info@sorrisniva.no
+47 784 33 378
The name Sorrisniva comes from the early Finnish immigration to the Alta River and describes the burbling of the water as it flows over the riverbed.
Yes, Sorrisniva offers free WIFI in all buildings, however there is no reception in the Igloo Hotel.
Sorrisniva prides itself on its environmental sustainability. Please refer to our Social, Safety and Environmental Policy under the Policy section of this website.
Our restaurant is renowned for the quality of the local produce we use. Please see the Restaurant section of this website for more information.
Sorrisniva is located just outside of the city of Alta which is located in Arctic Norway at ca. 70 degrees Northern latitude. We are in the Finnmark county of Norway.
You can fly to Alta airport from Oslo, the capital of Norway, on a ca. 1 hour and 45 minute flight to the North. From the airport in Alta it is a 30 minute car drive inland to Sorrisniva.
Sorrisniva offers both private and shared mini bus transport for staying and activity guests. You may reserve the transfer on line and consult the schedule via the link below. Private transfers may be booked at your convenience. You may also hire a taxi on the number listed in our Travel Information. There is no public transport to and from Sorrisniva and Alta.
Yes, Sorrisniva has several charging stations available on site.
Yes we can provide child seats for our private and shared transfers.
Sorrisniva offers year round premium accommodation and each season has its own special Arctic attractions and the opportunity for different experiences as diverse as the Midnight Sun and staying in the Igloo Hotel under the Northern Lights. Please consult the Seasons and Experiences pages on the website for more information about the attractions of the different seasons at Sorrisniva.
Autumn is aften considered the best season by the locals due to the tranquillity created by the slow lengthening of the night and the emergence of the Autumn colours. Autumn temperatures range from an average of day / night temperatures of 10° / 4° in September to -1° / -7° in November as the winter approaches.
The first snowfall can occur in October however stable snow conditions normally occur from the beginning of December.
The sun does not rise above the horizon between 26 November and 15 January each year however the Polar Night has its own special light conditions. The middle of the day has a bright twilight and with the snow covered landscape it is much lighter than you may expect. The Polar Night is much lighter than the darkness at night nearer the equator.
Winter is normally stable and cold at Sorrisniva with temperatures between -5 and -20 degrees.
The seasons at Sorrisniva have a wide range of temperatures however it is advisable to always have warm and good outdoor clothes with you. During the winter it is important to have appropriate clothing, please refer to our How to Dress guidance via the link below. Yes, proper winter clothing is advised. Most of the activities in the Alta region include winter clothing for guests to use. If you are participating in an outdoor experience we will provide you with special clothing as appropriate. However the Arctic Wilderness Lodge is always warm and cosy so you may always retreat inside and view the local wilderness from the spacious lounge or the privacy of your own room all of which have extensive glass facades.
It is not necessary to have special training in driving on winter roads and the local roads are well maintained however you should take extra care if driving in winter especially during snow storms. All rental cars are fitted with special winter tyres.
Alta is called the city of the Northern Lights due to the frequency of the lights being seen and at Sorrisniva this is even more the case due to the lower artificial light levels making the night sky more visible. At Sorrisniva you may see the Northern lights (also known as the Aurora Borealis) from the middle of September through to the end of March.
Although found in and around the area near Sorrisniva it is mostly on the inland plateau (Vidda) of Finnmark that you experience large numbers of mosquitos in the summer months.
At Sorrisniva the midnight sun may be seen between 16 May and 26 July each year when the sun never sets. However it is light all day from mid April to mid August. You can find more information about this season here: Summer Season.
You can find more information about the Arctic Wilderness Lodge.
Check in from 15:00 / 3pm .
Check out before 12:00 / noon.
Yes, we do offer late check-out upon request subject to occupancy the following night.
An overnight stay includes your premium room or suite, access to the panoramic lounge and bar areas, easy access to local wilderness trails, gourmet breakfast and WiFi.
The lodge is located directly on the bank of the Alta River.
Yes, all rooms have panoramic windows and private balcony overlooking the Alta River, nearby mountains and the local wilderness.
In room dining and room service is possible if you are staying in the suite rooms.
All rooms are wheelchair accessible, and two of our River Rooms are handicap adapted.
Each room has WiFi , hair dryer, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and a capsule coffee machine.
Yes, Sorrisniva has its own souvenir shop on site.
You can find more information about the Igloo Hotel here.
Check in from 12:00 noon.
Check out before 10:00 am.
Unfortunately we cannot offer late check out from the Igloo Hotel, but it is possible to arrange late check-out in the Lodge at an additional cost depending on availability. Please contact reception to see if this is possible.
We recommend wearing a wool base layer and taking a down layer with you if needed. It is also recommended to wear a hat. Included in the overnight stay is an extreme sleeping bag suitable for up to -40 degrees celcius.
Toilets are located in the separate warm building which is connected to the ice hotel in addition to the bathrooms in the main service building.
The temperature inside the ice hotel is a steady -4 to -7 °C.
Your overnight stay includes your Igloo room, viewing the Igloo common areas and ice art, the Ice Bar and access to the adjacent service building where you have storage for your luggage, toilets and showers, sauna and the Lavvu restaurant. Your stay also includes free WiFi in the service building, Arctic sleeping bag and pillow for your Igloo room bed and breakfast.
Yes your stay in the Igloo Hotel includes access to the sauna in the morning and you may also book a jacuzzi.
Yes, the Igloo Hotel is accessible to those using a wheelchair or stroller.
Sorrisniva will always suggest an alternative when experiences must be cancelled due to lack of enough snow however that is not common. A refund is available when guests choose not to accept the alternative offer.
All experiences offered by Sorrisniva are in small groups to ensure quality and safety and you may be book them as a private activity if you wish.
Yes. You muset either have a snowmobile license, or a drivers license.
You should bring appropriate clothing and we will also provide special clothing for experiences which require that.
Yes, the area around Sorrisniva is excellent for hiking along the riverbank or on marked trails in the local wilderness. In winter there is also a marked hiking trail for snowshoeing.
All of our experiences are popular with our guests and we are regularly changing them to cater for our guests preferences. During the summer the most popular experience is a trip to Alta Canyon by Riverboat, in the autumn we start with northern lights experiences, in the winter we have snowmobile experiences, and year-round we have a king crab experience.
All of the guides leading Experiences at Sorrisniva are highly experienced to ensure your safety. There are not official certifications for our special experiences but no one knows the local conditions better than our guides.
Sorrisniva has two restaurants the traditional Lavvu Restaurant and the Maku Restaurant.
Yes, the Sorrisniva restaurants are available to non staying guests subject to availability. Please book in advance by contacting us at booking@sorrisniva.no or +47 78 43 33 78.
Our chefs are happy to accommodate all your needs and requests. We have vegan and vegetarian options and are used to catering for most types of allergies (gluten, nuts, dairy, etc.). It is important that you inform us of any dietary requirements sending an email to info@sorrisniva.no in advance of your stay. If you are staying for more than one night and plan to have dinner with us multiple nights, please notify the waiters so that we can prepare various options for you.
Sorrisniva offers premium quality cuisine based upon local produce. Our chefs create unique dishes using the best ingredients from Arctic Norway including reindeer and moose from the tundra, seafood from the Alta River and Norwegian sea, vegetables from local farms and berries picked in the local wilderness.
Dinner is served from 17:00 with the last table seating at 20:00 in Maku Restaurant year-round. Lavvu Restaurant is open from 17:00 with last table seating at 20:00 from December 20th until April 7th.
Yes, an exclusive booking of the Lodge and or Igloo Hotel is possible subject to booking well in advance. Contact us for a quote.
Yes, we offer special rates for accommodation and activities when groups size consists of 10 or more people. For booking please send us an email at booking@sorrisniva.no or call us t +47 78 43 33 78.
Yes, fully one equipped meeting room for up to 13 people, and one meeting room for 30-60 people during low-season.
All activities can be adapted as part of a larger group event or private booking. This is by request only.
Yes, Sorrisniva is one of the most remarkable places in the world to celebrate your wedding and create lifelong memories. Please refer to the below link for more information.
Please see our Terms and Conditions.
Please see our terms and conditions.
We always advice to book your stay and activities in advance. This to be 100% sure that your requested room type, activity, and other services are available.
Please see our terms and conditions.
You can see our policies on the following page - Our Policies
Smoking is only allowed in designated areas outside of the buildings, and is not permitted in the Arctic Wilderness Lodge or in the Igloo Hotel.
Pets are not allowed inside any buildings at Sorrisniva.
Only alcohol bought at Sorrisniva is permitted to be consumed on site.
Apart from snacks bought on site, food is not to be prepared or consumed in the rooms either in the Lodge or Igloo Hotel.
