The Ice Hotel in Jukkasjarvi, Sweden

This is a hotel built from snow and ice. It is located about 100 miles north of the Arctic Circle in Sweden. Snow is blown into forms that define the outside shell of the hotel. Inside are columns of ice that were built from blocks cut from the Torne River. There are about 30 guest rooms and about 10 luxury suites. The rooms are small with only a bed. The bed consists of a thin mattress placed on blocks of ice. You sleep in a sleeping bag on the bed. The suites are larger rooms, with a larger bed and ornate ice carvings. The air temperature inside the rooms and suites is about 20 degrees F. This may sound cold, but it is much colder outside, and there is no wind inside. For those that lose their nerve, there are heated chalets that can be rented for the night. This may not sound like fun, but it is a visually stunning experience. A new hotel is built every year. It is erected in November and it ultimately returns to the river in April when it melts.

See the story about ice hotels (dated August 2005).

           
Click on photo for a larger image.

See the Ice Hotel home page.

Last updated Sept 14, 2005.