Sep 16

Sep 16 Igloo stay in Austria's highest ski resort

Shared bathrooms aren’t for everyone. However, nor is sleeping in a snow hole. Here’s why your “bucket list” Igloo stay shouldn’t extend more than one night.

Like us, you’ve probably romanticised about staying in an igloo. And, like us, you probably wondered whether it’s worth it. Let’s not forget igloos need snow or ice, and therefore found in sub-zero conditions and often high up a mountain.

During our visit to Austria we wanted to stay at least one night in an igloo. Our research led us to the “Iglu Village Kuthai” in Tirol, Austria. Whilst there are were a couple of options, what led us to Kuthai was the proximity to Innsbruck (35kms) and that it holds the title for Austria’s highest ski resort (at 2020 meters).

So these weren’t traditional ‘ice’ igloos and instead erected by a large balloon and artificial snow canon. This quicker and less sophisticated method puts you beneath a whole load of frozen snow – 4 meter walls and 2 meter ceilings to be precise.

There are no widows and just a small wooden door and entrance allowing a fraction of natural light in (and don’t forget it gets dark in winter around 5:00pm). The sound seemed to dissipate into the walls like that of a recording studio. And, at first the prospect of spending a night in here seemed a bit daunting.

The package included a welcome bottle of sparkling wine and Glühwein served in the bar (a neighbouring igloo). This quickly settled our nerves.

Dinner was served in another igloo and we, like other guests around the table, didn’t anticipate quite how cold it would be – so, if you are considering a visit here, please take a super warm jacket and trousers, a hat and scarf (YES, for dinner!), plus warm shoes or ideally snow boats (and thick socks).

Extra drinks during dinner were priced consistently with the resort and overall higher than average prices resorts charge. The bar remained open until the last guests departed for bed after midnight. An outdoor fire pit just outside the bar entrance offered a warm-up spot (temperatures dropping to -5 degrees at night) and place to mingle with other guests.

Whilst serving food anywhere is a challenge the team took the challenge head-on with delivering a table sharing course of cheese fondue, followed by another chocolate fondue for dessert; all within an igloo dining room and kitchen. Like us, the food was a little cold, however it was very tasty and the sharing element pushed guests together into discussion.

After a few drinks and a high calorie meal fit for the mountains, you find yourself easing into things.

Kuthai is a small resort and frequented mainly by Austrians and there isn’t too much to do in the evenings. The Iglu Village offers a number of activities however we felt the experience of just staying there was enough. For more information about activities please see here, www.iglu-village.at/en/events/activities. Whilst a couple of guests headed to a warm bar (inside) or embarked on a paid-for activity, the majority pulled up their gloves, tightened their scarfs and got chatting around the fire pit.

Staff were attentively serving drinks and offering up marshmallows for the fire. Plus engaging guests and telling of experiences they’ve had during their winder season. Did you know the UK TV programme “The Jump” was filmed in Kuthai. And, had socialite and Made in Chelsea celebrity, Spencer Matthew’s as a participant. We were told that Spencer also spent time round this fire pit during the filming of The Jump.

Retiring to the igloo at about midnight solidified the experience. We flew into the snowy valley of Innsbruck, took a hire car up the mountain roads to the resort, parked up in the snow covered car park (adjacent to the Igloo Village), ate and drank exposed to the elements, and then sleeping on sheepskin fur within an Arctic grade sleeping bag in a snow hole (oh, and a woolly hat!).

Shared bathrooms facilities aren’t for everyone and this is the only options. However, they were very close, clean and heated.

The overall price and experience was worth every penny; however, this is based on 1 nights stay. We felt 1 nights stay was the perfect amount of time, leave on a high and experience a truly magical night.

To compliment this 1 nights stay at the Iglu Village Kuthai you could opt for some R&R at the renowned Lanserfof Lans hotel and spa resort, named Best Medical Spa Resort 2017 and just 42km’s from Kuthai. Please see here for more information www.lanserhof.com/en/lans.