Skip to main content

A Pop-Up Hotel Is Coming to the North Pole in 2021

North Pole Igloos

Space tourism will open to all soon enough. In the meantime, we non-astronauts will have to settle for overnighting at this Mars-ready habitat in upstate New York or spending a few days in an interplanetary simulation underground. For those looking for something even more adventurous and otherworldly, however, one company is planning a pop-up “hotel” at the top of the world.

In April 2020, North Pole Igloos will debut at Earth’s northernmost point. For one month only, guests will have the opportunity to overnight at the literal top of the world. The pop-up hotel will consist of 10 igloo-shaped domes atop the frozen Arctic Ocean. Weather permitting, the hotel will be set up at the geographic North Pole. Not surprising, however, conditions there are extreme. The website notes that the hotel may be repositioned elsewhere on the Arctic Glacier if things get too hairy.

The annual window to safely visit the North Pole is brief. Each year, it’s accessible only by helicopter for most of April, and by ship in June and July. Official numbers are hard to come by, but it’s estimated that less than 1,000 people visit the pole annually. Most pack their own equipment, including food, shelter, and survival gear, lugging it for miles across the frozen tundra on sleds.

North Pole Igloos
Luxury Action/Facebook

In stark contrast, the North Pole Igloos will be a decidedly different affair. Luxury Action, the company behind the ambitious project, promises heated accommodations with all the trappings of a typical luxury hotel suite. Each individual pod will feature a full-sized bed, en suite bathroom, upscale cabinetry, and panoramic glass walls and ceiling. The latter virtually guarantees unparalleled views of the Northern Lights which are highly active at the pole each April. Outside the pods, guests will be accompanied by a dedicated camp manager, an Arctic wilderness guide, a camp chef, and even a security detail as part of the all-inclusive package. Who knew the North Pole was such a hotbed for criminal activity?

Company founder Janne Honkanen told CNN, “I wanted to create a more comfortable way to experience the North Pole as it is, by bringing cozy facilities to extreme conditions. We provide all of the equipment. But you definitely need to have the spirit of an explorer or scientist.”

The price tag for all that convenience? A whopping $100,000. That includes a two-night stay in Svalbard, followed by a two-hour helicopter flight to the igloo hotel’s location where guests will spend three nights. No word on the Wi-Fi situation, however, and if you can’t Instagram it, did it even really happen?

If you’re after a more adventurous and budget-friendly polar expedition, Ski Last Degree will get you to the South Pole. Just be prepared: It may be two-thirds of the price, but there’s nothing luxurious about it. You’ll need to trek nearly 70 miles lugging all your own gear to get there.

Editors' Recommendations

Mike Richard
Mike Richard has traveled the world since 2008. He's kayaked in Antarctica, tracked endangered African wild dogs in South…
4 Swanky Real-Life Hotels Worthy of John Wick
Brochner Hotel penthouse

John Wick showed us that the Continental Hotel was quite dangerous indeed. It’s the sort of place that attracts a sinister, criminal clientele whose tenuous code of honor is the only thing maintaining order. Most guests are one promised bounty away from assassinating one another. Still, the “faux-tel’s” design is so damn cool that it seems worth risking your life for an overnight stay. The eclectic mashup of iconic over-the-top design styles from Beaux-Arts to Rococo peppers in vibrant, Great Gatsby-inspired elements to create a look that’s opulent, atmospheric, and instantly recognizable.

Sadly, for those not fortunate to crash the recent pop-up Continental Hotel in Brooklyn, it’s impossible to visit in the real world. However, these four luxury hotels are every bit as worthy of John Wick — dark, moody, and perfect for plotting your next hit.

Read more
These Great Micro Hotels Prove Good Things Can Come in Small Packages
worlds best micro hotels citizen m guest room 1

As recently as the last century, most travelers seeking accommodations were starved for choice. Some could afford to splash out on a proper hotel room, but hardcore budget travelers and backpackers were relegated to hostels and questionable guesthouses. There was little in-between. Then, Airbnb changed the game completely. But many travelers still want the feel and familiarity of an actual hotel without the exorbitant nightly rates. Enter “Micro Hotels.”

The ethos behind this new breed of hotels starts with compact guest rooms (around 150 square feet). The thinking is that most young travelers prefer to spend as much time outside exploring the city as much as possible, so an oversized room of mostly empty space is a waste. They then ditch underused hotel amenities like the gym, business center, and redundant staffing. These simple changes allow micro hotels in major cities to offer room rates that are less than half of their traditional hotel competitors. They focus instead on designer decors, high-tech conveniences, and destination-worthy in-house events (live music, creative discussion panels, and exhibits by local artists) to draw a good mix of tourists and locals.

Read more
You Can Cruise to the North and South Pole on One 88-Day Luxury Expedition
polar cruise north south pole seadream yacht club 3

Cruising is rarely an “adventurous” mode of travel. The biggest daily challenges involve remembering what time happy hour starts and how many Belgian chocolate truffles you can get in before the midnight buffet closes. However, these days, some cruise lines are thinking bigger with months-long global itineraries that visit five continents and far-flung polar expeditions worthy of Amundsen and Shackleton. Now, well-heeled travelers can go even bigger and tackle both the North and South Poles on a single grand ocean voyage.

This month, SeaDream Yacht Club announced a once-in-a-lifetime, 88-day mega-expedition that will take cruise-goers to both poles. Even among the luxury line’s extensive catalog, the pole-to-pole itinerary is its most ambitious yet. The journey coincides with the inaugural sailing of the stunning new SeaDream Innovation yacht. Beginning in September 2021, the ship will sail to all seven continents — 200 ports in 49 countries — in its first season alone.

Read more