After more than two years in the building, Sweden‘s out-of-the-ordinary floating spa hotel, Arctic Bath, is now open.
Located on the Lule River in Swedish Lapland, the hotel has been designed to freeze into the surrounding lake in winter and float on it in summer.
Shaped like a ring doughnut, it has been built around a giant ice bath, which visitors can plunge into, before warming up in the surrounding saunas and hot tubs.
Located on the Lule River in Swedish Lapland, Arctic Bath has been designed to freeze into the surrounding lake in winter and float on it in summer
All rooms have been designed with the natural landscape of the Arctic in mind, so there is lots of wood, stone and leather inside
Arctic Bath has collaborated with Input Interior in Lulea – an hour’s drive away – and a number of Swedish design brands for both furniture and lighting
Pictured is one of the cabin bathrooms, designed with natural material. Three of the cabins at Arctic Bath sleep up to five guests
The hotel has been built around a giant ice bath, which visitors can plunge into, before warming up in the surrounding saunas and hot tub
Wellness treatments like massages using specialist jade tools and facials with a new organic, vegan skincare collection by Kerstin Florian, are also on offer in this part of the hotel.
There are 12-rooms at Arctic Bath. Six of them are part of a ‘flotilla’ of floating cabins designed for couples and the other six are located in land-based cabins on the shore of the lake.
All rooms have been designed with the natural landscape of the Arctic in mind, so there is lots of wood, stone and leather inside.
Pictured is the interior of one of the land suites. The designer behind these interiors is Swede Ann Kathrin Lundqvist
Both the land and water-based suites in the hotel have been built using natural and sustainable materials and fabrics
Every cabin at Arctic Spa comes with an eco-friendly bathrobe, bathing suit or shorts and natural spa products, which guests can take home at the end of their stay
Pictured is the interior of one of the water rooms, which come with private access from the shore of the lake via a footbridge
The hotel has its own restaurant, too, where the focus is on wellness and locally-sourced products. At breakfast items like locally-sourced meats and cheeses are on the menu.
In the evenings, the chef prepares a five or six-course set meal. Dishes change daily, but guests can expect items like lightly smoked wood grouse, gahkku (Sámi flat bread) and gompa (a Sámi dish with Arctic Angelica and sour milk) to appear on the menu.
While the hotel’s main focus is on wellness, it doesn’t deny guests a drink. Local craft beer and wines are available to accompany the food.
Chefs will prepare a daily changing five or six-course set menu for dinner every day at Arctic Bath. Signature dishes will include lightly smoked wood grouse, gahkku (Sámi flat bread) and gompa (a Sámi dish with Arctic Angelica and sour milk)
Pictured is one of the saunas at Arctic Bath. Guests are given a spa ritual kit on arrival that includes items like a facial mask, foot treatment, face cream and a dry brush, together with instructions on how to use them
There are three saunas at Arctic Bath. Guests can also book to have spa treatments, from facials to body massages, in a private treatment room
In addition to enjoying the spa at Arctic Bath, visitors are encouraged to take part in traditional Arctic activities. Experiences like dog-sledding, snowshoe hiking, cross country skiing and bear watching are all on the cards.
As are moose-calling sessions, which are led by local guide Mikael, who has 30-years experience of summoning moose by impersonating a range of elk.
Both full-board and half-board accommodation options are available at Arctic Bath. Full board includes breakfast, lunch, the five-course set dinner, spa access, an Arctic Bath spa robe and spa bathing suit or shorts, slippers and a spa ritual kit, which contains a facial mask, foot treatment, face cream and a dry brush. Half board excludes lunch.
Prices for a night’s stay start from £772/$996 (9,600 SEK), based on two sharing water accommodation at half board.
There are 12-rooms at Arctic Bath. Six are located in land-based cabins on the shore of the lake and sleep up to five people
The land cabins boast glass walls that look out over the lake. It’s also possible to see the Northern Lights at certain times of year
The hotel looks like a ring doughnut from above, but its design is actually inspired by the ‘timber-floating era’ in Sweden when felled trees were transported downriver for processing