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Wilderness really doesn’t get wilder, remoter or more pristine than this daring resort in Swedish Lapland. Or gloriously glamorous. The ingenious design of its striking spa complex, clad in tree branches, means in summer, it floats on the Lule River, while in winter it is held captive, frozen in the mesmerising stillness of the ice.
Authenticity is central to the resort’s ethos, so the indigenous Sámi culture is celebrated through unforgettable food (more reindeer anyone?) and cherry-cheeked activities such as dog-sledding, ice-fishing and moose whispering in ghostly birch forests.
The wellness taps into the Swedish concept of lagom, a life lived in balance and moderation. Mindfulness means listening intently to a reindeer herder sing Sami songs in a tent, or treatments that feature traditional herbs with aromatic scents.
The absence of light pollution ensures the aurora borealis viewing, from August to March, is nothing short of fantastic.
Spa-ing centres around the complimentary SaunaGus sessions, where your sauna host sprinkles essential oils in the steamy air and wafts a towel in front of each person to create subtle shifts in temperature and scent that produce a quiet euphoria.
At the spa’s heart is a circular pool of ice-cold river water. A mindfulness instructor will teach you breathing techniques that allow you to stay for increasingly long periods in its freezing temperatures, interspersed between the hot sauna stints.
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Bucket list experiences our writer says you must do in this destination, closest first
Harads, Norrbotten, Sweden[2.7 miles]
If staying in a treehouse AND seeing the Aurora are both on your travel bucket list, this is the place. Even if they’re not, go anyway. This extraordinary concept offers 7 unique treehouses – including a UFO and a bird’s nest. See the Aurora from your room, the jacuzzi or on special Northern Lights tours.
Best for ages: 13+ | £400 | 1+ nights
Round-ups that include this placetostay
Multiple countries
A remarkable, ethereal light display that’s one of the world’s greatest natural spectacles. Pair it with other bucket list experiences – a thrilling husky ride, a cruise on the Norwegian fjords, or gazing up from bed in a luxury glass igloo. Unmissable.
