‘Climate smart’ holiday concept launches in Sweden

Sweden: West Sweden Tourist Board is introducing “climate-smart holidays‘, a concept to offer sustainable and experience-rich holidays with minimal CO2 emissions.

The announcement comes after the city of Gothenburg in Western Sweden [also Sweden’s second city] was ranked as the world’s most sustainable destination for six consecutive times, according to the Global Destination Sustainability Index. Meanwhile in 2021, travel publication Lonely Planet named the city as the world’s Best sustainable city stay, prompting Gothenburg and the West Sweden region to continue investing in developing the destination in a sustainable manner.

Together with five hospitality companies across West Sweden, the Tourist Board wants to show that it is possible to travel locally, live comfortably and at the same time, be climate smart.

Marie Linde, vice president of the West Sweden Tourist Board, said: “With our new concept ‘Climate-smart holiday’, we want to show that it is possible to travel locally, live luxuriously and at the same time be climate-smart. We want to offer a sustainable and memorable holiday, full of experiences that visitors can enjoy with a clear conscience.”

The five accommodations in West Sweden participating in the concept are: Erikson Cottage; Lugnåsberget Ekohotell; Swedish Country Living; Inforest; and Dalslands Aktiviteter. All are small-scale family businesses where everything is sustainable, from accommodation to food and activities and transport.

The carbon dioxide emissions of each guest have been calculated using the climate calculator on travelandclimate.org. All five participating properties’ emissions per guest night are between 0.2 and 1.4 kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalents – compared to 6.8 kilograms for an average Swedish hotel.

It is recommended that visitors arrive by train and will then be picked up at the train station for transfer by electric car for the last leg.

The climate-friendly properties that form a part of the five packages use solar panels and green electricity, recycled building materials and timber from their own forest, use water from their own wells, compost waste, sort and recycle waste and use environmentally friendly cleaning products. Furthermore, locally grown organic vegetables and meat from nearby farms are also used.

Visitors can do themselves and the environment a favour by tapping into their own resources occasionally whilst on holiday. Combined with eco-friendly accommodation, Sweden’s natural environment makes it an ideal place for outdoor activities such as hiking, biking and kayaking, and with so much open space and Sweden’s famous ‘Allemansrätten’ [the Right of Public Access], visitors can enjoy the activities while in close harmony with nature.

The five packages are:

Swedish Country Living

Surrounded by forest, overlooking the water, and situated on ancient farmland, the architecturally designed hermit cottages of Swedish Country Living provide a close-to-nature experience. They were awarded ‘Sweden’s most sustainable experience’ in 2022.

Package:

• Accommodation for two nights in one of the hermit cabins with two breakfasts, one packed lunch and two dinners
• A private bathroom with shower, toilet and charging facility at the recycling centre
• Log burner in the cottage and garden furniture and barbecue in front of the cottage
• Tea, coffee and drinking water in the cottage
• Access to a canoe or kayak with a life jacket
• Transfer from the train station in Mellerud by electric car or facilities to charge one’s own electric car

Available April – September. Price for two adults is 5000 SEK [approximately £370] per person.

Erikson Cottage

Spend the night in a secluded glass cabin in the forest. Erikson Cottage has its own farm bakery as well as access to hiking trails and canoeing.

Package:

• Accommodation for two nights in a tiny architect-designed glass cabin
• Coffee on arrival, breakfast and dinner
• Access to a kayak and sup

Available 1 May – 15 October. Price for two people: Cabins ‘Skogen’ or ‘Sjöblicken’ SEK 7300 [approximately £540], Cabin ‘Sjön’ SEK 10 500 [approximately £774], accommodation in Cabin Sjön includes a private wood-fired sauna. There is a surcharge of SEK 500 [approximately £37] for transfer from the train station.

Inforest             

At Inforest, stay in small houses in the forest where peace, quiet and privacy are the only neighbours.

Package:

• Accommodation for two nights, including bed linen, towels, firewood and final cleaning.
• Transfer to and from Hjo bus station.

Available April – October. Price for two adults from 4980 SEK [approximately £370] per person.

Ecohotel Lugnåsberget

At the family-run eco-hotel Lugnåsberget, hike to historical sites, go canoeing or simply relax in front of the fireplace. There are chickens on the farm, and in the summer, pick berries and pet the sheep grazing in the garden.

Package:

• Accommodation for two nights in a single or twin room, including bed linen and final cleaning
• Organic breakfast, lunch basket and dinner basket with bean salad and smoked lamb / feta cheese
• Access to the sauna and maps of the area

Prices from: Two adults 1895 SEK [approximately £140] per person, single room 2695 SEK [approximately £199].  Extra night 800 SEK [approximately £60] for a single room and 1000 SEK [approximately £74] for a twin room. Family package also available.

Dalslands Aktiviteter

At Dalslands Aktiviteter guests live in architect-designed glass houses in the middle of Dalsland’s nature. On site, there are the facilities to, among other things, go fishing, pet moose and cook outdoors.

Package:

• Accommodation for three nights in a glass house by the lake.
• Welcome coffee on arrival, breakfast, lunch and dinner
• Access to a rowing boat, fishing rods, swimming area, barbecue area and torch
• Access to toilets and shower are available at the adventure centre 800 metres away

Available from April – October. Price for two adults from 5645 SEK [approximately £420] per person.