Lake Inari Mobile Cabin Stay – A Bucket List Winter Experience

We’ve always had a soft spot for experiential stays – the kind that offer more than just a roof over your head. Places that leave you with stories to tell and memories to cherish long after the trip ends.  So, when we came across the Lake Inari mobile cabins while planning our Finland adventure, it was love at first sight. I mean, how often do you get to sleep in a cozy cabin on a frozen lake, with the Northern Lights swirling above you like a dream?

Even now, whenever friends or family ask us about our favourite experience in Finland, I light up and probably get a little too chatty. So, you can imagine how special this was for me! And I’m truly thrilled to share all about it with you, because if you’re planning that dream trip to the Finnish Lapland, this might just become your favourite memory too.

Reaching Lake Inari Mobile Cabins

Let’s talk about logistics first – how to reach this dreamy hideaway. Most likely, you’ll be arriving in Inari either from Rovaniemi or via a flight to Ivalo Airport.

If you’re traveling from Rovaniemi, take a bus from the Rovaniemi Bus Terminal to Ivalo. From there, transfer to a smaller local bus heading towards Inari. The journey takes around 5 hours in total, with gorgeous Arctic landscapes keeping you company all the way. If you’re flying into Ivalo Airport, the trip is much shorter – just 45 minutes by local bus to Inari.

Now, do note that the local bus won’t drop you off directly at the accommodation. Instead, get down at K-Market Inari, which is the closest stop. From there, the team at Lake Inari Mobile Cabins will be able to pick you up. It’s just a quick 10-minute drive. Just inform them of your arrival time and request for the pickup beforehand.

For your journey back to Ivalo airport, book the shuttle from this website and they will pick you up from the accommodation.

Our Experience at Lake Inari Mobile Cabins

Arrival and the Sauna

We reached the base camp at around 3pm after grabbing a few things from K Market, Inari. Having skipped lunch, all we could think of was food. But once we arrived, hunger took a backseat – the sauna and our cabin suddenly felt far more tempting.

Our host, Atte, warmly welcomed us, showing us to our cabin and the shared spaces. While we ate our packed lunch in the cozy common room, my eyes were set on the sauna. The moment it was free, we dashed in. Since each session is private – one couple or group at a time – it felt personal and unhurried. We even ran outside in between to rub snow on ourselves before returning to the warmth. It was the perfect antidote to the long bus ride.

Dinner and ride to the lake

By the time we had bath and came back, Atte was already preparing dinner. We sipped tea and wandered around in the snow, before being called into the charming wooden dinner hut. We all sat around the fire while Atte shared Finnish tales over hot meals. We ended the evening with some non-alcoholic glögi and cookies. It was interesting to know how the shape of the cookies also had a background story.

Then came the moment we were waiting for – our cabin was towed onto the frozen lake at around 8:30 PM. The ride itself turned into an unexpected adventure: a few things tumbled around, and at one point, the unlocked door swung open mid-ride. I had to leap from the bed to latch it shut, laughing all the way. By the time we arrived, other cabins were already in place – each thoughtfully spaced out to ensure privacy in the middle of the vast, silent lake.

Night on the Lake and a Miracle

It was a beautiful moonlit night on the lake. Snuggled under the blanket, I kept gazing out from our cozy bed – the vast frozen lake, rimmed by distant hills, looked like another world under the silver light. I kept looking out every now and then to see if the clouds had cleared. But it was always the moon playing hide and seek with the fluffy clouds. I kept drifting off to sleep, then would be jolted awake to check the sky again. It was our last chance to see Aurora on this trip and I silently wished for a miracle. Read More…..