HARADS ➤ SWEDEN
A R C T I C B AT H
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A NATION OF ICE FLOWS AND FROZEN WASTELANDS, quiet forests and reindeer herders, the Northern Lights and cosy cottages, Sweden boasts countless natural beauties. Add to this an outstanding foodie scene with a huge variety of dining options and it’s not hard to see why millions of tourists visit Sweden annually, especially around Midsummer, which is the most important celebration of the year for many Swedes. If you head in the same direction long enough in Sweden, you’ll almost certainly hit an archipelago. You’ll find them off the country’s north, south, east and west coasts. They’re centres of Swedish cultural heritage and immense natural beauty, offering a laid-back lifestyle and numerous nature activities. There are roughly 24,000 islands in the Stockholm archipelago alone, about 150 of which are inhabited. Many Swedes have summer homes on these islands. And now there’s one more, albeit man-made. Positioned on Luleå River and situated downstream from the
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ISSUE 29 ➤ MARCH – MAY 2020
bridges of the village of Bodträskfors opposite Harads in Lapland – in a prime location to experience the Northern Lights - Arctic Bath is a Swedish island like no other. The brainchild of the team behind Sweden’s now famous Treehotel, Arctic Bath is a floating six-room hotel and spa that freezes into the river ice in the winter and floats on top of the water in the summer. The design of Arctic Bath is inspired by the timber floating era, reminiscent of how felled trees were transported down the river for processing. The open centre of Arctic Bath has been designed for ice bathing and experiencing the Northern Lights or star-filled skies. A dip in the open-air cold bath is consistent with the Arctic tradition of a coldwater plunge combined with a sauna. Larger, split-level rooms on land feature a spiral staircase and softlit living area. Rooms on the river are smaller but boast north-facing, sloping roof windows – ideal for seeing the Northern Lights. Private decks provide access for swimming in the river during the summer months. ➤ www.arcticbath.se