North Pole Igloos is a mobile hotel model that will open in April 2020. The hotel includes 10 tents designed with transparent glass material that can be heated, giving visitors a unique experience of sleeping under the stars right in the cold area of the Arctic Ocean.
North Pole Igloos Hotel Model
"The Arctic has been one of the most unique travel destinations in the world for many years, but there has been no beautiful and comfortable accommodation built there yet," explains Janne Honkanen, founder of Luxury Action, the travel company behind the ambitious project. "I wanted to create a more comfortable environment for everyone to experience the Arctic, by bringing cozy accommodation into the harsh conditions there," he says.
Although it is an ideal place for adventure and exploration, the Arctic is very difficult to access.
For most of the year, the North Pole is considered “inaccessible.” Only about 1,000 people make the journey to explore this land each year, often having to pitch their own tents and bring all the necessary equipment to stay safe in the icy environment. In stark contrast to that hardship, cozy igloos with private toilets, camp managers, Arctic guides, chefs and security teams are always available and ready to serve when you sign up for the North Pole Igloos hotel experience package.
Tour participants will be transported by helicopter.
Tourists are almost guaranteed a chance to see the aurora borealis – an Arctic optical phenomenon that creates brilliant streaks of light across the night sky, appearing from around September to April.
The aurora phenomenon only appears between September and April.
As a mobile hotel model, instead of staying in a fixed location on the Arctic glacier, the igloos will be moved to the "safest place" if weather conditions change.
Unsurprisingly, this epic adventure doesn’t come cheap. It’ll set you back €95,000 (about $105,000) for three days and nights exploring the Arctic. The trip includes a two-night stay in Svalbard, the border town between Norway and the North Pole, flights to and from the North Pole, a night at the North Pole Igloos Hotel, all meals and a dedicated guide. Guests can also spend a few nights at the company’s five-star Octola Hotel in Lapland, Finland, for an additional fee.
While the main aim is for visitors to experience the Arctic in a new and unique way, Honkanen also hopes that those staying at the North Pole Igloos hotel can act as “messengers” and help raise awareness about the impacts of climate change in the region.
Experiential tours also aim to raise people's awareness of climate change.
“We don’t just offer experiences, we want to spread the word about what’s happening. You’ll see firsthand how the climate crisis is affecting local cultures, food sources, and animals in the Arctic,” Honkanen said.
He also stressed that his igloo hotel poses no threat to the Arctic environment. Everything they bring there will be returned, and the luxury igloos will be packed up and sent back to Svalbard at the end of the month.
