❄️⛄️ARCTIC WONDERS: Welcome to the most iconic ice hotels 🛎️🧣

The Science of Survival: How Guests Don't Freeze (and Hotels Don't Melt)

The question on every prospective guest's mind is simple: How do you survive a night at minus 23°F (-5°C) without becoming a human popsicle?

The answer lies in sophisticated thermal engineering and counterintuitive physics. Ice hotels maintain interior temperatures between 21°F and 26°F (-5°C to -3°C) — cold enough to preserve the structure but warmer than the extreme exterior temperatures that can plummet to -40°F (-40°C).

The thick walls of compacted snow act as natural insulators, creating a stable microclimate that protects against wind chill and external temperature fluctuations.

The ingenious design prevents melting through multiple strategies: the absence of internal heating, constant subzero temperatures, thick insulating walls, and architectural features like high ceilings that allow any warm air from body heat to rise away from the ice surfaces.

THE THREE EXCEPTIONAL PROPERTIES

ICEHOTEL — Jukkasjärvi, Swedish Lapland

The original and largest ice hotel in the world, ICEHOTEL, is reconstructed annually using approximately 5,000 tons of ice harvested from the pristine Torne River.

Spanning 6,000 square meters with 55 rooms, the property features vaulted ice corridors, a grand ceremonial hall, an ice chapel for winter weddings, and individually designed Art Suites created by internationally selected artists. Each year brings a completely new design, making every visit unique. The 2025-2026 edition showcases intricate ice sculptures, LED-illuminated corridors, and suites that blur the line between architecture and fine art.

The property also features ICEHOTEL 365, a year-round permanent structure that uses solar power to remain frozen even during the midnight sun of summer.

Location: Jukkasjärvi, 200 kilometers north of the Arctic Circle, Sweden.

HÔTEL DE GLACE — Quebec, Canada

North America's only ice hotel, Hôtel de Glace, is rebuilt each winter using approximately 500 tons of ice and 30,000 tons of snow. The property features 44 rooms and themed suites spread across multiple ice pavilions. Architectural highlights include a stunning Great Hall with soaring ice arches, a wedding chapel carved entirely from ice with magnificent lighting design, and an exhilarating ice slide that winds through the property.

Each suite tells a unique story through carved ice murals and sculptures. Past themes have included underwater fantasies, celestial observatories, and abstract art installations. The craftsmanship rivals that of any stone cathedral, with intricate details carved into every surface.

Location: Saint-Gabriel-de-Valcartier, 20 minutes from Quebec City.

SPANISH SECTION:

Lado B: Grecia y sus playas (guía por Sarakiniko)

Más allá de los lugares típicos y lejos del radar de los viajeros clásicos, está Sarakiniko, una playa griega que nos lleva a la Luna. O, al menos, nos remonta a ella.

Sarakiniko se ubica al norte de Milos a más de 400 km de Atenas. Está enclavada entre rocas volcánicas que han cambiado de forma con las olas del mar Jónico y del viento. El blanco de las paredes de piedra en contraste con el turquesa de las aguas asemeja un paisaje lunar.

Las rocas agigantadas se formaron hace miles de años. Están compuestas por una mezcla de fósiles de organismos marinos y piedras volcánicas. La erosión esculpió los fósiles y creó la joya natural que ahora conocemos.

Booking Information

Ice hotels have limited capacity and high demand. For the 2025-2026 season, bookings are already being accepted. Art suites and themed rooms sell out fastest.

Cost Range: Expect to pay $300-850 USD per night, depending on room category and location. Premium suites with additional amenities command higher prices.