For more than ten years, Iglu-Dorf GMBH, a company based in Stanssad, Switzerland has been building igloo villages atop Alpine peaks in Switzerland and Germany. In the 2008/2009 season, the company also opened its first igloo village in Andorra.
Not thedomed building shaped by ice bricks as usually pictured, the igloo is more of an ice maze built into a block of snow with a dining room, sleeping rooms, and a bathroom all veering off a hallway. The dining room, filled with wooden tables and ice benches covered in beige sheepskins, also has a bar. Each village requires approximately 2700 hours of work to build. Some villages also offer the opportunity to build your own igloo.
An evening in the igloo village offers a variety of activities including a hike to watch the sunset, board games and cards, snowshoeing, and soaking in an outdoor whirlpool. Breakfast and dinner are also included in the stay: dinner consists of a fondue dinner made with rich Gruyère cheese or spaghetti for the children, while breakfast is typical German fare of cold cuts, crunchy rolls, and fruit.
European Locations of Igloo Villages
Switzerland
- Davos-Klosters—2,620 meters above sea level, near the town of Davos. Offers all four types of rooms.
- Engelberg—1,760 meters above sea level, can be reached from Basel, Bern, Lucerne, or Zurich. The largest igloo village in Switzerland, it does not offer the Romantic Igloo Suite, but does have a midnight snowshoeing hike and special mid-week package deals.
- Gstaad—1,550 meters above sea level, on the Eggli, near Gstaad. Offers all four room types and special packages including “Gourmet Sport” and “Fire and Ice”.
- Zermatt—1,600 meters above sea level at the base of the Matterhorn. Offers all four room types and a special package for the Matterhorn.
Germany
- Zugspitze—2,900 meters above sea level on Germany’s tallest mountain in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, offering views of four countries. Does not offer the Romantic Igloo Suite or snowshoeing after 10 p.m.
Andorra
- Grandvalira—2,300 meters above sea level between France and Spain. Offers all four room types.
Available Rooms in the Unique Hotel
Standard Igloo—A multi-bed dormitory style igloo, sleeping up to six. Mattresses, special thermal sleeping bags, use of public sauna, dinner, breakfast, and welcome drink included.
Romantic Igloo—Similar to the standard igloo, but offers a private sleeping room for two and a welcome platter and prosecco.
Romantic Igloo Plus—In addition to the perks of the romantic igloo, the Romantic Igloo Plus also offers a private bathroom.
Romantic Igloo Suite—Like the Romantic Igloo Plus, the Romantic Igloo Suite offers a private sauna/whirlpool. Please note that it is not available at all locations.
Prices for a Night's Stay
Prices are based on the room type, age of the guest, and day of the week. Monday to Thursday are less expensive than the weekend
Igloo Opening Dates
Of course, opening dates are dependent on the weather, but for the 2008-2009 season, most of the igloo villages are open until April 12th,except for Zermatt and Zugspitze which are open until April 18th.
Tips for Staying in an Igloo
- Sleeping bags are provided; guests do not need to bring their own.
- In most cases, the lift ticket needed to reach the village is not included, but can be used the following day for skiing.
- Some igloo villages are also available for corporate meetings, private parties, or even weddings.
- Be sure to read through all materials, particularly the packing list.
To Make a Reservation
Reservations can be made on-line, through e-mail, and over the phone.
Jennifer L. Price - Jennifer L Price began her travels on the day she was born in Frankfurt, Germany. As the child of federal employees stationed in Europe, ...
