The Aurina valley, located in the northern end of South Tyrol, represents one of the most fascinating mountain scenarios of the Italian Alps. Surrounded by the majestic peaks of the Aurine Alps which reach almost 3,500 meters above sea level, this valley offers uncontaminated landscapes where nature reigns supreme in every season.
During the winter, the valley turns into an authentic white paradise, with silent woods covered with snow and an atmosphere that invites adventure. Among the numerous experiences that the Aurina Valley offers to its visitors, one of the most extraordinary is undoubtedly the opportunity to spend a night in a real igloo.
Sleep in an igloo: the extreme experience to try at least once in a lifetime
In Speikboden (Monte Spico), in the splendid Valle Aurina, it is possible to live a unique experience: sleeping in an authentic igloo.
Every year, Igloo are entirely built from scratch, carved in the snow and ice with great skill. This feature makes the experience unique every season, since the structure and details always change.
The adventure starts at the Valley station of the Speikboden cable car, from where you go up to 2,000 meters above sea level. Once you reach the mountain station, a path of about 15 minutes on foot leads to the Igloo.
The Mountain Igloo is a surprising structure: an ice building divided into various rooms, which offers an unexpectedly comfortable welcome considering the extreme environment.
Snowshoeing in uncontaminated nature
Before dinner, the guests are guided in an exciting snowshoeing of about 8 kilometers through breathtaking snowy landscapes. This excursion allows you to completely immerse yourself in the quiet of the winter mountain, far from the noise and chaos of everyday life.
Siapola in the dark, with the front torch, the paths wind between silent woods and vast expanses of immaculate snow, giving every step of the suggestive glimpses on the surrounding peaks.
The snowshoe, although it is demanding, represents a unique opportunity to get in touch with nature in its purest and wilder form. Walking on fresh snow, listening only to the sound of one’s steps and breathing the sparkling air of the mountain, is an experience that awakens the senses and creates indelible memories.
The atmosphere of the igloo
Once you return to Mountain Igloo, the guests are welcomed with a welcome aperitif before the dinner served inside the ice structure. The temperature inside the Igloo is very low, the dinner served is truly exquisite, and the atmosphere is magical and unique: the soft lights that are reflected on the ice walls create a fairytale and surreal environment.
It should be said, however, that dinner with temperatures below zero is not simple at all. The cold makes itself felt, making it difficult to fully enjoy the meal. For this, the experience requires a certain spirit of adaptation and adequate thermal clothing to better face the evening.
After dinner, you can relax in the sauna or in the whirlpool with hot water, located a little further on the igloo. This moment can create a pleasant contrast with rigid external temperatures, but it is important to pay attention to thermal changes: pass quickly from the intense heat of the sauna or hydromassage to the external frost or the opposite can be a real shock for the body. To avoid inconvenience, it is advisable to enter and exit gradually and to cover properly before returning to the Igloo.
The night in Igloo
When the time comes to sleep, the guests are equipped with special thermal piles of excellent quality, designed to maintain body heat even in the most extreme conditions. These sleeping bags are surprisingly effective and allow you to spend a comfortable night despite the surrounding environment is made entirely of ice.
Folding into the igloo, wrapped in the heat of your sleeping bag and a hot water bag while outside the temperatures they go very below zero, it is a very fascinating experience. The absolute silence of the mountain at night, only occasionally interrupted by the rustling of the snow that falls, creates an atmosphere of deep peace.
The services: a sore point
You are wondering about the bathroom, and it is right to say it: it is a painful note of the experience. The toilets are not very close to the Igloo and require a few minutes of walking in the snow, first downhill and then uphill on the return (always with the torme front). This particular appearance can be uncomfortable, especially in the middle of the night when the temperatures are particularly rigid and the idea of leaving the warm sleeping bag is certainly not tempting. It is a detail to be taken into consideration for those who decide to live this adventure, especially for those who have frequent needs to use the bathroom.
The essential equipment
To better face the experience in Igloo, it is essential to have adequate equipment. Sturdy and waterproof snow shoes are essential for both the snowshoes and for the movements around the Igloo. The clothing must follow the technique of the three layers: thermal shirts in contact with the skin (very useful also for sleeping), an insulating intermediate layer and an external waterproof and windproof shell. Do not forget thermal gloves, cap that covers the ears, technical stockings of Merino wool and ghette to prevent snow from entering the boots. For the night, in addition to the sleeping bag supplied, it is advisable to wear dry thermal linen and a warm cap, since most of the body heat disperses through the head. Front torch, thermal bottle and a powerbank complete the essential equipment to experience this extreme adventure safely.
An experience not for everyone
It is important to underline that this experience, although also accessible to non -experts, requires a certain predisposition to adventure and the ability to adapt to unconventional conditions. The 8 km snowshoeing in the snow can be demanding for those who are not used to physical activity in the mountains, and the low temperatures of the Igloo can be a challenge for those who are particularly sensitive to the cold.
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