Further north than Tromso and further east than most of Sweden, Sorrisniva is your gateway to Finnmark, Norway's remotest and Arctic region, and the icy accommodation here makes for a truly special base from which to explore. At this distinctive hotel, you'll experience winter like never before, sleeping under reindeer furrs in igloo rooms built from snow and ice. In additional to the Igloo Hotel, the Arctic Wilderness Lodge is the perfect prelude to a night on ice, with the 24 new rooms all featuring a private balcony alongside two fine-dining restaurants in collaboration with Norway's national chefs. There's also a spa with a sauna and outdoor hot tubs where you can relax while looking out for the Northern Lights.
Eat
Dining at Sorrisniva takes place at the delectable Restaurant Lavvu, where chef Johnny Trasti subscribes to a ‘food calendar', only cooking and preparing food that is seasonally available. In the far north this makes for an exciting diet thanks to a selection of unusual ingredients, and each mouthful of fresh-caught Arctic char, each mussel, each morsel of smoked reindeer and each basting of cloudberry sauce takes you one step further to total immersion in the Polar lifestyle. You'll also enjoy watching the chefs work their magic from the open kitchen at the new Maku Restaurant, which has built on the traditions and of Lavvu.
Sleep
The surroundings at Sorrisniva are so Arctic, you simply sleep in -5°C temperatures. In these igloos however, surrounded by several layers of thermal sleeping bag, reindeer furs and the ethereal bluish glow emanating from the crystalline walls that surround you, the cleverly carved decorative statuettes sparkling faintly in the flickering candlelight, it’s a fabulous experience.
Do
One of the most fun ways to get around the Arctic is by snowmobile, the motorbike-on-skis that enables quick and powerful travel across most frozen terrains. Grab a helmet and get going, exploring the surrounding riverine forests and snowy fells, the stunning beauty of the Alta Canyon and spotting the incredible wildlife as you cruise past. Breaks for hot waffles can be taken at remote mountain lodges, and at night the aurora provide another extraordinary spectacle.
