A mind-boggling ice sculpture
Cosmic particles from outer space, drawn to the pole by the planet’s magnetism? Great curtains of multi-coloured lights, dancing like spectres in the night sky? If you pride yourself on being something of a traveller and a connoisseur of destinations, you simply have to experience the Northern Lights.
Similarly, you have to stay – at least once – in the Ice Hotel. Forget igloos, this is a fantastical sculpture, carved from ice into a winter palace like no other. Expect crystalline chandeliers and ornate carved doorways leading to bedrooms with ice sculptures and ice murals on the walls. This is an art project on a grand scale and – at -5ºC – as ephemeral as temperature itself. And it includes a very chilled bar serving cool cocktails, wine and cold beer. Now that’s hot!
The Ice Hotel, Swedish Lapland
The Ice Hotel, at glance
- Two unforgettable experiences – watching the Northern Lights and sleeping at -5ºC
- Choice of individual, curtained rooms and suites
- Ice block beds on wooden bases, with reindeer skin mattresses
- Double or single sleeping bags and warm clothes, hats and gloves provided
- Bathrooms and sauna in the adjacent warm rooms
- Two restaurants – one traditional and the other modern – also in warm rooms
For leisure and pleasure
- Excursions to see the Northern Lights
- Dog sledding and snowmobiling
- River rafting and canoeing
- Skiing and winter sports
- Ice driving and sculpting
- Hunting and fishing
- Moose, reindeer and horse trekking
- All dependent on season
Planning my first solo trip felt like a big step, but The Ultimate Travel Company made it easy from the outset. I reached out over a year in advance, and Rob Kent quickly put together a thoughtful itinerary based on exactly what I was looking for, securing great flights and always being available to talk things through. Everything ran smoothly and I felt looked after every step of the way. The accommodation in Japan, Fiji and Tahiti was excellent and the experiences unforgettable.
Jonny took the time to discuss all the options with us and tailored every detail to our wishes. He suggested thoughtful add-ons, arranged excellent guides, and created a brilliant itinerary packed with maps, tips, and all the information we needed for exploring the two countries we visited. An absolute trip of a lifetime to Argentina and Brazil.
