Sauna rafting in Småland - a magical experience at Ödevata farm hotel

To FREEDOMtravel

Advertisement

We have tested a sauna raft in Småland, at Ödevata Gårdshotell in Glasriket, and it was a absolutely magical experience. The drone footage shows a raft appearing to float weightlessly among the clouds, and that's exactly what it felt like out there on the lake.

Tweet

Share

Share

Pin

Share

Share

Ödevata Farm Hotel

Ödevata Gårdshotell is a cosy, simple hotel close to nature, and at the same time a caravan park, for anyone who likes nature, fishing, saunas and sustainability.

The farm hotel is located ten minutes by car from the centre of Emmaboda, in the middle of the Småland forests, right next to an idyllic lake.

We visited Ödevata Gårdshotell with our motorhome back in November 2021. That time, the owners, Malin and Magnus, showed us around and told us about their sustainability projects: greenhouses with aquaponic cultivation and biochar production. We were incredibly fascinated by the couple's drive and commitment. You can read our report about Ödevata Gårdshotell here.

Sauna rafting in Småland - a magical experience

Now we were back again, during a new trip in collaboration with Glasriket. This time we visited Ödevata Gårdshotell for a specific reason: We wanted to try sauna rafting in Småland!

At Ödevata Farm Hotel, you can book a sauna raft, which you then pull out onto the lake with the help of a rope.

We brought swimwear and were allowed to borrow towels and dressing gowns. We were also lucky enough to be offered a super tasty pear cake and juice from a local muster. Not such a bad idea to bring some coffee actually!

The May air was mild and it was fine to sit outside for a while in our swimwear, at least knowing that we would soon be crawling into a hot sauna!

The view at the lake is amazing, and we felt that we had a magical moment ahead of us.

Sauna raft in Småland - with sauna and bath

Then it was time to board the sauna raft! A rope runs along the side of the raft, and you pull yourself out into the lake until you reach a white buoy.

Now the raft was lying nicely in the middle of the lake, and we crawled into the sauna to warm ourselves. I (Helena) have a bit of a problem with the heat in a sauna, and can only sit in there for a little while at a time. Peter enjoyed the heat for longer!

So, what did I do? Well, after warming up for a little while, I sat outside on the raft, with my back to the sauna, and just enjoyed of the view and tranquillity. This was truly relaxing for me, and perhaps the best sauna experience I have ever had.

Peter sent his drone into the air, and through the display we could see our raft drifting seemingly free (well, it was stuck to the buoy!) on the still lake, which looked more like a sky filled with clouds.

In fact, the image on the display described the feeling very well. As if we were moving weightlessly among the clouds, completely disconnected from stress and obligations ...

Since I didn't spend much time in the sauna, but instead sat out in the fresh air for a long time, I wasn't particularly keen on swimming. Peter, on the other hand, made a bold jump, straight into it refreshing the water.

The jump was captured both by my mobile phone camera and by the drone, which hovered silently above us.

Was it nice? Maybe it was little chilly for Peter's taste, but then we are not winter bathers either. It was refreshing!

Overall, the whole experience, with a sauna raft in Småland, was completely fantasticand one of the most relaxing things we have done in a long time!

Good to know about sauna rafting in Småland - at Ödevata Gårdshotell

Are you also keen on sauna rafting in Småland, at Ödevata Gårdshotell? You can take the opportunity to book a sauna raft while staying at the hotel or caravan park, or you can go here just to take a sauna, and then continue on.

You can always call and book in advance if you wish. In summer, the sauna is more often busy (which is why it's more important to call and book!), while it's generally more free in autumn, winter and spring. However, the experience is equally suitable all year round!

Please note that there is no food service at Ödevata Gårdshotell, so if you want a coffee or something to eat, it is best to bring it with you!

More to see and do in the neighbourhood

Ödevata Gårdshotell is located in the Glasriket region, where experiences abound. You can visit Kosta and various glassworks in the area. If you like nature experiences, you can visit for example Glass Kingdom Moose Park, Sweden Zipline or the dog-friendly accommodation Vidinge Farm. Here you will find even more tips on things to things to see and do in Glasriket and in Småland (pictured below).

Do you like saunas and baths?

Do you like saunas and baths? Have you ever tried a sauna raft experience?

You might also like:

Things to do in Glasriket - 25 tips for sights and experiences What to do on Visingsö - 12 tips for Vättern's largest island Europe's longest zipline - Sweden Zipline in Småland. Visiting Kosta in Glasriket - a gem in Småland Visiting a moose park - moose safari in Glasriket moose park Fika and restaurants in Glasriket - 7 places you don't want to miss