For the past 36 years, architects, engineers, and diverse artists have converged on the small Swedish town near Kiruna to craft the latest version of the iconic ice hotel. This exclusive experience reveals that it's not the cold that unsettles some visitors, but rather the profound, oppressive silence enveloping the frozen chambers.
The Unnerving Quiet of the Arctic Retreat
At the ICEHOTEL in Jukkasjärvi, bedroom temperatures hover around -10C, yet it's the complete hush within rooms built from snow-packed ice that drives certain guests to abandon their £600 ice beds overnight. They retreat to the heated changing rooms for respite. Guide Glen noted, "If you didn't know you had tinnitus before, you certainly will once you spend a night in here," highlighting the acoustic intensity of the environment.
Artistic Marvels and Icy Surprises
The construction begins with harvesting massive two-tonne ice blocks from the Torne River, stored cold during summer for October assembly. Instead of uniform rooms, creators design spaces blending fantasy and fun, reminiscent of a James Bond ice palace or a fairground attraction. Guests can explore 12 art suites, such as 'There is no one here' by Turkish artists Ayla Turan and Kemal Tufan, featuring jellybaby-like figures, or 'Arctic Archive' by Kristina Möckel and Sebastian Scheller, with walls of snow books.
Other suites include 'Survival of the Fittest' with tardigrades, and 'Crystal Souls' with blurry, Dr Who-esque characters trapped in ice. The hotel also boasts an ice piano and playful elements like an ice slide for tipsy visitors, adding whimsy to the frosty setting.
Historical Roots and Technical Ingenuity
Founded in 1989 by Yngve Bergqvist, who initially built an ice art gallery, the ICEHOTEL started by hosting Swedish soldiers. Bergqvist feared they'd perish in -20C cold, but they survived in Arctic sleeping bags, paving the way for thousands of guests. The location benefits from Kiruna's iron ore wealth, airport, and engineering expertise, with Bergqvist himself having mining experience.
Using 1,000 tonnes of ice and 30,000 tonnes of snow-ice mixture, the structure employs steel moulds and snow cannons. A year-round 365 Hotel section uses cooling to prevent melting even in 24C Arctic summers, featuring an ice bar, spiral staircase, and cocktail glasses tossed into the river after use.
Practical Considerations and Costs
Staying in an ice room costs from 4000 SEK (£320) for two with breakfast, but expenses add up with flights to Kiruna via Stockholm or a 16-hour night train, plus a £150pp dinner at the hotel restaurant. Excursions like a £400 private sauna ritual or £800 husky sledge airport transfer further inflate the budget. Despite this, guests often overlook costs when immersed in the magical, humorous atmosphere, from creepy ice babies to lounging otter statues.
The ICEHOTEL remains a unique blend of creativity and engineering, offering an unforgettable Arctic adventure where silence speaks louder than the cold.
