When driving from Kittilä towards Yllästunturi, you cross the Lainio River. As you drive over the bridge, you feel a small bump in your stomach. Few people know that it is from the icy cold water of the Lainio River that the kingdom of snow and ice is built annually: Lapland Hotels SnowVillage.
When the car turns into the SnowVillage yard, you are greeted by a large cluster of massive snow domes. They conceal an exhibition of snow and ice. We buy tickets for the exhibition and, led by our guide, step into a tunnel carved from snow. The walls sparkle with crystals carved from ice, and ahead you can hear the song of a whale.
Lapland Hotels SnowVillage is rebuilt from scratch every year and delights its visitors with a changing theme and stunning ice art. In the winter of 2024-25, SnowVillage will showcase the underwater world and its diverse species, from whales and turtles to seahorses and octopuses. In previous years, the exhibition’s themes have included Nordic mythology, famous landmarks and attractions from around the world, and Game of Thrones.
What do an egg and SnowVillage have in common?
In the first room, we are greeted by whales. They are carved from ice but look incredibly lifelike. Our eyes wander along the walls, admiring every tiny detail.
”Have you ever tried to break an egg vertically?” our guide asks.
We are puzzled by the question, but soon it becomes clear. The rooms are built in the shape of a vertically halved egg. This slightly oval shape withstands the snow load on the roof much better than a completely round shape. Our gaze shifts to the ceiling, and soon the guide answers my next question: Why is there a hole in the ceiling? Simply for ventilation. The roof is cleaned after snowfalls to keep the ventilation channel open.
From the Lainio River to the Lainio River
The walls of SnowVillage are about 3 meters thick. They are built around an air-filled dome from the bottom up. The snow used is artificial snow, as it is more durable for construction. Artificial snow is denser and weighs up to five times more than natural snow. Over 20 million kilograms of snow and about 300,000 kilograms of crystal-clear natural ice are used for construction each year. The water for the artificial snow is pumped from the nearby Lainio River, and when the snow melts in the spring, the artworks return to the flow of the Lainio River. So, the water is essentially borrowed from the Lainio River.
Deeper into the Underwater World
We continue our journey deeper into the underwater world. We pass by octopuses, seals, pikes, and seahorses – each artwork more magnificent than the last. We hear about the snow suite, which can be reserved for private use, allowing access to the entire SnowVillage exhibition throughout the night.
”What if you need to use the bathroom at night?” we ask, genuinely curious.
The question doesn’t surprise the guide. Someone else has wondered the same. The restrooms inside the main building are available all night – there is no ice toilet in the suite.
The further we go in the exhibition, the more impressed we are. We slide down an ice slide, learn about the critically endangered vaquita, and dance in the ice disco, where the DJ is a shark carved from snow. Finally, we end up in the ice bar. Not only is the bar counter carved from ice; the chairs, tables, and even shot glasses are made of ice. The ice bar also serves hot drinks to warm you up during the tour, but they are not served in ice glasses. You can probably guess why.
Hot Cocoa or Dinner in the Ice Restaurant?
When our guided tour ends, we decide to go through the exhibition once more. The artworks are just as impressive the second time around. We try to decide which piece is the most magnificent, but it’s a tough choice. One is larger, another more detailed. The third is impactful because of its story, and the fourth because of the overall experience: the lights and soundscape bring the artwork to life.
Outside, the frost intensifies, and even within the shelter of the snow domes, our fingers start to feel cold. We retreat to the warmth of the main building to drink hot cocoa. SnowVillage has three restaurants: the cozy log restaurant Krouvi, which serves lunch and café products by the fireplace; the Glass Restaurant, which offers an à la carte menu in the evenings; and the Ice Restaurant, which, as the name suggests, is built from ice. The enchanting crystal-like purity of the Ice Restaurant makes the northern flavors stand out uniquely in an environment that changes every year. It’s advisable to dress warmly for the Ice Restaurant, but the hotel also provides additional gear if the Arctic chill nips at your fingers.
