Steaming hot way of life in Swedish Lapland

Floating Sauna at Aurora Safaris

In Swedish Lapland the sauna is as much a part of life as the northern lights and midnight sun. Here we've put together a goodie bag of sauna related story ideas and news items for you.

In Sauna Veritas

“In sauna there is truth”, at least that is what the Swedish Sauna Academy claims with its slogan: In sauna veritas. But if you grew up with sauna talk at home as well as at the public baths in the north, you are well aware that you had better take most of it with a pinch of salt. Find out about the essentials of sauna bathing in Swedish Lapland.

Sweat like a pro

Slow down. Share the moment. Embrace the heat. And always honour the steam. Here’s how to turn your first sauna experience, or bastu as we say in Sweden, into something truly unforgettable. What Svante Spolander at the generational, family owned Kukkolaforsen  doesn't know about sauna isn't worth knowing: 

For me, bastu is 80 percent about cleansing the mind and 20 percent about washing the body. It’s about slowing down, relaxing, and recharging your energy, says Svante Spolander, bastu expert and board member of the Swedish Bastu Academy.

 

Kukkolaforsen premiered a brand new BYA bastu (village sauna) this April, wich boasts the world's largest sauna stove. And not only, they also re-launched RÖK – Sweden’s largest smoke sauna that is guaranteed to provide an authentic and atmospheric experience. 

The smoke sauna is one of the oldest forms of sauna. It lacks a chimney, which means that the smoke from the fire fills the room during heating. Once the desired temperature is reached, the smoke is vented out, leaving behind a mild and aromatic atmosphere.

A sauna potpourri

Most accomodation facilities offer their guests the opportunity to take a sauna – some more spectacular than others. Here are seven great saunas to visit when in Swedish Lapland:

1. Sauna adventure in Kukkolaforsen – Kukkolaforsen, with Finland on the opposite side of the river, celebrates the two countries’ shared culture with no less than 16 different saunas! kukkolaforsen.se/en/
2. Solar egg in Kiruna – after travelling around the globe, this iconic sauna, created by artists Bigert & Bergström, has returned home, now located near the new Kiruna city center. swedishlapland.com/stories/solar-egg-sauna/
3. Arctic Bath Harads – at this floating spa hotel on the Lule River, lies a sauna experience in a circular structure, designed to resemble a log jam from the timber-floating era. arcticbath.se/
4. The floating sauna, Aurora Safari Camp in Gunnarsbyn – wood-fired floating sauna awaits anyone who is in for a plunge summer and winter. aurorasafaris.com/room/the-floating-camp/
5. Lapland View Lodge in Övertorneå – at the top of Luppioberget mountain, you’ll find a sauna with panoramic views over the Torne Valley. explorethenorth.se/our-lodges/lapland-view-lodge
6. Båtsouj Sami Centre in Arjeplog – immerse yourself in Sami culture and make sure to to try out the cozy log sauna with a dock so long that you might reconsider that dip. en.batsuoj.se/
7. Låktatjåkkå, the highest located sauna – at 1,228 meters above sea level, there’s a mountain hut with sauna, beds, and a restaurant. bjorkliden.com/en/boende/laktatjakko-fjallstation/

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New Elite Hotel Frost to open May 11th

On May 11th Kiruna boasts a brand new central hotel. The hotel will be part of the new growing city center with 154 modern hotel rooms, two restaurants, conference facilities, a sky bar, and a spectacular Vana Spa at the top of the hotel. Discover a truly magical place in Swedish Lapland, a vast landscape shaped by rivers, mountains, and lakes with the Northern Lights and midnight sun as a backdrop. Welcome to Elite Hotel Frost!

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Room to breathe

Speaking about slowing down, relaxing and recharging. We'd like for our guests to take their time while visiting Swedish Lapland. 

Hanneke and Arne set out on a journey to find out what it would be like to relocate to the north. One year later they are still enjoying life in eight seasons. And, en route, they have captured thousands of beautiful moments and found memories. Because, sometimes all you really need is room to breathe.

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