As you approach this 1933 telecommunications outpost after a long snowmobile journey, you’d be forgiven for thinking your hotel must be housed somewhere else. Cross the threshold, however, and luxury awaits – a cosy retreat from the wintry environment. In the kitchen, top-class chefs serve up traditionally trapped treats of smoked seal, reindeer sausage and whale and, at night, the blissful warmth of your bed is matched by utter silence in the surrounds.
Eat
Isfjord Radio's modern kitchen promises a voyage of tastes from the Arctic, with wild meats caught by local trappers using traditional methods. Expect smoked seal, whale, halibut with roe butter and reindeer cooked in a number of styles. The chef is trained in Italian, Asian and French cuisine, so there will be twists aplenty.
Sleep
Isfjord Radio’s 22 rooms are decorated in style and comfort. The station was bombed by the Luftwaffe and destroyed as it was evacuated by the workers to prevent the communication system falling into enemy hands. It was then rebuilt in facsimile directly after World War II, and the décor throughout includes fascinating artifacts that conjure its colourful past in magnificent isolation.
Do
Summer and winter at Isfjord Radio bring spectacularly contrasting scenery and experiences. In summer, take a boat trip to see glorious fjords and the cliffs at Alkehornet where thousands of sea birds nest. There’s more wildlife on show on the beach at Trygghamna and at the Esmark Glacier in Ymerbukta. With luck, you might catch sight of whales, seals, Arctic fox and even polar bears. In winter, the hotel can only be reached by snowmobile, dogsled or a lengthy cross-country ski trail. Northern Lights viewing can be magnificent, and polar bears have been known to roam right outside the hotel.
