# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The Northern Lights provide a spectacular backdrop to the ICEHOTEL (Credit: Asaf Kliger)

While visiting the North Pole in winter may not be at the top of your bucket list, the ever-changing ICEHOTEL, which opened its doors to visitors on December 14 this year, may change your mind. Located 200 km north of the Arctic Circle in the Swedish village of Jukkasjärvi, the hotel, which is carved entirely from ice, is rebuilt annually, with each iteration getting increasingly beautiful and impressive.

The 29-year-old tradition began accidentally in 1989, after Jukkasjärvi residents organized an art show in a 5.5-square-meter (60 square foot) igloo to try to entice tourists to the remote village during the freezing winter months. The exhibition was a huge success, attracting many day visitors. However, it was not until a group of adventurous souls arrived with reindeer hides and sleeping bags, announcing their intention to spend the night inside the igloo, that the idea of the frozen hotel was born.

ICEHOTEL's main lobby (Credit: Asaf Kliger)

The ICEHOTEL has come a long way since its humble beginnings. Constructed from 1000 tons of ice, and 30,000 tons of "snice," - a mixture of ice and snow - it covers an area of over 5,500 square meters (59,200 square feet). The planning begins months earlier in March when about 5,000 tons of ice are harvested from the river and transferred to cold storage, where they sit till the beginning of winter. Construction begins in earnest in November, when about 100 workers, half of them artists invited to carve the hotel's themed suites and common areas, descend upon the region. By December, the unique frozen accommodation is ready to open for business.

Experience camping at the "Spruce Woods" (Credit: Asaf Kliger)

The 35 rooms, built to accommodate visitors on all kinds of budgets, vary from luxurious suites to basic rooms that are furnished with just an icy bed and a reindeer skin. Among the highlights this year is the "Spruce Woods" suite. Sculpted by Christopher Pascoe and Jennie O'Keefe of Canada, it depicts a camping scene complete with a classic VW microbus, a forest, and even a faux campfire.

The "Living Ocean" suite highlights our beautiful marine life (Credit: Asaf Kliger)

There is also the artfully-carved "Living Ocean" suite, to remind visitors of the importance of saving our oceans. The frosty room is teeming with carved marine life that includes coral and an ominous-looking shark "swimming" right over the ice bed. "The suite is inspired by the climate changes and the overfishing that affects our oceans," says artist Jonathan Paul Green. "I also thought the idea of using frozen water from a river in northern Sweden to create an ocean with shells, fish, and corals is exciting."

The nearby "Haven" suite is a "magical portal of ice" guarded by two large animals. "We are inspired by the meeting between people and want to create an experience that invites curiosity, creativity, and collaboration," says artist Jonas Johansson. "It feels like a dream to get to work with ice that allows our love for light, shine, and reflection to wander free from thought to creation."

The Haven, a magical portal of ice (Credit: Asaf Kliger)

The "Icewoman" suite designed by Sweden's Linda Vagnelind, features a massive sculpture of a swimmer, complete with a swim cap. Those with a sweet tooth will be thrilled with the "Candy" suite which allows visitors to experience a night surrounded by a variety of delectable confectionary. Unfortunately, none of the treats are edible. Cat lovers will enjoy the "Tao of Cat" suite, which has a beautifully ice-chiseled face of a feline, right above the frozen bed.

Regardless of whether visitors select the luxury carved suites or the basic ice rooms, the temperature is always set to a bone-chilling-5°C (23°F)! That is why guests are advised to snuggle up inside thermal sleeping bags and wear gloves and winter hats all night. Not surprisingly, most end up spending just a single night at this unique hotel before moving on to the conventional, andwarmer, cabins nearby.

A massive sculpture of a swimmer adorns the "Icewoman" suite (Credit: Asaf Kliger)

In addition to the unique rooms, the hotel also offers guests fun activities like snowshoeing, moose or snowmobile safaris, dog sledding, and, for those brave enough to suffer through the below freezing temperatures - overnight wilderness camping! The hotel's single restaurant serves gourmet food, while the drinks are always chilled to perfection in the world-famous ICEBAR!

Those unable to make it to the spectacular hotel before it melts into a giant puddle in April can visit the equally impressive ICEHOTEL 365 that lies adjacent. Though also built entirely from "snice," the 20-room hotel remains frozen, and open, year-round thanks to a solar panel array, which helps keep the heat out during the summer months when the sun never fully sets.

Resources: Icehotel.com, NewAtlas.com,,Standard.co.uk.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Sweden's Spectacular ICEHOTEL Opens For The 29th Season

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
While visiting the North Pole in winter may not be at the top of your bucket list, the ever-changing ICEHOTEL, which opened its doors to visitors on December 14 this year, may change your mind.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Ice hotels are unique, destination hotels that can be found in northern climates. The notion of staying in an ice hotel may be a romantic one, but what are the cold, hard facts of staying in this arctic accommodation? The Quebec Ice Hotel (French: Hôtel de Glace, oh-tel de glass) is the only one in North America. Here is what you can expect during a visit to this memorable accommodation.

Staying overnight at the ice hotel is for hardy people who don't mind foregoing the comforts of a conventional hotel for the experience of sleeping in an upscale igloo. After a drink in the ice bar and a soak in the outdoor hot tub (however, not hot enough to warm us up), we moved to the sauna (thankfully, hot). Upon bedtime, we followed exactly the instructions as laid out earlier by Ice Hotel staff. I got into my sleeping bag, warm and dry and enjoyed 3 or 4 hrs of sound sleep; after this, even my -30°C North Face sleeping bag couldn't save me from the chill of the Quebec night and I arose cold and miserable.

Certainly, there is a novelty and indeed a magic to staying in an ice hotel. I'm glad I did it. Would I do it again? Not a chance.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Ice hotels are unique, destination hotels that can be found in northern climates. The notion of staying in an ice hotel may be a romantic one, but what are the cold, hard facts of staying in this arctic accommodation? The Quebec Ice Hotel (French: Hôtel de Glace, oh-tel de glass) is the only one in North America.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The Ice hotel opened on New Year's Day in 2001. For its first year, it was located in Montmorency Falls Park, on the outskirts of Quebec City, with plans right from the beginning to move to the nearby Duchesnay resort for its next year. It had been built there from 2002 to 2010.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
'Hotel de Glace: Tour Quebec's Ice Hotel for 2018' on ViewPure

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
What\'s it like to sleep in an ice hotel? Join us as we explore the Hotel de Glace, 70 million pounds of snow and ice sculpted by dozens of artists, architects, and hearty Quebecois. This year\'s theme is \

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.authors[].name
Samuel and Audrey - Travel and Food Videos

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
ICE HOTEL: Hôtel de Glace - Quebec City, Canada

# data[].attributes.body
Brrr.....It's Icy!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The Northern Lights provide a spectacular backdrop to the ICEHOTEL (Credit: Asaf Kliger)

While visiting the North Pole in winter may not be at the top of your bucket list, the ever-changing ICEHOTEL, which opened its doors to visitors on December 14 this year, may change your mind. Located 200 km north of the Arctic Circle in the Swedish village of Jukkasjärvi, the hotel, which is carved entirely from ice, is rebuilt annually, with each iteration getting increasingly beautiful and impressive.

The 29-year-old tradition began accidentally in 1989, after Jukkasjärvi residents organized an art show in a 5.5-square-meter (60 square foot) igloo to try to entice tourists to the remote village during the freezing winter months. The exhibition was a huge success, attracting many day visitors. However, it was not until a group of adventurous souls arrived with reindeer hides and sleeping bags, announcing their intention to spend the night inside the igloo, that the idea of the frozen hotel was born.

ICEHOTEL's main lobby (Credit: Asaf Kliger)

The ICEHOTEL has come a long way since its humble beginnings. Constructed from 1000 tons of ice, and 30,000 tons of "snice," - a mixture of ice and snow - it covers an area of over 5,500 square meters (59,200 square feet). The planning begins months earlier in March when about 5,000 tons of ice are harvested from the river and transferred to cold storage, where they sit till the beginning of winter. Construction begins in earnest in November, when about 100 workers, half of them artists invited to carve the hotel's themed suites and common areas, descend upon the region. By December, the unique frozen accommodation is ready to open for business.

Experience camping at the "Spruce Woods" (Credit: Asaf Kliger)

The 35 rooms, built to accommodate visitors on all kinds of budgets, vary from luxurious suites to basic rooms that are furnished with just an icy bed and a reindeer skin. Among the highlights this year is the "Spruce Woods" suite. Sculpted by Christopher Pascoe and Jennie O'Keefe of Canada, it depicts a camping scene complete with a classic VW microbus, a forest, and even a faux campfire.

The "Living Ocean" suite highlights our beautiful marine life (Credit: Asaf Kliger)

There is also the artfully-carved "Living Ocean" suite, to remind visitors of the importance of saving our oceans. The frosty room is teeming with carved marine life that includes coral and an ominous-looking shark "swimming" right over the ice bed. "The suite is inspired by the climate changes and the overfishing that affects our oceans," says artist Jonathan Paul Green. "I also thought the idea of using frozen water from a river in northern Sweden to create an ocean with shells, fish, and corals is exciting."

The nearby "Haven" suite is a "magical portal of ice" guarded by two large animals. "We are inspired by the meeting between people and want to create an experience that invites curiosity, creativity, and collaboration," says artist Jonas Johansson. "It feels like a dream to get to work with ice that allows our love for light, shine, and reflection to wander free from thought to creation."

The Haven, a magical portal of ice (Credit: Asaf Kliger)

The "Icewoman" suite designed by Sweden's Linda Vagnelind, features a massive sculpture of a swimmer, complete with a swim cap. Those with a sweet tooth will be thrilled with the "Candy" suite which allows visitors to experience a night surrounded by a variety of delectable confectionary. Unfortunately, none of the treats are edible. Cat lovers will enjoy the "Tao of Cat" suite, which has a beautifully ice-chiseled face of a feline, right above the frozen bed.

Regardless of whether visitors select the luxury carved suites or the basic ice rooms, the temperature is always set to a bone-chilling-5°C (23°F)! That is why guests are advised to snuggle up inside thermal sleeping bags and wear gloves and winter hats all night. Not surprisingly, most end up spending just a single night at this unique hotel before moving on to the conventional, andwarmer, cabins nearby.

A massive sculpture of a swimmer adorns the "Icewoman" suite (Credit: Asaf Kliger)

In addition to the unique rooms, the hotel also offers guests fun activities like snowshoeing, moose or snowmobile safaris, dog sledding, and, for those brave enough to suffer through the below freezing temperatures - overnight wilderness camping! The hotel's single restaurant serves gourmet food, while the drinks are always chilled to perfection in the world-famous ICEBAR!

Those unable to make it to the spectacular hotel before it melts into a giant puddle in April can visit the equally impressive ICEHOTEL 365 that lies adjacent. Though also built entirely from "snice," the 20-room hotel remains frozen, and open, year-round thanks to a solar panel array, which helps keep the heat out during the summer months when the sun never fully sets.

Resources: Icehotel.com, NewAtlas.com,,Standard.co.uk.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Sweden's Spectacular ICEHOTEL Opens For The 29th Season

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
While visiting the North Pole in winter may not be at the top of your bucket list, the ever-changing ICEHOTEL, which opened its doors to visitors on December 14 this year, may change your mind.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
We're using cookies to increase the usability. Read more

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Welcome to the original Icehotel in Sweden - open year round. History - facts - construction.

# data[].attributes.body
Ice Hotel Pictures

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Create a new document and edit with others at the same time -- from your computer, phone or tablet. Get stuff done with or without an internet connection. Use Docs to edit Word files. Free from Google.

# data[].attributes.body
Check out the Ice Hotel

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
ICEHOTEL 365 (Photo Credit: Icehotel.com)

Sweden's ICEHOTEL has been delighting visitors with its extraordinary architecture, glittering ice sculptures, and unique location since 1989. However, those not brave enough to face the Arctic winters are out of luck. That's because the hotel, located in the village of Jukkasjarvi, 200 km north of the Arctic Circle, is built entirely from ice blocks which melt when summer comes along. But this year, adjacent to the conventional ice structure, sits the equally impressive ICEHOTEL 365. Though also built entirely from ice, it is designed to remain open year-round.

The permanent hotel covers an area of 2,100 sq m (22,600 sqm ft) and has 20 rooms. Guests can choose to stay in a deluxe suite that features bathrooms and saunas or opt for one of the beautifully sculpted art suites. But regardless of the room and time of year, they will have to endure the hotel's -5°C (21° F) temperature. That's because, like its seasonal counterpart, ICEHOTEL 365 is built entirely from snice - a combination of ice and snow. According to the ICEHOTEL website, it took 1,000 cubic meters, or the equivalent of 20 million snowballs, to build the impressive structure!

"White Cathedral" suite pays tribute to Ferdinand Cheval (Photo Credit: Icehotel.com)

An array of 6,500 sq-ft of solar panels fitted on the hotel's exterior will ensure that ICEHOTEL 365 remains frozen during the summer months when the sun never fully sets. Hans Eeek, an architect and expert in sustainable building who was involved in this unique structure, says, "Normally you build to keep the heat in, but here we're building to maintain the heat out."

While the permanent hotel is a great addition, it is the original ICEHOTEL that remains the star attraction. That's because its transient nature lends itself perfectly to artists desiring to express their creativity. This year is no exception.

House of Cards made from Snice (Photo Credit: Icehotel.com)

Among the hotel's 55 rooms is the "White Cathedral" suite. Built one ice block at a time, it pays homage to French postal worker turned architect Ferdinand Cheval, who spent 33 years of his life constructing the Le Palais Ideal (the "Ideal Palace") from stones collected during his daily mail round. The "Lapland Wave" suite that is inspired by the Lapland open sea, contains an icy bed "floating" upon frozen waves, while the "House of Cards" suite features a deck of playing cards, sculpted from snice, of course!

Creating such icy splendor is no easy task. Preparation for each ICEHOTEL begins in March when about 5,000 tons of ice is harvested from the river and placed in cold storage. Construction starts in earnest in late October when about 100 workers, half of them artists invited to design individual sections, descend upon the region. By late November, the ICEHOTEL is open for business.

Icebar at the 2016 ICEHOTEL (Photo Credit: Icehotel.com)

The unique hotel has spawned numerous copycats. Similar structures can now be found in Canada, Norway, Finland, and Romania. However, for fans, the original remains the best and grandest of all. Now, with an option to visit it in the summer, ICEHOTEL's popularity can only increase!

Resources: Icehotel.com, newatlas.com

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Sweden's ICEHOTEL Is Now Open 365 Days A Year

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Sweden's ICEHOTEL has been delighting visitors with its extraordinary architecture, glittering ice sculptures, and unique location since 1989. However, those not brave enough to face the Arctic winters are out of luck. That's because the hotel, located in the village of Jukkasjarvi, 200 km north of the Arctic Circle, is built entirely from ice blocks which melt when summer comes along.