Treehotel

Located in the Lule River Valley, the unique Treehotel boasts seven treehouse-style rooms.

• The luxurious 7^th Room, which is perfect for viewing the Northern Lights
• The hearty cuisine served at Britta’s Pensionat, the hotel restaurant that is located a 10-minute walk from the rooms
• The story of how owners Kent and Britta Lindvall opened and expanded Treehotel

Both born and raised in Harads, Kent and Britta Lindvall opened Britta’s Pensionat—a former retirement home turned 1950s-style guesthouse—in 2004 to bring tourists to the area. After watching The Tree Lover, a documentary by then-unknown filmmaker Jonas Selberg Augustsén, who was a guest at Britta’s, the Lindvalls were inspired to expand their operation and add additional guest rooms. The duo commissioned some of Scandinavia’s best architects to construct six one-of-a-kind, environmentally friendly “tree-rooms,” which opened in 2010. Each of the individually appointed accommodations is suspended in trees overlooking the Lule River Valley. In 2017, the hotel added The 7^th Room, which is the most luxurious suite on property.

The Mirrorcube, a square room made of outward-facing mirrors that allow it to nearly disappear into the thicket, and The Cabin, a capsule-like structure, are undoubtedly the most photographed lodgings at Treehotel. The Bird’s Nest and the UFO appear exactly as their names might suggest, and, accessible only by ladder, are the treehouses kids dream of. All of these rooms have en-suite bathrooms but no showers, which are a short walk away. The largest room at Treehotel is The Dragonfly, a two-bedroom abode with a rusted metal exterior, panoramic windows and interiors by Swedish design firm Rintala Eggertsson Architects.

The most upscale accommodation at Treehotel is the 7^th Room. Covered in charred black wood, it blends into the forest landscape from its perch 32 feet above the ground. Before construction, the designers photographed the trees they were about to cut down to build the room, and this image is now displayed on the bottom of the structure, so it blends in with the surroundings when viewed from below. The 330-square-foot lodging features sleek Scandinavian design and large windows (ideal for viewing the Northern Lights on winter evenings), two bedrooms, a small sitting area, a netted terrace and a bathroom with an orbital shower (it uses 90% less water and 80% less energy than standard showers).

All of the rooms at Treehotel are eco-friendly and have a unique water dispensing device invented by Kent Lindvall. The system removes the need for pipes and outdoor plumbing entirely and saves significant amounts of water.

Britta’s Pensionat still operates as 12-room guesthouse, and is where reception and the hotel’s restaurant are located. Set a 10-minute walk from the farthest room, Britta’s is filled with Swedish antiques, fostering a quirky but cozy atmosphere. Meals here usually feature traditional Swedish dishes like reindeer steak and shrimp with crème fraiche, lemon and fennel. Treehotel also has two saunas that can be booked for private use.

Couples and families who are looking for the once-in-a-lifetime experience of sleeping in the trees, but do not need five-star service.