Total Arctic Adventure 

Kirkenes

Snowhotel Kirkenes is much more than an hotel of snow or ice, it is the total arctic adventure. Your adventure starts here.

Pick a Season:

  Winter 01.12 -31.12   |   Spring 01.04.-30.04

May   |   Summer 01.06. - 31.08.   |   Autumn  01.09.-19.10   |   Pre-Winter 20.10. - 30.11 

What is happening right now?

Winter Program |  01.12. -31.03

Winter in Kirkenes is the stuff magic is made of, and there are tons to do whilst enjoying your epic stay in the Snowhotel and in your Gamme Cabin.

Climate and weather:

From mid November there are two months of no sun, which is called the polar night. This period is far from being a state of only darkness, on the contrary its filled by magnificent polar light, from pink to orange skies in the day to the mesmerizing veils of northern lights in the afternoon and evenings. In Kirkenes the winters are stable, and we have snow through the whole winter. Average temperature is minus 10°, and sometimes as cold as minus 30°.

When the sun returns in the end of January, "Sun-winter" begins, and the locals wake up from winter hibernation, and start going out to their cabins, and on skiing, snowmobile and ice fishing trips. So should you!

What to do:

Spend your family vacation with arctic reindeer, huskies and puppies. Go dog sledding, drive a snowmobile  for the first time, and go for the ultimate winter holiday activity, king crab fishing on the frozen fjord.

We recommending booking early, especially for christmas!  

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What else is happening right now?

What  is happening next?

Go to Spring Program  |  01.04. -30.04

Safety
Our highest focus is a healthy stay for our guests - your safety is our concern. 

Overnight Adventures

Gamme Cabins and Snowhotel are open for overnight 365 days a year

Always included breakfast and 3 course dinner

Transport to/from Kirkenes included in winter (01.12. - 30.04.)

As the only of our kind in Norway, we have an open Snowhotel all year round - both for day visits and overnight stays! 
In addition, we have the luxurious Gamme cabins, if you prefer a warm room. In winter, most people first choose a night in the snow hotel, and then 1 or more nights in the old ones - why not try the same in the summer?

Practical info for arriving guests

Spring Program |  01.04. -30.04

In April, spring is not far away, but for the locals, this is the best winter month!

Climate and Weather:

In April, spring is around the corner, and you will have quite nice temperatures, from 0 to 10°. The seasons vary a lot from year to year, sometimes spring comes in early April, sometimes its a full winter month. Remember to bring sunglasses, especially if you are going skiing/hiking/snowmobiling, to protect your eyes from the snow and reflection from the snow!
What to do:

The weather is mild and you can go skiing and snowmobiling in the bright arctic sun. Catch King crabs on our safari,  either by snowmobile or boat, depending how far spring has come. The favorite thing for the locals in late winter is ice fishing for arctic char - be sure to try! There is still a chance for Northern lights in the evenings until mid April.

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What to do

May 

When the mountain snow is melting back into the fjord, a new world starts to unfold. Brooks starts trickling, trees slowly spring into green, flowers bloom and unique wild berries starts ripening. May is the month where nature works hardest to transform a completely frozen landscape into a green paradise. For us, May is the month when we wind down after a busy winter season, we do spring cleaning, and start preparing for summer.

Climate & Weather:

Every year the weather gods flip a coin to decide how May will be. It can be everything from a near winter to a near summer month. Temperatures from around 5-15° can be expected and everything from snowstorms to sunbathing weather.

What to do?

We are known to be honest in the north, and May is not the greatest month to visit Kirkenes. We normally recommend coming one month earlier or one month later. Snow is still melting, plant life is still not green and generally its a bit "grey" month. That being said, we are still open for overnight, for dining in restaurant and for Snowhotel visit. 
Recommended activity is no doubt the King Crab Safari by RIB. Month is also a good time for meetings, teambuilding, and social get-togethers for school classes and companies in our unique localities at Låven Restaurant.

Summer Program  |  01.06. -31.08

There is a lot to do in Kirkenes, even in the summer! Enjoy the wast, green nature and fresh air of the north. 

The midnight sun is in the sky all day and night, providing light and energy to recharge batteries for dark winter months.  The feeling of northern summer can only be experienced - when standing on top of a mountain breathing in the fresh air, and drinking the best and cleanest water in the world straight from a stream.

Snowhotel Kirkenes aims to show you the best arctic adventure, even without snow.

And if we don`t succeed we now even have managed to keep the Snowhotel frozen over summer - as the first snow or icehotel of our kind, in the world. From 2018 it has been open all year, even for overnighters.

Climate & Weather:

In June trees spring fully into green. Daytime temperature are around 10 - 15 °, and by the end of the month even 20°. July is the peak of summer, and bathing temperatures are not impossible. That`s the charm of the north, you can get everything from 30° to 5°.  In August dusk settles, and in the end of the month fall comes, and with it the Aurora Borealis. The Northern Lights are possible to see from ca August 20th. 

What to do?

Sleep in minus 4° in Snowhotel 365 in the middle of summer - how cool is that? Stay close to nature in our wilderness luxury chalets, the Gamme cabins, with reindeer grazing the forest outside. Dine exclusively in our unique farmhouse restaurant, with an unrivaled view to the fjord.

Visit the Snowhotel 365, and get a visit to the dog farm and our reindeer included. It is actually quite possible to spend a whole day in our summer camp in the idyllic Sandnesdalen. In addition, you can drive a dog cart or go on a hike with huskies. If you are more interested in sea adventures, we will give you the best Northern Norway has to offer, King Crab Safari with RIB boat, or you can join in deep sea fishing for cod and halibut. Our unique Snowhotel restaurant is open and you can enjoy an unforgettable meal, with panoramic views of the fjord and mountains, whilst waiting for the midnight sun.