Iceland Holiday | Independent Winter Tour 

ICEHOTEL® & Iceland

The thought of sleeping on ice for some is an intriguing prospect - for others well, it leaves them rather cold. However, we’ve found that it is an experience more and more people are seeking and with an amazing choice of rooms, from the standard to the spectacular, it is sure to be a night to remember...

Our clients have had the chance to ‘sleep on ice’ for a number of years now and we are officially the world’s largest operator to Jukkasjarvi, the little town 200km north of the Arctic Circle where the phenomenon began. During the day, the ICEHOTEL is a living art gallery, open to visitors until 7pm when it becomes an exclusive hotel open only to private guests.

All ice beds consist of a large block of illuminated ice upon which sits a thick mattress, a layer of reindeer skins and a thickly-padded polar sleeping bag so you won’t need to wear layers and layers of night clothes. There are several different types of ice accommodation and their varying size and what they contain sets them apart.

SNOW ROOMS are classed as ‘standard’ ice accommodation. Our Icepack trips which include a night sleeping on ice are based on a Snow Room in the shape of a traditional igloo with a double bed as previously described, plus a curtain for privacy. There are also a limited number of ‘family’ Snow Rooms which sleep either 4 or 8 – if you would like one of these, please let us know as early as possible.

ICE ROOMS are slightly larger than Snow Rooms and have the addition of ice ‘furniture’ – these too typically contain a double ice bed but there may be a few that sleep up to 3 people – at the time of writing this brochure this was still in the planning stages.

ART SUITES are the most spacious and impressive of all the ice accommodation and they are individually themed. On the daytime tour, we can guarantee that each Art Suite you step into will be more striking than the last: walls are adorned with all manner of ‘sn-ice’ art (a combination of snow and ice); imaginative lighting creates all kinds of mood and incredible ice sculptures, furniture and a large ice bed set the unique theme for the room, which can be surreal, arty, comical or thought-provoking – all most certainly, stunning.

For the 2008-2009 season, 15 Art Suites will be created by the resident Art & Design Group and 15 will be specially commissioned and given life by international, award-winning ice artists – hugely popular with honeymoon couples, as are the sleeping bags built for two! For price details about upgrading to an suite please visit our prices page.

'Life on Earth' Art Suite.
Photo Big Ben, artist Daniel Rosenbaum © ICEHOTEL®

Most stays at the ICEHOTEL are a minimum of three nights with two spent in warm accommodation. Your prefered night sleeping on ice will be subject to availability and confirmed at the time of booking. However, if you’d prefer to spend your entire stay in a warm room, or have one as back up during your ‘ice night’, do speak to our reservations team.

After a day out in the cold, crisp, air enjoying an excursion or two, head back to your accommodation or perhaps take a rejuvenating sauna - the main saunas can be found in the ‘dressing room’ building next to the ICEHOTEL. It is here on your first night, where you will be kitted out with your thermal suit, hat, boots and mittens for the duration of your stay and where you’ll find another open fire and lounge area. There are also saunas upstairs, above the ICEHOTEL restaurant but these are for private use and must be pre-booked.