First Look at Swedish Lapland's Arctic Bath

The first images of the Arctic's most exciting new tourism and wellness experience for this winter, the Arctic Bath floating hotel and spa, have been released.

The Arctic Bath Hotel and Spa, designed by architects Bertil Harstr�m and Johan Kauppi, freezes into the ice of the Lule River in the winter and floats on top of the water in the summer. The Arctic Bath has 12 accommodations comprised of six detached floating cabins and six cabins on land, designed by AnnKathrin Lundqvist. Announced today, the team at Arctic Bath have completed the land-based cabins allowing the world to get a taste of what's to come.

The land-based cabins will come with two different layouts both of which take full advantage of the floor-to-ceiling wall of glass looking out over the Lule River. One layout sees a bedroom including a super king-sized bed, seating area and large 8m2 bathroom downstairs with a spiral staircase leading to a mezzanine floor containing an additional lounge area and the ability to include up to three additional beds. Another configuration includes a double bedroom on the second floor with a living area and generous bathroom taking up the ground floor.

All of the cabins will include all of the details to make a stay at Arctic Bath comfortable and connected including free WiFi, the finest-quality bedding and linens, fully automated temperature controls with a cutting edge climate control unit, under-floor heating, room service, mini bar facilities, and an in-cabin tablet computer delivering local information and details of menus, treatments and activities. The tablet will also be used to communicate with reception and the spa.

The design of both the cabins and the Arctic Bath spa has been inspired by the timber floating era which recalls how felled trees were transported downriver for processing. The main inspiration for the striking wedge-shaped cabins was the 'Flottningshake,' a tool that was used by loggers in the timber floating work when levering apart a timber jam.

The cabins take a refreshing approach to Arctic Bath's core philosophy on wellness with affirmation statements used to support guests' peace of mind; smoothies made with local ingredients and created specifically for Arctic Bath available in the cabin's mini bar in support of the Arctic Bath's focus on proper nutrition; and complimentary Kerstin Florian toiletries and a local handmade soap in the cabin bathrooms to allow guests to pamper face and body.

The cabins are built from locally sourced materials with the interior walls clad in pine and the floor finished with dark oak giving the space an unmistakable Scandinavian design. Lighting has been supplied by award-winning If� Electric through their Ohm range with furniture selected from an array of Scandinavian designers to complete the look, all pulled together by designer AnnKathrin Lundqvist.

"The cabin space takes the best of contemporary and Scandinavian design giving the space a luxury yet comfortable atmosphere," comments Jonathan Cooper, founder of Off the Map Travel. "Add to this the huge wall of windows and the cabins really do make the most of the Arctic wilderness bringing the winter snow and the lush summer green into the space allowing guests to sit or lie back and feel a connection with the environment."

Arctic Bath's land-based cabins have also been built with minimal impact to the local wilderness. With the cabins elevated off the ground on poles, flowers and animals are still able to thrive underneath. The cabins are constructed with locally sourced materials, low-impact paints and oils, and a living sedum roof grown in Sweden that tops off the structure. The cabins are highly insulated and even the windows are prepared with a special coating to reflect heat in the summer and retain warmth in the winter. Green electricity is created locally using the river and a closed water and waste system ensures that nothing is released to impact the water system.

Off the Map Travel offers both summer and winter itineraries to the Arctic Bath. Although every itinerary can be personalized, a three-day Off the Map Travel Arctic Bath itinerary including the new Arctic Bath Hotel and Spa is priced starting from $3,242 per person. This includes cabin accommodations, breakfast daily, nightly five-course dinner, a guided Northern Lights hunt, transfers and spa. Flights are additional. Reservations are being taken for stays beginning February 2020.