About Alta Igloo Hotel & Wilderness Safari

Alta Igloo Hotel

Only twenty minutes from Alta city centre you will spend a night at the Igloo Hotel. Every year the hotel has a new unique theme from the Arctic part of the world. Apart from the 30 bedrooms the hotel houses an ice bar, ice chapel and beautiful sculptures. When staying at the hotel you will have access to the warm service building the whole stay. This building contains a luggage room where your bags are stored safely during your stay.

Sleeping at Alta Igloo Hotel

Feel the silence in the hotel made of ice and snow. Explore the contrast between staying in the cold, while the cozy sleeping bag keeps you nice and warm during the whole night! The rooms in the hotel contain only your bed, while other facilities like toilets, changing rooms, showers and sauna are in the warm service building, to ensure your comfort. The bathroom facility is public, we recommend bringing a small bag to easily bring your clothing from the luggage room to the bathroom area. The temperature inside the ice hotel is between -4 to -7 degrees Celsius. Thanks to natural reindeer hides, mattresses and sleeping bags keeping you warm, you will have a comfortable night.
We recommend sleeping in woollen underwear.

Health requirements:
Normal health condition is required for an overnight stay in the Ice hotel.

Clothing:
You need to bring with you: warm thermal outdoor clothing, hat, mittens and winter boots, long thermal underwear, pullover, warm night hat and warm socks.  You are in the Arctic Climate: take extra layers to keep yourself warm.
You will get: a warm sleeping bag and sheets for the night at the Igloo Hotel.

Arctic Wilderness Lodge

The Arctic Wilderness Lodge is built along the bank of the Alta River offering guests premium accommodation combined with a large lounge, restaurant and bar area. The high glass façades offers magnificent views over the river and surrounding wilderness.

All of the rooms have panoramic windows extending from the floor into the ceiling, maximizing the views of the adjacent river and Arctic wilderness. If you are lucky, you may see the Northern Lights dancing in the sky from the comfort of your room!

Winter activities

Hunting the Northern Lights by minivan

Join an expert guide and be driven along the coast or up onto the inland plateau searching for the best location to view the Aurora Borealis. The Northern Lights are elusive and sometimes can be seen from different locations whilst not from others on the same evening. Your guide will select the route which offers the best chance of viewing the Borealis given the prevailing weather and atmospheric conditions and explain the phenomena’s part in the history of Alta as it relates to the scientific investigation and understanding of it.

NOTE: Minimum age for children is 5 years old.

Snowmobile safari

Drive your own snowmobile through the wilderness of the Alta River valley up to the inland plateau. During the winter months the Arctic light often creates wonderful colours on the horizon despite the sun never rising. This adventure offers a combination of exhilarating snowmobiling and the Arctic wilderness under the special Arctic light conditions.

Two people will share one snowmobile with the possibility to change drivers on the way. Your guide will provide you with thermal suits, boots, gloves and helmets, as well as instruct you on how to drive the snowmobile properly so that you can go wild ways in safe hands.

Make sure to wear warm undergarments (wool or fleece is recommended).

Difficulty level: Average physical condition – involves physical activity on uneven surface and/or steep terrain. Not suitable if you have limited mobility.

NOTE: You need to be at least 18 years old and have a valid car driver’s license in order to drive the snowmobile. Underage passengers are welcome.

Sami & Reindeer Experience

Feel the fresh winter air on your cheeks as your sled is pulled by a reindeer through a magnificent winter landscape. This experience give you a sneak peek into the Sami lifestyle and introduces you to some of their traditions. The combination of reindeer sledding and storytelling in a traditional Lavvu around a bonfire provides fascinating insights into this special semi-nomadic culture.

Included: snowsuit rental, experienced Sami guide, warm drinks & snacks. Each sled can hold 2 people, who sit side-by-side.

We recommend wearing a warm base layer and middle layer under the snowsuit.

Holmen Husky Lodge

Dog sledding

On this dog sledding adventure, you will be taken along the very trail that Finnmarksløpet dog sled race follows each year. Holmen Husky Lodge is a family business wishing to show you their passion for dog sledding and the world where the family has challenged themselves and lived out their passion above the Arctic Circle. The dog sledding experience will last approx. 1-hour in a raw winter landscape. You can switch between being the passenger and driver.

Upon arrival at Holmen Husky, you will get the necessary clothing for the dog sledding experience. You will receive safety instructions and introduction on how to handle a team of Alaskan husky race dogs. When you get back to Holmen Husky you will have the possibility to help with the dogs, and thank them for the run by giving them lots of cuddles and belly scratches. The guide will prepare a fire and snacks in the Lavvo and tell you all about life with huskies.

We recommend bringing the following items with you to make your adventure even more comfortable:
• Sunglasses/goggles
• Long underwear/warm base layer (preferably wool)
• Camera

Age restrictions:
• The minimum age to participate in this experience is 5 years old.
• 5-12 year old children are required to sit between an adult’s legs on the sled.
• 13-15 year old children are allowed to sit independently on the sled and can drive independently under the supervision of a guide.
• The minimum age for driving solo is 16 years old.

Sleeping in a Lavvo

Through centuries the Sami people have used a lavvo as a temporary dwelling enabling them to follow their reindeer herd across the treeless mountain plateau. This Lavvo accommodation is a permanent interpretation of these tents, built with large windows that enable wonderful views from the comfort of your room.

The Lavvo tent is heated and has a bed. The toilet and shower facilities are located only a few metres away from the Lavvo, and the restaurant is just a few metres beyond that. It is possible to rent the Jacuzzi & Sauna in 1-hour time slots, so you may wish to bring your swimwear.

TOURS THAT MIGHT BE OF INTEREST:

Igloo Hotel & Arctic Wilderness
Arctic Wilderness, Northern Lights & Tromsø
Cruise into the realm of the Northern Lights
Northern Lights Cruise & Snow hotel
Norwegian Christmas & Northern Lights Cruise
Winter Cruise & Northern Lights