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The Ice Chapel

Located 125kms north of the Arctic Circle, is JukkasjaĠrvi in Swedish Lapland. Vast and beautiful, crystal blue lakes, mountains, glaciers, waterfalls, rivers and extensive forests. This is where the Ice Chapel project was first begun on Saturday March 28th, 1992. It is now rebuilt every year, every bedroom is unique as is the designs of the other rooms, and takes approximately 6-8 weeks to complete .
The Jukkasjaärvi snow and the ice supplied by the Torne River contribute to the making of the Ice Chapel.
Once the chapel is finished, it is handed over to the Jukkasjaärvi parish during the traditional Christmas service and is then used for church services, christenings and weddings all the way through mid-April.
The Chapel gradually melts away during the April, May thaw and the water returns to the river.

Things have changed since the early days of building the Ice Chapel. The floor plan's now normally include a bar, (be sure and stop at the stunningly beautiful, Absolut Bar for a nightcap - they're open until 1:00 a.m.) sauna, exhibition hall, cinema, restaurant and the chapel. Everything in the hotel is made from ice. This includes tables, chandeliers, glasses, and beds. There is a constant interior temperature of -5 to -7C and there is no heating in the hotel. All warmth is provided by candles and body heat - so clothing is important.

Thermal underwear, jeans, pants, winter jackets, gloves, hats, socks and hiking boots are all essential. When you stay overnight at the Ice Hotel, you will sleep in a sleeping bag and use reindeer skins. The hotel accommodates approximately 100 people with most rooms sleeping between 4 & 8. There are no bathroom facilities - they are located in an adjacent building. If it's a little too much to sleep on the ice, you can stay at the nearby Wardshuset Inn - a traditional guesthouse which operates all year round.

There is no direct flight, but you can get to Jukkasjaärvi by car or by dogsled. During the day you can tour the surrounding snow covered forests and frozen lakes on snowmobile, with a guide. You can also rent cross-country sky equipment or visit a reindeer farm. At night you can relax in a suana and then a warm bath in what could best be described as a large bath tub with a view. Some nights you can watch the spectacular show of northern lights from your tub. You can check with your travel agent for packages that include the above services and excursions.

To find out more about the Ice Chapel for weddings or a christening, please get in touch with Han-Erik Johansson, the vicar.
Phone +46 (0)980-107 40.