Holidaymakers can now stay in a towering wooden hotel in northern Sweden.
The world’s tallest hotel made almost exclusively from wood has now opened for guests at the birthplace of cross-country skiing - Skellefteå.
Standing at 75m high (20 storeys) tall it is made from spruce and pine sourced from the neighbouring forests.
Each of the hotel’s 205 rooms are filled with the rich smell of the trees they are built from, forested from Sweden's vast woodland tracts.
Now, adventure specialists Off the Map Travel are launching a five-day Wood Hotel Experience based around the new hotel.
Over the course of the experience guests will create their own gin at Skellefteå’s award-winning distillery using locally foraged ingredients; go snowshoeing to take in the sights of this beautiful part of Swedish Lapland and spend time relaxing in the Wood Hotel’s rooftop ‘Vana’ spa with panoramic views over Skellefteå and its green forests.
“This is an opportunity for anyone looking for culture and escapism all wrapped into one, says Alex Minnis, Chief Operations Officer of Off the Map Travel.
“The Wood Hotel is an incredible building that rises out of Skellefteå, dominating the skyline, yet remaining part of the town’s natural beauty due to the materials it is made from. Every detail within the hotel has been carefully considered to offer the optimum in relaxation for guests.
“Being made out of wood contributes to the whole building being climate-positive as the structure absorbs more CO2 than it uses.
“This is the first season the hotel has been open to guests from around the world so it’s a chance for people to experience something totally new this winter.”
Available from December until March, the adventure begins with an overnight stay in Stockholm before flying to Skellefteå where they will be collected by electric car and driven to the Wood Hotel.
In winter, the new itinerary is ideally located for guests to experience the Northern Lights with well-marked trails leaving directly from the hotel, perfect for a self-guided evening walk.
The hotel has three restaurants, including an Italian café, an Asian restaurant and Sami-inspired food that is locally sourced.
Minnis added: “There are a lot of health benefits to staying in a structure made almost entirely from wood, including reduced blood pressure, reduced stress levels and improved sleep.
“We hope that guests will leave feeling like they’ve had a restorative break in this up-and-coming part of Swedish Lapland.”
However, it comes with a hefty price tag.
The five-day, four-night Wood Hotel Experience itinerary costs from £2,045 per person on a bed and breakfast basis, not including flights, travel insurance, additional excursions or meals.
Despite the cost, the hotel has received a series of glowing reviews online.
"Fantastic service. Lovely rooms, extraordinary views. Exceptional design and well thought out," one person wrote.
"Right in the centre with as many as three restaurants and a cultural centre - all in one.
"So incredibly clean and fresh. A lot of luxury at a good price. Lovely hygiene items. Nice big beds. Beautiful pillows and duvets."
