The winter season 2012/1213 will be the twentythird in order for ICEHOTEL in Jukkasjärvi. An over twenty-year journey from an Igloo of 60 square meters to the world's largest hotel of ice and snow at about 5500 square meters. Welcome to ICEHOTEL and Swedish Lapland.
ICEHOTEL shifts from frozen solid to a free flowing river - and back - during a year, still promoting the best each season has to offer. ICEHOTEL never stands still.
Usually the first winter guests arrive in the beginning of December, when ICEHOTEL is still taking shape. Visitors during this period will get an in-depth look at one of the worlds most extreme building processes. Snow cannons humming on the Torne River shore, machines hauling ice block weighing 2 tonnes and artists carving sculptures out of ice.
Each week, until the end of the year when it is completed, a new part of ICEHOTEL will open up to guests and visitors. It is the darkest time of the year, the sun never reaches above the horizon. But the snow glistens and crunches under your shoes and the chances of seeing the Northern Lights dance across the sky, are very favorable.
When closing in on spring, the sun starts to warm up the cold, little village - the temptation to just sit outside, have a cup of coffee and soak up the sun, grows day by day. The sun reflects in the snow and if you are not careful, you might get a sunburn on your cheeks. The massive amounts of snow and warm weather are superb conditions for snowmobiling and skiing. ICEHOTEL closes by the end of April when the early rays of the Midnight sun starts to nibble on the walls and roof of the hotel. But the light is always welcome. During the summer you can visit Jukkasjärvi and take part of the local culture and history, going back over 400 years. Learn more about ICEHOTEL, visit our Ice factory, ICEBAR and even try sculpting in ice.
The World Renowned IceBar:
The mother of all ICEBARs is located at the ICEHOTEL in Jukkasjärvi, 200 kilometers north of the Artic Circle and first set up in 1994. Every winter people from around the globe meet up at the ICEHOTEL, and break the ice over a drink or two at the frosty counter of this trendy establishment. Making the pilgrimage to ICEHOTEL and visiting this bar is something we feel you should do at least once in your life. Dancing on a floor of snow and drinking champagne and other beverages from glasses made of ice is an incomparable experience. At other ICEBARs, your stay is limited to 40 minutes. Here, you can stay as long as you like, and when you do venture out, you’ll find it is colder outside than it is in the bar.
Categories:
Travel & Tourism
