Holiday Destinations

Game of Thrones-themed ice hotel is fit for a King in the North

Game of Thrones-themed ice hotel is fit for a King in the North
The SnowVillage is open until April 8, 2018
The SnowVillage is open until April 8, 2018
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The SnowVillage is located roughly 200 km (124 miles) above the Arctic Circle
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The SnowVillage is located roughly 200 km (124 miles) above the Arctic Circle
The SnowVillage includes a hotel, restaurant, bar, and theater, all made from ice
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The SnowVillage includes a hotel, restaurant, bar, and theater, all made from ice
The SnowVillage's restaurant and bar are situated beneath a large snow dome which the creators say is the largest in the world at 16 m (52.4 ft) in diameter
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The SnowVillage's restaurant and bar are situated beneath a large snow dome which the creators say is the largest in the world at 16 m (52.4 ft) in diameter
The SnowVillage's ice blocks are harvested in March then kept in containers over summer to be used in November
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The SnowVillage's ice blocks are harvested in March then kept in containers over summer to be used in November
This year's SnowVillage involved artists from Russia, Poland, Latvia and Ukraine, as well as construction specialists, electricians and more
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This year's SnowVillage involved artists from Russia, Poland, Latvia and Ukraine, as well as construction specialists, electricians and more
A closeup of the SnowVillage's glowing dragon eye
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A closeup of the SnowVillage's glowing dragon eye
The SnowVillage is now open until April 8, 2018
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The SnowVillage is now open until April 8, 2018
A closeup of one of the SnowVillage's dragons
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A closeup of one of the SnowVillage's dragons
The SnowVillage's ice rooms are kept at a temperature of around -5 degrees Celsius (23 ºF)
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The SnowVillage's ice rooms are kept at a temperature of around -5 degrees Celsius (23 ºF)
The SnowVillage was made in cooperation with the makers of the TV show Game of Thrones, HBO
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The SnowVillage was made in cooperation with the makers of the TV show Game of Thrones, HBO
The SnowVillage's Hall of Faces sculpture
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The SnowVillage's Hall of Faces sculpture
Another shot of the SnowVillage's Hall of Faces sculpture
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Another shot of the SnowVillage's Hall of Faces sculpture
Another shot of the SnowVillage's Hall of Faces sculpture
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Another shot of the SnowVillage's Hall of Faces sculpture
The SnowVillage's ice sculpture of the iron throne
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The SnowVillage's ice sculpture of the iron throne
The SnowVillage's ice sculpture of the iron throne
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The SnowVillage's ice sculpture of the iron throne
The SnowVillage is open until April 8, 2018
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The SnowVillage is open until April 8, 2018
The SnowVillage's sculptures were made in cooperation with Game of Thrones creators HBO's Nordic wing
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The SnowVillage's sculptures were made in cooperation with Game of Thrones creators HBO's Nordic wing
The SnowVillage's White Walker sculpture
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The SnowVillage's White Walker sculpture 
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Sweden's Icehotel isn't the only hotel to be made from frozen water. Each year for 17 years now, Kittilä, in Finnish Lapland, hosts a temporary hotel sculpted from ice and snow called the SnowVillage. This year's theme is the TV show Game of Thrones, and it boasts impressive sculptures including a White Walker and the Iron Throne.

The 2017/18 SnowVillage consists of a hotel with 24 rooms, as well as a restaurant, bar, and theater – all made from ice. Couples can get married in an ice chapel and an ice slide is available for kids, too.

Fans of the Game of Thrones TV show, which is based on George R. R. Martin's series of fantasy novels depicting different noble families fighting each other in a world of sorcery and dragons, will recognize a life-sized Iron Throne, a Braavosi Hall of Faces, at least one dragon, and a White Walker with glowing blue eyes.

The SnowVillage's ice sculpture of the iron throne
The SnowVillage's ice sculpture of the iron throne

The ice rooms are kept at a temperature of around -5 Celsius (23 ºF) and visitors are given high-quality sleeping bags to keep out the chill. Heated accommodation is also available nearby.

Approximately 20 million kg (22,000 US tons) of snow and 350,000 kg (385 tons) of ice is used each year in the construction of the SnowVillage. Water is pumped into artificial snow machines to create the snow, while the ice is harvested from a nearby river using chainsaws.

The ice blocks are harvested in March then kept in chilled containers over summer to be used in November. This year involved artists from Russia, Poland, Latvia and Ukraine, as well as construction specialists, electricians and the like.

The SnowVillage is open until April 8, 2018. There are multiple price points available but the snow suites with the impressive sculptures start at €352 (US$420) per night, for a two-person suite. The ice rooms are also open to visitors through the day.

Source: Lapland Hotels SnowVillage

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