Our address is Taikalammentie 2, 93830 Kuusamo, Finland. (Our old address is Tahkolanrannantie 2)

We are located:

• 8 km (5 miles) from the Ruka Ski Resort.
• 28 km (17.3 miles) from the Kuusamo Airport.
• 124 km (77 miles) from the Kemijärvi Train Station.
• 200 km (124 miles) from the Rovaniemi Airport.
• 254 km (158 miles) from the Oulu Airport.
• 824 km (512 miles) from the Helsinki-Vantaa Airport.

By plane

During the winter months, Finnair operates 2-4 daily flights from Helsinki to Kuusamo. From the airport you can take the Finnair shuttle bus to Ruka Ski Resort. Lufthansa is also offering direct flights from Frankfurt to Kuusamo from December to March. Tui has direct flights from Rotterdam, Brussels, and Barcelona. Eurowings will start direct flights from Dusseldorf to Kuusamo on 21/01/2024.

During the summer and autumn months, Finnair operates regular flights from Helsinki to Kuusamo.

By car

If you are driving from southern Finland, take Kemijärventie (5). Drive from Kuusamo approximately 16 km to the North, and then take the turn towards Rukajärvi (the road is called Rukajärventie). Drive for 7 km and turn to Tahkolanrannantie. Drive for 4 km, and please follow the Magical Pond roadsigns. Our turning is on the left-hand side.

If you are driving from the North, turn to Ruka ski resort. From the roundabout take the second exit to Rukatunturintie. From the next roundabout take the second exit towards Rukajärvi. Drive for 2 km and turn left towards Tahkolanranta. Drive for 4 km, and please follow the Magical Pond roadsigns. Our turning is on the left-hand side.

By bus or train

There is a shuttle bus from the Rovaniemi airport and railway station. The shuttle bus runs from the end of November until the end of March on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Available only by pre-orders. 

There is a summertime shuttle bus service between Rovaniemi and Kuusamo. This service is available between 26/06/23 – 30/09/23. Tickets need to be bought at least 44 hrs prior to the departure. See this link for further information.

From the Helsinki city centre, you can also take a train to Oulu, Rovaniemi, or Kemijärvi. There is a bus service from these locations to Kuusamo / Ruka.

We have a responsibility for our guests’ privacy so flying a drone and photographing / filming above the igloo village is strictly prohibited. However, if you wish to use a drone to photograph / film, please speak to the staff, and we are more than happy to show you a suitable location.

It is worth noting that there are regulations in place for the flying of drones / UAS in Finland which must be adhered to. You can find more information through these links – Droneinfo and EASA. According to the new regulations, those using drones with a mass exceeding 250g or drones equipped with a camera must register as a drone operator, familiarise themselves with drone operation, and in most cases pass an examination regardless of whether they use the drone for hobby or professional purposes. Magical Pond requires anyone wishing to fly a drone to have passed the required examination and have a valid drone operator registration within the EU. There are also additional restrictions in Ruka area – during the operational hours of the Kuusamo Airport (the time between the first and the last flights), drone flying is only permitted below 120m above ground level.

We have a restaurant on site which is called Hut Restaurant Kataja. We have set menus which rotate throughout the week. The menus follow traditional Lappish style, and many of the ingredients are locally sourced. You can find more information through this link. If you are interested in dining at the Hut Restaurant Kataja, please be aware that you need to make the table reservation at least 3 days in advance. The reservation can be made through the link above. The dinner starts at 19.00 (7pm), and the restaurant is located within the Magical Pond Igloo Village. Please note that the restaurant is currently closed until the late autumn, however it can be opened for private parties. If you are interested in organising an event at the restaurant, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

We also serve food at the main Reception building. We have two different soups (available during the winter months only) and a cheese platter which can be purchased without pre-booking; you can find more information about the snacks and drinks through this link. We would like to inform you that these are available until 1 hour before the Reception’s closing time.

When is the best time to see Northern Lights?

You can spot Northern Lights from September until mid-April. According to Finnish Meteorological Institute, the possibility to spot Northern Lights increases after 9pm and on its best around 11.30pm. One of the best periods to see the Northern Lights is the autumn. Whilst there is no snow, there is nothing to reflect from, which makes them brighter. It has to be a clear and dark sky to be able to see the Northern Lights. We recommend keeping an eye on the sky even if it is cloudy, because the weather in our area is unpredictable and can change quickly.

Where can I see a forecast for Northern Lights?

We recommend you to have a look at Avaruussääkeskus & Northern Lights Alert.

There are various factors to take into consideration when photographing the Northern Lights – the amount of light available, the speed of the lights just to mention a few.

• Check the Northern Light forecast. The sky needs to be clear so you might need to wait for a while.
• Sometimes the Northern Lights might look like a white cloud. The colour depends on how far the sun’s particles penetrate the atmosphere. The most common colour is green.
• Ideally use a tripod. Due to the longer exposure time, the camera needs stability.
• Use manual focus, and set it on ‘Infinity’.
• Depending on the speed of the lights, set the shutter speed to 5-20 seconds.
• Depending on the light conditions, set ISO to 800-2000; sometimes higher ISO is required but higher ISO grainier images.
• We also recommend you use the widest aperture possible.

If you are using your smart phone to photograph the Northern Lights, please switch to the ‘Night Mode’.

Yes, we can pre-order a taxi for you. Just let us know when, from where or where to, the amount of passengers, and the possible size/amount of luggage, especially if you have skis. If you are coming from or going to the airport, please let us know your flight details as well. Here is our email address: sales@magicalpond.com

Check-in starts at 4pm, but you are more than welcome to come to Magical Pond earlier. If your igloo is not ready on your arrival, you can wait at the Lounge or go for walk around the area.

Check-out is by 12 noon. If you wish to check-out later, we will charge 10€ per additional hour; this is subject to the occupancy.

In case you have booked a package holiday, please check the timetable; you will need to be checked-in in certain time to be on time for your  activities.

There are various activities you can participate in in and around Magical Pond. During the winter months you can use our snowshoes free of charge (subject to the availability); you can also use the grill / campfire area throughout the year which is by the pond; you can hire the fatbikes all year round, or perhaps relax in the sauna. During the summer you can enjoy the surrounding nature in many ways: we have SUP boards and a rowing boat for our guests to use, and there’s also a picnic table by the pond, which allows you to enjoy the sunny days outside to the fullest. You can follow the walking routes in the beautiful forest, and enjoy the stunning nature. You might also want to pick blueberries and lingonberries. Can’t get any better than that.

Alternatively, you can find other activities at Lammintupa Winter Village which is 500m from the igloo village. If you are interested in reindeer or husky safaris or perhaps ice-karting, then this is your place. Lammintupa serves delicious soups at lunch time; they also serve dinners depending on the availability – please contact either our sales team or Lammintupa directly if you wish to book any activities or dinner. It is worth noting that Lammintupa is closed from late spring until late autumn. We highly recommend that you pre-book any activities in advance in order to avoid potential disappointment.

Ruka Ski Resort also offers wide range of activities, such as downhill skiing, cross-country skiing, snowmobiles, spa, restaurants, bars, and coffee shops. From Ruka you can also find shops to buy all those important souvenirs to take home.

We also highly recommend you visit our local National Parks which are amazing places to visit and explore throughout the year. And let’s not forget the Karhunkierros Trail which is also known as The Bear’s Trail. It is definitely worth visiting.

Yes, there is a free Wi-Fi in your room. It is worth noting that there might be occasional times when a more severe weather condition affects the Wi-Fi connectivity.

Yes, there is a complementary car park as you enter the igloo village. We also have charging points for the electric / hybrid vehicles; fee may apply.

Please note that you can drive to your igloo on your own responsibility to (un)load the car. We kindly ask you to park your vehicle at the main car park for the rest of the time because the roads around the igloos must be kept clear for any potential emergency vehicle.

Of course! We believe Magical Pond is an excellent choice to cherish people you love. You can buy a gift card for accommodation, dinner, or extra services from the main page by clicking “Buy Gift Card” -icon at the top left corner. If you have questions, you can contact us by email sales@magicalpond.com or calling +358 29 170 3050.

You can check the local weather forecast, and other useful information, from the Finnish Meteorological Institute website.

During the winter the temperature usually varies between -30°c and 0°c. The winter weather can be unpredictable, which is why you should be well prepared with proper winter clothes at all times. 

Yes, we have 4 pet-friendly igloos. If you are traveling with your pet(s), please make sure you inform us when you make the reservation. We charge an additional 30€ / stay.

Booking terms

Booking and cancellation terms are applicable to packages and accommodation offered by Lammin Taika Ltd (Magical Pond) and Lammintupa Ltd (activities and dining). These terms are applicable to individual customer unless a special agreement has been made. Booking terms are binding as soon as they have been issued to a customer.

Bookings that are made straight to hotel:

Bookings which are made by phone, email, chat or straight from reception will be billed with preliminary- and final invoice.

Reservations made more than 10 weeks prior to customer’s arrival:

After preliminary reservation has been made, 20% of its value has to be paid 10 weeks before arrival. The final invoice is to be paid 4 weeks prior arrival.

Reservation is made less than 10 weeks prior customer’s arrival:

20% of reservations value has to be paid immediately, final invoice is to be paid 4 weeks before arrival.

Reservation is made less than 4 weeks before arrival:

Has to be paid in full immediately in connection with reservation.

Cancellations:

The reservation can be cancelled without any extra fee before the due date of the first invoice that covers 20% of the reservation. Unpaid invoice is not considered as cancellation. If reservation is cancelled after 20% has been paid, but before the due date of the final invoice, we will charge cancellation fee in size of the first invoice (20% of the reservation’s value). After the final invoice’s due date, we are charging 100% of the reservation value as a cancellation fee.

Optionally reservation can be moved for a different date (in that case terms for cancellations mentioned above are not valid and reservation stays non-refundable/partially non-refundable). In case of sickness or death, the reservation can be cancelled with an official doctor’s statement in writing, Lammin Taika Ltd will keep 20% of reservation total amount as cancellation fee. We will require the doctor’s certificate by 4pm EET on the date of the check-in.

Cancellations have to be made in writing to our email sales@magicalpond.fi Ignoring the payment is not considered as a valid cancelation of the reservation.

Reservation changes:

Changes to packages or accommodation dates can be made whenever before the arrival day in case booking situation allows it. The reservation can be moved to another date in case booking situation allows it. In case the change is being made for more expensive option, the price difference is to be paid in connection with change in full. In case the change is being made for the inexpensive package, we will not return the price difference.  

Cancellation right of the service provider:

The service provider (Lammin Taika Ltd) keeps the right to chancel the reservation in case of a force-majeure. In this case we will return 100% reservation fee. Lammin Taika Ltd as a service provider keeps the right to cancel the reservation in case customer didn’t pay the invoice by the due date.

Reclamations:

Reclamations regarding to our services has to be made before departure. Reclamations made afterwards shall not to be considered. Reclamations regarding to issues in the igloo has to be made immediately and directly to the maintenance: +358 50 321 0262 or sales office. Possible reclamation dispute and other disagreements will be processed in Finnish court.

Customer’s responsibility:

Any damage caused to Lammin Taika Ltd property have to be compensated by the customer. Damage will be established by Lammin Taika Ltd.

Customer is responsible to be on time for the activities and dining. We will not compensate prices for services in case of no-show.

A 500€ compensation fee will be charged for smoking in the igloo.