Iglu Dorf Gstaad Review – One night in an igloo!

Iglu Dorf Gstaad Review

What’s it like to spend one night in an igloo high up in the Swiss Alps? Cold. Very, very cold. It’s also a magical and truly unique experience!Iglu Dorf Gstaad Review

The Igloo Village

Iglu-Dorf Gstaad’s igloo complex is made entirely from snow and is rebuilt with a new theme each year – this year was ‘Desert’ which I found suitably ironic haha.Iglu Dorf Gstaad ReviewWhen we arrived we were guided around the igloo which is complete with an ice bar, a dining room with plush lambskins covering the seats made of snow and custom art carved into the walls.The igloo village in Gstaad even boasts a wellness area including a warm room, sauna and jacuzzi.

Outside, there is a charming little cabin with a wood burning fireplace and picturesque views.

The Rooms

We opted to stay in Iglu Dorf’s ‘Romantic Igloo’ – this is a private igloo for two people. The bed is carved from snow with cushioned layers and lambskins on top. You are provided expedition sleeping bags to ensure you will be warm during the night.When we arrived, we had the opportunity to look around all of the rooms to see the different art, as each room is unique. My favourite was definitely the fox carving, it was so detailed and pretty.

Keeping with the desert theme, the art carved into our room was…. a camel!

Serenity

Iglu Dorf Gstaad ReviewAfter looking around the igloo village we made our way outside to relax and enjoy the breathtaking views of the surrounding area.Iglu Dorf Gstaad ReviewIt was incredibly peaceful to watch the sunset set over the dramatic mountain scenery, with only a handful of other people around.The night sky is so clear and the air so fresh – it feels like you can see a million stars.

Staying Warm

If I haven’t already mentioned… it was very cold in the igloo! I’m not sure if this is because I’m not used to that kind of temperature, but at one point I really feared I would lose a toe hahaha.It was definitely our priority to stay as warm as possible. Keeping active is one way of achieving this and a guided snowshoe walk is offered in the evening. However, after a long day we opted to head to the cabin and warm up, with a roaring fire and a wonderful atmosphere it was the perfect way to spend the evening.For dinner, we settled into one of the alcoves and ate the classic Swiss Fondue. As a cheese lover, this was the dream – enjoying bread with a huge bowl of delicious melted cheese. Yum!Iglu Dorf Gstaad ReviewAlthough, drinking a lot of alcohol is not recommended, indulging in a hot glass of mulled wine is a must. We were offered an unusual gluhwein made with white wine, it was the perfect mixture of sweet and spicy – and warm! So warming. It definitely helped us to thaw out before heading to sleep in the igloo.

The Verdict

So, what’s it really like to spend a night in an igloo? As I said, it’s cold but also much warmer than you might expect.

Once you settle down to sleep (keeping your hat on!), the bed is super comfortable and you will find that you warm up very quickly.

Everything outside of the room, is freezing, so if you need to use the toilet during the night you’d better be prepared to layer up!

The views from the igloo village are incredible. It’s very special to wake up to take in the sunrise and fresh glistening snow, feeling like you’re the only people on the mountain.

I hope this Iglu Dorf Gstaad Review conveys just how much of a surreal experience to stay in an actual igloo and it should definitely be added to your bucket list, if it isn’t already!Iglu Dorf Gstaad ReviewIglu Dorf Gstaad ReviewIglu Dorf Gstaad Review

Would you stay in an igloo? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

xo Gemma

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44 Comments

  1. Susan
    February 28, 2017 / 12:27 am

    Looks amazing sounds like a great experience

  2. February 28, 2017 / 9:06 am

    Lovely! I would love to spend one night there (just one as I really don’t like cold temperatures!) :))

    • March 2, 2017 / 7:19 pm

      Hi Umberta,

      Yes, they do only recommend one night in the igloo – such a great experience though πŸ™‚

  3. February 28, 2017 / 9:54 am

    I would love to stay in an igloo. I remember building one when I was younger after a freak heavy snow fall in the north of England. I remember my mum not letting me stay in it over night. Quite rightly as it had collapsed in the morning.
    I love that you had Fondue and Mulled wine. I love these and seem perfect to have in the setting you were in.

    • March 2, 2017 / 7:21 pm

      I’m also from the north of England! We definitely don’t get snow like this, so it must have been a freak snow storm.
      The igloo villages are incredibly strong structures and wouldn’t cave in – so no worries there haha.

  4. February 28, 2017 / 10:05 am

    That looks like a once in a lifetime experience! Must have been amazing! The pictures also look inrecdible! I’ve never stayed or been in an igloo, but it’s one of my bucketlists to tick off!
    Was it near a ski resort e.g. could you ski in and out?

    • March 2, 2017 / 7:39 pm

      Hi Emma,

      Thanks! It’s definitely a bucket list experience and I totally recommend trying it out!
      Yes, they are located in ski resorts and you can be the first people on the slopes after breakfast – as you are up there before the lifts start πŸ™‚

  5. February 28, 2017 / 10:36 am

    Wow, this looks like such an amazing experience and one I would definitely love to try at some point! Was an avid camping fan as a kid and I think this would bring back some memories, albeit a bit colder! Your pictures are stunning, what a pretty place to visit.

    http://victoriaspongepeasepudding.com/

  6. February 28, 2017 / 10:39 am

    What an AMAZING adventure and opportunity. I love this idea and those views and the scenery makes it feel like something out of a Christmas card. The icing on the cake is definitely the swiss fondue – I’m a huge cheese fan and getting warm and loading on bready carbs is definitely the way forward!

  7. February 28, 2017 / 1:37 pm

    The sunset amidst the snow-covered mountains is such a picturesque scenery. I envy that you got to spend some time in an igloo village. I’d love to try that one of these days!

  8. February 28, 2017 / 2:51 pm

    WOW! 😳 I had no idea that this was a possibility! I have to try this one of these days!

  9. February 28, 2017 / 3:23 pm

    That is a beautiful igloo. When I was working at Steven’s Pass I dated a boy named Collin. Collin was a really neat kid. He was home schooled and well traveled. He also came in late in the ski season and decided to live in an ice cave he dug in the parking lot. During the heart of the winter, I slept over with Collin in his ice cave a couple of times but it was no where close to being as fancy as your igloo. It was, however, surprisingly warm. When it warmed up in the spring, we spent more time in my room. The cave was a little drippy. There is still a soft spot in my heart for sleeping in snow.

  10. March 1, 2017 / 2:48 am

    This looks magical. You had me at mulled wine lol! I have always wanted to stay in one of these! I had no idea you could do that in the Alps as well, for some reason I thought it’s something you do in Iceland, Sweden or Finland. How do the toilets look like by the way? Made of ice too or would they have long drop toilets installed for it? The bed looks cozy, I’d like to curl up there straight away.

    • March 2, 2017 / 7:40 pm

      Haha, I’m a mulled wine fan too! The ‘room’ the toilet was in was made of snow – it was basically another igloo, but the actual toilet was normal.

  11. March 1, 2017 / 7:06 am

    I’d love to do something like this! Looks like an incredible experience and it’s in Gstaad which is one of my favourite places! It’s definitely worth returning too in the summer too.

  12. March 1, 2017 / 7:50 am

    I would SO try this but my husband and daughter are cold natured and I know they wouldn’t enjoy something like this so it would have to be something I do on my own. So was your body hot in the sleeping bag and your face freezing at night? That’s my biggest concern!

    • March 2, 2017 / 7:41 pm

      Hey Christa,

      I’d definitely recommend this – such a unique experience and I’m sure you’d still enjoy it alone. Not at all, they do recommend you keep your hat on, but I was very warm during the night.

  13. Chiara
    March 1, 2017 / 8:12 am

    I’m in love with this! It looks like an incredible experience that I should try. I love the mountains so this would be awesome to try! The photos in this article are amazing as well, good work. πŸ™‚

  14. March 1, 2017 / 8:14 am

    Wow! This looks amazingly surreal. Looking at the pictures, it seems like a must do. Though I’m not a big fan of cold surroundings. πŸ™‚ But hey, some things are well worth leaving your comfort zone for, right?

    • March 2, 2017 / 7:42 pm

      Thanks, Pascale. This is definitely worth going out of your comfort zone! And you can always go into the warm room if you needed πŸ™‚

  15. March 1, 2017 / 9:06 am

    Your experience looks inspiring and I totally admire you for having the guts to do it! Even if the theme would be “Desert”I don’t think I would have it in me to spend a night in an igloo, even if we also have something similar here in Romania (an ice hotel, in fact https://hotelofice.ro/enhome/).

    Great pictures and you sure have some lovely memories!

    Ingrid
    https://ingridzenmoments.wordpress.com/

  16. March 1, 2017 / 1:35 pm

    This is the first time I am seeing the insides of an igloo. It is quite unlike what I imagined it to be …quite artistic I must say. I would not mind staying for one night here.

  17. March 1, 2017 / 2:37 pm

    It has always been my dream to stay in an igloo but didn’t think it was possible. The place look so cool. Just wondering, are the toilets made from ice as well? πŸ™‚

    • March 2, 2017 / 7:44 pm

      Hey Dariel,

      It’s definitely possible and really awesome! Haha second question about the toilets – I should add a picture! The toilet is in an igloo room, but the actual toilet is normal. πŸ˜€

  18. March 1, 2017 / 6:15 pm

    This is something I would absolutely love to do! The art looks fantastic and I love the roses frozen in ice. Nice to know that this is available without having to fly to the Arctic Circle! Def going on my bucket list!

  19. March 1, 2017 / 9:56 pm

    WOW. What a magical experience. Is there an actual bed – what is it made of? And how much does a night at an igloo like this cost? I’m visiting Switzerland soon and hoping to travel as cheaply as possible despite Switzerland being expensive, but I’d be happy to splurge on something like this as a once in a lifetime experience!

    • March 2, 2017 / 7:50 pm

      Hi Anastasia,

      Yes, there is a bed, it’s carved from snow but then has a lot of layers on top. So a kind of foam mattress and then lambskins – surprisingly comfy!
      To stay in the private room like ours is €179/person. They do have a kind of dorm room if you are traveling alone – here is the link if you’re interested http://www.iglu-dorf.com/en/hotel/zimmer/standard
      Be warned, Switzerland is expensive! But it’s totally worth it and if you do get the chance to stay in the igloo, I’m sure you’d enjoy the unique experience πŸ™‚

  20. March 2, 2017 / 9:18 am

    This looks incredible! How lovely to wake up with such beautiful views. I love how theyve decorated inside with simple carvings in the snow too!

  21. March 2, 2017 / 11:39 am

    Hi Gemma. This is incredible. I always want to be there, being in that igloo house. But I might need to bring portable heater with me, at the same time hoping not to melt it down. Lol
    Low Budget | Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam

    • March 2, 2017 / 7:50 pm

      Haha definitely no heaters allowed! They have a warm room or whirlpool if you needed to heat up πŸ˜€

  22. March 2, 2017 / 4:53 pm

    Your photos are absolutely gorgeous, but I’m not sure I could stomach the cold for a whole night! I would also just be afraid to drink any liquids for fear of having to go outside to use the bathroom at night. Yikes!! It definitely looks like it was worth it though, and how serene and romantic to stay in an igloo with those views! I live in the city and am always craving an escape to somewhere remote and peaceful.

  23. March 4, 2017 / 11:26 am

    Oh wow this looks amazing πŸ’™

  24. Karen
    March 4, 2017 / 3:40 pm

    OMG what an experience. I would love to do this and even went on their website to see for next year!!

  25. March 4, 2017 / 3:52 pm

    brrrrr! I am freezing right now!! πŸ™‚ πŸ™‚ GREAT POST!!!!

  26. March 4, 2017 / 5:42 pm

    This is amazing! Now, definitely on the bucket list!

  27. March 4, 2017 / 6:09 pm

    What an unique experience! I Hope I get to do that one day too~!

  28. March 4, 2017 / 7:35 pm

    I totally would stay in an igloo! I’m absolutely obsessed with the north, so it’s definitely something I want to try some day. πŸ™‚ Thanks for sharing the pictures! I adore the carvings into the igloo. Beautiful artwork; really takes the experience to the next level than if there hadn’t been any snow carvings. And I love that the beds are made from snow too!

  29. March 5, 2017 / 7:19 am

    This is gnarly, I’d love to do it someday. I agree, the desert theme is… odd!

  30. March 6, 2017 / 11:54 pm

    Wow that is one unique hotel. I’ve always wanted to go to an ice bar and this experience just totally upped that dream. I’ll have to check it out!

  31. March 25, 2017 / 9:19 am

    This is crazy, but I’d love the experience. Thanks for sharing! I’d love to go one day.

  32. March 25, 2017 / 9:48 am

    Oh, that looks unbelievable! I’d love to do it, but I hate cold and I’m concerned that I wouldn’t be able to fall asleep πŸ˜€ Although I’ve been camping several times in the temperatures <0 degrees πŸ™‚ So it was possible to get to the different cabin to warm up with a fire before bed, is that right?
    Great photos as well! πŸ™‚

    Aga
    http://worlderingaround.com

  33. March 31, 2017 / 3:47 am

    This looks amazing! I would love to stay in an igloo, but I really hate being cold. All of the designs they carved into the walls look nice!

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