- In a remote part of Alaska, you can rent a luxe chalet on top of a glacier for $25,000 a night.
- Sheldon Chalet sits in the middle of Denali National Park and is only reachable by helicopter.
- The chalet offers stunning views of snowy peaks and the Northern Lights, gourmet dining, a sauna, and more.
- Guests can partake in activities that include a picnic on a glacier, mountaineering, sledding, rappelling, and snowshoeing.
- Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.
On a remote rock outcropping surrounded by glacial ice in Alaska sits Sheldon Chalet.
The luxury chalet, which opened to guests in February 2018, is only reachable by helicopter. You can book the entire place for $25,000 a night (with a three-night minimum stay), which includes helicopter shuttle service, a private concierge, gourmet dining, and activities such as sledding, glacier trekking, and mountaineering.
Sheldon Chalet was built in the Don Sheldon Amphitheater, a glacial valley named after the father of two of the chalet's owners, Robert and Kate Sheldon. Marne Sheldon, Robert's wife, is also an owner.
Here's a look at the chalet's interior and jaw-dropping surroundings.
Sheldon Chalet is an ultra-luxurious mountain lodge in remote Alaska.
It opened to guests in February 2018.
It sits in a glacial valley in the middle of Denali National Park.
The national park encompasses more than six million acres of wilderness.
Sheldon Chalet is anchored into the iron, titanium, and granite of the Sheldon Nunatak at an elevation of about 6,000 feet. A nunatak is a rock formation completely surrounded by glacial ice.
Source: Sheldon Chalet, Merriam Webster
To get there, guests board a helicopter in the village of Talkeetna.
Source: Sheldon Chalet
The 40-minute flight offers views of lowland rivers, lakes, and forests, as well as vast mountain peaks including Foraker, Hunter, and Denali.
Source: Sheldon Chalet
The helicopter passes by the Great Gorge — which would be nearly twice as deep as the Grand Canyon if the thousands of feet of ice melted — and crosses over crevassed ice fields before reaching the chalet.
Source: Sheldon Chalet, Alaska.org
Finally, guests get their first sight of the lodge from the air.
Source: Sheldon Chalet
"One of my favorite things is seeing people's faces when they land — their brains can't quite comprehend what their eyes are seeing. They need a few breaths to take it all in," Marne Sheldon, one of three chalet owners, told Bloomberg.
Source: Bloomberg
The chalet was built in 2017 by sibling duo Robert and Kate Sheldon and Robert's wife, Marne.
Source: Sheldon Chalet
Against a backdrop of jagged mountain peaks and Northern Lights, the chalet looks tiny — but it has 2,000 square feet of space.
Source: Sheldon Chalet
The interior décor is warm and modern.
Guests are met upon arrival with Champagne and a seafood spread.
"Our chef is a local Alaskan, Dave Thorne aka Delicious Dave, and has been touted as the 'best chef in the state' by many," Marne told Business Insider.
The menu includes fresh Alaska King Crab and Copper River Salmon, locally grown micro greens, and other locally sourced ingredients paired with fine wine.
Source: Sheldon Chalet
The chalet has five bedrooms, each with panoramic views of the surrounding snowy peaks.
Source: Sheldon Chalet
Fluffy duvets give the rooms a cozy feel.
Source: Sheldon Chalet
There are two full bathrooms upstairs in the sleeping quarters and one half bath downstairs.
"The simple things in life, like running water, are actually quite luxurious when you're 6,000 feet up on a glacier,"Marne told Bloomberg.
The cost to rent out the entire lodge is $25,000 a night, with a three-night minimum stay. There's room for up to 10 people.
Source: Sheldon Chalet
"Every experience includes a chef, concierge, and two guides for glacier adventures," Marne told Business Insider.
Source: Sheldon Chalet
The $25,000 package also includes access to the nearby Mountain House, which predates Sheldon Chalet.
Built in 1966 by pilot Don Sheldon, father of two of the current owners of the chalet, the rustic hut is reserved for guests with backcountry and glacier travel experience, as no guides are provided.
Guests can also choose to book a shared experience for $3,150 per person per night for double occupancy, or $18,900 for one couple for three nights.
The three-night minimum also applies to these stays.
Although the chalet has luxe amenities, there is no internet or cell service — and the owners wouldn't have it any other way.
Source: Sheldon Chalet
"Guest LOVE disconnecting even if they were apprehensive to do so at first and have said to us after their experience — don't ever add Wi-Fi/cell coverage, it will ruin the experience," Marne told Business Insider.
Source: Sheldon Chalet
The chalet includes an observation desk where guests can take in the mountain scenery.
Source: Sheldon Chalet
The views are jaw-dropping.
Source: Sheldon Chalet
Depending on the season and the weather, there's a good chance you'll see the Northern Lights if you stay at Sheldon Chalet.
Source: Sheldon Chalet
"Our unique location – latitude 63 degrees, and elevation 6,000 feet means our troposphere is some of the thinnest on the planet, which allows you to see the aurora's blues and purples as well as shooting stars more often and brighter than elsewhere," reads Sheldon Chalet's website.
Source: Sheldon Chalet
Sheldon Chalet recommends that guests pack for extreme weather year-round in the form of layers of clothing, long underwear, winter jackets, and warm winter boots.
The chalet also provides some outdoor apparel including pants, parkas, boots, and gloves.
Guests will be given a comprehensive packing list after making reservations.
The many adventures to be had outside of the lodge include sledding, helicopter tours, skiing, mountaineering, glacier trekking ...
Source: Sheldon Chalet
... or simply catching a sunset behind the rugged Alaskan mountains.
