Luxury Floating Hotel Opens In Sweden

Imagine being surrounded by pine trees, icy water, and beautiful glowing winter sun. Welcome to the Arctic Bath! The floating spa hotel is a design masterpiece built in Sweden’s Lule River. The indigenous Sámi culture is celebrated in the area, and traditionally graze reindeer in the winter. Here it’s all about connecting to the natural surroundings. Because of the lack of light pollution one can see the incredible aurora lights phenomenon. Dogsledding, nature hikes, and Sámi visits are also available to guests. And when the ice melts you can have some fun paddleboarding, kayaking, and even swimming in the river! The hotel is designed with pine logs and is inspired by a historical timber floating industry. Styled with natural wood, Baltic stone floors, and reindeer skins bring warmth and calm to the space. The hotel offers meditative spa therapy and sustainably sourced dinner menus. The whole idea is to focus on your wellbeing.

CEO Peter Engström told CNN Travel that taking the hotel from design to reality wasn’t easy, and he thinks if the team knew about the challenges in advance, it might not have happened. Engström said the construction and whole hotel’s ethos is based on sustainability. Engström also said the ice bath is one of Arctic Bath’s main draws. “Fifty percent of arriving guests say, ‘I will never do that’ — but at least 90% really do the ice bath and more than once and they are all thrilled!”

The new spot is all thanks to architects Bertil Harström and Johan Kauppi who aimed to encourage guests to connect nature and the man-made structure. According to CNN Travel, designs for Arctic Bath premiered back in 2018 instantly capturing the imagination of travelers all around the world. They also want to bridge the gap between tourists and locals living in the nearby village. Guests have the opportunity to learn more about the Sámi culture by visiting a local resident at their home. “From the start we invited locals to stay with us,” says Engström. They wanted the community to feel at home at Arctic Bath, and to offer feedback.