Travel news
The world’s tallest hotel made almost exclusively from wood, has opened at the birthplace of cross-country skiing – Skelleftea, in northern Sweden.
Billed as being “perfect for couples and families”, a five-day “Wood Hotel Experience” is being offered by adventure specialists, Off The Map Travel.
The Wood Hotel stands 246ft, 20 storeys tall in Skelleftea, and is made almost exclusively from spruce and pine sourced from the neighbouring forests. Each of the 205 contemporary rooms are filled with the rich, heady smell of the trees they are built from with the aroma adding to the warmth and comfort of the guests’ experience.
“This is an opportunity for anyone looking for culture and escapism all wrapped into one, says Alex Minnis, chief operations officer of Off The Map Travel.
“The Wood Hotel is an incredible building that rises out of Skelleftea, dominating the skyline, yet remaining part of the town’s natural beauty due to the materials it is made from. Every detail within the hotel has been carefully considered to offer the optimum in relaxation for guests.
“Being made out of wood contributes to the whole building being climate-positive as the structure absorbs more CO2 than it uses.”
Available until March, the adventure begins with an overnight stay in Stockholm before flying to Skelleftea where they will be collected by electric car and driven to the Wood Hotel.
Voted one of Time’s best places to visit in the world, Skelleftea is a destination with a difference. Over the course of the experience guests will create their own gin at Skelleftea’s award-winning distillery using locally foraged ingredients; go snowshoeing to take in the sights of this beautiful part of Swedish Lapland and relax in the hotel’s rooftop Vana Spa with views over Skelleftea and its green forests.
In winter, the new itinerary allows travellers time to experience the Northern Lights with well-marked trails leaving directly from the hotel, perfect for a self-guided evening walk.
The hotel has three restaurants, including an Italian café, an Asian restaurant and Sami-inspired food that is locally sourced.
Minnis added: “There are health benefits to staying in a structure made almost entirely from wood, including reduced blood pressure, reduced stress levels and improved sleep.
“Guests will leave feeling like they’ve had a restorative break in this up-and-coming part of Swedish Lapland.”