Looking for a unique winter getaway? Check out this luxury hotel that is both an accommodation and a work of art. In fact, this particular type of hotel must be rebuilt and redesigned each year.
The Iglu-Dorf igloo hotels are about to open once again to travelers looking for a unique winter getaway in locations along the Alps and Pyrenees mountains. The igloo hotel is an interesting concept, in which travelers have the chance to stay in a piece of artwork. The igloos are designed by Swiss artists along with Inuit communities around each location. The igloos feature ice sculptures and snow art that is hand-carved into the walls and areas around the Iglu-Dorf community.
These igloos are not just a hole-in-the-snow. In fact, the hotel chain includes meals of fondue and even a jacuzzi and sauna. The jacuzzi is build right into the snow, and each room comes with special sleeping bags that are designed to withstand arctic temperatures that may reach minus 40 degrees. The sleeping bags and many items in the igloos are laid out on sheepskin rugs, and the community of igloos have centralized common lounge areas.
Upon arrival, each group will have a designated igloo guide to help ensure their stay is pleasant.
“Our guides look after the wellbeing of guests and pamper them with homemade mulled wine and a traditional cheese fondue.”
Each room has unique decor, and the “romantic igloos” are laid out with couples in mind. According to the Iglu-Dorf website, the igloo is “perfect for flirting and special moments.”
“Our expedition sleeping bags guarantee a warm night’s sleep. Our Romantic igloos are laid out with lambskins and designed by international artists. Each is different, perfect for flirting and special moments. Depending on the location, a whirlpool or a sauna are also included in the igloo village.”
A local mountain restaurant offers breakfast to igloo patrons as well as an on-site fondue service. The website notes that fondue is the meal of choice within the igloo, but that spaghetti may be substituted upon request.
Due to the nature of the igloo, the hotel is only open from December 25 until around April. The hotel must close when temperatures begin to reach too high to maintain the igloo. This means that the igloo hotel must be rebuilt every single year. This concept makes the hotel completely unique, as it is always changing from year-to-year depending on which artist is designing the decor. According to the February Iglu-Dorf press release, this year’s Inuit artist was Andrew Qappik, who is known for his pictures of animals and for traditional Inuit graphic reproductions done in ice.
The one major downside of staying at the Iglu-Dorf, aside from extreme temperature, is that there is no running water available in the hotel. Therefore, guests typically limit their stay to a single night in the artistic ice hotel.
Check out some of the photos of the interior of the Iglu-Dorf hotel.
