Ice Hotel Honeymoon in Jukkasjärvi, Sweden
The original ice hotel is located on the River Torne near the village of Jukkasjärvi
in Swedish Lapland, 200 km (124 miles) north of the Arctic Circle. The concept began to
emerge when entrepreneurs built a cylinder-shaped igloo on the river for
an exhibit of ice sculptures. Although the icy exhibit hall hadn't been
designed as a hotel, some guests who spent the night there in sleeping
bags on reindeer skins raved about the experience. Now more than 14,000
people stay overnight in the 60-room Icehotel every year, with thousands
more touring the place during the day.
The hotel features a hall of
pillars, an exhibit hall, Absolut vodka ice bar, a cinema, chapel, and
guest rooms ranging from simple accommodations to elaborately decorated
suites. For the ultimate "cool" experience, guests can also take in a
rock concert or Shakespearean play under the stars in a replica of the
Elizabethan-era Globe Theater; the theater is made entirely of ice (what
else?). Warm cabins, hotel rooms, and Aurora houses
(watch the northern lights through the skylights) are also part of the Icehotel complex.
The Icehotel experience includes a
chance to encounter the cuisine and culture of Swedish Lappland. For
instance, guests are awakened in the morning with hot lingonberry juice
served at their bedside before heading off to warm up in the sauna. Read more about this and other ice hotels
on the Ice Hotel Honeymoon
overview page.
TOP ~ THINGS TO DO ~ LINKS
Here's just a sampling of the
activities offered at Icehotel Sweden; check the hotel web site for
details (see link below):
-
Travel by dogsled: What
better way to get to a hotel made of ice than by dogsled? You can
arrange for a dogsled to whisk you from the airport to the hotel, a
distance of 12 kilometers (about 7.5 miles). Or you can take a tour
of the Lapland wilderness by dogsled, complete with "a real
wilderness lunch of Lapland specialties," according to the hotel's
web site.
-
Tour a winter wonderland:
You might witness the night sky lit up in a beautiful natural light
display on the hotel's northern lights
snowmobile tour. Or travel by snowmobile sleigh to a Saami community
where you can experience this traditional culture up close. Interact
with reindeer (you can even drive a reindeer sleigh), taste
traditional Saami cuisine inside a teepee, and visit the Jukkasjärvi
Folklore Centre. Four-hour and overnight snowmobile
wilderness tours are also available.
-
Play in snow and ice. Learn
how to create an ice sculpture from a professional, or engage in various winter activities such as cross-country skiing.
-
Take in a show. Watch Shakespearean plays and rock concerts under the
stars in a replica of London's Globe Theatre.
-
Relax. Dine in the
restaurant, sample vodka in the ice bar, or warm up in an authentic Swedish sauna.
-
Visit other area attractions: If you visit Sweden's Icehotel, it's likely you'll pass through Stockholm, a 750-year-old
city built on fourteen islands. With its many lights, waterways,
greenbelts, innovative modern skyscrapers, and carefully preserved
medieval old town district, it's no wonder it claims to be one of
the most beautiful cities in the world. It also claims to have the
greatest concentration of art galleries (100) and museums (70) in
the world.
TOP ~ THINGS TO DO ~ LINKS
Icehotel (Jukkasjârvi, Sweden)
The official site of the original ice
hotel. The site appears to be entirely Flash-animated, so it can be a
little clunky to navigate.
A Matter of Snow-How
Mandy Trickett's engaging account of
her trip to the Swedish Icehotel, with photos. "You may think there is
little romance in a trip to the Ice Hotel," she writes. "As hundreds of 'Ice Princess'
brides will tell you, you’d be wrong. There is something intrinsically
magical about lighting a hotel with candles so small they won’t melt the
walls. About piling the softness of reindeer skins wherever guests are
likely to sit. About sitting under the vastness of the northern sky,
watching the stars perform their slow, eternal dance." With photos.
Ice Hotel (Sweden) Reviews at TripAdvisor
Reviews from folks who have stayed at Sweden's
Icehotel. When we looked, four reviewers gave the
experience five out of five stars. Several reviews offered helpful
advice for anyone considering staying at the Icehotel or its cousins.
Sweden and the Ice
Hotel
Terry and Louise Sugrue's account of
their trip to the Icehotel; lots of great pictures give a "you are
there" feel to the short narrative.
Frommers: Icehotel
Frommers reviews the Icehotel in
Sweden.
The Swedish Travel and Tourism Council
A good place to get some initial ideas
about what to see and do in Sweden.
Stockholm: The Official Visitors Guide
If you're even considering a visit to Sweden's
Icehotel, definitely consider extending your trip with a
few days in Stockholm, a fascinating city of waterways and islands that
is at once progressive and medieval.
TOP ~ THINGS TO DO ~ LINKS
Your honeymoon story
Have you done this trip (whether on
your honeymoon or other travel)? We'd love to hear about your experience
so we can share it with others . . . just
drop us a line.
Last Updated:
March 4, 2004 |
