Lifts the score
Twelve years into my career and this is the best place I’ve worked, with management that’s actually approachable.
Goitom Gebreslassie Tesfay Oct 2024
The team here became close friends rather than just coworkers over the time I was there. Our manager kept things energetic and positive, and that attitude filtered down through the whole staff. The views and the location genuinely lifted my mood on a daily basis, and I’m leaving only for personal reasons, not because of the job itself.
- Positive, supportive working environment
Strong endorsement
This was the best service I’ve ever gotten at a hotel, and I’d order that clementine cocktail again in a heartbeat.
Helene De Vil Jun 2026
The whole stay felt like a small slice of heaven from the moment we checked in. The food was lovely and the sauna-and-cold-bath routine was genuinely something special. Anyone considering it shouldn’t hesitate.
“be sure to try the clementine cocktail” in their words
- Standout bar drinks
- Sauna and cold bath routine well executed
Strong endorsement
Our honeymoon in February was the escape from Manhattan noise we needed, with the river frozen solid and total silence outside.
Taylor Schoettle Mar 2026
We went in February and the river was completely frozen over, which felt like stepping into another world coming from New York City. Every night brought genuinely excellent food, and our days settled into a rhythm of sauna sessions between snowshoeing and dog sledding. The quiet on its own was worth the trip.
- Frozen river winter setting
- Strong dinner every night
Lifts the score
The staff were excellent throughout, but the admin side of the hotel let us down twice on the same trip.
CJBRJB Feb 2026
We had a water cabin that was cozy and comfortable, and the food was genuinely amazing with a new menu each of our three nights. The spa was never crowded, with two saunas, a steam room, two jacuzzis and a natural plunge pool that was invigorating after the heat. Our travel agent had confirmed an 8:30pm dinner slot, but we arrived to be told it was moved to 6:30, and separately we got double-invoiced for a bill we’d already paid. Wilmer at reception sorted both issues himself and got the chef to accommodate our original time.
- Spa never felt crowded
- Wilmer resolved billing and scheduling errors
- Admin mishandled a confirmed dinner time
- Guest was double-invoiced
Drags the score
The location and the main spa building are special, but I don’t think the price matches what you actually get in the room.
Paullw Jan 2026
We had a run of bad luck: the first sauna wasn’t working, the main hot tub was down and the backup one offered instead was cold, and our pellet stove wouldn’t relight after briefly catching, leaving the room feeling cold rather than cozy. The tasting menu was creative and used good local produce, but food and drinks are billed separately and cost a lot on top of an already high room rate. I’ve stayed at luxury properties worldwide that offer more for less, and I’m not sure the price here is justified by the room and amenities alone.
- Distinctive spa building and setting
- Multiple equipment failures during stay
- Food and drink are expensive add-ons
- Room felt underwhelming for the price
Strong endorsement
My land cabin’s pellet stove made the room feel like a proper Lapland home, and the Sami cultural visit ended up being the real highlight of my trip.
D6873DYrebeccab Jan 2026
I was drawn here by the river setting and the architecture, and the land cabin with its pellet stove was cozy despite my luggage getting delayed en route. Both the restaurant and spa felt like they lived up to their Michelin-key recognition. I skipped the cold plunge myself, put off by having to chip ice away first, but spending time with a Sami guide named Anna, who shared family traditions, served reindeer soup, and sang a joik she’d written for her son, ended up meaning more to me than the Northern Lights I came for.
“I met the real Sven” in their words
- Land cabin’s pellet stove kept things cozy
- Sami cultural excursion was a standout
- Cold plunge requires breaking ice yourself
Mixed read
The stay itself was excellent, but a booking-site mix-up over what was included in our rate cost us an extra thousand pounds.
alicecL1154VM Jan 2026
The setting felt secure and calm, the waiting and spa staff were attentive without being overbearing, and the local food was excellent. We took the guided sauna and did the cold plunge at minus 26, which was invigorating. Our stay was booked through a third-party site advertising all-inclusive food, but the hotel later told us a processing error meant food wasn’t actually included on our non-refundable booking, leaving us an unexpected bill that soured an otherwise great trip and cut into other plans.
- Attentive but unobtrusive spa staff
- Strong local food
- Third-party booking error led to a large surprise bill
Strong endorsement
My sister’s suitcase fell apart the morning we left, and the front desk had it handled within minutes.
evie Dec 2025
The front desk staff, especially one named Bass, went well beyond what I expected when my sister’s suitcase literally came apart on departure day. Our excursion guide Stefan was endlessly patient with my large and fairly chaotic extended family. The water cabin ran small, but that pushed us to spend more time in the main building, where fresh coffee and tea (oat milk included) seemed to always be on hand. I wish snacks like the cinnamon rolls showed up on a more predictable schedule, but everything that did appear was excellent.
“Do not worry about the cold” in their words
- Front desk solved a luggage crisis fast
- Huge windows make the main building great for Northern Lights
- Water cabins are small
- Snack availability is unpredictable
Strong endorsement
Our water cabin was tiny but so well designed that I barely minded, and the restaurant genuinely deserves recognition.
GilesPDavis Dec 2025
The team here made everything feel easy from the moment we arrived, warm and professional without ever hovering. Our water cabin was small but beautifully detailed, and the spa’s mix of steam room, two saunas, hot tubs and that freezing plunge pool struck a great balance. Dinner changed every night of our stay with no choice offered beyond dietary needs, which I actually enjoyed, and it was worthy of serious recognition. It isn’t cheap, but I’d call it worth the money, and we got to see the Northern Lights on top of everything else.
- Well-balanced spa facilities
- Nightly changing tasting menu
Strong endorsement
There’s genuinely no signage out here, so we relied entirely on Google Maps to find the right building.
dr_aaltonen Jul 2025
The location is remote enough that there are no signs at all, and once you arrive you have to guess which building is reception (it’s the big one on the lake). We visited at the end of July expecting crowds, but there was only one other couple there the whole time. Our lake room was beautiful and functional, the two Finnish saunas and steam room made the cold lake water feel refreshing afterward, and dinner was a proper multi-course journey from amuse bouche through petit fours.
- Very quiet even in what should be peak season
- Multi-course dinner well executed
- No signage makes arrival confusing
Strong endorsement
The tea made from wild berry leaves was so simple that I still think about it, and dinner felt tied to the forest around us.
Dayra Chiu Apr 2025
Every dish felt genuinely connected to the surrounding nature, especially a tea made from foraged wild berry leaves that was simple but memorable. The building’s design and materials manage to feel luxurious while still sitting in harmony with the landscape around it. The views were remarkable, the sauna was ideal for winding down, and the staff were warm without being showy about it.
- Locally foraged ingredients throughout the menu
- Design feels tied to the landscape
Strong endorsement
Lars drove us to and from the airport and answered every question we threw at him along the way.
Mark & Eva Osborn Sep 2024
The river setting delivers stunning views right from the property, and the spa ritual of saunas, plunge pool and hot tub kept us occupied for hours. Bathing products supplied were genuinely high quality, and the staff throughout were informative and kind without being intrusive. We pre-arranged our meals by email ahead of time, and the food arrived perfectly prepared and beautifully plated, especially the desserts. Our airport transfer was handled by a driver named Lars who was skilled and friendly the whole way.
- High quality spa products
- Smooth pre-arranged dining and airport transfer
Strong endorsement
Our third-night dinner was a ten-plus course experience and easily one of the best meals we’ve had anywhere.
Andy Ettisberger Sep 2024
From arrival, everything about the place felt considered, right down to the branded plates and the decor. Our water cabin had plenty of room, an oven, a strong shower, and even deck chairs outside, though wind kept us from using them much. The spa built around a cold pool fed by the river, set inside the main bird’s-nest building, delivered complete relaxation after the sauna. Dinner on our final night was an extended tasting menu, ten-plus courses, that stood out as one of the best meals either of us has had.
- Attention to detail in the rooms
- Extended tasting menu was exceptional
Strong endorsement
I’ve eaten at plenty of great restaurants, and this kitchen rivals a one-star Michelin place despite being an hour from the nearest airport.
Shaun S Aug 2024
It’s about an hour and a bit from Luleå airport but feels far more remote than that once you’re there. The spa setup with saunas, plunge pool and jacuzzis was excellent, and a massage using local products stood out. What really sets this place apart is the food: the menu, the chef and the service are on par with a one-star restaurant, and vegetarian options were handled thoughtfully with fresh local ingredients. I visited in summer and the plunge pool was still properly cold after the sauna.
- Kitchen quality rivals a one-star restaurant
- Thoughtful vegetarian menu options
Lifts the score
The staff, honestly, were the best part of the whole trip, even more than the spa itself.
Katie Drees Sep 2023
From the moment we arrived, the staff were attentive to whatever we needed, and we got to know a handful of them by name over our stay. The kitchen team turned out consistently excellent food throughout. The saunas did fluctuate in temperature more than I expected, which made them a little harder to settle into than I’d hoped.
- Staff formed genuine rapport with guests
- Kitchen consistently strong
- Sauna temperatures fluctuated noticeably
