Treehotel

Works of artistic wonder, eight unique rooms appear to float between pine trees in a peaceful northern Swedish forest above the Lule River. The subject of numerous design books, all have been built sustainably, bringing guests even closer to nature. A separate dining area can be found in the retro-style Britta’s Pensionat.

Sparked by the imagination of a local filmmaker, who built a small treehouse in the forest, Treehotel evolved into a friendly collaboration between a group of architects. Imaginative, outrageous and bizarre, rooms are a visual treat: a retractable ladder leads to an enormous Bird’s Nest, a disc-shaped UFO beams light onto the forest floor and a Mirrorcube reflects wild surroundings on all four walls.

The hotel's original owners - a local couple with a strong sense of environment, adventure, architecture and fun - ensured construction caused minimal impact to the environment; in place of plumbed-in taps, refillable water bottles dispense water above sinks and toilets have built-in incinerators.

Beyond the obvious appeal of staying somewhere so unusual, the Treehotel offers activities such as hiking, horse riding, northern lights viewing and moose safaris. An open-air hot tub and sauna also provide opportunities for relaxation.

A menu inspired by local ingredients is served in a 40s-style guesthouse and special meals can also be arranged under the aurora or several meters up a tree.