Imagine spending the night in a sleeping bag on a bed of ice in a room where the temperature is just under 30 degrees or less. Welcome to an Ice Hotel.
There are only about 20 Ice Hotels around the world. They are only around during winter (duh!) and obviously have to be rebuilt ever year. So each year the place might look a bit different from the year before. These are small properties, 50 rooms or so for most. Many come with sauna’s, bar, restaurants and yea showers and bathrooms which are heated so you have some warmth. Usually you would only stay one or two nights at these places depending on what all they have to offer during the daylight hours.
They are for the most part in remote areas and not in downtown locations or easy to reach locations.
Here is our list of the top 10 Ice Hotels, where they are located, pictures, descriptions and how to book them. Hurry as they do fill up, particularly on weekends. So here are our top 5 Ice Hotels for 2015/2016:
#1 – Ice Hotel – located in Jukkasjarvi, Sweden, near Kiruna. Sweden. http://www.icehotel.com/
Rates start at around $300 a night for two people in the snow room. Temperature is about -5 degrees. Now for about $500 a night for two you can stay in one of the Art Suites. Here each suite is a three-dimensional installation of original art. 16 intricate, individually designed themes and ample sculpting work, curtain door. Beautifully carved by hand, our art suites are all individually designed and created by handpicked artists from around the world and a wide range of disciplines. Complimentary, private changing booth is included when you stay in an art suite.
They offer a number of activities during the day from dogsledding, to horseback rides, survival training, ice sculpting to a wilderness dinner at night where it’s just you two, the chef and a absolutely brilliant night sky to enjoy.
To get here you need to nonrev into Stockholm (STO) then connect to a flight to Kiruna (KRN). Then it is about 15 minutes by car to Jukkasjarvi. Both Norwegian and SAS fly from Stockholm to Kiruna.
#2 – Hotel Kakslauttanen Igloo Village near Saariselka, Finland. www.kakslauttanen.fi/en/
Sleep under the stars in a cabin or igloo of your dreams. At Hotel Kakslauttanen you have the choice of a snow igloos, glass igloos, Kelo-glass igloos, log cabins, queen suites, wedding chambers, a traditional house and their largest room, a Sivakka which can sleep 10.
What we like about the Hotel Kakslauttanen Igloo Village is the vast and vey unique room options you have. Yes, some are not ice rooms per say but look at the glass igloos and the Kelo-glass igloos if you want to sleep under an amazing night sky. If you want real privacy then check out their gold diggers cabins that sit alongside a river and away from the main facility and rooms/igloos.
They provide transportation from the Ivalo Airport for 25 Euro each way, per person. Rates for the snow igloo start at 196 Euros per person, per night. The glass igloos start at 210 Euros per person per night.
To get here you need to nonrev to Helsinki (HEL) then connect on a flight to Ivalo (IVL). Then it is about 25 minutes by car to Saariselka and that will cost you about 25 Euro, pp each way. Finnair is the only airline to fly from Heksinki to Ivalo.
#3 – Snow Village – Kittilä, Finland – http://www.snowvillage.fi – Opens Dec. 10, 2015
Each year 20 million kilos of snow and 350,000 kilos of crystal clear natural ice are used to build the Snow Village which changes in shape, size and design each year. Covering an area of about 20 000 square meters, the Snow Village consists of a Snow Hotel, with snow rooms and suites, Ice Restaurant, Ice Cocktail Bar, Chapel, a slide and a vast network of striking corridors full of spectacular snow and ice art to explore. Nearly 200km above the Arctic Circle lies a destination of exciting Arctic experiences and a magical world made from snow and ice. At Snow Village spend a cosy night in the Snow Hotel, a delicious dinner in the spectacular Snow Restaurant and the coolest drinks served “on the rocks” from the Ice Bar. Or, simply visit to marvel the vast corridors packed with snow rooms and snow and ice sculptures that are just waiting to be explored. Snow Village is located in the Western part of Finnish Lapland, in close proximity of Ylläs and Levi ski-resorts and easily reachable from the airport of Kittilä. There are regular tours by car or snowmobile from the resorts of Levi and Ylläs to the Snowvillage. The Snow Village will be built for the 15th time in winter 2015-2016. The annual construction of the Snow Village begins when the temperature drops to about ten degrees below zero during late October or early November. The constructors, specialized in using snow and ice as building material, are constantly developing new tools and equipment for snow construction and exploring innovative ways of taking this art form to new levels for your enjoyment. Sleeping, dining and visiting the Snow Village is an enjoyable experience when wearing suitable winter clothing as the temperature of Snow Village remains at a comfortable -2 and -5 Celsius degrees, regardless of the outdoor temperature. Snow Village has yearly approximately 30 rooms, all made of ice and snow. As well as standard snow rooms there are also individually decorated suites each with a different theme and design. For wedding couples Snow Village offers remarkable settings for an unforgettable day. Couples can choose between a cool ice chapel with furnishings made of ice snow, or a cozy wooden chapel. Rates from $320 euro per room based on double occupancy. To get here you need to nonrev to Helsinki (HEL) then connect on a flight to Kittilä (KTT). Finnair is the only airline to fly from Heksinki to Kittila.
#4 – Hotel of Ice – Balea Lac, Romania – http://hotelofice.ro/
Since 2005 every winter the Hotel of Ice in the Fagaras Mountains is rebuilt, namely from the materials offered by nature: huge blocks of ice, cut and removed directly from the glacial Lake Balea are used to raise the walls, the snow gathered across the mountain slopes, is used for fixing the ice bricks and for finishing the walls.
Each season another new structure is added and tells a new story. The story is transposed in the architecture and design of the rooms, the Ice Bar and the Ice Restaurant but also in the special events organized for guests.
The hotel comprises of 12 double rooms with matrimonial beds. Nearby the hotel, for more privacy, we offer additionally three igloos, each with a double bed. The beds are made of big blocs of ice as well as the entire furnishings. Blankets, furs and sleeping bags for your comfort. Your stay in the hotel is not a survival adventure, but an evening in a soft mattress which is covered with sheets, blankets and fluffy animal fur. Before going to bed, every guest receives a warm sleeping bag because the room’s temperature is between -2 and +2 degrees Celsius.
The night in an ice-double room costs 440 Lei per night (approx. 100 euro), an Igloo room will be charged with 660 Lei per night (approx. 150 euro). Children between 6 and 15 years get a discount of 50%, children younger than 6 years stay free of charge. The Hotel of Ice is open from Dec. 23, 2015 to Apr. 28, 2016. The Winter Park will offer a series of activities such as skiing and snowboarding, snowmobiling, sleighing and ice skating. There are a lot of organized fun games with prizes, like snowballs fights, the biggest snow man, ice bowling. To get here you need to nonrev to Sibiu (SBZ). You can connect to Sibiu from Bucharest, Vienna or Munich. From Sibiu you will need to rent a car or take a taxi to get to Balea Lac. It is about a 90 minute drive and is just over 50 miles away from Sibiu. The hotel can arrange transfers from Sibiu for about 150 euros, one way.
#5 – The SnowCastle of Kemi – Kemi, Finland – www.visitkemi.fi/en/snowcastle
In the SnowHotel there are rooms for singles, couples as well as bigger groups. There are 12 rooms for doubles / singles, 4 superior double rooms, 2 group-rooms with five beds as well as 3 Suites The maximum capacity of the SnowHotel is 48 persons. The whole SnowHotel and the rooms inside are made of snow. The fresh, about -5 degrees Celsius breathing-air, will guarantee you sweet dreams inside a well-equipped sleeping-bag on a good bed. You will have a memorable sleeping-experience in the SnowHotel! Sleeping in the SnowHotel includes also breakfast served inside the warm CastleLounge and after breakfast you will have the chance to go and take a shower and go to the sauna in a nearby public spa. The guests of the SnowHotel can sit about leisurely in the warm CastleLounge at night-time. The Café in the CastleLounge offers little bites of both sweet and salty to eat and you can also enjoy drinks or a hot cup of coffee or tea. To complete this exotic overnight-experience, you have the chance to make reservations for a dinner at ice-tables in the SnowRestaurant. The Cafe and the Souvenir-shop in the CastleLounge are also open for the daily visitor and add a pleasant experience for the visit in the SnowCastle. You will have lockers with keys for your luggage in the CastleLounge. We recommend that you take only the most necessary personal things / equipment with you into your room in the SnowHotel The SnowHotel is open from Jan. 24, 2016 to Apr. 10, 2016 Rates start at 125 euros per person, per night. SnowCastle is situated within walking distance from local hotels, railway and bus station. Distance from the airport by car 10 minutes To get here you need to nonrev to Helsinki (HEL) then connect on a flight to Kemi, Finland (KEM). Then it is about 10 minutes by car the SnowHotel. Finnair is the only airline to fly from Helsinki to Kemi.