Nestled in the north of Swedish Lapland, Ice Hotel is a spectacle to behold. This hotel in the Arctic Circle offers a truly unique experience merging the indoor comforts with extreme outdoor adventure. Drinking Absolut in a glass that is made of an Ice bar, ice driving, dog sledding and sleeping on a bed made of ice are some of the startling experiencing at the Sweden’s Ice Hotel. Photo By: bjaglin
The winter season 2010/2011 is going to be the 21st year of Swedish Lapland Ice Hotel. With more than 20 years of journey that has witnessed everything from an igloo of mere 60 m² to the world’s largest hotel (5500 m²); the Ice hotel is made each year during winter using ice blocks from the Torne River, snow and some steel framing. At the moment, the Ice Hotel is in its 20th re-embodiment and it has been designed in a way that is as impressive as ever. Photo By: charley1965
This Winter, the Ice Hotel features a grand hallway that is decorated with a huge chandelier made of ice. The furniture is also made of ice including the reception desk. The bedrooms also come with beds made of ice and ice armchairs covered in reindeer skin. All this is offered with a promise that the temperature is not going to drop below -12°C. Photo By: fridam75
The Swedish Ice Hotel is made every year between December and April in the village of Jukkasjärvi. About 17 km from Kiruna, Ice hotel in Jukkasjärvi, Sweden is the first and till date the largest Ice Hotel in the world. It was after the Japanese Ice artists started visiting this part of the world in 1989 to display their art, the area became a center for similar arts display. In spring 1990, Jannot Derid, a French artist displayed a cylinder-shaped igloo here. That very night there were no rooms available for tourists in town as a result of which visitors asked permission to spend night in the exhibition Hall and they slept over the reindeer skin. These visitors were the first guests at the hotel. Photo By: ultrahi
The Sweden’s Ice Hotel also presents a warmer option. It offers cabin accommodation and a warm bar where the staff takes great pride in serving you. It becomes an enthusiastic experience when the bartender asks you whether you would like ice in your drink. Photo By: Niamh Cotter
The hotel seriously adheres to Eco-policy. The water that is used in the hotel comes straight from the river (even in taps). The Torne River is undoubtedly the most important part of setting up the Ice Hotel. In absence of this river, there would be no Ice Hotel. It is not only the Ice Hotel in Sweden that uses the ice from the Torne River; the ice from this river is also shipped across different parts in the world including Tokyo, London and Stockholm in order to build Absolut Ice Bars. Photo By: dimchevski
Other than checking out the interior of the Ice Hotel, tourists can also take pleasure in visiting other sites including the Sweden’s oldest wooden church and the Sami Museum. The surrounding area of the Ice Hotel is known for great views it offers. Other activities in the area include snow mobile trip, jet-ski and watching the Northern Lights. Some other activities include fishing, hunting, horse riding, snow driving and skiing. Photo By: Cabby
