Staying on the Romania Ice Lodge in Transylvania

Staying in an ice lodge 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.

Once I found the Romania Ice Lodge was a fraction of the value 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 lodge as a result of it was unbelievable!

You don’t have to take a tour to remain on the Romania Ice Lodge and you’ll ebook independently. Personally, I’d slightly take a tour. In case you’re driving there you’ll want to be ready for driving by means of heavy snow and chances are you’ll have to dig your automobile out after an evening within the automobile park!

The Romania Ice Lodge is rebuilt each winter with a brand new theme and, from what I can see, the lodge will get a bit of larger and higher annually! 

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 automobile as much as the lodge.

We piled right into a rickety cable automobile and it slowly glided up into the clouds leaving the snowy floor a worrying distance beneath us! 

It was troublesome to inform what was snow, cloud or misty home windows as our heat breath and the icy situations surrounded us in a fog of white.

As we stepped out of the cable automobile I used to be out of the blue hit with a match of giggles. This was completely absurd. 

I might 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 path it selected. In entrance of me there have been a couple of folks 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 aspect looking for…..nicely we weren’t even positive what we had been looking for 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 outdoors!

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 couple of buildings within the distance, the opening to the snow lodge, 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 outdoors 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 journey however I selected to take pleasure in them from the heat of the chalet whereas watching folks from the window and having fun with a big glass of crimson!

We made our approach over to the ice lodge which was barely seen throughout the snowy panorama. You could possibly see a big door buried however because of the 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 path 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 situations outdoors. 

Ice tables and stools lined the partitions and folks had been laughing, dancing and taking pictures like they might be in some other bar, solely I believe loads 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 fabricated from ice dominated the room and a few rooms had carvings and little foot stools fabricated from ice. We explored every room, taking pictures and questioning how on earth we’d ever get any sleep that night!

We warmed up with scorching goodies 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 are taking a guided stroll throughout the mountain, by means of a tunnel and to a view level. 

Sadly, because of the 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 go away so we might 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 lodge!

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 had been in a constructing made out of ice’! It was actually scrumptious and so spectacular they managed to serve scorching meals in such icy situations.

As soon as the frosty plates had been cleared away we had a demo on the best way to get into mattress that night. And sure, it actually was so difficult we wanted a demo!

Our information advisable we put on a layer of garments we really feel snug in similar to heat PJs or thermals. We’d then get into our sleeping baggage and place a fur rug over any sneakers, 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 high and also you’d be toasty and heat! 

We then spent the night consuming and dancing earlier than it felt like an appropriate 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 become a pair of thick fleece leggings with velour PJs on high, 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 house so I simply left them on!

We had been instructed 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 guffawing like a child on Christmas Eve as I layered blankets on high of myself and wriggled round to get cozy and heat. With the assistance of some pictures and an extended and tiring day, I used to be napping inside minutes.

I awakened 2-3 instances 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 toilet!

We had breakfast within the chalet and we had been in a position to make use of the showers within the lodge rooms of the chalet earlier than layering again up and heading again down the mountain through the cable automobile.

In order that was my expertise staying within the Romania Ice Lodge.

It was wonderful and such an unbelievable once-in-a-lifetime expertise. I’m SO glad I did it, nevertheless it actually is the type 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 lodge 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. Nicely, 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 had 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 had been chilly however I fell straight again to sleep as soon as I’d readjusted. 

What occurs in case you want the bathroom in an ice lodge?

The bathrooms for the ice lodge had 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 may have been a nightmare. You’d have needed to stand up, get extra garments on, go outdoors and stroll to the bathrooms that are in the primary chalet constructing.

Just a few folks did it and one couple mentioned 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 acutely aware effort to keep away from consuming an excessive amount of earlier than mattress!

What do you put on in an Ice Lodge?

Through the day

Through the day in an ice lodge I’d suggest carrying one thing just like what you’d put on snowboarding. I didn’t take my ski gear with me as a result of I used to be attempting to pack mild however I remorse it now and need I had.

If I had 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 high
• A heat jumper
• Snowboarding jacket or an identical heat, waterproof jacket
• Woolly hat
• Solar glasses
• Ski goggles – in case you plan to do any actions like snowmobiling
• Gloves – make them snowboarding gloves in case you plan to do actions

What to put on at night time to sleep in an ice lodge

In case you’re like me and really feel the chilly then that is what I’d suggest 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. In case you’re given a blanket when you eat dinner, hold maintain of it as it’s your decision it later whenever you fall asleep.

What else to pack for the ice lodge

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 lodge and go away your foremost suitcase elsewhere
• Fundamental toiletries – Toothbrush and toothpaste, face wipes and moisturiser was all I wanted
• A water bottle – that is an optionally available one as a result of we had been instructed 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 susceptible to coughing suits at night time and water is the one factor that helps.

In case you fancy staying within the Romania Ice Lodge then I extremely suggest staying as a part of a tour with Untravelled Paths. I managed to get a discount after 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 lodge!)

If not, you’ll be able to test dates and costs and ebook individually right here.