Top 5 cool places to stay

Let us introduce you to the five coolest places to stay on a snowy break, from the sub-zero to the unexpectedly plush. If you can resist anything but temptation, we suggest you look away now…

Basecamp Oulanka, Finland

Eco-friendly log cabins

 

A stay at Basecamp is enough to melt any icy heart. Nestled in the wilderness of Oulanka National Park, the cosy log cabins have balconies brushing against the sugar coated pine forests, a veritable Narnia for any adventurer; no magic wardrobes required! Each room has under floor heating and has been designed with ruthless ecological efficiency, ensuring not a drop of heat from the sauna or hot tub is wasted – all warmth here is recycled.

Trips: Finnish Wilderness Week - Snowshoeing in Finland

The Icehotel, Sweden

Frosty Flower Suite from 2013/14

 

A night here is so cool it’s literally sub-zero. Each year new beautiful ice sculptures appear, redesigned and handcrafted so that every aspect of the hotel changes, keeping it utterly unique. This mutable work of art is often draped in bristling reindeer hides, giving the feeling of a children’s Ice Queen fairytale – this is truly an ice palace!

Trip: Lapland Adventure & The Icehotel

Igloo - Finland and Sweden

Build your own igloo

 

Take the satisfaction of successful DIY to a new level building your very own igloo. These compact and unmistakeable structures are surprisingly easy to make and even more surprisingly, they’re quite warm! Be warned though – cramming all your friends into one for an extensive laughing session can cause the ice to melt!

Trips: Finnish Wilderness Week - Lapland Adventure & The Icehotel

Sami Tent, Sweden

Camping Arctic-Style

 

Experience the Lappish way of surviving life in the freezer by spending a night in a traditional Sami or “Lavi” tent. Simplicity is the key to these tough structures as they are designed to be extremely portable and to be put up in a matter of minutes to escape the elements. Inside, a small fire creates a cosy atmosphere, and with a shot of schnapps in hand, this is the perfect setting for a tale or two of Lappish folklore, myths and legends.

Trip: Arctic Circle Dogsled Expedition

Hotel Adler, Italy

Hotel Adler's Swimming Pool

 

The luxury of the four-star Hotel Adler in the Dolomites is surpassed only by the sumptuous three course meals served up by their Michelin recommended restaurant. If it weren’t for the jagged majesty of the surrounding peaks it would be all too easy to idle in the extensive spa – however, the call of the mountains is too strong to resist.

Trip: Snowshoeing in the Dolomites