World's Tallest Wooden Hotel

The world’s tallest hotel made almost exclusively from wood has opened in Swedish Lapland, the the birthplace of cross-country skiing and home of the reindeer.

Wood Hotel in Sweden, surrounded by forest — Photo via Insider Travel Report

The Wood Hotel in Skellefteå is no rustic cabin in the woods. It is a 20-story luxury hotel downtown, dominating the skyline, and surrounded by the spruce and pine forest whose wood was used to construct it.

Designed for enjoyment in the forested area of northern Sweden, the hotel offers couples and families an experience in local adventure and local cuisine.

Available from December to March, the Wood Hotel Experience begins with an overnight stay in Stockholm before a flight to northern Skellefteå -where guests will be transferred to the hotel by electric car.

Since this is Sweden, home of Volvo and spin-off brand Polestar, you can expect the EV to be one or the other.

The hotel has 205 contemporary rooms filled with the rich, warm smell of the trees they are built from.

In addition to a rooftop spa, there are three restaurants, including an Italian café, an Asian restaurant and a local outlet with Sami-inspired food.

The Sami people live in an area that includes Sweden, Norway, Finland and Russia. They are ancestors of the Vikings, and known for their warm, colorful dress and reindeer herds.

Wood Hotel Experience

It’s a five-day/four-night itinerary, that includes the following:

Guests create their own gin at Skellefteå’s distillery using locally foraged ingredients.
Go snowshoeing to take in the sights of this beautiful part of Swedish Lapland and then
Relax in the hotel’s Vana Spa with its saunas and outdoor pool offering panoramic views over Skellefteå and its forests.
Self-guided walk with well-marked trails leaving directly from the hotel.
For cross-country skiers, Skellefteå offers choices for all levels with optional excursions possible according to interests and levels.

And also – the chance to see the remarkable and memorable Northern Lights.

“This is an opportunity for sustainability-minded visitors who search out ‘neo luxury,’ looking for culture and escapism all wrapped into one comfortable, climate-sensitive package,” said Alex Minnis, chief operations officer for Off The Map Travel, which is offering the package, through March 2023.

“Being made out of wood contributes to the building’s being climate-positive as the structure absorbs more CO2 than it uses. It also contributes to comfort and personal well-being, reducing stress and improving sleep.”

Prices are from around $2,500 per person.

Thanks to our friends at Insider Travel Report for alerting us to this interesting eco-hotel and destination.

ecoXplorer Evelyn Kanter is a journalist with 20+ years of experience as a newspaper and magazine writer, radio & TV news producer & reporter, and author of guidebooks and smartphone apps – all focusing on travel, automotive, the environment and your rights as a consumer.

ecoXplorer Evelyn Kanter currently serves as 1st VP of the International Motor Press Assn. (IMPA) and is a former Board Member of the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW)

Contact me at evelyn@ecoxplorer.com.

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