Along the Arctic Circle, on the edge of Norway’s Alta River, there’s a hotel that looks a little bit different every year.
The Sorrisniva Igloo Hotel, located about 20km from Alta’s town centre, is built entirely from snow and ice – and has to be re-constructed from scratch every winter.
The hotel is not only Norway’s oldest ice hotel, but it is also officially the world’s northernmost igloo hotel.
It’s even been a source of inspiration for the popular Apple TV+ series, Pluribus, which features a similar ice hotel built to represent a dreamlike, yet uncomfortable, experience for the show’s characters.
The hotel, an impressive 2,500 square metre structure, is crafted using 250 tonnes of ice and over 7,000 cubic metres of snow harvested from the local Sierravann lake and Alta River.
When spring arrives, the accommodation melts away, before returning the following season with completely new designs – meaning no two stays are ever the same.
Inside, temperatures stay between -4C and -7C, with guests encouraged to bring thermal underwear – though each room is equipped with reindeer leather sleeping pads and ultra-warm sleeping bags.
The beds themselves are made from solid ice, and topped with mattresses and reindeer hides to keep guests cosy throughout the night.
Hot right now Apple TV+ show Pluribus features dream-like icy scenes said to be inspired by Scandinavia’s igloo style hotels
Sorrisniva is not only Norway’s oldest ice hotel, but it is also officially the world’s northernmost igloo hotel
The 2,500 square metre hotel is crafted using 250 tonnes of ice and over 7,000 cubic metres of snow harvested from the nearby Sierravann lake and Alta River
Every room features its own artistic theme, with detailed ice sculptures carved into the walls and soft blue lighting, which gives the hotel a calm, magical, and truly Arctic feel.
A heated service building situated next door to the hotel has showers, changing rooms and a luggage storage room.
There’s also a sauna and two outdoor hot tubs that can be booked for those looking to warm up in freezing conditions.
Food and drink are also a big part of the experience, with two on-site restaurants serving local specialties, while the ice bar pours drinks into glasses made entirely from ice.
There’s even an ice chapel, officially approved by the local diocese, which hosts weddings and christenings.
Artistic ice sculptures can be spotted around the hotel, and staff can help arrange activities such as snowmobile safaris to explore the landscape.
Prices for a one-night stay at Sorrisniva start at £385, rising to around £525 during busier periods.
Meanwhile, a British travel enthusiast has shared his experience of being a guest at the world’s first IKEA hotel – but he was left less than impressed by the absence of a key item.
The accommodation is built entirely from snow and ice and rebuilt from scratch every winter
Every room features its own artistic theme, with guests able to enjoy ice sculptures during their stay
There’s also intricate ice sculptures carved into the walls, with reindeer skin bedding helping to keep those who bed down warm
Soft blue lighting gives the hotel a calm, magical, and truly Arctic feel
The beds themselves are made from solid ice, and topped with mattresses and reindeer hides
Temperatures stay between -4C and -7 – though each room is equipped with reindeer leather sleeping pads and ultra-warm sleeping bags
There’s even an ice chapel that hosts weddings and christenings
Ice sculptures can be found around the hotel, and staff can help arrange activities such as snowmobile safaris to explore the landscape
Dave, known as @mrtravelon on social media, documented his stay at the homeware company’s new hotel in Las Palma, Gran Canaria, on 28 June.
The two-star accommodation, named Las Dunas de Santa Catalina Boutique House, opened its doors in early June, offering a tranquil, adults-only atmosphere.
Located near the Alcaravaneras beach, the 27-room boutique hotel features a pool, garden views, and offers rooms with a modern design, devoid of overt IKEA branding. Managed by Sarton Canarias, the archipelago franchise group, prices at Spain’s first IKEA hotel start from around £114 per night, including breakfast.
In a recently-posted video, content creator Dave gave his 174,000 followers a detailed look into his stay at the hotel that’s fully decked out in IKEA style – both inside and out.
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