Resort is simple and completely contactless, as there is no reception desk. You will receive a message from the manager via WhatsApp the day before arrival containing all instructions and useful information. On the day of arrival, you will receive the door code and your cabin number. A super easy self-check-in, we love it!
Check here the Aurora Hill Resort rating and prices on Booking.
Breakfast Aurora Hill Resort
Breakfast is included when you book a cabin at Aurora Hill Resort. Although the resort does not have a restaurant, breakfast is still a real highlight of the stay and a great start to the day. Breakfast is delivered to your door every morning.
You will receive more information about the breakfast via WhatsApp a few days before your stay. You can use this message to communicate any dietary requirements or preferences, and to arrange a delivery time. This way, you decide exactly when your breakfast is delivered.
The breakfast delivered to you is extensive, luxurious, and very tasty. It consists of various types of fresh fruit, eggs, yogurt, chocolate spread, jam, rolls, croissants, and a gourmet filled croissant. In addition, you also receive milk and blueberry juice. It’s the perfect start to a day in Lappish nature.
Traveltomtom’s tip for Aurora Hill Resort
A stay at Aurora Hill Resort is unique and special, precisely because there are only cabins and no other facilities are present. That also means that there is no restaurant on site. There are plenty of options in Rovaniemi for a nice meal out, but we would like to share our ultimate tip with you.
Lapland Winter Park is located right next to Aurora Hill Resort. It is highly recommended to spend a day there in any case, but our tip is about dinner. At Lapland Winter Park they have their own restaurant and offer a delicious buffet dinner as well as à la carte dinner. We discovered this by chance when we actually just went there for a drink.
The buffet looked so good that we went to eat there the next day. It really is only a five-minute walk from Aurora Hill Resort. The food is plentiful, extensive, and incredibly delicious. So, don't make it difficult, just go have dinner at the neighbors of Lapland Winter Park in the evening.
Stay Lapland
Aurora Hill Resort is part of the family business Stay Lapland. This family business has been going strong for four generations. Today, three brothers carry on the Stay Lapland legacy, driven by a deep love for Lapland.
Stay Lapland is a tour operator that offers every conceivable activity in Rovaniemi and the surrounding area. So, if you stay at Aurora Hill Resort, you can book the best and most fun activities at a discount through Stay Lapland. Because they are one company, pick-up and drop-off at Aurora Hill Resort is always included.
Of course, we also got to do a fun activity during our stay at Aurora Hill Resort. We went out with Stay Lapland for a day of snowmobiling and ice fishing. The weather was fantastic: not too cold, blue skies, and lovely sunshine. Those are the best days to go on an adventure through the snowy landscapes of Lapland.
As far as we are concerned, snowmobiling and ice fishing are two of the very best activities in Lapland, and you often see them offered as a combined activity. So definitely book it if you see that!
Postmaster Hotel
We briefly mentioned it at the beginning of this blog, but we actually stayed at the Postmaster Hotel during a previous trip to Rovaniemi. Like Aurora Hill Resort, the Postmaster Hotel is part of Stay Lapland. That is why we want to include this in this blog as well.
The Postmaster Hotel is a historic hotel in Rovaniemi. It has an ideal location for travelers, namely right next to the train and bus station and within walking distance of the city center.
The hotel offers various types of rooms, activities can of course be booked at Stay Lapland, and it has its own restaurant for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, Leima Kitchen and Bar.
Check here the Postmaster Hotel rating and prices on Booking.
Northern Lights Alert App
For us personally, seeing the Northern Lights was once the main reason for our first trip to Lapland. We have since had the privilege of witnessing this extraordinary natural phenomenon multiple times, and we never get used to seeing it.
In recent years, we have always used The Northern Lights Alert app during our visits to Rovaniemi. An app designed and maintained by a Finn. This app works with Aurora cameras. You can set up an alert for various locations. As soon as the camera at that location detects the Northern Lights, the alarm goes off, and you can rush outside to see it for yourself in real life! More and more hotels and resorts are now offering this amazing Northern Lights App to their guests. If you are staying at one of the affiliated accommodation, you can use this app for free based on your location.
The good news is that Aurora Hill Resort is also one of the participating hotels. So all you have to do is download the app, set up the alert, and then keep your fingers crossed for the Northern Lights.
Are you not staying at the Aurora Hill Resort, or one of the other affiliated hotels or resorts? No problem, be sure to check their website.
The Northern Lights Alert App has proven itself multiple times during several trips we took to Rovaniemi and is absolutely worth the money!
Lapland Winter Park
Our Traveltomtom Tip was of course already about the restaurant, but Lapland Winter Park has much more to offer then just dinner. It is located literally next to Aurora Hill Resort and is highly recommended. We visited this park last year and had a truly wonderful day there.
You don't have to go far as it really is just a five-minute walk before you're at the ticket counter of Lapland Winter Park. You are guaranteed to spend a whole day here without getting bored. There is so much fun to do, everything is outdoors, pure enjoyment.
Overall thoughts
As we drove to Aurora Hill Resort at Olleronvaara, we could already see that a huge amount of new accommodation had been built and is still being built. Where twelve months ago only Lapland Winter Park was located here, there are now four other new resorts, including Aurora Hill Resort.
We found it a wonderful stay. A cabin in the middle of nature. Only a few cabins were occupied when we were there, so it was quite quiet and it felt like we were truly all alone. The breakfast was really lovely and relaxed. You decide what time it gets delivered and enjoy breakfast at your leisure in your own cabin.
If you want to get away in nature, this is truly the perfect place. If you don't want busy accommodations but rather a small-scale resort where everything is focused on your peace and privacy. We really enjoyed the peace and pure nature there.