For years, the original ICEHOTEL has been a favourite for travellers, selling out regularly since its opening in 1989. But starting winter 2017, ICEHOTEL 365 will extend the season so that guests can experience the best of the ICEHOTEL all year round.
Located immediately next to the current ICEHOTEL alongside the Torne River in Swedish Lapland, this new incarnation of the popular property will be kept cool using solar-powered technology alone, making the most of Jukkasjärvi's long stretches of Midnight Sun when it's too warm to stay frozen naturally. The hotel is at once an engineering marvel and a Hans Eek-designed artistic triumph.
Eat
One of the iconic experiences of an ICEHOTEL holiday is a drink at the ICEBAR, and the ICEBAR BY ICEHOTEL, named the Fuzzy Chisel, will be housed in the new building so you can enjoy an expertly turned-out cocktail at any time of year, served in a glass made of ice. The restaurant, headed by Michelin-trained chef Alexander Meier, focuses on local produce, game and seafood, and occasionally delicacies will be served on ice plates. During the summer, the restaurant will offer special food experiences, such as the opportunity to book the chef's table and enjoy your meal while seated in the centre of the kitchen, as the staff buzz around you preparing the night's menu.
Sleep
With nine deluxe suites and 11 art suites, the artistry at ICEHOTEL 365 will be on display in full force. While each room is a showcase of ice carving brilliance, the deluxe suites will also include a heated en suite bathroom and a heated 'relax' room for guests who want a brief contrast to the rooms' -5°C temperatures. Lighting is used to maximum effect to showcase the works of art, and each room comes with a thermal sleeping bag and reindeer skin to stay toasty overnight. Guests who would prefer to sleep in an more traditional room have the option of staying in one of the 'warm rooms' on-site, decorated in light wood tones with a relaxing, clean-lined Scandinavian aesthetic and ensuite bathroom.
Do
Visiting Jukkasjärvi in the summer months allows guests to enjoy a wide array of new excursion options. Take a guided walk through a virgin taiga forest to the Aptas Mountains, go fishing or take a guided rafting tour down the Torne River. Trek to 'Troll Lake', locally called Rissajaure, to gaze 30 metres down into the crystalline waters and enjoy a picnic lunch. Or, try your hand at 'Challenge Park' in a series of obstacles like rope bridges and ziplines, or rent mountains bikes and other outdoors equipment for independent exploration.
