Sweden's Ice Hotel reopens for the season - in pictures

  • Icehotel 33, the world's first ice hotel, has reopened in Swedish Lapland for the winter season. Photo: Asaf Kliger
    Icehotel 33, the world's first ice hotel, has reopened in Swedish Lapland for the winter season. Photo: Asaf Kliger
  • The hotel gets a new design every year and relies on constant sub-freezing temperatures during construction and operation. AFP
    The hotel gets a new design every year and relies on constant sub-freezing temperatures during construction and operation. AFP
  • Illuminated curved columns in the Crescents suite by Elin Julin and Ida Mangsbo are part of the year-round offering. AFP
    Illuminated curved columns in the Crescents suite by Elin Julin and Ida Mangsbo are part of the year-round offering. AFP
  • Guests can spend the night at the hotel or book a day pass to visit. AFP
    Guests can spend the night at the hotel or book a day pass to visit. AFP
  • Ice and snow glow inside the MushRoom suite, designed by artists Chris Pancoe and Peter Hargraves. Photo: Asaf Kliger
    Ice and snow glow inside the MushRoom suite, designed by artists Chris Pancoe and Peter Hargraves. Photo: Asaf Kliger
  • Winter weddings take place in the ceremony hall, called Embrace this year, and designed by Wouter Biegelaar and Viktor Tsarski. Photo: Asaf Kliger
    Winter weddings take place in the ceremony hall, called Embrace this year, and designed by Wouter Biegelaar and Viktor Tsarski. Photo: Asaf Kliger
  • Delicate ice carvings in the Garden suite by Natsuki and Shingo Saito. Photo: Asaf Kliger
    Delicate ice carvings in the Garden suite by Natsuki and Shingo Saito. Photo: Asaf Kliger
  • A folkloric seal maiden sits on an icy throne inside a suite by sisters and artists Emilie and Sara Steele. Photo: Asaf Kliger
    A folkloric seal maiden sits on an icy throne inside a suite by sisters and artists Emilie and Sara Steele. Photo: Asaf Kliger
  • The Raindrop Prelude suite by Tomasz Czajkowski and Eryk Marks is open year-round. AFP
    The Raindrop Prelude suite by Tomasz Czajkowski and Eryk Marks is open year-round. AFP
  • Travellers can sleep under giant mushroom-spheres with a friendly snail companion at Icehotel 33. Photo: Asaf Kliger
    Travellers can sleep under giant mushroom-spheres with a friendly snail companion at Icehotel 33. Photo: Asaf Kliger
  • An intricate lamp made of ice inside the hotel. AFP
    An intricate lamp made of ice inside the hotel. AFP
  • Luc Voisin and Mathieu Brison's Bauh-Ice suite is inspired by the German artistic movement. Photo: Asaf Kliger
    Luc Voisin and Mathieu Brison's Bauh-Ice suite is inspired by the German artistic movement. Photo: Asaf Kliger
  • The ice used is enough to fill 10 Olympic swimming pools. AFP
    The ice used is enough to fill 10 Olympic swimming pools. AFP
  • A team of more than 70 artists, designers and engineers reinvent the hotel each year. Photo: Asaf Kliger
    A team of more than 70 artists, designers and engineers reinvent the hotel each year. Photo: Asaf Kliger