After an extensive planning and construction period, the long-awaited Arctic Bath Hotel and Spa is now receiving bookings. Travel experts Off the Map Travel and the team behind the famous Treehotel in Sweden are accepting reservations for travel to the floating hotel and spa, Arctic Bath, between February 2020 and February 2021. The Arctic Bath Hotel and Spa, designed by architects Bertil Harström and Johan Kaupp, freezes into the Lule River in the winter and floats on top of the water in the summer. The Arctic Bath and Spa offers wellness, mindfulness and cleansing treatments through spa partners Kerstin Florian. The hotel and spa is located in Kiruna in Swedish Lapland.
The Arctic Bath Hotel and Spa offers a distinctive experience with a stay in theHotel, comprised of six detached floating “cabins” and six additional cabins on land, plus the Arctic Bath inspired by the timber floating era which recalls how felled trees were transported downriver for processing. Both the spa and the rooms float on or are frozen into the water, depending on the season. The spa complex and cabins float on waters ranging from 6.5 to 14 feet deep and are connected by floating walkways. With an eye to sustainability, the Arctic Bath leaves a minimal environmental footprint.
The Arctic Bath’s approach to wellness is based on four elements: proper nutrition, regular exercise, peace of mind, and the care of face and body. These are reflected through menus, snacks and smoothies focusing on clean, local ingredients; the encouragement of exercise through a variety of activities; working with affirmation cards, mindfulness and meditation; and the Arctic Bath’s proprietary spa treatments. Guests at the floating hotel and spa will experience the wellness benefits of alternating cold-water and hot-water dips and sauna, yoga, meditation, and cleansing sessions such as crystal healing. Each moment is designed to bring relaxation, refreshment and clarity. There are no ambient distractions or light pollution. Colors are chosen for their color therapy benefits, and surrounding materials are organic and local. Both summer and winter spa experiences will be offered.
The circular-shaped Arctic Bath houses one spa treatment room, four saunas, an outside cold bath, a hot bath, outdoor and indoor showers, and two dressing rooms. The open center of the bath invites guests to sunbathe, ice bathe or sit back to view the Northern Lights or star-filled skies. A dip in the bath itself is consistent with the Arctic tradition of a cold-water plunge with the water maintained at 39 degrees Fahrenheit and combines well with the warmth of a sauna and spa. A special technique has been developed to keep the center of the bath open during wintertime, adding to the drama of the setting and the guest experience.
“The opening of the Arctic Bath has been eagerly anticipated over the last year ever since plans were first announced,” commented Jonny Cooper, founder of Off the Map Travel. “The serenity of the location combined with this distinctive wellness experience makes this a first in the travel world,” he continued.
