Sweden, Kiruna, Ice Hotel, Day 3

We took bus 501 from the main bus terminal, which is opposite the city hall, to Jukkasjarvi, where the Ice Hotel is, 17km away. The buses only operate on weekdays. You can also reach the Ice Hotel directly from the Kiruna airport which is 12km. The Ice Hotel is open to visitors in the Winter from 10am to 6pm, after that it is just for those staying over night. You can go in to the hotel rooms, chapel, bar and basically look around the entire structure for 295SEK, as well as the souvenir shop of course. We decided not to sleep there because firstly the bath rooms are in another permanent building, and we didn't fancy getting wrapped up to go out to the bathroom each time. Plus the inconvenience of having to be our of your room during the day hours so that people can come a look around. And of course because we would rather be warm! But I can understand someone wanting the experience of actually sleeping there.
The village where it is located is very basic, and a long bus ride from anywhere if you wanted to do something other than be in the ice hotel, but they do provide activities, like Husky, snowmobile etc. We walked into the town, at least 15 minutes, in order to see the famous Sami church there. It really is beautiful and if you are at the Ice Hotel don't miss the church. Next to the church is a reindeer farm or Sami centre which was closed for lunch when we where there but looked interesting. On the walk to the church which is a straight line from the Ice Hotel, we came to a cozy quaint restaurant, which I think is also a hotel. It sits on the edge of a the river Torne, and serves hot meals and coffee. We had salmon soup for the first time. the bus drive to the Ice Hotel is also interesting as you get to see normal people's houses. The bus also passes the Esrange base, which is also a tourist attraction.
In the evening we took a snowmobile safari with Camp Alta to search for the northern lights 375SEK each two people sharing a snowmobile. It goes about 20kms and takes 3.5 hours, it also includes stopping in the middle of nowhere and the guide builds a camp fire and makes coffee. Wonderful experience, and we saw the lights!!