An optical gas concentration measurement apparatus is disclosed. The optical gas concentration measurement apparatus includes a thermally insulated enclosure that has a gas sample cell situated within. A thermally-insulating, light-guiding element passes through an access port of the thermally insulated enclosure and is configured to direct light from a light source outside of the thermally insulated enclosure to the gas sample cell. A light detector outside of the thermally insulated enclosure is optically coupled to the gas sample cell and an electronic assembly outside of the thermally insulated enclosure is configured to receive information from the light detector.