ARCTIC BATH

Sweden

It was one of the most highly anticipated hotel openings in not just Sweden but the whole of Scandinavia last year. Located on the Lule River in Luleå, a coastal city in Swedish Lapland, the eco-friendly, logcovered Arctic Bath hotel is home to an exclusive 12 cabins and suites. Choose from land cabins that sleep up to five, land suites that come with a cosy loft bedroom, or water cabins that hover above the river and connect to the main property by bridge. The best way to enjoy the landscape and animal sightings is by sitting outdoors on your private deck or in the spa’s open-air hot and cold baths. It’s best to plan for a stay in winter; the wood and stone interiors contrast the powdery snowblanketed forests perfectly, with the aurora borealis providing an enchanting glow in an otherwise jet-black sky.

Right: the 62sqm Land Suite is elevated on poles and boasts a sizeable living area, deck and a loft bedroom. Below: depending on the season, guests will experience what it’s like to stay in a lodge that floats or sits frozen on a lake.