Iconic IceHotel & Tree Hotel Breaks

The ICEHOTEL and the Tree Hotel are two of Sweden’s most iconic properties.

The ICEHOTEL, celebrating its 30^th anniversary in 2020 has been mimicked over the years in other destinations but has not been equalled. Any traveller exploring the western part of Swedish Lapland on a northern lights holiday should plan to see the ICEHOTEL and preferably stay a night to experience one of the world’s most unique Hotel Experiences.

As time has passed the hotel has developed so that it can now offer an all year round experience. The temporary structure, built at the beginning of each winter and which melts away in the Spring has been complemented by a revolutionary new ICEHOTEL 365. This permanent structure uses a unique cooling system which allows it to stay open all year so it is no longer necessary to wait until winter!

The ICEHOTEL resides next to the Torne river in a small hamlet called Jukkasjarvi and this river has been the source of ice for the hotel since its inception. Every spring the frozen river is harvested for metre thick blocks of ice which are then warehoused during the summer to be used in the following season’s hotel. This ice is also the base for the hundreds of thousands of ice glasses used in the local ICEBAR as well as being shipped around the world to franchised bars.

No two ICEHOTELS are the same. International Artists submit themed proposals for the next hotel and if approved descend upon Jukkasjarvi in November to start the build of their rooms. We have always taken the view that the special full experience of staying at the ICEHOTEL is to include a night in an art suite. Although there are cheaper rooms if you want the real experience then this is the way to go!

With the advent of the permanent ICEHOTEL 365 you also have 3 deluxe art suites which have the benefit of being both larger and being en-suite too!

So how do you construct a Northern Lights break to include staying at the ICEHOTEL?

Our philosophy has always to base a break around two principles:

1. Stay in an Art Suite to get the full experience
2. Make your northern lights holiday action packed. This is not a part of the world to have too much down time. Pack in as many varied experiences as are on offer.
3. Combine the ICEHOTEL with other complementary places to get the best out of your time in Swedish Lapland.

Our bestselling ICEHOTEL holiday is the Iconic ICEHOTEL and Abisko Explorer. This break combines the original ICEHOTEL with one of the world’s most celebrated places for witnessing the northern lights. With an action packed itinerary including driving your own snowmobile and husky tours with specialist northern lights hunting experiences this gives you the best of both worlds!

Our Northern Lights Grand Slam, as implied, packs in everything possible into a 6 night stay including a night in an art suite at the ICEHOTEL.

For clients celebrating a special occasion and wanting to do a top end private experience then our ICEHOTEL deluxe and private package gives you a fabulous twin centre trip staying in the very best rooms at both the ICEHOTEL and Máttaráhkká Northern Lights Lodge combined with the best snowmobile and sled dog experiences with our partners Andreas Mikko and Ylva Forsen.

With our expertise in northern lights holidays we are able to combine the ICEHOTEL with other destinations, including our unique ICEHOTEL & Iceland break.

Staying within Sweden a very popular journey is the ICEHOTEL and TREEHOTEL break which combines Sweden’s two most unique and celebrated hotel experiences.

The idea for the TREE HOTEL was conceived on a fishing trip by the indomitable Britta and Kent Lindvall. It has been running for over a decade now but still retains the freshness and appeal as it did when launched. It attracts designers and architects from all over the world how marvel not just in the design and construction but also in how you service a hotel cabin in the tree in an environmental way.

With rooms evocatively named the Cabin, Mirrorcube, Birds nest, UFO, Blue Cone, Dragon fly and 7^th room  our breaks normally involve 2 nights at the TREEHOTEL where guests can change rooms for each night to get the best experience possible. To experience the northern lights whilst suspended in your tree home for the night is a magical experience.

The TREE HOTEL is based on the other side of Swedish Lapland from the ICEHOTEL but the two are connected by a 3 ½ hour train trip across the Arctic Circle. In terms of access the nearest airport is at Lulea around an hour’s drive away from the TREEHOTEL.

When constructing a holiday to include the TREEHOTEL there are a myriad of options besides connecting to the ICEHOTEL. As the Swedish Lapland region opens up to the northern lights holidays in the autumn you have a season of travel from September through to March.

Take a look at our Autumn Tree Hotel and Aurora Retreats break for a fabulous journey combining the TREEHOTEL and two small and intimate lodges, Brandon Lodge based on the edge of the Lulea Archipelago and the wonderful Arctic Retreat set in a pristine river valley in a secluded enclave surrounded by pine forests. With some of the best guides in the region including Love Rynback and Richard Karlsson this is small scale tourism done well.

The ultimate Northern lights holiday is to combine the TREEHOTEL and ICEHOTEL with ABISKO for a break that includes the 3 Swedish Lapland icons! Enjoy 2 nights at each of the hotels including 2 at Abisko Mountain lodge situated in one of the most prolific locations on earth for consistent sightings of the northern lights.

Sweden attracts the discerning traveller who appreciates individual style and unique experiences backed up with small scale tourism. The TREE HOTEL and ICEHOTEL convey the uniqueness of what’s on offer and either separately or combined provide a truly once in a lifetime northern lights holiday experience.