Visitors to Akureyri, North Iceland, now have the option of staying overnight in an snow hotel.
Akureyri. Photo copyright Icelandic Photo Agency.
Named Hotel Cool, the cabin-sized building erected under snow, is expected to cater mainly to couples.
Sigurður Baldursson, owner of Extreme Icelandic Adventures, which runs the accommodation, says he had been planning the venture for some time. “Every winter I have received requests as to whether it is possible to stay in a snow house.”
Guests make their own way to the hotel on foot, telemark skis, snowshoes or can be driven by snowmobile, Sigurður told ruv.is, adding that the bathroom facilities are about ten meters from the cabin.
Icelandic woolen jumpers and blankets are there to keep guests warm and in the morning, they can have breakfast sent to them directly from the local bakery, Sigurður said.
The hotel is, however, at the mercy of the ever-changing Icelandic weather, Sigurður explained. “[Snow hotels] are well-known in northern Sweden and Finland but the climate is a lot more stable there. The problem here is that before you’ve even turned around, a thaw hits and everything disappears.”
ZR
