ICEHOTEL: Jukkasjarvi, Sweden

Eskimos have igloos. Inuit have ice caves. But for most of us, the extent of life under the ice has been pretty limited. Since 1980, four ice hotels have set out to change that. These luxury ice sculptures are full-size resorts built completely from ice. Contractors and ice artists piece together these luxury hotels with 2-ton blocks of ice from a freshwater source.

ICEHOTEL:  Jukkasjarvi, Sweden

Situated in the village of Jukkasjarvi, 125 miles north of the Arctic Circle in Sweden, the original Icehotel has been built every year since 1980. The facility didn't start out as a lodge; at first, it was simply built as a seasonal structure to house an art exhibit.  Organizers got the great idea to keep it year-round and commercialize the concept?

One night a group of foreign guests, equipped with reindeer hides and sleeping bags, decided it would be a good idea to use the cylindrical-shaped igloo as accommodation. The following morning the group raved about the unique sensation of sleeping in an igloo. Quicker than you can say "Absolut," the concept of Icehotel was born.

Accommodations inside the Icehotel are, chilly. Regardless of the temperature outside, the air in the Icehotel is always between 17 and 23 degrees Fahrenheit. Bedrooms have blocks of ice as beds, covered with fur, skin, hides and sleeping bags. In the common areas, there's an ice couch and an ice bar. Mercifully, the bathrooms are heated and off-site.

ICEHOTEL offers a variety of exciting adventures in Jukkasjärvi, Lapland and northern Norway between December 3, 2011 and April 15, 2012.

The wilderness around Jukkasjärvi is a landscape without roads. The four-legged local transport can forge its own paths over the expanses of white snow. Experience the dream-like sensation of being close to everything, animals, snow and nature, with yourself in the center.

Come along on the search for the Northern Lights and enjoy a true winter experience. In the northern hemisphere, in the so-called Aurora oval, Northern Lights can be seen almost every clear night. In Sweden the Aurora oval is usually at Kiruna's latitude, so the chances to see the Northern Lights are probably the best in the world.

Presented By:
Rawhide Travel & Tours Inc
6008 W Bell Rd # F105
Glendale, AZ 85308-3793
(602) 843-5100