“Oh yes, I know where the ice hotel is. It’s in Iceland. It was in that Bond film“. This is a phrase we’ve heard many times since 2002 when Pierce Brosnan’s final outing as 007, Die Another Day, showcased an elaborate ice palace atop Vatnajökull, Iceland’s largest glacier. Yet despite the evidence of the silver screen, the Land of Fire and Ice doesn’t lend itself to ice hotels. Yes, there’s plenty of ice – about 12% of the country is covered by glaciers – but the windy and surprisingly mild climate warmed by the gulf stream does not offer the sort of the double-digit sub-zero temperatures that hotels made of ice require. That’s more a job for the winter chill of Lapland. And more specifically, Swedish Lapland in the case the original Icehotel.
The amazing Icehotel of Swedish Lapland
The Icehotel of today is a meticulously planned, intricately finished construction involving a little shy of 100 people and six weeks of build time using ice harvested from the fast-flowing Torne River the previous season. Yet the vision for this now iconic hotel pretty much came about by chance, when back in 1989 founder Yngve Bergqvist opened an art gallery made entirely of ice and snow. With all the cabins in the tiny village of Jukkasjärvi fully booked, Yngve offered Arctic Hall (as the gallery was named) as makeshift accommodation for a group of visiting guests. Equipped with warm sleeping bags and a sense of adventure, the concept of sleeping on ice was born.
Nearly four decades later, the Icehotel has grown into one of the world’s most amazing hotels – the largest and most intricate hotel made from ice and snow. Remade each winter, no two ice suites are ever the same as designers and sculptors from around the globe create extraordinary concept art in pure ice.
A winter wonderland
The picturesque, snow-laden scenery surrounding the Icehotel is the perfect playground for winter fun. Husky sledding and snowmobiling are the most popular activities, but there are plenty of other ways to fill your days. Head out show-shoeing or cross-country skiing, try your hand at ice sculpting, saddle up for a moose safari by horse back or meet the local Sami and their reindeer. At night, you can relax in the sauna or enjoy a cocktail or two in the Icebar expectantly awaiting the northern lights.
The ice in Iceland
While Sweden’s Icehotel is a testament to ingenuity, engineering and artistry to celebrate the ephemeral nature of seasonal ice, Iceland’s ice experiences reveal the raw beauty of permanent ice mass. From exploring spectacular natural ice caves to glacier hikes and ice climbing, there’s a lot of very cool stuff on offer.
One of the standout experiences is the chance to venture ‘into the glacier‘. Langjokull is Iceland’s second largest ice cap in the western highlands and is now home to an incredible man-made ice cave. Take a unique trip by 8WD truck to the cave, which stretches 300m into solid glacier ice around 30m below the surface. With deep crevasses extending down there are five grand ice chambers while cleverly designed lighting guides you through your sub-glacial journey. See the ice change from white to deep blue as you walk towards the heart of the glacier and the ‘Grand Cave’ beautifully displaying the deep sapphire blue of this sub-glacial ice.
Iceland’s fiery side
It’s the contrast of ice and fire that helps make Iceland such a compelling destination. Sitting beside and sometimes below the glaciers, are volcanoes, lava fields and hot springs. A geological hot spot, Iceland’s volcanic legacy is spellbinding. Almost everywhere you go in Iceland, superheated water from underground is making a bid for freedom, nowhere more dramatically than at Geysir Geothermal area, where the geyser, Strokkur, erupts in a 30m plume of steaming water every 10 minutes (give or take). Harnessing this abundance of natural energy is an Icelandic art form and can be most visibly appreciated at geothermal lagoons like the famous Blue Lagoon or the relatively new, Sky Lagoon – both easy to reach from Reykjavik.
Unlikely partners
Partly down to the popular misconception that the Icehotel is in Iceland and partly because we love both locations, we designed a holiday itinerary to offer the best of both worlds. Though not an obvious pairing, over the years, we’ve helped many clients bring together the stylish cool of Sweden’s Icehotel with the volcanic and glacial natural wonders of Iceland.
Over the course of seven nights, you can sleep on ice, explore the pristine wilderness of Swedish Lapland, marvel at erupting geysers, bathe in the Blue Lagoon and experience the culture of two distinct capitals – historic Stockholm and quirky Reykjavik. And with plenty of chances to witness the northern lights, you can pack in diverse and unforgettable experiences.
In pictures…
Sample itinerary
Day 1 arrive in Iceland
Fly to Kelflavik International Airport and transfer to Reykjavik, Iceland’s vibrant capital, where you’ll spend the next 3 nights.
Days 2-3 at leisure exploring Reykjavik and surrounds
With two full days at your disposal, spend your time enjoying city culture, join one of the many excursions available to explore the numerous natural wonders within easy reach or perhaps hire a car and travel round at your own pace. Guided trips range from whale watching to Superjeep tours, snowmobiling to venturing into the glacier. Geothermal bathing is part of everyday life for Icelanders, so factor in a therapeutic dip at the Sky Lagoon or Blue Lagoon during your stay.
Day 4 Reykjavik – Stockholm, Sweden
Transfer back to Keflavik airport for a morning flight to Sweden’s stylish capital, Stockholm for an overnight stay. Spend the rest of the day strolling through old town, Gamla Stan, hitting the shops or sampling some of the plentiful bars and restaurants that make this such a lively city.
Day 5 Stockholm – Icehotel
Make your way to Arlanda Airport for the flight to Kiruna in Swedish Lapland and transfer the 15-20 minutes to the Icehotel for a 3-night stay – two nights in warm accommodation and one night in an Ice Room or Art Suite. Once you’ve checked in, you’ll be kitted out in suitable outdoor clothing for the duration of your stay
Days 6-7 at leisure at the Icehotel
There’s plenty of thrilling winter activities on offer to help you make the most of your surrounds – from snowmobiling and husky sledding, to northern lights adventures and ice sculpting, there’s something for everyone.
Day 8 depart Sweden
Transfer to Kiruna Airport for your flight home via Stockholm.
Planning your adventure
If you like the idea of combining ‘fire and ice’ spending time at the iconic Icehotel amidst the snow-covered winter wonderland of Swedish Lapland as well as marvelling at the volcanic curiosities and intriguing landscapes of Iceland’s south west, send an enquiry to our Travel Specialists on call on 01737 214 250. They can tweak and adapt the experience to perfectly suit you creating a winter holiday you’ll never forget.