| The Ice Hotel of Sweden is an ultimate place to chill. | | | | warm bar where the staff take great enjoyment in |
| The Hotel is situated in the Swedish Lapland town of | | | | asking if you'd like ice with your drink with wry smiles |
| Jukkasjarvi. It opens every year in early December | | | | all round. All water that is used in taps and bathrooms |
| and closes at the end of April. Every year in October | | | | coming straight from the river Torne. Each person is |
| the artists and local villagers, most from the Sami tribe | | | | given an ultra-warm sleeping bag and most people |
| in the area, begin to build the new ice hotel, which | | | | remark how "warm" they felt during the night even |
| opens in mid-December. Snow canons and front | | | | though the temperature is usually a steady five |
| loaders start by forming the snow over the steel | | | | degrees below zero. |
| sections that are the main structure of the Ice hotel. | | | | The Hotel also has a range of activities provided |
| Sections are moved around and replaced by ice pillars | | | | throughout the day while guests eagerly await night-fall |
| put in place to give support to the snow arches. blocks | | | | in the hopes of catching a glimpse of those all too |
| of ice taken from the frozen Torne River each winter | | | | elusive Northern Lights. A trip by Snow Mobile is one |
| and frozen for use the following year, the Hotel at the | | | | option. After being taught to drive the equivalent of a |
| moment is in its twentieth re-incarnation and is as | | | | jet-ski for on land use, the excursion follows tracks |
| impressive as ever. It began meagerly 14 years ago - | | | | through the fir trees and along-side the frozen river |
| one room. The 2004 season boasted 50-rooms with | | | | before stopping for hot lingen berry juice (a local |
| 5,000 square metres built of 30,000 tons of snow and | | | | specialty), bread, cheese and smoked reindeer heart. |
| 4,000 tons of ice. | | | | Other activities include Hunting, Fishing, Snow driving, |
| Inside the Ice hotel, there is a reception area, hall of | | | | Horse Riding and Skiing. Most people stay at the Ice |
| pillars, Iceart exhibition, Absolut Icebar, Ice hotel cinema | | | | hotel for two or three nights, but you will only spend |
| and an Icechurch and of course there is a warmer | | | | one night in the actual Ice hotel and the additional nights |
| option. The hotel also has cabin accommodation, a | | | | in the Scandinavian bungalows also on the property. |