AUT AND ABOUT – HIKE RETREAT 🎒

Embark on a nature adventure in the forests of Bergslagen. Kolarbyn Eco Lodge’s Hike & Rest package combines peaceful hiking along scenic trails with relaxation in a cosy charcoal hut on the shores of Lake SkĂ€rsjön.

Get away from it all and let the tranquillity of nature embrace you, where the mirror-like surface of the lake and the scents and peaceful sounds of the forest paths are just waiting to be explored.

Hiking:

The area around Kolarbyn Eco Lodge offers trails of varying length and difficulty, from the peaceful 6 km loop around SkÀrsjön to longer tours such as the Kolarbyn-FÀrna trail. You can choose your own pace and distance, and whenever you want to cool off, the lake is only a few steps away. Your hosts will be happy to give you tips on local trails, and you can read more about the trails in the area.

We always recommend at least 2 nights to calm down and fully enjoy the nature

Experience:

You don’t need any experience for these walks, but choose a route you feel comfortable with and have the equipment for.

Day 1:

Check into your charcoal hut, where your bunk is furnished with a cosy sheepskin rug, pillow and sleeping bag. After a guided tour, you’ll have time to settle in and explore before heading to our forest pantry for ingredients for tonight’s delicious dinner. Choose your favourite campfire site and light the fire, put on the coffee and start chopping and slicing. You cook your dinner over the open fire. When your stomach is full, the dishes are washed and darkness falls, you crawl into your sleeping bags, surrounded by the silence of the forest and the warm glow of the fire.

Day 2:

Wake to the sounds of the forest and prepare your breakfast over the fire – perhaps pancakes with blueberries freshly picked from the edge of the forest? At breakfast you decide which trail you want to explore, pack your food packs from the pantry and set off. When you get back, lie down in the hut with the door open and look out at the trees and the sky, digesting the day’s impressions. When it’s time for dinner, you browse through the forest pantry again and choose whatever feels right at the moment. As evening approaches, a warm sauna by the lake awaits, perfect after a day of adventure.

Days 3-5:

Perhaps a short trip in the morning and canoe hire in the afternoon, or perhaps the wood-fired hot tub? Or a longer walk along the restored Bruksleden trail, or a drive to the “Ormdalsslingan”? The choices are many and the hosts will be happy to advise.

The last day:

After a last breakfast in the silence of the forest, it’s time to say goodbye to Kolarbyn for this time. We look forward to welcoming you back when nature calls.

‌ Important information before your arrival

Kolarbyn Eco Lodge has no staffed reception, but a host will meet you at the check-in point depending on which day you arrive.

  • Monday–Friday: Check-in between 17:00 – 18:00
  • Saturday–Sunday: Check-in between 12:30 – 13:30

Check-out is no later than 11:00.

What’s always included in your stay at Kolarbyn

Everything you need to enjoy a simple yet well-thought-out stay in the forest is included. You’ll sleep in a traditional charcoal hut equipped with an inflatable sleeping mat and soft sheepskins. Candles and matches are provided, and fire pits are available for cooking and warmth.

Each morning, collect your breakfast from our forest pantry and cook it over the open fire. Chopping your own firewood is part of the experience – both for meals and for heating the shared sauna by the lake. Fresh spring water is available from our own natural source, and you’re welcome to wash in the lake, rinse off in the creek, or use our rustic forest shower.

You’ll find all necessary cooking gear onsite, along with fire pits, barbecue areas, and the communal hut (Samlingsmilan), which offers shelter in case of bad weather.

Facilities at Kolarbyn

  • Washing & hygiene: Two composting toilets and a rustic forest shower. Many guests wash in the lake or stream.
  • Sauna: Shared floating sauna on the lake. A private sauna can also be booked.
  • Cooking: Outdoor fire pits and a fully equipped forest kitchen with gear for open-fire cooking.
  • Cleaning & waste: Dishwashing takes place by the stream. Waste sorting is available.
  • Gathering space: The Samlingsmilan hut offers shelter and a cozy place to relax if the weather turns.

Questions or concerns?

We aim to respond as quickly as possible. Feel free to call or email us – and yes, we actually do answer the phone most of the time (unless we’re busy taking care of guests on site, of course).

© Kolarbyn Eco Lodge

BOOK ACTIVITY

Guest Reviews

“Magical enchantead fairyland. The hostess leaves you from about 5 and you get a lot of confidence in managing yourself. Everything is very well organised and nothing is missing. They also have the nices compost outhouse you ever have been on. – and YES they have of course a sauna, the coolest sauna ever”
Dorien, Belgium

“Thank you for the incredible place Kolarbyn is. It was amazing to be able to experience the Swedish landscape and to just get away from the craziness of life for a bit. It is one of my favourite places in Europe and I hope that many others get to experience its wonder”
Gabi, United States

Truely beautiful surroundings, really helpful staff and a great break from the norm”
George, UK

“Great place! The lodges are beautiful and the place is super charming. We really enjoyed our stay. Breakfast was fantastic and everything is well organized in a way that it makes it easy to be outside even if you’re not too used to it”
Anonymous, USA

“I just wanted to say that it was a really wonderful and unique experience, one which I will remember and treasure for a long time
It was truly back to basics but truly wonderful stay just to relax and enjoy wild Sweden!
Especially the floating sauna was all kinds of wonderful (definitely last night when the lake was frozen and full moon was shining).
If the snow had come in yesterday it would have been even more magical but that would have been the cherry on top. I got a good look this morning with the snow already.
I wish you all the best and thank you again for an awesome stay, I truly enjoyed it!”
Marnick, Luxemburg

“Last week me and my girlfriend spent one night at Kolarbyn. Kolarbyn it’s a magical, stunning, unreal place. To those who ask me how Kolarbyn is I reply that “I’m agnostic, but if‹there is a paradise, a Valhalla or something else I hope it looks like Kolarbyn”. I guess that many people will tell you how amazing Kolarbyn is and how fascinating your personality is in that forest. But I really left something of my heart in that wood”
Paolo, Italy

“A sauna dream‹The Kolarbyn adventure is fantastic. Top of the list for me was the floating sauna on the lake, followed by swims in the lake – oh it was so good! but I also enjoyed cutting wood, tracking the progress of the charcoal burners’ pit in August – they were up all night watching.
I shall never look at an English wrap in the same light again – they do their picnic food properly in Kolarbyn!  We bonded well too with the other Kolarbyn adventurers and shared many a laugh at our attempts to live ‘wild’. Kolarbyn gave us lots of support in this gentle introduction to living in nature at the eco lodge -I particularly liked being greeted by two lit candles when we arrived at our hut, and the ‘hoover’ marzipan sweets Malin brought us on the second day for our dessert – unexpected little touches that made the moment special. The people, including Malin who greeted us and came every day to sort out food etc, were absolutely lovely – kind, friendly, polite, cheerful and almost courtly at times. A very special holiday indeed.”
Janet, UK

“It has been a week since we returned from Sweden – we had such a great time, meeting the nicest of people and seeing beautiful places. Our stay at Kolarbyn was definitely one of the absolute highlights, from the lovely hut to the beautiful surrounding and don’t forget the Sauna/bastu 😉
Anyway, I just wanted to say thank you for having us and for keeping this wonderful place alive
all the best”
Antoine, New Zeeland