About this hotel
General information
Gáldu Hotel & Spa is a small, family-run hotel far above the Arctic Circle, set in the forested Laanila area near Saariselkä, right on the edge of Urho Kekkonen National Park. Its name is the Sámi word for an ice plunge or a cold spring, and that idea shapes the whole place: an open-air spa tucked into the forest, which the hotel describes as the northernmost of its kind in the world.
There are just 31 rooms — 29 Forest and Stellar Havens and two suites — alongside a restaurant seating around 80 and a cocktail bar. The mood is relaxed, the service personal, and each stay can be shaped around the guest. Beyond the windows lie silence, clean air, forests, fells and lakes, and a sky with almost no light pollution, ideal for watching the northern lights. The hotel is a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World.
Location
The hotel sits in Laanila, just outside Saariselkä in the municipality of Inari, a few steps from Urho Kekkonen National Park with its hiking trails, fells and forests. Ivalo Airport is about 31 km away.
Spa
The spa lies outdoors in the forest, and hotel guests have unlimited use of it throughout their stay. There are three heat rooms: a traditional Finnish sauna with a forest view, a Finnish sauna with a wood-burning stove and panoramic windows, and a steam room. Between sessions guests take the signature cold plunge, warm up in the outdoor hot tub and rest by the fire in the small indoor bar. Massage, yoga and sound baths are available on request, and outside spa hours guests may use the spa lounge for their own practice. Day visitors are welcome by appointment.
Sports & leisure
The hotel helps put together an outdoor programme in every season.
- Reindeer: sleigh rides through snowy forest, visits to a reindeer farm, and evening aurora outings by reindeer sleigh with a break by the campfire.
- Huskies: sled safaris on which guests take turns driving the team, followed by time with the dogs at the farm.
- Snowmobiles: guided safaris through snow-covered forest and fells, for beginners and experienced riders alike.
- Northern lights: tours with a local guide, either to a remote camp under open skies or by minibus deeper into the fells, depending on the weather.
- In winter, snowshoe walks and ice fishing on a frozen lake.
- In summer, under the midnight sun, hiking and cycling trails, canoeing and fishing.
Restaurants & bars
The kitchen starts from Lappish traditions and the purest local produce, adding a modern touch and accents from cuisines around the world.
- Restaurant — modern Lappish cooking, around 80 seats and a private space for groups of 12–16; breakfast is cooked to order from local produce.
- Cocktail bar — signature cocktails with the sun setting over the snowy horizon.
- Spa bar — drinks by the fireplace between sauna rounds and dips.
Swimming
The open-air forest spa has a warm pool for swimming, a hot tub looking out over the snowy forest and the signature cold plunge.
Pets
Selected Forest Haven rooms accept pets; this must be arranged with the hotel in advance.
Rooms
The hotel has 31 rooms over two floors: 29 Havens of 25 m² with floor-to-ceiling windows — Forest Havens on the ground floor, Stellar Havens upstairs — and two 50 m² Signature Suites. Interiors pair Scandinavian restraint with natural materials and soft light, and the bathrooms take their cue from the spa.
Every room has bathrobes and slippers, air conditioning, a hairdryer, an iron and ironing board, a safe and Wi-Fi; the suites add a TV, minibar, kettle and walk-in wardrobe.
Forest Haven
A ground-floor room whose floor-to-ceiling windows frame the snowy forest, with a double or twin beds and a spa-inspired bathroom; for two guests. Some have a sofa bed for a child, and some welcome pets.
Stellar Haven
An upper-floor room above the treetops, with floor-to-ceiling windows onto the sky, the northern lights and the midnight sun, a double or twin beds and a spa-inspired bathroom; for two guests. Some can take an extra bed for a child.
Signature Suite
An upper-floor suite with almost 13 metres of panoramic windows, a lounge area, a large bed and a spacious bathroom with a shower and a jacuzzi for two, plus a separate WC; sleeps up to three. The Northern Signature Suite has its own balcony.
Photos are for illustrative purposes only. Actual room layout, furnishings, décor, views and amenities may differ from those shown and may vary between rooms of the same category. Hotel and room descriptions are based on information provided by the property and are believed to be accurate at the time of publication, but are not guaranteed. The hotel may renovate or change its rooms, facilities, restaurants and services at any time without notice. The final details of your stay are confirmed at the time of booking. See our Terms of Use.