A Peak Inside Québec’s 2023 Ice Hotel
Every winter, engineering and artistry come together to form the incredible Hôtel De Glace, located just outside of Québec City on the sprawling grounds of the Village Vacances Valcartier.
Built using more than 2,300 blocks of ice and 30,000 tons of snow, the Ice Hotel is the only one of its kind in North America.
While construction usually starts in December when temperatures dip below zero for longer than a week, the planning of the hotel takes places for weeks or even months before. Once construction begins, it takes about six weeks to complete, with nearly 50 workers involved in its creation.
The end result is a work of art: ceilings soar up to 21 feet, fireplaces dazzle against the white interior and icy sculptures are lit up by shimmering light. The entire effect is mesmerizing.
Visitors come for day trips to tour the hotel and a lucky few get to spend the night inside this massive and elaborate snow fort. Read on for a peak inside incomparable Hôtel de Glace.
Looking to spend an unforgettable night at the famous Hôtel de Glace? Check out our Quebec Winter Getaway.
What’s Inside the Ice Hotel?
Each winter, the Ice Hotel is rebuild with a new theme. Past themes have included Québec Tales and Legends, Northern Perspectives, Rivers and Gardens.
The 2023 theme is ‘night life,’ with the hotel’s backdrops and sculptures inspired by everything from Halloween and Greek mythology to the realm of dreams and astronomy.
Inside there are 30 rooms, including 22 thematic suites, an ice bar where thirsty guests can order drinks and a magnificent chapel that hosts one-of-a-kind weddings. There is even a Nordic relaxation area with hot tubs and saunas under the stars.
During the day, the hotel is open for scheduled tours and visitors can wander through the rooms, admiring the incredible artistry. In the evening, the hotel does offer tours but the rooms and suites are closed as they are reserved exclusively for overnight guests. Beds are made of ice, of course, but are cushioned with mattresses and pelts. Guests are given warm sleeping bags to keep them toasty all night.
The nice part about visiting the Ice Hotel — besides getting to see the incredible one-of-a-kind hotel — is that it is located on the grounds of the Village Vacances Valcartier. In the summer, this is an amazing waterpark resort. In the winter, it is transformed into a snowy wonderland, with inner tube slides, a gorgeous skating trail and fun snow rafting. All of this is accessible in the Ice Hotel’s backyard.
In addition to the Ice Hotel, the property also features a brick-and-mortar hotel where guests can stay. In fact, each overnight room booked at the Ice Hotel comes with a free room inside the Valcartier hotel where guests can leave their belongings, have a hot shower, change or even sleep if they get too cold in the Ice Hotel. The hotel has an onsite spa and an indoor waterpark.
Take a look below at some of the incredible new photos of the 2023 Ice Hotel and don’t forget to get in touch if you want to plan a Québec itinerary around a visit to the hotel.
All photos are courtesy of Village Vacances Valcartier.
