High above the Arctic Circle, a remarkable hotel emerges from the frozen landscape each year, only to vanish with the spring thaw. The Sorrisniva Igloo Hotel, perched on the banks of Norway's Alta River, offers a fleeting and utterly unique experience for intrepid travellers.
A Masterpiece of Ice and Snow
Located roughly 20 kilometres from the town centre of Alta, this extraordinary structure is crafted entirely from natural materials harvested from the local environment. Workers use over 7,000 cubic metres of snow and 250 tonnes of ice, taken from the nearby Sierravann lake and Alta River, to construct the vast 2,500 square metre building. Because it melts away annually, the hotel is completely rebuilt every winter, ensuring that its artistic design and layout are never the same twice.
This process has earned Sorrisniva a pair of notable titles: it is not only Norway's original ice hotel but is also officially recognised as the world's northernmost igloo hotel. Its ethereal beauty has even captured the imagination of television producers, serving as inspiration for the ice hotel featured in the Apple TV+ series, Pluribus.
Sleeping on Ice in Arctic Comfort
Venturing inside, guests find themselves in a serene, blue-lit world where temperatures consistently hover between -4°C and -7°C. The advice is clear: pack your thermal underwear. Each sleeping chamber is centred around a bed fashioned from solid ice, which is then made hospitable with insulating mattresses and cosy reindeer hides.
For additional warmth, the hotel provides reindeer leather sleeping pads and specially designed ultra-warm sleeping bags. Every room boasts a unique artistic theme, with intricate ice sculptures carved directly into the walls, creating a magical, authentically Arctic atmosphere.
Warm Amenities in a Frozen Landscape
Despite the icy interiors, the hotel experience is far from primitive. A separate heated service building houses showers, changing facilities, and luggage storage. For those seeking to contrast the cold, there is a sauna and two outdoor hot tubs available for booking.
Culinary delights are a key part of the adventure, with two on-site restaurants serving local Norwegian specialties. Guests can enjoy a drink at the ice bar, where beverages are poured into glasses made of ice. Remarkably, the hotel also features an officially consecrated ice chapel, approved by the local diocese, which hosts weddings and christenings.
To explore the stunning surrounding wilderness, the staff can arrange activities like snowmobile safaris. A one-night stay at this frozen wonderland starts from approximately £385 per person, rising to around £525 during peak seasons.
In a separate travel story, British content creator Dave, known online as @mrtravelon, recently shared his experience at a different novel accommodation: the world's first IKEA hotel in Las Palma, Gran Canaria. The adults-only boutique hotel, named Las Dunas de Santa Catalina, opened in early June and offers a tranquil retreat near Alcaravaneras beach, with rooms starting from about £114 per night including breakfast.
