If you are looking for a unique incentive destination that is guaranteed to provide an amazing experience, then look no further than Swedish Lapland and The Ice Hotel.
Situated 200 km north of the Arctic Circle in the village of Jukkasjärvi, next to the mighty glacial river Torne, the Ice Hotel is the perfect base from which to explore this incredible destination.
Each year the Ice Hotel is hand crafted by around 100 artists and construction staff from around the world, and is filled with totally unique and original artworks created entirely of ice (as you would expect!). The hotel provides a variety of accommodation options between its signature ‘Cold Rooms’ and cosy ‘Warm Rooms’ and guests will usually spend one night in a ‘Cold Room’ before moving to one of the luxuriously appointed ‘Warm Rooms’!
The Ice Hotel itself is open between December and April, after which it slowly begins to melt away. With 61 ‘cold rooms’ and 72 ‘warm rooms’ the Ice Hotel is able to cater for incentive groups of all sizes and is perfect for small, intimate groups, or larger events alike.
Swedish Lapland and the Ice Hotel provide a spectacular and truly unique combination when it come to incentive travel destinations. With a whole host of ‘once in a lifetime’ experiences for guests to enjoy, exceptional hospitality, and the surrounding nature at its most breathtaking, guests will leave having been part of something truly special, and simply unforgettable.
An incentive trip to Swedish Lapland and The Ice Hotel can be tailored to individual requirements but a typical 4 day itinerary may look something like this:
Day 1
- Guests arrive at Kiruna Airport where they are met by their host.
- After everyone has been kitted out with their winter clothing and equipment (which they will keep for the duration of their stay), they board the waiting dog sleds and are whisked off to the Ice Hotel.
- On arrival in the small village of Jukkasjärvi, guests check into the Ice Hotel before heading to the bar to enjoy a drink – served in an ice glass of course!
- Later in the evening guests will be taken to meet the native Sámi people and enjoy a traditional Sámi dinner in a tipi. Dinner will be served around a sparkling fire to keep everyone warm and the Sámi people will tell you about their fascinating way of life.
- Later a bus will transfer the group back to the Ice Hotel where guests can retire to the bar or head to bed ready for an action packed second day in Swedish Lapland.
Day 2
- After guests are woken and served a glass of warm lingonberry juice in bed, they can relax with a morning sauna followed by breakfast in the Ice Hotel restaurant.
- After breakfast a guided tour of the Ice Hotel will allow guests to appreciate the true splendour of this incredible place.
- Next on the agenda is a snowmobile safari! Each snowmobile will accommodate two people who will take it in turns to drive. The group will stop for lunch in cosy wooden hut around a warming fire.
- Following the snowmobile safari, guests return to the Ice Hotel where they will check into their ‘Warm Rooms’. They will then be able to enjoy some free time where they can enjoy the various facilities on offer or even try some cross country skis or snow shoes.
- The evening will begin with a guided bus tour of Kiruna village before guests enjoy a beautiful three course meal in a local restaurant.
- Following the meal guests will be transferred back to the Ice Hotel.
Day 3
- After breakfast the group will compete in their very own winter games. The group will be split into teams of 5-6 people per team who will then go head to head in a light hearted bit of competition! Challenges include snow shoe racing, team skiing, and the Lappish tug of war to name just a few.
- Following a much needed lunch, guests will have an opportunity to try their hand at ice sculpting, guided by expert sculptors. The best sculptures will be given pride of place for on the tables for dinner.
- After some relaxing leisure time, guests meet for dinner in the Ice Hotel restaurant. Here they will enjoy a stunning 4 course ‘Dinner on Ice’ evening meal where the gourmet dishes are served on plates made from exclusive Torne river ice.
- Following dinner guests will take a short walk (approximately 50 metres) to the frozen river where they will commence their search for the Northern Lights. Guests will be taken to a wilderness camp where they will have an excellent chance of seeing the incredible Northern Lights whilst enjoying warm Glühwein.
- In the northern hemisphere, in the so-called Aurora oval, the Northern Lights can be seen almost every clear night. In Sweden the Aurora oval is usually at Kiruna’s latitude, so the chances to see the Northern Lights are very high.
Day 4
- After a leisurely breakfast, guests check out of their rooms and hand back their winter equipment.
- A farewell lunch is served in the restaurant before guests board the coach and head for Kiruna airport for their flights back to the UK.
There are lots of incentive travel options available in Swedish Lapland and it is a brilliant destination for those looking for adventure. Do get in touch to discuss your incentive requirements and we can see if Swedish Lapland fits the bill!