Escape to
Swedish Lapland

Who hasn't dreamed of watching the northern lights, meeting the animals of the Far North, or spending a night in a hotel made entirely of ice? We travelled to Swedish Lapland to bring back its essentials.

1 The Icehotel

Each winter, the river freezes around the hotel and new ice halls are carved. The rooms are sculpted entirely from ice, redesigned every year by artists from around the world after the spring melt. Sleeping at −5 °C leaves no one indifferent, and for those who prefer comfort, warm rooms are available too.

2 A dog-sled ride

Lapland offers polar landscapes made for winter. Dog-sledding excursions last around two and a half hours across the snow. The mushers are deeply passionate, which makes the moment more special still, and the dogs, surprisingly affectionate.

3 The aurora from unusual stays

The Aurora Sky Station offers night-time snowshoe walks and high-altitude dinners facing the polar sky. The Aurora Igloo, a small glass cabin set on a frozen lake, promises peace and serenity. And the Arctic Bath, with its nature-facing cabins, spa and ice-water bathing, welcomes families too.

4 Sleeping in the boreal forest

The Treehotel offers frozen glamping in forest cabins of striking design. Arctic Retreat, a hamlet of just three cottages deep in the woods, opens onto an unobstructed view due north, perfect for watching the aurora.

5 Meeting the Sami

Anna, a Sami woman, shares the indigenous culture of Lapland: traditional food, joik singing, and the ancestral craft of reindeer herding. You feed the reindeer, you talk with the families, a simple, quietly profound encounter.

6 Bathing in Arctic waters

Aboard an icebreaker, a three-hour cruise reveals how the ship works, then, in a floating, waterproof suit, you immerse yourself in the Arctic Ocean. An unforgettable sensation.

Swedish Lapland is as much felt as it is seen. It is a destination that stays with you, long after you return.