Looks like Igloo hotels are becoming more and more popular these days. A few weeks ago we wrote about the Igloo Village in Finland, and now we introduce you to Iglu-Dorf, a concept hotel that offers igloo villages in seven locations in Andorra, Switzerland and Austria. What’s different about these igloos is the fact that they are rebuilt every year, using 3,000 tons of snow from the Pyrenees and the Alps.
The history of Iglu-Dorf began with one extreme skateboarder’s crazy idea to spend the night in an igloo so he could be the first on the slopes the next day. Apparently being first is a matter of great pride for skateboarders, so he decided to build himself an igloo to make sure no one beat him to that first ride down the mountain. The next day he looked like the happiest person alive, and when someone asked him why he had a big smile on his face, he just pointed at the mountain and said “You see that line over there? That was me.” More and more people followed his example and asked to sleep in his igloo. The next season he built two igloos, then three, and that’s how the Iglu-Dorf igloo villages were born. Now the company builds 12 of them every year, in different locations around Europe.
At first, the igloos were built block by block, the old Inuit way, but that took a team of five people two weeks to build just one 8-foot-wide and 8-foot-tall igloo, and they could only open the resorts at the end of January. They had to come up with a faster way, and found balloons were the best option. They filled up these big balloons, covered them up with snow and waited until it hardened, then simply deflate the balloons and voila, perfect igloos. But that’s where the serious work starts – artists are brought in to carve the lounges, the snow furniture, beds, decorations, etc. An entire Iglu-Dorf village now takes just two weeks to build, and considering they make igloos as big as ten meters wide now, it’s quite an improvement.
Although Iglu-Dorf does offer heated rooms with a stove, most of the snow igloos are only equipped with sleeping bags to keep you warm, so you better pack some winter clothes. Temperatures during the night don’t fall too far below 0 degrees Celsius, but if you feel chilly, you can try the nice cheese fondue fountain, or jump into the incredible hot-tub built right in the snow, and count the stars. Prices at Iglu-Dorf start at €99 per night, and go all the way up to €439, on New Year’s Eve. It’s definitely not the cheapest winter getaway, but if you can afford it, this unforgettable experience is worth every penny. Just look at the photos and judge for yourself.
Photos via Welcome Beyond and Iglu-Dorf
