Ever wondered what a ‘ice hotel’ would look like? Well, wonder no more! An Ice hotel already exist, located in Jukkasjarvi, Sweden the hotel is a work of art, an heaven-on-earth world wonder! The ice hotel in its entirety is sculpted, as you may have already guessed, with ice. The ice used is collected from the River Torne and the hotel melts and returns to mother nature in Spring! This is Disneys Frozen movie in real life.
I am pretty sure you may be wondering how all this works. Many questions would pop up in your head such as: “Are there rooms?”, “Do they have restaurants and bars?” The Ice Hotel is the complete package, and while it keeps you spellbound, it provides top-notch hospitality services.
Let’s put to rest all your mind boggling questions.
WHERE DO I STAY?
Well, you have a wide variety of options. The hotel has different kinds of rooms including the Ice rooms that contain their characteristic Ice-made beds and other furniture. Within the Ice room bracket, you have the following options: Deluxe suites (seen in the image below), which contains a well-heated bathroom and sauna with a mattress and pillow top. The Art Suites that are of top notch luxury, state of the art living at it’s very best. The Northern lights rooms that are a fusion of intricate lights and ice sculptured design. The Ice Rooms / Snow rooms have a temperature of -5 degrees.
Photo Credit: Deluxe suites, Ice Hotel via icehotel.com by Christopher Hauser
Photo Credit: icehotel.comEye Suite design by Nicolas Triboulot, Cédric Alizard
Your next option should be the warm rooms that will give you the typical hotel feel that is more suited to the African lifestyle as the furniture is made of wood. In these rooms, there are beds, a living room, a bedroom, a shower, a refrigerator, TV, Wifi and more. Also within the warm room bracket, you have the following options: Arctic Chalet, Kaamos room, Nordic Chalet, and the Wilderness camp.
Photo Credit: Arctic Chalet, Ice Hotel via icehotel.comby Johan Broberg
WHAT DO I EAT?
Trust me, there is enough to eat and drink. You should, first of all, try the Ice hotel restaurant. This restaurant is warm and cozy, as it is not part of the Ice structure, this way you’ll feel at home just like back in Africa. You will enjoy your meal in an ideal setting. Breakfast is served within seven a.m to eleven a.m, Lunch is usually served from eleven a.m to two p.m.
Lunch is served in buffet style with the varied options of fish, meat, and vegetarian option served with a selection of salads and bread, dessert, coffee & tea. Dinner starts from Six p.m to Ten p.m and just before dinner you can have a glass of wine or a cocktail as well as a selection of house cocktails including aDog Sled Sour or a Sparkling Polar Night.
However, the standout dish served at the Ice hotel restaurant is the Classic Ice Menu which includes: Bleak roe with potato rosti & the classic trimmings served on ice. Cured, lightly smoked fillet of Arctic char, fennel puree, Arctic char mousse & sea buckthorn, served on ice and many other options. This mouth-watering menu is already plentiful, but you just wait because there’s more.
The Ice Bar! Imagine dancing on floors made of snow, sipping on a glass of wine or cocktail made of Ice! Magical. Do you get bored easily? Well, if you decide to visit the Ice Bar yearly, the design changes every year, just like the Ice hotel itself! I’m pretty sure you’ve chosen to visit Ice hotel at this point, but there’s more.
Lastly, there’s the Homestead Restaurant. Very much a traditional restaurant, which was recovered from the remains of an Old school, you’ll feel right at home and comfortable.
WHAT IF I GET BORED?
Really? Let’s scrap that, there is no such thing as boredom. You are probably off work, and you want to relax and escape from all the craziness of the typical African city.There are guided tours pre-planned for you to bask in the euphoria of the luxurious Ice hotel. Are you wondering how the construction of the hotel goes down? Wonder no more as there are guided tours in November and early December up until the tenth, to witness the making of the Ice hotel. There is also an option to have a tour of the hotel in winter while staying at the hotel. In summer, there is a chance to witness the ice used to construct the hotel stored in an Ice barn.
If you’re visiting in winter, you’ll have the opportunity to attend Ice sculpting classes, photography classes, undergo a sauna ritual, go skiing, dogsledding, go on snowmobile tours, have wilderness dinners and even learn how to survive in the winter wilderness.
Photo Credit: Snowmobile tours via icehotel.com by Markus Alatalo
Ever thought of actually witnessing the northern lights in real life? At the luxurious Ice Hotel, you have the opportunity to do that too! Imagine capturing the beautiful sight with your spouse, holding hands, taking photographs between stops. What an incredible experience!
In summer and fall, you can also have Ice sculpting classes, stand up paddle on Torne River, go on a River boat tour of Jukassjarvii, and many other activities.
Photo Credit: Nordic Visitor – Northern Lights – Ice Hotel
EVENTS, BOOKINGS?
How about having your wedding at the Ice Hotel. Perfect. Luckily they have made provisions for that. The Ice Church and the magnificent Ice Hall in all its grandeur are the perfect venues for a wedding. It houses an intimate wedding for about thirty to forty guests. Also available are wedding suites, two options for wedding dinners, and wedding consultation services.
Are you also thinking of a corporate event in a traditional setting? The ice hotel is your best bet! You can host your clients or partners in a conducive environment and a state of art, culture and design.
Yes, I know you have already made up your mind because just like me you love luxury, and you’re all set to book your trip to Ice Hotel, Jukassjarvi, Sweden. I mean, who wouldn’t ? We all love luxury and luxury brands, right?
