For anyone looking for a chilled escape following the hottest September day for over a century, specialist independent tour operator Best Served Scandinavia  [0207 664 2241, www.best-served.co.uk] offers a 'cool list' of Ice Hotels and Igloos ideal for a Scandinavian adventure.

Alongside the original and iconic ICEHOTEL in Swedish Lapland styled afresh each year by a team of creative artists, there are a host of other ice and snow hotels bringing cutting edge art, thrilling excursions and the finest regional food to some of the Northern hemisphere's most beautiful and remote regions. All offer the chance to experience a night on an ice-framed bed, surrounded by furniture and art created from ice and snow whilst snuggled down in an arctic sleeping bag,…  yet each also has an individual style.

SAMPLE ARCTIC CUISINE AT SORRISNIVA IGLOO HOTEL, NORWAY

Located at the gateway to Finnmark, Norway's most remote and Arctic region, this designer Igloo Hotel is built from ice and snow from scratch every year and is decorated with wonderfully ornate ice sculptures. Set in pine-clad dales and close to sheer river canyons, this is a true Polar adventure.  But the arctic conditions don't hinder the dining experience – where chef Johnny Trasti creates imaginative dishes using seasonal food. Each mouthful of fresh-caught Arctic char, each mussel, each morsel of smoked reindeer and each basting of cloudberry sauce takes you one step further to total immersion in the Polar lifestyle.

Holiday price from £925pp including flights, transfers, 2 nights Scandic Hotel Alta BB, 1 night Sorrisniva Igloo Hotel BB, morning sauna and Northern Lights hunt – operates January-March 2017

JOIN THE KING CRAB SAFARI AT THE KIRKENES SNOWHOTEL, NORWAY

This most northerly of the snow hotels is set in the Norwegian frontier town of Kirkenes, near the Finnish and Russian borders on the frozen shores of the Barents Sea.  With an ice bar, beautifully sculpted ice beds, intricate pieces of snow and ice art, it even has its own resident reindeer.  For a gourmet adventure, join the King Crab Safari, travelling out with local fisherman and learning the techniques of fishing for king crabs through thick ice. With few natural predators, these extraordinary crustaceans can grow up to six feet wide.  After the adventure, you can enjoy your catch when it is cooked in the warmth of the fisherman's home.

Holiday price from £1475pp including flights, transfers, 3 nights accommodation (1 night Snow Room HB, 2 nights Gamme Cabin HB), Northern Lights by Snowmobile excursion, tour of Snow hotel and morning sauna. Operates 20 December – 20 April 2017.  King Crab Safari from £175pp.

WINTER SPORTS AT LAINIO SNOW VILLAGE, FINLAND

Set 200 km above the Arctic Circle, this stylish destination hotel is Finland's finest and is located in the heart of the beautiful Finnish fells.  Changing shape, size and design each winter, this magical ice world is constructed using some 20 million kilos of snow and 350,000 kilos of natural ice. The resulting experience of glowing grottos of eerily lit ice is somehow part-art gallery, part-igloo and part-nightclub VIP area.  A particular highlight is the Ice Restaurant, where guests dine surrounded by shimmering illuminations kicking off with an aperitif served in nothing less than an ice glass. There is even an ice chapel for couples looking to tie the knot in a truly wintery setting.

This winter-adventure heaven offers husky safaris and snowmobile and reindeer tours, as well as cross country and downhill skiing nearby. Best Served Scandinavia offer a 4 day break combining the Snow Village with Levi – the largest ski resort in Finland.

Holiday price from £740pp including flights, transfers, 1 night Lainio Snow Village HB and 2 nights Levi Panorama BB.  Operates 13 December to 8 April 2017.

STAY IN A HOUSE OF CARDS AT THE ORIGINAL ICEHOTEL, SWEDEN

Each year, the original ICEHOTEL pulls out the stops to piece together a hugely ambitious design using huge ice blocks sourced from the frozen river Torne, near the village of Jukkasjarvi in Swedish Lapland.  In its 26 years, the ICEHOTEL has firmly established itself on the winter holiday map, and 2016/17 is no exception, with a house of cards designed from snow, a blooming cherry tree and a Casablanca inspired palace all lined up for the season ahead. Enjoy exciting activities including reindeer encounters, dog sled rides and a Northern Lights hunt by snowmobile or horseback ride.  There are also opportunities for Nordic skiing or even a snap course in ice sculpture.

Holiday price from £900pp including flights, transfers, 1 night Ice Room BB, 2 nights Arctic Chalet BB, thermal clothing and morning sauna. Operates 16 December – 10 April.