Sweden’s Ice Hotel - Activities (Part 1)

One of the questions often asked about a trip here is, Will there be anything to do other than look at the snow? Well the answer to that question is an emphatic YES. In fact there is so much to do that you will need to pick which of the many things you most want to try. A normal 3 day stay will not be enough time to do everything so planning ahead would be a good option.

So what’s on offer, well here’s a summary of each of the activities and below you can see some of the photos that we took.

Dog sledging through the forest

The Alaskan huskies that offer this experience seem to outnumber the humans in this part of the world. They seem to be most at home when pulling a sledge through the deep powdered snow. At the head of the pack is a team leader who takes shouted directions from the driver at the back. Speeding silently through the snowy landscape pulled by these powerful dogs is a truly unique experience. When these incredible athletes take a break you also get a chance to relaxed by a fire with a warming drink.

Ice sculpting

Well you are at the Ice Hotel so why not try your hand at this unusual skill. An introductory class to ice sculpting is completely absorbing, you feel both relaxed and focused at the same time. The master sculptor begins the class by giving you some background about working with ice, and an introduction to the tools. Each sculptor apprentice, you, is then given a block of ice and a chisel and off you go. Needless to say most of the results do not get displayed in the ice sculpture gallery.

Skiing

Don’t expect chair lifts or groomed slopes, this is Sweden. Cross-country skiing is next to a religion in northern Sweden and you’ll find most locals have a number of sets at home. Athletes favor it for its all-round work out of all the major muscle groups while at the same time being an efficient cardio-exercise. Still if you’re not keen on the fitness aspect it’s still a great way to get off the beaten track and experience the Arctic wilderness. You just strap on your cross-country skis and head into the woodlands following your guide. Along the way you stop for “fika” which is Swedish for coffee and a snack.

The next article in this series continues with other popular options for you to do.