Octola Private Wilderness, a luxury retreat set deep within the Arctic Circle in Finnish Lapland, is apparently now the world’s first travel destination to monitor ultrafine air particles using research-grade scientific equipment. The groundbreaking system, installed across the private 1,730-acre estate, provides guests with continuous data on the purity of Lapland’s pristine atmosphere, which has long been regarded as some of the cleanest air on the planet.
The initiative marks an evolution of Octola’s founding mission to deliver experiences rooted in the healing qualities of the Arctic’s strikingly clean environment. By deploying technology typically reserved for government or academic air-quality stations, the retreat aims to set a new standard for environmental transparency in hospitality. Octola also works closely with researchers and regional experts, including Northern Lights scientist Dr. Esa Turunen, to further connect visitors with the surrounding wilderness.
The monitoring program will extend into Octola II, a major expansion scheduled to open this month. Designed as an off-grid sanctuary of near-total silence and stunning natural scenery, Octola II promises front-row views of the aurora borealis in winter and the Midnight Sun during summer.
The new Octola II Lodge will feature five ensuite bedrooms, an in-house spa, three saunas, a gym, staff accommodations, and a dedicated glass-roofed Northern Lights viewing space. The Octola II Supersuite Villa will offer two large bedrooms, each equipped with its own sauna, bath, and outdoor hot tub.
Octola is also expanding its wellness offerings with the debut of Respiro Octola, a curated program designed to help guests engage with the Arctic. The experience is built around the restorative quality of the region’s air and includes guided breathwork, yoga, sauna rituals, ice-water immersion and other nature-based treatments.
The retreat also features a glass-domed Igloo Suite, which gives guests an immersive overnight experience with panoramic views of Lapland’s wilderness. Built to maximize visibility of the northern sky, the Igloo accommodation offers a secluded vantage point for watching the aurora and absorbing the surrounding silence. Of course, there’s also plenty of opportunities for snowmobiling, ice fishing, ice skating, cross-country skiing, and other outdoor activities on the sprawling property.
With its new air-quality monitoring system, expanded lodging, and wellness programming, Octola aims to reinforce its status as one of the world’s most exclusive arctic retreats—and now one of its most scientifically forward-leaning. Check out the hotel’s icy images above.