The original Icehotel is located deep in Swedish Lapland, in Jukkasjärvi. Every year, a new version of the Icehotel is created, bringing with it a new one-of-a-kind experience in line with the seasonal changes. I was fortunate to visit the world’s first and most famous Icehotel as part of a Press Trip (where I was hosting several journalists who were encouraged to share their own experience. But is this trip worth the hype and is it something I’d recommend to others or visit again myself?
I won’t keep you guessing, or leave it until the very end of this review but the answer is a resounding yes! I never experienced anything like the Icehotel and whilst I’ve visited different ‘ice bars’ or unique hotels, there truly is something special about Jukkasjärvi, a small village 200km north of the Arctic Circle. There were so many activities to choose from over a long weekend, which include a night sleeping on ice in an ice room and another night in the warm suite. Many people came alone, with their partner or family, as there was something for everyone. It would be on the more expensive side for a 3 night break (prices starting from around £690, depending how you book) but it’s something you’ll remember for a lifetime.
The Icehotel Experience
The nearest airport is Kiruna, we were able to get a direct flight from London but believe you now need to connect via Stockholm. We got on the free transfer to the village, but there was an option to get a husky ride instead (it takes over an hour and we arrived quite late at night!) Upon arrival we were given a debrief on what to expect whilst visiting the Icehotel and how to survive the night. We also received a snowsuit and boots to wear on top of our thermal layers! Pack lots of loose layers and thermals and you’ll be fine.
The hotel is made entirely of snow and ice from the Torne River, so by its very nature the structure is freezing! But I didn’t feel ‘cold’ throughout the whole trip (and that includes my night on the ice!) and there is a heated service building (open 24 hours), with a lounge area, bathrooms, saunas and changing rooms – so somewhere to retreat too if you need, no frozen toilets here!
You aren’t able to book specific rooms at the Icehotel, just a type: warm room, basic cold room, cold art suite, cold art suite 365, or cold deluxe suite 365. Each room is an individual work of art which is open to guests in the day, as it is sort of an art museum to be discovered. The rooms are closed from 6 p.m, so guests can head to bed when they want. The main Icehotel art suites are the ones that change every year and open from December to April. The Icehotel 365 houses some of the favourite designs from years passed and is open all year round.
I was quite nervous about staying on a bed of ice, alone. However, I loved it and it was surprisingly toasty. I wore thermals and a hat, socks under my reindeer hide blanket and thermal sleeping bag and that was enough. You settle into the cold quite easily and for many, myself included, had one of the best nights of sleep ever! The only thing it took me a while to get use to, was the silence! It was so, so quiet but it did mean (eventually) I could switch off and fall asleep. Because I was in the 365 suites, I didn’t have an ensuite bathroom, so had to navigate that in the night but it was okay! I just ran fast. I did take a peak at the ensuite bathrooms and they are definitely a nice to have but because it was only night on ice, it wasn’t too much hassle to get to them.
What else did I get up to?
The activities are everything at the Icehotel, you need to pre-book (although you can change on the) but some excursions are more popular than others, and some dinner experiences have limited numbers. To try and experience everything I could, I opted for a husky ride, snowmobiling across a lake in search of the Northern Lights (they didn’t make an appearance for me but driving in the wilderness, following a small track, was incredibly exhilarating). I also tried my hand at ice-sculpting (I was terrible), cross country skiing following animals tracks (no animals but a lovely ‘cheese-coffee’), and a trip to the Sauna, where I embarked on the 10 step ritual which included rolling in the snow in a swimsuit and jumping into the frozen lake. You could say I felt refreshed! There was also some great food options, despite the village being small. There is the Oldl Homestead restaurant , Icehotel restaurant and you can walk up to Nutti Sámi Siida, where you can get excellent food, look at the Sámi museum and feed lichen to the reindeer.
I’d love to experience this all again and would potentially add a visit to the Aurora Sky Station in the Abisko National Park, an hour and a half away from Kiruna but offers more opportunities to see the Northern Lights and see another part of Swedish Lapland.
Whether the cold bothers you or not! Keep Swedish Lapland and the Icehotel on your bucket list.