A 21-year journey from a 60 cubic metre igloo to the world’s largest hotel of ice and snow at 5500 cubic metres. The tale of ICEHOTEL is a fairy tale come true.

The world’s first hotel built of snow and ice, ICEHOTEL is situated in Jukkasjärvi, a small village in northern Sweden with a population of 900 residents and about 1,000 dogs. Each winter season, some 50,000 to 60,000 visitors from all corners of the world come here to see ICEHOTEL, to experience the tranquillity and nature, the Northern Lights and all of the activities offered here, in Europe’s last wilderness, 200 km north of the Arctic Circle.

The flowing Torne River is the origin and artery. From the river ICEHOTEL borrows its ice every early spring, keeping it cold during summer and recreating ICEHOTEL as soon as the cold weather allows. It is here, on the shore in the village of Jukkasjärvi that the history of quite possibly the most unique hotel in the world, begins.

Inspired by visiting Japanese artists who sculpted in ice, Jannot Derid was invited in 1990 to have an opening of his exhibition in a specially built igloo out in the middle of the Torne River. The 60 square metre building named Arctic Hall attracted the curious from afar to have a look at the outrageousness.

One night, foreign guests spent the night in the cylindrical igloo, in sleeping bags on top a pile of reindeer hides. They raved about the fantastic experience that according to them was utterly unmatched. With that, the idea of ICEHOTEL was born.

Quite a bit has happened since then. Today’s ICEHOTEL is world famous for its stand-alone concept, fantastic art and extraordinary experiences. Astonished visitors discover their inner child under the high arches of snis. Many have returned home with the sensation of having been part of a fairy tale.

When the outside temperature drops, the warm air of ICEHOTEL greets you as soon as you step through the port dressed in reindeer hides. It never drops below -5°C in here, no matter how cold it is outside. Before you settle down in bed, get dressed in comfy warm long underwear, pull the hat over your ears and then slide into a toasty sleeping bag on a bed built of ice blocks, and a thick mattress topped off with reindeer hides.

Don’t miss visiting ABSOLUT ICEBAR where your drink is served “in the rocks”, not “on the rocks”, and the atmosphere is to the utmost degree international. Take part in the wide choice of activities ICEHOTEL offers, dine well in one of the restaurants and explore the unique, sub-arctic environment in Jukkasjärvi.

ICEHOTEL is open from December 2010 until April 2011.

Visit www.icehotel.com for inspiration and ideas. Book online, or call +46 (0)980 668 00