Sorrisniva Igloo Hotel

When we planned our trip to Norway, we mainly wanted to see the Northern Lights, but we also wanted to stay in an ice hotel (just for one night). It was a bucket list experience of a lifetime and worth every penny! We arrived in time for dinner in the dining room shaped like a traditional Sami teepee. It was delicious and hit the spot after our long and white knuckle drive from Tromso. The hotel's website has very explicit instructions for what to wear to sleep in the ice hotel (basically just a merino wool top and bottom and socks and a balaclava and gloves) and what not to do in the igloo (don't leave your cell on an ice table or it will get frozen to it and leave it in your sleeping bag). You are given a mummy sleeping bag that is rated to below zero, a pillow and you sleep on a bed of reindeer pelts. We chose to sleep in a suite, which have the intricate artwork and themes, rather than in a plain room. The entire hotel is like an art gallery or museum because everything is made from snow and ice. The whole hotel melts away at the end of the season except for the LED lights. This was the 25th year of the Sorrisniva Igloo Hotel and their theme was the best of the last 25 years, so the snow and ice carvings were varied and very interesting. The biggest take away from the ice hotel for me was how quiet it was inside. The snow deadened all the noise. For me, it was hands down the best night sleep of my life. I felt like a baby in the womb snuggled in my sleeping bag and I wasn't cold at all. Now my husband, on the other hand, didn't have a restful sleep because he is of the age when a man gets up frequently at night to go to the bathroom. To do that, you have to get out of the sleeping bag, put on your boots without getting snow on your socks or wool undergarments and walk to the bathroom. Luckily it was right next to our room. He was certainly glad he had this experience and I wish he had the night's sleep that I did. The next morning we had a delicious and filling breakfast and then we headed out for a morning snowmobile ride. We each had our own snowmobile and the fresh snow on all the trees was breathtaking. They had special thermal suits for us to put on and we weren't cold at all. It was a ton of fun and I recommend adding this on to your stay. They also have a non-igloo part of the hotel and we were told that the King of Norway stays there in the summer to fish in the river on the property. So you know this is a well regarded place to stay.