What Snowhotel Kirkenes does

Snowhotel Kirkenes, operated by the Norwegian private limited company The Arctic Resort Company AS, runs Snow Resort Kirkenes — an Arctic destination resort located in Bjørnevatn, approximately 8 km outside Kirkenes town in Northern Norway and roughly 10 km from the Hurtigruten cruise harbor. The property's defining asset is the Snowhotel 365, marketed as the world's only year-round snow hotel, comprising 13 ice suites, an ice bar, Santa's Workshop, and snow/ice sculpture installations preserved through specialized insulation leveraging the regional sub-Arctic climate. The resort also operates the Gamme Cabins, a village of wilderness wooden cabins inspired by traditional Sami hunting and fishing huts with underfloor heating, private bathrooms, and panoramic windows.

The company monetizes through a diversified, direct-to-consumer revenue mix: overnight accommodation in ice suites and Gamme Cabins; bundled Arctic holiday packages (Autumn Aurora, Summer, Arctic Highlights, Total Arctic Adventure, Spring Break, Winter Early Bird) priced from 6,295 to 27,300 NOK; à la carte adventure activities including husky sledding, snowmobiling, king crab safaris, Northern Lights tours, Sami cultural experiences, ice fishing, snow yoga, and Barents Sea excursions; three on-site F&B venues (Låven, Teina, Gabba Café); and airport/harbor/hotel transfer services. Distribution is primarily through the company's own booking platform (booking.snowresortkirkenes.com), supplemented by partnerships with Thon and Scandic hotels, Hurtigruten cruise traffic, and inbound flights via Norwegian, SAS, Widerøe, and Finnair. Customer segments include individual leisure tourists (primary), corporate groups for meetings/events, weddings, and cruise shore excursions. The Arctic Resort Company AS is part of a corporate group that includes Norwegian Travel and The Norwegian Travel Company AS, suggesting shared ownership or holding structure.

Name

Snowhotel Kirkenes

Legal name

The Arctic Resort Company AS

Website

https://snowhotelkirkenes.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Snowhotel Kirkenes operates a year-round Arctic destination resort in Bjørnevatn, Norway, featuring the world's only year-round snow hotel with 13 ice suites, wilderness cabins, adventure activities (husky, snowmobile, king crab, Northern Lights), and dining for leisure tourists, cruise passengers, and corporate groups.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Arctic Resort and Adventure Tourism Hospitality

NAICS

All Other Traveler Accommodation (721199), Skiing Facilities (71392)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)

akta.pro primary industry

Snow & Mountain Unique Stays (Chalets, Ski Cabins) (THAMADAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Mountain & Ski Homes (THAMAAAG), Mountain & Ski Luxury Resorts (THAGACAB), Winter Adventure Experiences (Ski Touring, Snowshoeing, Dog Sledding) (THAJABAH), Snowmobile Rentals (THADAHAI)

Keywords

• Arctic adventure tourism
• Ice hotel accommodation
• Northern lights tours
• Husky sledding experiences
• Winter resort hospitality

Headquarters

HQ city

Bjørnevatn

HQ country

Norway

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Accommodation: Year-round overnight stays in ice rooms (Snowhotel 365) and Gamme Cabins. Ice rooms offer sleeping on reindeer hide; cabins feature underfloor heating, private bathrooms, and panoramic windows.
2. Activity Bookings: A la carte adventure activities including husky sledding, snowmobile safaris, king crab safaris, northern lights hunting, Sami experiences, ice fishing, snow yoga, and cultural tours. Activities available year-round with seasonal variations.
3. Restaurant Dining: On-site dining at Låven Restaurant (Norwegian farmhouse setting), Teina Restaurant (king crab-focused), and Gabba Café (Sami hut café). Lunch and dinner service with traditional Arctic cuisine.
4. Package Tours: Bundled holiday packages combining accommodation, activities, and dining. Examples include Autumn Aurora Package, Summer Package, Arctic Highlights Package, Total Arctic Adventure Package, Spring Break Package, and Winter Early Bird Package.
5. Transfers: Airport, harbor, and hotel transfer services between Kirkenes and the Snow Resort.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Snow Resort Kirkenes operates a year-round Arctic destination resort whose core offering is overnight accommodation in the Snowhotel 365 (the world's only year-round snow hotel with 13 ice suites and an ice bar) and in Sami-inspired Gamme Cabins. The resort layers on guided adventure activities (husky sledding, snowmobiling, King Crab safari, Northern Lights tours, Sami cultural experiences, ice fishing, snow yoga), three on-site dining venues, and bundled holiday packages combining lodging, meals, and excursions.

Product overview

Snow Resort Kirkenes operates as a year-round Arctic destination resort offering a portfolio of distinct hospitality and adventure products. The core offerings include the Snowhotel 365 (the world's only year-round snow hotel with 13 ice suites and an ice bar) and Gamme Cabins (wilderness luxury cabins inspired by traditional Sami design). Activity products span multiple categories: Husky Experiences (dog sledding with Alaskan Huskies), King Crab Safari (catch-and-cook Arctic king crab experiences), Snowmobile Tours (various snowmobile adventures), Northern Lights Tours (Aurora hunting by bus, husky, or snowmobile), Sami Experiences (indigenous culture including reindeer encounters), Fjords & Sea Activities (ice fishing, sea fishing, arctic bathing), Snow Yoga (outdoor yoga on snow), and Cultural Experiences (WWII history tours). Dining is served through three venues: Låven Restaurant (main farmhouse restaurant), Teina Restaurant (king crab-focused), and Gabba Café (Sami hut café). Additional services include Transfer Services (airport/hotel transfers), Arctic Holiday Packages (bundled accommodation and activities), and Meetings & Events (weddings and corporate venues). The portfolio is designed for tourists seeking authentic Arctic experiences across all four seasons.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Snowhotel 365 The world's only year-round snow hotel featuring 13 ice suites, an ice bar, Santa's Workshop, and snow/ice sculptures, open 365 days a year with daily tours from 09:00-21:00.
• Gamme Cabins Wilderness luxury wooden cabins inspired by traditional Sami hunting and fishing huts, featuring underfloor heating, private bathrooms, and panoramic windows, including premium Fjord View cabins.
• Husky Experiences Guided dog sledding adventures featuring Alaskan Huskies, including Husky Safari, Husky Experience, Husky Mountain Hike, Husky Wagon, Husky Taxi, and Northern Lights hunting by husky.
• King Crab Safari Guided Arctic experience where guests catch, cook, and taste red king crab from the Barents Sea, available in summer and winter seasons with multiple daily departure times.
• Snowmobile Tours Guided snowmobile adventures including Snowmobile Experience, Snowmobile Safari, Snowmobile Pasvik Expedition, and Northern Lights hunting by snowmobile, operating December through April.
• Northern Lights Tours Guided Aurora Borealis hunting experiences by bus, husky sled, and snowmobile, including thermal gear, expert guides, and viewing away from light pollution.
• Sami Experiences Guided cultural experiences with the indigenous Sami people including reindeer feeding, traditional lavvu tent visits, joik performances, lasso casting, and campfire storytelling, available year-round.
• Fjords & Sea Activities Guided Arctic water experiences including ice fishing with expert guides, fishing in the Barents Sea, and bathing in the Barents Sea with floating suits.
• Snow Yoga Outdoor guided yoga sessions on a snowy plateau led by a professional instructor, with movements and breathing exercises inspired by Sami myths, available November through April.
• Andersgrotta WWII Cultural Experience Guided tours of the Andersgrotta WWII bomb shelter in Kirkenes town center, exploring local wartime history and Arctic culture.
• Låven Restaurant Main dining venue housed in a restored Norwegian farmhouse offering panoramic wilderness and fjord views, featuring local Arctic cuisine including reindeer, Arctic fish, and king crab with multi-course dinner and lunch menus.
• Teina Restaurant Specialized dining venue dedicated to king crab, serving steamed king crab legs with traditional accompaniments; opens exclusively for pre-booked King Crab Safari guests and private events.
• Gabba Café Authentic wooden Sami hut serving as a cozy café with hot drinks, fresh pastries, and light meals, open during winter months (October through April).
• Arctic Holiday Packages Pre-booked vacation bundles combining accommodation and activities, including Autumn Aurora Package (from 6,295 NOK), Summer Package (from 6,995 NOK), Arctic Highlights Package (from 13,950 NOK), Total Arctic Adventure Package (from 27,300 NOK), Spring Break Package (from 10,400 NOK), and Winter Early Bird Package (from 9,050 NOK).
• Transfer Services Airport, harbor, and hotel transfers to and from the Snow Resort, including connections to Kirkenes Airport (KKN) with multiple daily departure times.
• Meetings & Events Venues and services for weddings, conferences, seminars, and corporate events at the Snow Resort, including dining options at Låven Restaurant.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Thon Hotel KirkenesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHotel transfer partnership providing shuttle bus service for guests staying at Thon Hotel. Includes pickup for Christmas lunch events and activity tours.
• Scandic Hotel KirkenesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHotel transfer partnership providing shuttle bus service for guests staying at Scandic Hotel. Includes pickup for Christmas lunch events and activity tours.
• HurtigrutenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe resort is located approximately 10 km from the Hurtigruten harbor, enabling cruise passengers to visit the Snowhotel as a shore excursion destination. No formal partnership explicitly stated.
• Norwegian Airlines (Norwegian)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerDirect flights from Oslo to Kirkenes (approximately 2 hours) enable tourist access to the resort. Multiple daily departures available.
• SAS (Scandinavian Airlines)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerDirect flights from Oslo to Kirkenes enabling tourist access to the resort.
• WiderøeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional airline connecting through Tromsø to Kirkenes, providing additional access options for visitors.
• FinnairminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSummer route from Helsinki via Ivalo to Kirkenes, providing convenient access for Finnish and international travelers.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Lapland Hotels: Finland's largest independent hotel chain focused on Lapland tourism, offering accommodation, restaurants, and Arctic activity packages. Comparable as a broader Arctic hospitality and adventure-tourism operator in the same geography.
• Camp Ripan: An established Swedish Arctic resort in Kiruna offering accommodation, restaurant, and a wide range of winter and summer activities. Comparable as a broader Arctic experience operator with bundled packages and northern lights offerings.
• Wilderness Hotels (Sweden): Sweden-based operator of unique boutique hotels offering Sami-inspired cabins, northern lights excursions, husky safaris, and Arctic menus. Comparable in the Sami cultural and Arctic adventure niche.

Direct peers

• Arctic SnowHotel (Lapland Hotels): Snow and glass igloo accommodation in Rovaniemi, Finland, with northern lights tours, husky safaris, and Arctic activities. Comparable in offering a year-round snow hotel plus bundled adventure packages in the Nordic region.
• Tromsø Ice Domes (Tromsø Safari): A Norwegian ice accommodation and ice art experience in Tamokdalen, operated by Tromsø Safari. Directly comparable as a Norwegian-based ice hotel and Arctic experiences provider targeting the same tourist segment.
• Sorrisniva Igloo Hotel: A Norwegian Arctic igloo hotel in Alta offering ice rooms and Sami experiences in a remote Arctic setting. Directly comparable on geography, ice-accommodation product, and Sami cultural programming.
• ICEHOTEL (Sweden): The original ice hotel in Jukkasjärvi, Sweden. Operates ice rooms, ice suites, art suites, and year-round 'ICEHOTEL 365' experiences, making it the closest direct competitor to Snowhotel 365 in product, target customer, and category.
• Hotel de Glace (Quebec): Ice hotel in Quebec, Canada, offering ice suites, ice bar, and snow activities. Comparable as a globally significant snow/ice accommodation and tourism property targeting a similar experience-seeking traveler.
• SnowCastle of Kemi: A snow castle in Kemi, Finland featuring snow and ice suites, ice restaurant, and ice chapel, with seasonal Arctic activities. Comparable as a dedicated snow/ice accommodation destination in the Nordic Arctic.

Others

• Hurtigruten Norwegian Coastal Express: Norwegian coastal cruise line that calls at Kirkenes harbor, ~10 km from Snow Resort Kirkenes. Functions as an upstream feeder of cruise-based day visitors to the resort and a complementary channel partner for Arctic tourism.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Snowhotelkirkenes
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/snowhotel-kirkenes
• Instagraminstagram.com/snowhotelkirkenes/?hl=en

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Snowhotel Kirkenes