WINTER IS HERE — AND IT’S OPEN FOR BOOKINGS
There’s a new hotel in Lapland, Finland, with a special treat for Game of Thrones fans. Lapland Hotels teamed up with HBO Nordic for this year’s incarnation of the SnowVillage, built entirely of snow and ice. While the attraction has been constructed every year since 2000, this is the first time the SnowVillage, in Kittilä, 200km above the Arctic Circle and around 90 minutes from Helsinki, has included a Game of Thrones-themed section. Each room features an ice figure related to the popular TV show, including a replica of the Iron Throne, a recreation of Braavos’s Hall of Faces, and a villainous White Walker, complete with blue, lit-up eyes.
The SnowVillage, which covers an area of about 20 000m², also has an Ice Restaurant, Ice Bar and Ice Chapel, which can be visited on day trips too.
Temperatures reach – 5°C inside, so thermal sleeping bags are provided for overnight guests. Still, it is recommended that people stay for only one night in the ice hotel, because of the temperature, though there are warm log cabins for those who want a longer stay.
● The SnowVillage is open until April 30. Rooms start at $200. laplandhotels.com