This New Forest Hotel in Sweden Has 5 'Floating' Tree House Suites

A new hotel in Southern Sweden promises a "unique stay in the heart of the forest" where the landscape, simple design, and silence have taken center stage.

Trakt Forest Hotel (trakt is Swedish for an area or a district, often used in forestry) is a five-suite property that stands out with its distinct architecture, conceived by Gert Wingårdh, an acclaimed Swedish architect whose eye-catching style includes a penchant for sharp, geometric shapes and bold colors. The property, which took five years to complete and just opened in July, was inspired by traditional Swedish hunting towers used for tracking moose that are elevated from the ground and often built with local materials. Similarly, the five forest suites that the architect described to Travel + Leisure as "floating rooms" are built on pillars with minimal environmental impact and seamlessly blend in with the tall trees around them.

"It takes simplicity to appreciate the forest," Wingårdh told T+L, also explaining that the elevated design of the suites invokes a sense of safety and privacy. Inside, Scandinavian simplicity and custom accents, such as locally-made chairs, ooze understated luxury. Wood-burning fireplaces, sleek sofas, oversized windows, and — best of all — skylights allows guest to immerse themselves in the forest.

"We want our visitors to be a part of the Swedish nature, rather than being a guest in it," said Sandra and Mattias Sälleteg, the founders of Trakt Forest Hotel. They explained that the property was developed on the family farm and that by launching the hotel, they hope to contribute to the region by "employing people from the area, working with local producers and craftsmen, and getting material locally."

Trakt Kitchen, the hotel's restaurant located in a timber house, specializes in traditional home-cooked fare, a lot of the ingredients for which come from the family or neighboring farms. "We let our cooking take time, leaven our own sourdough, smoke our meat, boil the jam," the Sälletegs stated on their website. Guests can have a breakfast basket or lunch delivered straight to their room or book a three-course dinner. On summer weekends, a hearty buffet is served for lunch, followed by dessert, coffee, and tea. Patrons enjoy Italian wine from a small Umbrian winery and homemade soft drinks prepared with fresh fruit from a local farm.

Nightly rates at Trakt Forest Hotel start at $732, and you can book your stay here.