5 days | Independent trip | Dec-Mar | Kiruna
Nestled 200km inside the Arctic Circle, the original ICEHOTEL is located in the remote village of Jukkasjärvi, on the banks of the Torne River. For over 400 years, this region has been a hub for reindeer herders, the Sami people, and fur traders. Traditionally, Jukkasjärvi remained largely untouched by tourism during its long, dark, and snowy winters. That all changed in 1989 when the first ICEHOTEL was built, transforming the region and making the northern winter the peak tourist season.
Just a short distance away, the Abisko area, situated in the heart of the Aurora Zone, is renowned as one of the best places on earth to witness the Northern Lights. The Abisko Aurora Sky Station, accessed by a chairlift high above the village lights, offers an exceptional opportunity to experience the Aurora Borealis in all its glory.
Discover the highlights of ICEHOTEL here, and explore our other Northern Lights holidays.
As a Certified B Corporation, 50 Degrees North has designed this itinerary using handpicked local hoteliers and suppliers who share our ethos of delivering services and activities of high social and environmental standards.
Through our Climate Action Plan, we measure our carbon emissions each year and set goals to reduce them. But our responsibility does not end when the journey does. A share of our annual profits goes to our Impact Fund, supporting conservation, restoration and the communities we work in.
Transfer from Kiruna to ICEHOTEL, from ICEHOTEL to Abisko and from Abisko to Kiruna.
Flights, meals other than described, travel insurance, visas, gratitudes and any items of personal nature.
On arrival in Kiruna you will be brought to Jukkasjärvi, and your accommodation at the ICEHOTEL. The hotel is located in the heart of the tiny village Jukkasjärvi, with about 900 residents. Besides the actual cold rooms, ice bar and church, Icehotel has a restaurant, cabins, hotel rooms and lounge – all housed in warm buildings within walking distance of each other. There are around fifty cold rooms and around seventy warm rooms. There is also the local homestead restaurant just ten minutes’ walk away. There is a local convenience store in the village, but no cash point.
In the evening you can enjoy a drink in the uber-cool icebar before settling into your snow room at the ICEHOTEL.
Inside ICEHOTEL, the temperature is never colder than -5 °C to -8 °C, regardless of how cold it may be outside. Dress in warm thermal underwear, put on a hat and slip into the cozy sleeping bag. You are awakened in the morning with a cup of hot lingonberry juice at your bedside. Breakfast buffet, guided tour of the hotel, storage locker, WiFi, morning sauna and towels are included in your stay.
What better way to start the day than a dog sled journey across the snowy landscape to a wilderness camp, followed by lunch? You will be a passenger but supplement is avaialble if you want to drive your own. Afterwards ride back to the kennel to learn more about the Arctic dogs and their daily life. You can go for a wander in the afternoon - visiting the local village to see the Museum and pretty church.
In the evening, rug up for a snowmobile excursion in search of the Northern Lights. Dinner included at a wilderness camp.
This evening you will stay in a warm room, i.e. a normal hotel room and enjoy a good long sleep.
Note: The ICEHOTEL loans you, free of charge, snow boots and for those who feel cold, onesie snow suits.
After breakfast transfer to Kiruna train station for just over an hour's train ride to Abisko.
In the evening, visit the Aurora Sky Station in Abisko where you will also enjoy dinner.
Abisko, in the middle of the Aurora zone, is considered to be the best place on earth to see the Aurora Borealis. With its fresh, clean air and its practically permanent cloud-free sky the prerequisites in Abisko are optimal. More or less active northern lights can be seen almost every night, however, can never be guaranteed.
The morning is free in Abisko to enjoy the winter landscape, or just to laze around in the hotel and enjoy the warmth of the Scandinavian indoors in winter.
In Abisko you can enjoy optional activities such as snowshoeing, ice climbing, dogsledding or snowmobiling (advance bookings recommended).
After breakfast transfer to Kiruna for your departure.
All prices listed are per person. Please note that a special supplement may apply over Christmas, New Years & Valentine's Day.
Please note if you have early flight departure a private transfer is optional at extra cost.
Enjoy sculptures in your room with an upgrade to an Art Suite or have your own heated relaxation area in a Deluxe Suite at ICEHOTEL.
Winter activities that could be substituted into your program at the ICEHOTEL are horseback riding, wildlife and nature photography, moose safari on horseback, arctic wildlife safari on snowmobile, cross country skiing and reindeer sleigh excursion.
Generally, the entire exterior and interior is made of snow and ice including the beds, tables and internal features. They typically have a bar and/or restaurant attached – some made of ice, others are traditional wooden structures providing a cosy atmosphere with open fires. Ice chapels are also built within the structure.
The temperature inside the rooms remains constant at minus 4-7 degrees Celsius. Depending on your location, reindeer hides, balaclavas, thermal mattresses and sleeping bags will keep you warm, and ensure you will have a comfortable night. You still might feel the chill of the night, however, adjacent to the cold rooms are lounge areas with facilities, showers, and in some locations, a sauna to warm up in. Warm drinks are provided in the morning. Read further details about the ICEHOTEL here.
Functional clothing is key for enjoying and being safe in the outdoors. Loan of warm outer clothing (snowsuit, boots, gloves and balaclava) is included when staying at the ICEHOTEL. In addition, you should pack thermal underwear (preferably wool), breathable layer clothing, plenty of socks (again, preferably wool, rather than cotton or synthetic), and a warm hat. For your night in Icehotel, we recommend you wear thermal underwear, warm socks and a hat, and perhaps bring an extra fleece jacket or similar. The key is to think layers that allow good ventilation of body heat, materials that breathe and avoiding perspiration. Opt for oil-based creams and skip the morning shower when you have a day planned outdoors.
When staying in an ice room or in one of the art suites you store your belongings in a locker or booth in the warm Riverside Lobby which is staffed 24 hours, located just meters from the hotel. The Deluxe suite 365 has a private sauna, shower and toilet directly connected to the bedroom. The heated relaxation area also provides storage for your belongings.
Since 2017 ICEHOTEL offers cold sleeping 365 days of the year, so timing is down to which season that appeals to you the most. Visiting during December through February is an Arctic winter adventure at its most intense, with extreme temperatures and short daylight hours. March, April and early May is Arctic spring with long and often sunny days, and mild temperatures ranging between -10 C (14 F) and 10 C (50 F). ICEHOTEL summer is short and mild, but with near constant daylight hours thanks to the midnight sun. The northern lights season and golden autumn starts in September, as days begin to get shorter.
A good tip is to go in January, March, or April, when the hotel tends to be less busy.
SUSTAINABLE TRAVEL:
The original and famous ICEHOTEL was one of the first accommodations in Kiruna to become ‘Sustainable Arctic Destination’ certified and the hotel’s connection with the environmental cycle is core to everything it does. The hotel is located on the Torne River and ice is harvested every winter to make the hotel, and in the summer, when the hotel is melting, the water returns to its origin. As such waste and emissions are kept to an absolute minimum.
ANIMAL WELFARE POLICY:
At 50 Degrees North, animal welfare is a top priority during all our tours and packages. We carefully select suppliers who adhere to strict animal welfare standards, ensuring that wildlife interactions are respectful and comply with local, national, and international regulations. We avoid offering excursions that involve captive wildlife, except where they are properly regulated, and all activities are designed to minimise disturbance to natural ecosystems. Our travellers are educated on responsible, including responsible animal interactions, through our 'Responsible Travel Tips' for travellers, and our guides are trained to lead by example, promoting ethical conduct towards both wild and domesticated animals. By prioritising animal welfare in every aspect of our tours, we ensure that your travel experience is both enjoyable and ethically sound. Read our article on Animal Welfare to learn more.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Weather conditions may occasionally affect certain activities, and as a result, the schedule may be adjusted to ensure the best possible experience for all guests. For multi-activity stays, often the order of the activities will be confirmed locally on arrival. Activities might vary slightly in their duration or location due to the weather and local conditions. Any activities that are unable to be re-scheduled due to weather conditions, will be refunded as a general practice, as determined by the activity provider.
Looking for an unusual honeymoon destination? Northern Europe offers something very different from the traditional beach escape, from glass igloos and Arctic wilderness to private saunas, luxury hotels and geothermal lagoons.
Planning a northern lights holiday and wondering when to go? The most reliable window across the Nordic region runs from early September to mid-April, when the nights are dark enough for the aurora to show.
Discover Swedish Lapland through its winter activities, cultural encounters and one-of-a-kind places to stay, among them the Aurora Safari Camp, Arctic Bath, Treehotel and ICEHOTEL. From dog sledding and snowmobiling to northern lights viewing and Sámi traditions, this is a look at the best of the Arctic north.
Staying at ICEHOTEL in Sweden means sleeping in a room made of ice and snow, at about -5°C (23°F), in an insulated sleeping bag. Located in Jukkasjärvi, north of the Arctic Circle, ICEHOTEL combines an ever-changing winter hotel and art exhibition with ICEHOTEL 365, a permanent ice experience, and heated accommodation.
An overnight stay in an ice room is a memorable Arctic experience, but it is not for everyone. You sleep in the cold, use warm facilities elsewhere in the property and wake early. Many travellers enjoy spending one night in an ice room and the rest of their stay in a warm room.
A note on planning: Facilities, room categories and activities can change by season. Confirm the current details for your travel dates when booking.
ICEHOTEL is an art hotel in Jukkasjärvi, Swedish Lapland, built using ice from the Torne River. Each winter, artists create new ice rooms and suites, turning the hotel into both a place to stay and an exhibition of ice and snow art.
Jukkasjärvi is about 17 km (11 miles) from Kiruna and lies well north of the Arctic Circle. The surrounding region offers opportunities to experience Arctic landscapes, Sámi culture and seasonal activities.
ICEHOTEL has seasonal ice rooms created for winter and ICEHOTEL 365, a permanent, temperature-controlled ice experience that stays frozen throughout the year using solar cooling. Opened in 2016, ICEHOTEL 365 was billed as the world's first permanent ice hotel.
Warm accommodation is also available for guests who prefer a conventional room.
| Feature | Winter ICEHOTEL | ICEHOTEL 365 | Warm rooms |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Winter, generally December to April | All year | All year |
| Temperature | About -5°C (23°F) | About -5°C (23°F) | Heated |
| Bathroom | Shared, in a warm facility | Shared or private, depending on suite | Private |
| Bedding | Insulated sleeping bag on an ice bed | Insulated sleeping bag on an ice bed | Conventional bedding |
| Experience | Seasonal ice rooms and art | Permanent ice art and suites | A conventional hotel stay |
The winter hotel is rebuilt with new designs each year, so the artwork and room interiors change. ICEHOTEL 365 offers an opportunity to see ice art outside the winter season, while warm rooms provide a more traditional base for exploring the region.
Ice rooms are kept at around -5°C (23°F). The bed has an ice structure beneath a mattress or bedding layer, and guests sleep inside a thermal sleeping bag designed for the cold.
Before bedtime, staff explain how to prepare for the night. Guests generally change into suitable thermal clothing, keep personal belongings in the designated warm area and settle into the sleeping bag. The experience is quiet and unusual, but the temperature and sleeping arrangements can take some getting used to.
Traditionally, guests are woken in the morning with hot lingonberry juice before leaving the cold room for warm facilities.
For many travellers, one night in an ice room is enough to enjoy the experience. Staying in a warm room before or after the ice-room night makes it easier to enjoy the rest of the trip at a comfortable pace.
Guests staying in standard cold rooms use warm facilities separate from the sleeping area. These include toilets, showers and changing or storage areas. Depending on the room category, the walk between the ice room and these facilities may be several minutes.
Some suite categories offer private bathroom facilities. Guests who value privacy, convenience or a more comfortable overnight routine may prefer a warm room or a suite with its own facilities.
A thermal sleeping bag is provided for guests staying in cold rooms. For comfort, bring or wear:
Avoid going to bed in damp clothing. Follow the staff's advice about what to wear inside the sleeping bag, and store excess clothing and luggage in the designated warm area.
Winter outerwear is important for activities outside the hotel, but sleeping in an ice room is a different experience from being outdoors. You do not need to dress for an outdoor excursion inside the sleeping bag.
Check-in arrangements differ between cold rooms and warm accommodation. Guests staying in cold rooms are given instructions on where to change, store their belongings and access warm facilities.
If you are combining a night in an ice room with a warm room, plan the transition between the two. There may be a gap between check-out from one room and check-in to the next, so keep essential items accessible and ask about luggage storage arrangements.
Ice rooms are designed differently from conventional hotel rooms. Some have curtains rather than standard doors, and privacy varies by room design.
A standard ice-room stay typically includes the overnight experience and access to the hotel's designated guest facilities. Depending on the booking, inclusions may also cover breakfast, a guided introduction to the hotel, sauna access and loan winter clothing.
Check the inclusions attached to your chosen room and rate so you know what is provided and what needs to be arranged separately.
ICEHOTEL offers dining that draws on northern Swedish ingredients and Nordic food traditions. The ICEHOTEL Restaurant is known for its seasonal menus, while the Homestead offers a different dining setting.
Menus can feature local ingredients such as Arctic char, reindeer and other regional produce. Dining is part of the experience, particularly for travellers who want to explore local food as well as the ice art.
Restaurant availability and seating can be limited at busy times, so include dining reservations in your plans.
The ICEBAR is an integral part of the ICEHOTEL experience. Its ice-built interior features sculpted ice furnishings and drinking glasses made from ice. The design and artwork can change, reflecting the hotel's wider focus on ice art.
It is worth visiting even if you are not staying overnight in a cold room, although access arrangements may depend on the visit and season.
ICEHOTEL is a starting point for exploring Swedish Lapland. Activities vary with the season, and many need to be booked separately from accommodation.
Ice sculpting offers a hands-on introduction to working with the clear ice harvested from the Torne River. Sessions introduce the tools and techniques used to shape ice, giving visitors a chance to create their own small sculpture.
Jukkasjärvi is in the auroral zone, making it a promising place to look for the Northern Lights during the darker months. Sightings depend on cloud cover, solar activity and darkness, so an aurora is never guaranteed.
A guided excursion can take you away from local lights and help you make the most of suitable conditions. Read more about our Northern Lights holidays.
Winter activities in Swedish Lapland can include dogsledding, snowmobiling and guided excursions into the surrounding landscape. Snow conditions, daylight and weather shape what is possible, and activities may have age, fitness or driving requirements.
Summer brings long daylight hours and opportunities to explore the region without snow. Depending on the season and local operators, activities may include hiking, cycling, paddling, fishing and river adventures.
Choose activities around your interests and the time available rather than trying to fit too much into a short stay.
ICEHOTEL has an ice chapel used for weddings and ceremonies. The chapel's ice architecture and seasonal artwork make it a distinctive setting for a celebration in Swedish Lapland.
Couples considering a wedding should discuss ceremony arrangements, availability and any additional services directly with the property.
ICEHOTEL is located in Jukkasjärvi, a village about 17 km (11 miles) from Kiruna in Swedish Lapland. It is well north of the Arctic Circle, making it a base for winter activities and Northern Lights viewing in the darker months.
Jukkasjärvi is a small settlement rather than a large resort town, so plan meals, transport and activities around the facilities available at the hotel and in the surrounding area.
The most direct route for many international travellers is to fly to Stockholm and connect to Kiruna. The Stockholm–Kiruna flight takes around 90 minutes. An overnight train from Stockholm is an alternative for travellers who prefer rail travel.
From Kiruna, ICEHOTEL is about 17 km (11 miles) away. Transfers can be arranged between Kiruna and Jukkasjärvi, and it is sensible to organise the onward journey in advance.
Plan your stay around the type of accommodation and activities you want. In particular, consider:
A stay at ICEHOTEL can be part of a wider journey through Swedish Lapland, combining ice art with Arctic activities, local culture and opportunities to look for the Northern Lights.
Explore our ice hotel and snow hotel holidays, learn more about ICEHOTEL as a destination, or discover our ICEHOTEL Experience in Swedish Lapland and Ice and Auroras in Swedish Lapland itineraries.
Explore more of our travel stories and news.
Travel insurance is compulsory for all tours with 50 Degrees North. The safety of our travellers, staff and operators is a major priority of 50 Degrees North. With an operational office in Norway, 50 Degrees North has access to an up-to-the-minute flow of information regarding the countries we work in. We are also in regular contact with the various operators we use. Their in-depth knowledge and understanding of their various areas is vital.
This is a general packing checklist for Scandinavian winter travel. You don’t need everything every day, but these items cover most winter conditions across the region.
If you’re new to winter travel, start with our guide to travelling in Scandinavia during winter to understand what conditions are really like. For practical advice on managing luggage and day-to-day winter travel, see our Lapland winter packing advice, and for detailed guidance on what to wear and how to layer, read our Snow Clothing Essentials guide.
Outer layers
Base and mid layers
Accessories for warmth
Footwear
Everyday and practical items
Health, documents and electronics
Sun and eye protection
At 50 Degrees North, we generally include at least one of our favourite activities into your tailor-made itinerary but there will also be extra time when you could add something extra. There are lots of different optional excursions to enjoy during your stay at the ICEHOTEL. Now that it is open 365 days a year, the range is even wider.
During the summer months, enjoy the 24-hour daylight with kayaking, hiking or bike riding. You can rent your own equipment for half or whole day adventures.
Prices and validity dates vary - we will assist you with up to date information at the time of booking.
The tours always include top quality equipment and our guides are trained in wilderness safety and touring in Arctic climate. Your tour begins with an introduction and safety demonstration by the guide. All outdoor activities are weather dependent and may be cancelled or replaced by more suitable alternatives should the conditions not permit to run the tour as planned. The snow depth at the beginning and end of the season determines start and finish dates for activities.
All tours start and finish at ICEHOTEL Meeting Point, Jukkasjärvi. Please note that there must be a minimum of two adults per tour, as it will otherwise be cancelled.
We also recommend you calculate for some “warm time” between activities, for you to go inside for a couple of hours, change clothing if necessary and re-heat.
Never shower, wash your face or put on water-based creams or make-up before going out on an excursion as this means you remove the skin’s natural protective layer of oil and you are more exposed to the cold.
The activities start and finish at ICEHOTEL meeting point so no transfers to/from the activity are necessary. Our snowmobiles are purchased from contractors who are leading in environmental sustainability. The machines have four stroke engines that are environmentally friendly and not very noisy so good for our guides and our neighbours too. All vehicles are run on unleaded petrol or environmentally friendly diesel. ICEHOTEL staff or our suppliers prepare and maintains the snowmobile and dog sledding tracks so that we can ensure that it is done in a way that is not harmful for our surroundings. ICEHOTEL management works closely with local land-owners and Sámi villages to continuously maintain sustainable levels of land-use in connection with our activities. ICEHOTEL seeks to work with local suppliers of food in order to minimise our carbon footprint and promote local entrepreneurs. ICEHOTEL strives to avoid using disposable items where possible.
We recycle and re-use as much as possible and our guides always bring back wastage from the tours to dispose or recycle at the main hotel facilities. ICEHOTEL has set out a goal to become CO2 negative, which means that we will contribute to producing more energy than we consume.
All our guides are trained and hold the Swedish Transport Board’s permission to work as a snowmobile guide. All snowmobile tours begin with an induction to the vehicle that you will be driving. Should a damage occur during a tour, the snowmobile will be inspected and if necessary taken out of service to be repaired until it can run on tour again. In order to drive a snowmobile on a tour operated by ICEHOTEL, you must be at least 16 years of age and have a driver’s license. If your license has been issued before Jan 1, 2000, you are entitled to drive snowmobile on your own or in connection with a guided tour.
If your license was issued after this date, you are only eligible to drive a snowmobile under the supervision of a certified guide. To attend Ice driving as a driver, you must be at least 18 years of age and have a driver’s license that is valid in Sweden. If you are unsure, please check with our Destination Specialists. Alcohol must not be consumed prior to or in connection with a
snowmobile or ice driving activity. A breath alcohol test may be carried out prior to the tour and ICEHOTEL reserves the right to refuse your participation without refund if levels are found to be too high. All our guides are trained in wilderness safety and to prevent associated dangers such as frost bite. First aid and other health and safety equipment are always brought on the tour and our health and safety policies are developed in collaboration with the local emergency services. ICEHOTEL provides necessary safety equipment for our activities, e.g. helmets for the snowmobile and ráidu tours. Crossing frozen rivers is always done by ICEHOTEL snowmobile guides before customers in order to check the resilience of the ice. Despite this, accidents may still occur.
We recommend that you book your activities at least three weeks prior to your stay, to ensure that there is space for you on the excursions that you are interested in.
