Finland
Javri Lodge, Finnish Lapland
The perfect balancing act in chic Scandi-minimalism and maximalist natural splendour, Javri Lodge should be on everyone’s radar. Transporting you deep within the Arctic Circle to a land where you’ll chase the Northern Lights across the sky come winter and forage for cloudberries through the summer, it’s Lapland at its best. Built as a traditional log cabin, infused with the rich scent of pine, Javri falls away to reveal sleek contemporary interiors with just 13 stunning suites, a body-soothing spa and sauna and a restaurant serving up the best in Lappish cuisine. An adults-only enclave, romance awaits you here.
Location
In the far reaches of Finnish Lapland, Javri Lodge makes the most of the tranquillity of the wilderness. Set on the fringes of Urho Kekkonen National Park in a landscape dappled with vast lakes and forests, you need never see another soul if you don’t wish to. From such a setting, comes an inescapable sense of healing with Javri a place where the stresses of daily life seem to simply slip away. The best bit? It’s only a 30-minute drive from the nearest airport at Ivalo.
Your Room
At once a simple log cabin and a stunning feat of contemporary architecture, Javri is as breathtaking as the nature beyond it. Between the 13 suites, choose whether you prefer the warm embrace of the downstairs log suites or the modernist edge of upstairs’s Sky Suites. Each has been carefully designed using a blend of natural and recycled materials, offset with minimalist furnishing in neutral hues. The Sky Suites do have a certain edge though, not just in their slick lines, but in their panoramic views which, come winter, act as your own personal window onto the wonder of the Northern Lights, from the comfort of your bed.
Why we like it
At Javri, it’s not so much about what you do at the Lodge as what you do beyond it. Snowmobile safaris chasing the Northern Lights, dog sledding through the National Park, a teepee bonfire set up for a champagne front desk – each and every moment spent here is pure enchantment. But it’s also entirely tailored to you. So if you’d rather just put your feet up? That’s fine too. Allow the staff to light a fire, before spending an evening dining on innovative cuisine or slipping into the indoor pool for a few lengths. Javri is whatever you make of it.