The traditional snow dwellings of the Inuit people have a certain undeniable charm. At 2000m above sea level, Mayrhofen’s White Lounge Igloo Village is an oasis of tranquillity among the hustle and bustle of mountain life. Painstakingly rebuilt every year using a combination of technology and traditional techniques, this is not just your typical après-ski joint. And there is no better way to get the full winter experience than by staying overnight. When the night falls and the stars come out, share a truly special moment with your loved ones.
Inside the igloos, the bluish light and muffled quiet give you the impression of being in your own little world. See the amazing ice sculptures from artists all over the world in the Chill-Out Lounge or hit up the Ice Bar for a welcome drink. If it’s nice outside, take advantage of one-of-a-kind views from the outdoor bar. Drinking a hot glass of glühwein is one of the best ways to warm up, but don’t forget how miserably cold it will be to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night! Also, at 2000m up, alcohol has a stronger effect and can make you chillier than usual. Maybe better switch to hot chocolate instead. First world problems!
Ice sculptures
In the evening, you have the choice of several activities. This may sound like unnecessary torture, but in fact, it’s all cleverly designed to keep you as warm as possible before you hit the sack. Snowball fights, curling and mini-bobsled competitions will get the blood pumping. Not a sports enthusiast? Stick to the hot chocolate and consider taking a behind-the-scenes tour of the Igloo Village.
Hiking at night
Every overnight stay at the White Lounge Igloo Village includes a scrumptious fondue dinner at the Freiraum Bistro, at the Ahornbahn summit station. If you manage to tear your eyes away from your plate for a few seconds, you’ll notice that the panoramic views of the Zillertal mountains are even more incredible at night.
View from the Freiraum
Ah, nighttime. This is my favourite part. Once the stars come out and the valley falls silent, a strange sense of peace descends on the Igloo Village. It’s a crime not to partake in the after-dinner hike, if only for the post-fondue calories you’ll burn off stumbling through the deep snow. But you might need those calories back during the night, so luckily there is also a campfire where you can stuff yourself with roasted marshmallows.
Drinks around the campfire
Each Igloo Suite is entirely made of ice. Thick foam mattresses and sleeping bags line the floors, and special lamps are provided as candles would turn the snow black. The temperature inside the igloos stays fairly constant around 0 or 1°C, which is cold but doable if you heed the wise words of your igloo guide for staying warm. It’s very important to avoid getting your clothing wet, as it will freeze in the cold temperatures. For this reason, paradoxically, it’s best to wear only one layer of clothing inside your sleeping bag. More layers can make you sweat, and sweat is - you guessed it - wet. It will actually make you colder!
Sleeping at the Igloo Hotel
The shape of an igloo makes it almost invincible to collapse - to make doubly sure about this, a 12-ton snow groomer drove around on top of an igloo with no damage done. If you’re worried that your igloo will melt on top of you while you’re sound asleep, don’t fret - igloos actually do melt a little bit on the inside, but this quickly turns to ice, creating an extra layer of insulation and making the interior even a little bit warmer.
Photo by Wapster
The next morning, igloo guides wake you up at 8am so you don’t miss a second of your ski day. If you’ve left your ski gear with the staff, you can pick it up in the morning. Your ski boots will even be warmed overnight! Tuck into an alpine breakfast before hitting the slopes before everybody else for those coveted fresh tracks.
(C) Eva Wilhelmer
With no showers and no warm water, an overnight stay at the Igloo Village is an adventure! A romantic one? Well, you tell me. The Igloo Village isn’t your typical spa resort, but in many ways it’s much better than that. You have the mountain to yourself for stargazing with your sweetheart, and afterwards, you can snuggle up together in piles of sleeping bags. How do you think Eskimo kisses were invented?
Romantic nights
Take the Ahornbahn gondola up Ahorn Mountain; at the top, it’s a five-minute walk along Panorama Trail to the Igloo Village.
Overnight guests of the Igloo Village can park free at the Ahornbahn Car Park. Please, please make sure you have appropriate snow tires or chains on your car!
Guests are requested to check in before 4pm (but you may register earlier, before your day of skiing). The last ascent with the Ahornbahn cable car is at 4:30pm.
The Igloo Village is open for overnight stays from Wednesday to Saturday. There are a total of 7 Igloo Suites which hold a maximum of 28 guests, which also makes it quite the exclusive location for a private party.
The traditional snow dwellings of the Inuit people have a certain undeniable charm. At 2000m above sea level, Mayrhofen’s White Lounge Igloo Village is an oasis of tranquillity among the hustle and bustle of mountain life. Painstakingly rebuilt every year using a combination of technology and traditional techniques, this is not just your typical après-ski joint. And there is no better way to get the full winter experience than by staying overnight. When the night falls and the stars come out, share a truly special moment with your loved ones.
Inside the igloos, the bluish light and muffled quiet give you the impression of being in your own little world. See the amazing ice sculptures from artists all over the world in the Chill-Out Lounge or hit up the Ice Bar for a welcome drink. If it’s nice outside, take advantage of one-of-a-kind views from the outdoor bar. Drinking a hot glass of glühwein is one of the best ways to warm up, but don’t forget how miserably cold it will be to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night! Also, at 2000m up, alcohol has a stronger effect and can make you chillier than usual. Maybe better switch to hot chocolate instead. First world problems!
Ice sculptures
In the evening, you have the choice of several activities. This may sound like unnecessary torture, but in fact, it’s all cleverly designed to keep you as warm as possible before you hit the sack. Snowball fights, curling and mini-bobsled competitions will get the blood pumping. Not a sports enthusiast? Stick to the hot chocolate and consider taking a behind-the-scenes tour of the Igloo Village.
Hiking at night
Every overnight stay at the White Lounge Igloo Village includes a scrumptious fondue dinner at the Freiraum Bistro, at the Ahornbahn summit station. If you manage to tear your eyes away from your plate for a few seconds, you’ll notice that the panoramic views of the Zillertal mountains are even more incredible at night.
View from the Freiraum
Ah, nighttime. This is my favourite part. Once the stars come out and the valley falls silent, a strange sense of peace descends on the Igloo Village. It’s a crime not to partake in the after-dinner hike, if only for the post-fondue calories you’ll burn off stumbling through the deep snow. But you might need those calories back during the night, so luckily there is also a campfire where you can stuff yourself with roasted marshmallows.
Drinks around the campfire
Each Igloo Suite is entirely made of ice. Thick foam mattresses and sleeping bags line the floors, and special lamps are provided as candles would turn the snow black. The temperature inside the igloos stays fairly constant around 0 or 1°C, which is cold but doable if you heed the wise words of your igloo guide for staying warm. It’s very important to avoid getting your clothing wet, as it will freeze in the cold temperatures. For this reason, paradoxically, it’s best to wear only one layer of clothing inside your sleeping bag. More layers can make you sweat, and sweat is - you guessed it - wet. It will actually make you colder!
Sleeping at the Igloo Hotel
The shape of an igloo makes it almost invincible to collapse - to make doubly sure about this, a 12-ton snow groomer drove around on top of an igloo with no damage done. If you’re worried that your igloo will melt on top of you while you’re sound asleep, don’t fret - igloos actually do melt a little bit on the inside, but this quickly turns to ice, creating an extra layer of insulation and making the interior even a little bit warmer.
Photo by Wapster
The next morning, igloo guides wake you up at 8am so you don’t miss a second of your ski day. If you’ve left your ski gear with the staff, you can pick it up in the morning. Your ski boots will even be warmed overnight! Tuck into an alpine breakfast before hitting the slopes before everybody else for those coveted fresh tracks.
(C) Eva Wilhelmer
With no showers and no warm water, an overnight stay at the Igloo Village is an adventure! A romantic one? Well, you tell me. The Igloo Village isn’t your typical spa resort, but in many ways it’s much better than that. You have the mountain to yourself for stargazing with your sweetheart, and afterwards, you can snuggle up together in piles of sleeping bags. How do you think Eskimo kisses were invented?
Romantic nights
Take the Ahornbahn gondola up Ahorn Mountain; at the top, it’s a five-minute walk along Panorama Trail to the Igloo Village.
Overnight guests of the Igloo Village can park free at the Ahornbahn Car Park. Please, please make sure you have appropriate snow tires or chains on your car!
Guests are requested to check in before 4pm (but you may register earlier, before your day of skiing). The last ascent with the Ahornbahn cable car is at 4:30pm.
The Igloo Village is open for overnight stays from Wednesday to Saturday. There are a total of 7 Igloo Suites which hold a maximum of 28 guests, which also makes it quite the exclusive location for a private party.
Born and raised in the ski paradise of Vancouver, Canada, I learned to ski before I can remember, balancing precariously on my parents’ skis as they sailed down the hill. I started snowboarding in my teens and am now delighted to be exploring everything Europe’s ski scene has to offer!
