Snow Hotel Kirkenes, Radius Kirkenes As
Welcome to a World of Snow in Norway

By Renny Bakke Amundsen

Yes, it's true and here is the proof of the pudding. The Snow Hotel Kirkenes opens each winter shortly after mid of December.

From the outside, it looks just like a snow bank or a giant igloo, but when you get inside, you'll find the most spectacular architecture with art and decorations made of snow and ice.

At the reception desk in the lobby you not only check in, it also serves as a bar and warm up area before you go to bed. The Snow Hotel is in the middle of an exquisite dreamlike landscape, with flickering Northern Lights and animals as its neighbors.

It's quite an undertaking to build the hotels 20 rooms each winter. Working with ice is a challenge. 25 tons of ice from a nearby lake have to be cut into cubes and transported to the site - alone for the bar that is built entirely of ice.

Kirkenes, the capital of Sør-Varanger municipality is situated in the northernmost corner of the country; Finnmark, is located as far northeast as possible in Norway (70º north - 30 º east).

The municipality has about 10 000 inhabitants spread over a territory of 3.670 km2 and borders both to Russia and Finland. Kirkenes is in the centre of the Barentsregion, with ice free ports and all year round access to the Barents Sea. Here you'll experience the indigenous traditional way of living as well as modern industrial society all in one generation.

One can find remnants from the Russian Revolution of 1917, the Winter-war between Russia and Finland in 1939, the history of 320 bombing raids and total destruction during World War II and of course 30 years of cold political war.

Snow Hotel Kirkenes	Reception Area

Feeding reindeer is exotic,
even for a Norwegian

You will find all the major predators here. Best known is the brown bear, and the Pasvik Valley is home for around 20 individuals. This is the highest density of bears in the entire Norway and also the home of glutton (wolverine) and lynx.

However, your chances are much higher of seeing reindeer and moose, than running into one of the great predators, the bear. The fauna has many eastern elements, especially among the bird species. Other animals that have migrated from the east are the muskrat, the mighty Kamchatka crab (king crab) and the Russian Salmon.

The author testing the bed

I had the opportunity to visit the Snow Hotel Kirkenes while attending the Norwegian Computer Society's (NCS-DND) annual meeting.

Once more, I can assure you that 'There is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing'. This is especially true if you stay overnight in the Snow Hotel Kirkenes. With the right clothing, it's perfectly good to stay and sleep here. For me, it was a wonderful and almost overwhelming experience.

The Lavvu

There are real beds and mattresses, and bedding is provided by the Snow Hotel Kirkenes to keep you comfy and warm throughout the night.

The hotel staff will show you how to make the most of your stay in a snow room. Curtains replace doors and the temperature to expect is approximately between minus 4 to minus 6 degree Celsius.

Snug like a Bug in a Rug
Lavvu Interior

It's maybe not for the faint, since there is no running water, although you can wash your hands in the toilet facilities that are 50 meters away from the hotel and towels are provided in the changing room. You always can visit "the best Sauna" in town that is especially reserved for Hotel Guests and refresh yourself for the day.

The Snow Hotel Kirkenes is staffed 24 hours to make your stay as comfortable and secure as possible.

Snow Rooms: 20, non-heated (of course)
Facilities: Toilets 50 meters away from the hotel, no running water, Sauna at the Gabba Restaurant.
Restaurant: The Lavvu serves Arctic specialities, prepared on open fire.

Snowy Dreams

Relaxing at the Bar

• 1900 km Oslo - Kirkenes
• Daily flights (except Saturday and certain Holidays) with Norwegian as well as SAS

Area Attractions

• Excellent wilderness experiences. Snowmobile safaris, dog sledding and more, organized by the Snow Hotel Kirkenes itself.
• Tourist Information Kirkenes

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