Harads, Sweden
In Harads, deep in Norrland forest, architect-designed treehouses rise above the Lule River, where Chef Linus Lejon's microseason menus and a forest SPA complete life lived in the canopy.
You arrive in Harads, a small village deep in the Norrland forest, and look up. Architect-designed treerooms hover among the pines, each a different shape, material, and vision. The Biosphere wraps its facade in birdhouses, blurring the line between shelter and habitat. The UFO floats like a glass-walled nest above the forest floor. Light filters through birch and spruce. The air carries cold resin and silence. Atelje Lyktan fixtures glow warmly inside each suspended structure.Kent and Britta Lindvall founded Treehotel in 2010 with a radical premise: architecture belongs in the canopy. Scandinavian firms including Bjarke Ingels Group, Snøhetta, and Tham & Videgård each designed individual treerooms. No two share the same form or footprint. The hotel treats each room as a standalone architectural statement within Swedish Lapland's boreal landscape.
Treehotel sits along the Lule River in Harads, offering activities that shift with Swedish Lapland's seasons. In summer, guests paddle kayaks under the midnight sun or cast fishing lines into forest lakes. Eva Gunnare leads foraging tours through the boreal woodland, gathering wild herbs and berries. Visitors can meet Anna, an indigenous Sami reindeer herder, or join Lars Eriksson's family at their forest homestead.Winter transforms the landscape into a snow-covered playground. Husky sled teams race through the silent forest with experienced mushers. The Lemmel trail invites snowshoe walkers to brew coffee over an open fire. Snowmobile safaris cross the frozen terrain, and Northern Lights ventures go deep into the woodland by night. Ice fishing on remote forest lakes offers stillness few places can match.Year-round, guided Treehotel tours reveal the story behind each architectural treehouse. Visitors can also travel to Storforsen, one of Europe's highest unrestricted white-water rapids, where guides cook lunch over open flames beside the thundering river.
Explore additional experiences in the surrounding area.
Straight-line distance from hotel: 50 m directTreehotel offers guided tours that tell the story of how the hotel became a reality. One source says the tour is about one hour and includes a stroll to view the treerooms and sauna area.
Route length: 24.1km loopEstimated time: 5.5hLoop routeUrstjärnbäckens naturreservat is a protected nature reserve established on June 10, 2004, classified as a protection class 1a area. It is managed by Länsstyrelsen i Norrbottens län and offers a serene environment for nature watching and wellbeing activities.
Route length: 5.7km loopEstimated time: 1.5hLoop routeInre Råbergets naturreservat is a protected area classified as a nature reserve (protect_class 1a) operated by Länsstyrelsen i Norrbottens län since 2010. It is officially recognized and has a boundary marked as a protected area.
Route length: 3.8km loopEstimated time: 51minLoop routeStorklinten is a winter sports area, making it a suitable destination for skiing activities. It is officially recognized with a dedicated website and Wikidata entry.
Route length: 4.4km loopEstimated time: 59minLoop routeÅkerby naturreservat is a nature reserve protected since February 8, 1967, classified under protection class 7. It is overseen by Länsstyrelsen i Norrbottens län and includes boundaries designated as protected areas.
Route length: 4.1km loopEstimated time: 55minLoop routeStor-Klöverhuvudet is a nature reserve operated by Länsstyrelsen i Norrbottens län established in 2009. It covers about 68 hectares of land without any water area.
Route length: 9.5km loopEstimated time: 2hLoop routeLångmyrskogen is a nature reserve of approximately 166.86 hectares, protected since May 25, 2011, and classified as protection class 1. Managed by Länsstyrelsen i Norrbottens län, this reserve does not include water areas within its boundaries.
Route length: 6.2km loopEstimated time: 1.5hLoop routeSvanahuvudet is a large nature reserve of 213.94 hectares established in 2010 and classified as protection class 1. The reserve is managed by Länsstyrelsen i Norrbottens län and contains no water bodies within its area.
Straight-line distance from hotel: 50 m directTreehotel has sauna access as part of its spa and relaxation offerings. A source says the hotel has two sauna houses and a hot tub, and another source mentions a free two-hour sauna session including snacks.
Straight-line distance from hotel: 50 m directSeason: WinterTreehotel offers snowshoe excursions through the snowy forest landscape. One listed snowshoe tour runs daily from December 1 to March 31 and departs from Treehotel.
Head Chef Linus Lejon builds every menu around microseasonality, letting Swedish Lapland's shifting landscape dictate each plate. Summer brings light compositions of foraged forest ingredients and vegetables. Winter transforms the kitchen toward preserved goods and bold, warming flavors. Ingredients arrive from nearby producers and foragers across the Lule River valley. The historic Guesthouse, styled in retro 1930s-40s Swedish decor, hosts five-course tasting menus beside a glowing fireplace. When temperatures drop, guests move to a candlelit tipi on the frozen Lule River for Treehotel's Ice Dining experience, plated courses served among ice lanterns under the Arctic sky. Thoughtfully paired wines and warming drinks accompany each dish.
Wrapped in a bathrobe, you walk a quiet forest path to the Treehotel Forest SPA. Pine branches frame the clearing where the hot sauna radiates dry, woody heat. Steam rises from your skin as you step outside into Swedish Lapland's cool air. The outdoor jacuzzi sits among the trees, warm water bubbling against the silence of the boreal forest. Snow or midnight sun, the backdrop shifts with the season. Hot towels wait folded nearby. Each session at the Forest SPA is booked privately, so the only sounds are birdsong and your own breathing settling into stillness.
Treehotel exists because the forest demanded a different kind of building. Every treeroom attaches to living trees without harming them. No trees fall during construction. The Swedish Lapland forest remains intact, and guests sleep within it rather than upon its cleared ground.Green hydroelectric power from local sources runs every treeroom. LED lighting keeps energy use low. Combustion toilets incinerate waste at 600°C, eliminating the need for sewage infrastructure. Chemical-free eco wood floors use heat treatment above 200 degrees for natural durability. All wastewater is collected and removed daily. Treehotel partners with local construction companies, landowners, and producers in Harads to keep the economy rooted in the community.
Architect-designed treerooms suspended in the birch and pine forest of Harads, each built from distinct materials — mirrored glass, cabin timber, woven nest forms — with tree-canopy views as standard. Rooms range from compact doubles for two, such as the Mirrorcube and The Cabin, to multi-room treehouses like the 7th Room and The UFO sleeping up to five. The Biosphere includes a private sauna.
The Cabin
A 24 m² treehouse cabin for two, set among the trees with a double bed and a private terrace. The compact, capsule-like design keeps the focus on the forest around you.
The Mirrorcube
A cube clad entirely in mirrored glass, reflecting the surrounding forest so the structure almost disappears into the trees. Inside, there is a double bed and a lounge area; outside, a rooftop terrace sits level with the canopy. Sleeps two.
Bird's Nest
A 17 m² treehouse built to resemble a bird's nest, with separate sleeping and living areas connected by a retractable staircase. Sleeps up to four.
The UFO
A 30 m² space-themed treehouse sleeping four — two adults and two children — with separate bedrooms and a living area. The interior design follows a playful UFO concept throughout.
Dragonfly
A 22 m² treehouse with four beds, a separate sleeping loft, and a living room. The layered interior suits small groups or families, sleeping up to four across distinct areas of the space.
Biosphere
A contemporary treehouse for two, built around a double bed with a sauna included. The design is architectural and nature-focused, with materials and layout that keep the outdoors close.
7th Room
The 7th Room is Treehotel's largest treehouse, sleeping up to five across two bedrooms and a lounge area with two double beds and a sofa bed. A transparent floor and railing give a clear view straight down through the tree…
Guesthouse
The Treehotel Guesthouse serves as the reception and guest hub where visitors are welcomed before being guided to their treeroom; also available as accommodation.
Oasis
Blue Cone
Sleep among the treetops of Swedish Lapland at Treehotel in Harads. Book a room suspended in the boreal forest.
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