Staying in an ice resort has been on my bucket checklist for years! I visited one in Finland and it was unbelievable nevertheless it was approach too costly to remain for an evening.
After I found the Romania Ice Lodge was a fraction of the worth I knew I needed to keep there!
I stayed within the Romania Ice Lodge throughout a tour with Untravelled Paths. It was a 4-day Transylvania tour <- I’ve written about it right here however I needed to enter extra element concerning the ice resort as a result of it was unbelievable!
You don’t have to take a tour to remain on the Romania Ice Lodge and you may ebook independently. Personally, I’d somewhat take a tour. When you’re driving there you have to be ready for driving by means of heavy snow and you could have to dig your automotive out after an evening within the automotive park!
The Romania Ice Lodge is rebuilt each winter with a brand new theme and, from what I can see, the resort will get somewhat greater and higher every year!
My expertise staying on the Romania Ice Lodge
We left Brasov after breakfast and made our approach by means of the windy roads of the Fagaras Mountains.
Our small bus wound by means of the Alpine forest the place the snow coated bushes led to Balea Lake Cascada the place we caught the cable automotive as much as the resort.
We piled right into a rickety cable automotive and it slowly glided up into the clouds leaving the snowy floor a worrying distance beneath us!
It was tough to inform what was snow, cloud or misty home windows as our heat breath and the icy circumstances surrounded us in a fog of white.
As we stepped out of the cable automotive I used to be instantly hit with a match of giggles. This was completely absurd.
I may actually see nothing round us however white. Up, down, left, proper, backwards, forwards. It was simply all white. The wind whipped previous my face like a brutal slap and it pushed my physique in whichever course it selected. In entrance of me there have been a number of individuals dragging suitcases by means of the deep snow and it was this scene that actually tickled me. They seemed like they need to have been strolling by means of the airport, not lumbering throughout a snowy mountain facet in quest of…..nicely we weren’t even certain what we have been in quest of as a result of we couldn’t see something!
Fortunately, we had a information who led the best way to a heat chalet which felt like paradise after blundering by means of a snowy blizzard!
I fell by means of the chalet door just like the abominable snowman, puffing and panting with wild eyes and my snowy hair whipped round my face.
In fact, the chalet was calm and peaceable, a world away from the snowy chaos exterior!
It turned out we’d arrived at a nasty second and 10 minutes later the wind had subsided and the solar was straining by means of the clouds. It was attainable to see a number of buildings within the distance, the opening to the snow resort, some snowmobiles whizzing round and a half constructed ice chapel which was nonetheless being constructed.
It took me some time to pluck up the braveness to return exterior so I stayed within the chalet to have a big cuppa and a few scorching meals.
There have been actions like snowmobiling, tubing, ice rafting and a banana experience however I selected to get pleasure from them from the heat of the chalet whereas watching individuals from the window and having fun with a big glass of crimson!
We made our approach over to the ice resort which was barely seen throughout the snowy panorama. You can see a big door buried however as a result of cloud and snow, it wasn’t attainable to see a lot else. I as soon as once more blundered by means of the snow within the course of the door into….a celebration?
The Romania Ice Lodge was open to day guests and we entered into a big corridor with a bar at one finish and music blaring. It was surprisingly brilliant inside and the air was chilly however didn’t really feel chilly compared to the arctic circumstances exterior.
Ice tables and stools lined the partitions and other people have been laughing, dancing and taking photographs like they might be in another bar, solely I think plenty of the dancing was to maintain heat!
There have been six low arches alongside every wall with curtains draped throughout them resulting in little bedrooms. A big mattress manufactured from ice dominated the room and a few rooms had carvings and little foot stools manufactured from ice. We explored every room, taking photographs and questioning how on earth we’d ever get any sleep that night!
We warmed up with scorching candies laced with Baileys earlier than heading again to the chalet.
I had been hoping to go on a tunnel trek that afternoon the place you’re taking a guided stroll throughout the mountain, by means of a tunnel and to a view level.
Sadly, as a result of climate, the tunnel trek was cancelled which was a disgrace as a result of I did then really feel like I used to be simply hanging round ready for the day guests to depart so we may have dinner and go to mattress!
Sure, I’m not going to lie, I used to be simply actually enthusiastic about going to mattress and sleeping in an ice resort!
Earlier than mattress we had a magical dinner within the ice restaurant the place we tucked into 4 steamy programs whereas wrapped in blankets and perched on animal furs to cease our bums from freezing! The meals was scrumptious, and I don’t simply imply ‘scrumptious contemplating we have been in a constructing constructed from ice’! It was actually scrumptious and so spectacular they managed to serve scorching meals in such icy circumstances.
As soon as the frosty plates have been cleared away we had a demo on methods to get into mattress that night. And sure, it actually was so sophisticated we would have liked a demo!
Our information advisable we put on a layer of garments we really feel snug in corresponding to heat PJs or thermals. We’d then get into our sleeping baggage and place a fur rug over any footwear, hats or coats we weren’t carrying to keep away from them being damp within the morning. As soon as tucked inside our sleeping baggage we’d place a blanket on prime and also you’d be toasty and heat!
We then spent the night ingesting and dancing earlier than it felt like a suitable time to go to mattress (yep, at this level I used to be actually simply excitedly ready to get into my ice mattress!)
We obtained prepared within the chalet the place I became a pair of thick fleece leggings with velour PJs on prime, thick socks, a t-shirt, a thick jumper and a woolly hat. I additionally wore a pair of waterproof trousers which I’d meant to take away as soon as I obtained into my sleeping bag however I didn’t have sufficient area so I simply left them on!
We have been advised to not put on scarves as a result of the moisture out of your breath could make it chilly and soggy however I pulled my sleeping bag tightly round my face.
I used to be laughing like a child on Christmas Eve as I layered blankets on prime of myself and wriggled round to get comfortable and heat. With the assistance of some photographs and a protracted and tiring day, I used to be napping inside minutes.
I awakened 2-3 occasions within the night time however felt straight again to sleep and I slept from 10pm till 8am and the one factor that lastly roused me was needing the john!
We had breakfast within the chalet and we have been in a position to make use of the showers within the resort rooms of the chalet earlier than layering again up and heading again down the mountain through the cable automotive.
In order that was my expertise staying within the Romania Ice Lodge.
It was superb and such an unbelievable once-in-a-lifetime expertise. I’m SO glad I did it, nevertheless it actually is the sort of factor I solely wish to do as soon as. I don’t really feel the necessity to do it once more!
OK, now let’s get on to the FAQs about staying within the ice resort in Romania.
Was it chilly sleeping within the Romania Ice Lodge?
That is the query everyone seems to be asking, ‘Weren’t you chilly!?’
I really wasn’t chilly. Properly, perhaps a bit chilly however I used to be by no means uncomfortable.
The air was clearly actually chilly at about -1 diploma C so any pores and skin poking out from beneath the covers was chilly. My face and my nostril have been chilly nevertheless it wasn’t sufficient to cease me sleeping. At one level within the night time I misplaced the hood from my sleeping bag so I awakened as a result of my head and neck have been chilly however I fell straight again to sleep as soon as I’d readjusted.
What occurs for those who want the bathroom in an ice resort?
The bogs for the ice resort have been within the chalet close by, which was a separate constructing.
I used to be frightened about needing to go to the bathroom within the night time as that might have been a nightmare. You’ll have needed to stand up, get extra garments on, go exterior and stroll to the bogs that are in the principle chalet constructing.
A number of individuals did it and one couple stated it was really pretty as a result of it was so calm and peaceable in the course of the night time! Personally, I’m glad I didn’t have to go and I’d made a aware effort to keep away from ingesting an excessive amount of earlier than mattress!
What do you put on in an Ice Lodge?
Throughout the day
Throughout the day in an ice resort I’d advocate carrying one thing much like what you’d put on snowboarding. I didn’t take my ski gear with me as a result of I used to be making an attempt to pack gentle however I remorse it now and want I had.
If I have been to go once more, I’d put on:
- Fleece lined leggings (Primark have good ones)
- Snowboarding trousers
- Thick socks
- Winter boots – I’ve the Elsa Boot by Eager and I like them
- A thermal prime
- A heat jumper
- Snowboarding jacket or the same heat, waterproof jacket
- Woolly hat
- Solar glasses
- Ski goggles – for those who plan to do any actions like snowmobiling
- Gloves – make them snowboarding gloves for those who plan to do actions
What to put on at night time to sleep in an ice resort
When you’re like me and really feel the chilly then that is what I’d advocate to sleep
- Fleece lined leggings
- Heat PJ bottoms
- Heat socks
- A t-shirt
- A jumper
- A woolly hat
You can be given a sleeping bag and 2-3 blankets. When you’re given a blanket whilst you eat dinner, hold maintain of it as you might have considered trying it later while you fall asleep.
What else to pack for the ice resort
Different stuff you’ll have to pack embrace:
- Sunscreen
- Lip balm
- A small bag – You’ll most likely be suggested to take a small bag into the ice resort and depart your most important suitcase elsewhere
- Fundamental toiletries – Toothbrush and toothpaste, face wipes and moisturiser was all I wanted
- A water bottle – that is an non-obligatory one as a result of we have been advised to not take one because the water would freeze however I had a cough on the time so I took mine anyway as I’m liable to coughing suits at night time and water is the one factor that helps.
When you fancy staying within the Romania Ice Lodge then I extremely advocate staying as a part of a tour with Untravelled Paths. I managed to get a cut price once I booked my expertise as I discovered it by means of TravelZoo and solely paid £299 for the 4-day journey (together with the ice resort!)
If not, you may examine dates and costs and ebook individually right here.