When visiting Scandinavia between January and April, consider staying in a ice hotel that is built entirely of a mixture of ice and packed snow — known as snice — from scratch each year. Below are five ice ice hotels that you might want to consider staying in for a night or two for a truly Arctic experience.
1) ICEHOTEL in Jukkasjärvi
The ICEHOTEL is located in the small village of Jukkasjärvi, which is 200 kilometres north of the Arctic Circle in Lapland. Known as the hotel that “never stands still,” it shifts from frozen solid to free-flowing river and back again during the course of the year — but the ice is present even in the summer.
The staff at the ICEHOTEL have planned for every occasion and offer their guests a wide range of activities and a wonderful meeting place where they can mingle with the Sami people of the village and travelers from all over the world. Amenities include a chapel, a sauna, an exhibit hall and cinema made, of course, entirely of snice! The Absolut Ice Bar is world famous and has been mentioned in Newsweek as one of the world’s most stunning bars.
2) Kirkenes Snow Hotel
Established during the winter of 2006/2007, this spectacular 20 room hotel is the easternmost town in Norway located near the Russian border. Ice artists from Finland and Japan decorate the rooms and create the largest snow dome in Norway that measures 18 m high. Dinner for guest of the snow hotel is prepared in front of an open fire, and a sauna is a typical way to begin and end your stay. Also located in the hotel area is a park that houses reindeer and a husky farm that raises dogs for sled teams.
3) Bjorli Ice Lodge
This spectacular ice creation is nestled among the beautiful alpine scenery of the Geirangerfjord region, an hour-and-a-half drive up the mountains from Molde.
Spacious ice suites are accented with beautiful light designs shimmering through ice art. A “gamma” or a traditional circular Norwegian wooden hut is created around a central wood fire to make a cozy meeting place to share tales of the day’s adventures along with some warm drinks.
4) Lainio Snow Village
Located near theYlläs and Levi ski-resorts, this unique snow village is easy to reach from the Kittilä International Airport. Over 1500 tonnes of snow and 300 tonnes of crystal clear ice are used as construction materials to create the 3000 square foot covered indoor space.
Over 30 rooms each have a unique architectural design with a theme that varies from year to year. Guest can visit the la carte restaurant and have drinks at ice carved tables at the bar. Beautifully illuminated sculptures of ice art are available for viewing and the Ice Gallery.
5) Bâlea Lake Ice Hotel
Deep in the heart of Romania, at an altitude of 2034 m, this ice hotel is only accessible via cable car. Located on the shores of picturesque Balea Lake –whose ice is used to create it — this small ice hotel has only 10 rooms and an adjacent ice church. Bedding, furs and sleeping bags are provided and restroom facilities are nearby.
Snow biking, heliskiing, and sledging are some of the winter sports you can enjoy as guest of this ice hotel.
For those not content to be sideline spectators when they travel, check out these organisations that offer Western European adventures that plunge you into the heart of the Scandinavian experience. Whether you have a professional skill or are a student looking for a way to spend a productive semester away from academia, these programs offer opportunities to contribute and participate in good causes that will make a difference in your life and many others.
