Abisko Mountain Lodge
Abisko Mountain Lodge
Abisko Mountain Lodge is the brainchild of Mina and Dick Johansson, two people with an unsurpassed passion for their surroundings and for whom, we at Activities Abroad have a huge amount of respect.
Dick and Mina’s vision was to provide a comfortable retreat for visitors who want to make the most of Abisko’s stunningly beautiful environment and its spectacular Northern Lights. There’s a warm and welcoming ambience here at Abisko and after an afternoon in the snow, it’s lovely to return for an excellent dinner in splendid company. Of course, the Aurora Borealis will very possibly interrupt your meal but that’s the chance you take here in Swedish Lapland.
The lodge has only 20 rooms (they can be like gold dust so we recommend booking early to avoid disappointment). All the bedrooms are simply furnished and comfortable with an en suite shower and toilet room. Generally they have twin beds (which in some cases can be pulled together) and hanging hooks for clothes (a drying room is also available). There are no televisions in the rooms. Your hosts want guests to spend time either outdoors or in the comfy lounge and bar area relaxing and chatting together......it’s a sociable kind of place!
The whole lodge has wireless broadband so you can keep in touch with the outside world if you wish (however we recommend just forgetting about it).
The restaurant has recently acquired the coveted Sapmi Slow Food status and provides excellent meals using locally sourced produce. Breakfast is a buffet and your evening meal will be a set menu created from delicious local ingredients. These are all show cased during your last night at Abisko when you tuck into their special Lappish menu.
The ICEHOTEL®
ICEHOTEL®.
Rarely was the expression “a labour of love” more appropriate.
Every winter, many of the world’s very best snow and ice artists, architects, sculptures and technicians gather in a tiny corner of Swedish Lapland to create an amazing hotel which, come the end of winter, will simply melt away forever. How frustrating must that be?
Of course, this means that each and every ICEHOTEL® is unique and incorporates all the fresh and innovative ideas and artwork that these superb artisans bring to the site. From the Ice Bar to the beautifully crafted Art Suites, the wedding chapel to the labyrinthine corridors, the ICEHOTEL® never disappoints.
To some, the thought of sleeping in a room made of ice and snow is the stuff of dreams, for others it’s the form of nightmare. Fortunately, you have a choice here at the ICEHOTEL® with a range of warm and cold accommodation.
Which hotel would be complete without a bar? In this case, it’s an Ice Bar with even the drinks being served in glasses made purely from, yes you guessed it, ice! The Ice Bar is open from 1pm until 1am but only residents are allowed in after 6pm so you can enjoy a drink in the company of your fellow guests before retiring for the night.
There are two warm restaurants here where guests can enjoy an evening meal (not included in the holiday cost). Sittings are at 5.30pm or 9pm in both restaurants.
The ICEHOTEL® Restaurant offers a delicious range of local dishes and specialities and has won awards for its cuisine. Many dishes are served on plates of crystal clear ice from the Torne River.
The Homestead Restaurant is situated around 800m from the hotel and provides a more rustic and simple a la carte menu.
There is also a lounge on site where guests can buy snacks and warm drinks until 1am and a dressing room (where luggage is stored when staying in the cold accommodation).
Cold accommodation
You do not need to be Ranulph Fiennes to survive a night in the cold rooms. The temperature is always between -5 and -8 degrees regardless of the external conditions. You should sleep in your thermals and in a woolly hat. You will overnight on mattresses covered in reindeer skins and inside cosy Arctic grade sleeping bags which will keep everything but your nose lovely and warm.
When you wish to retreat to your room after dinner (and potentially a few drinks in the ice bar) you will collect all of your linen from reception (you can choose a double or single sleeping bag) and get ready to snuggle up for the night. You get changed in a warm area and store your luggage in a secure locker. If you are staying in an Art Suite you will have your own small changing room.
There are no doors on the rooms but curtains are pulled across the doors. The walls are extremely thick and the snow deadens sound so your sleep shouldn’t be disturbed.
A warm building connected to the cold rooms houses the toilets, showers and sauna. Try not to drink too much before you go to bed as getting dressed in the night is not a huge amount of fun.
In the morning you are woken with warm berry juice. You can then have a sauna before a buffet breakfast is served in the ICEHOTEL® restaurant.
A selection of rooms is available:
Snow rooms
These are the starting point for the cold accommodation and your holiday includes a night in such a room which is best likened to an igloo. They contain an ice bed with a mattress covered in reindeer skins.
Ice rooms
The next step up is an Ice Room. These rooms feature ice furniture as well as cosy beds and are decorated with artwork carved into the walls.
Northern Lights Suites
New for 2012/13 are the Northern Lights suites which combine ice art and lighting to create a unique atmosphere.
Art suites
The crème de la crème of ICEHOTEL® accommodation. They are spacious and uniquely individual with each one having been designed by a talented artist. They all differ but may feature large sculptures, innovative and surprising beds and spectacular lighting.
Warm accommodation
There are 3 choices of accommodation at the ICEHOTEL® including hotel rooms for two people and small chalet style accommodation for 3 to 4 people.
Kaamos Hotel Room
Kaamos is the Swedish word for the mid winter light that is experienced in this region. The rooms are spacious and bright to reflect this and they are furnished in a contemporary Swedish style.
The en suite rooms have a television and phone. The double bed can be converted to a twin in some rooms and they are an ideal place to spend the night if you don’t fancy a cold room.
These are the most popular choice for couples.
Nordic Hotel Chalet
These chalets are ideal for parties of 2 or more as there are two separate bedrooms. One bedroom contains a double bed (that can convert to twin) and the other room contains bunk beds.
The chalets have a private bathroom with shower and a small living area with a fridge, kettle, television and telephone.
Arctic Chalet
The Arctic Chalets provide accommodation for up to 3 people in a double and a single room.
The chalets have a private bathroom with shower, small living area with fridge, kettle a television and telephone.