Al Nido di Cart
- Group House for 25 People
- Feltre, on the edge of the Dolomiti Bellunesi
- Quietly located, no neighbors
- 2 apartments with 2 kitchens
- Barbecue, hot tub, and extras available upon request
Friluft Sweden
Inhoudsopgave
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Friluft Sweden: Outdoor Life in Central Sweden, with a Dutch Family as Your Guide
At seven o’clock in the morning, a wisp of fog drifts across the lake and a roe deer crosses the meadow. Other than that, not much happens—and that’s exactly the point. In the village of Storån, deep in the forests of central Sweden, Bart and Mariëlle have converted an old barn into a vacation home. They traded the Netherlands for a life with more nature and fewer obligations, and as your hosts, they’ll take you into the woods, out onto the water, and—in winter—out onto the ice.
Friluft Sweden at a Glance
Friluft Sweden is a small-scale vacation home for 1 to 6 people in Storån, near Ytterhogdal in Central Sweden. The house is located on the waterfront, and the forest begins right at the edge of the property. You rent the entire house. The Dutch owners offer guided outdoor activities such as canoeing, bushcraft, wildlife safaris, fishing, ice fishing, and snowshoeing. Through local partners, you can join a husky or snowmobile tour. The minimum stay is 4 nights (in the summer, from Saturday to Saturday), and you book direct with the owner.
The story: Follow your dreams, even with two small children
Bart and Mariëlle are both physical education teachers and have two young children. They met while on a surfing vacation and, as they put it, were always on the go. In January 2025, they decided to take the plunge: away from the hustle and bustle of the Netherlands, toward a simpler and more mindful life closer to nature. A year and a half later, they’re living in Sweden, the kids are attending school in Ytterhogdal, and there’s a barn on their property that’s been given a new lease on life.
The division of labor is clear. Bart is the adventurer: he leads the activities, builds fires without a lighter, and photographs everything with four legs or feathers. Mariëlle is your first point of contact; she puts together customized programs and writes about “friluftsliv.” That Swedish word is hard to translate. “Outdoor life” comes close, though it doesn’t quite capture the part where you’re sitting by a campfire at 6:00 p.m. with wet socks and think it’s absolutely fine.
What you get here is, above all, a personal touch. You’ll email or text with Mariëlle in Dutch, Bart will be there to greet you upon arrival, and the itinerary adapts to the weather and your preferences. It feels less like a hotel and more like staying with people who are eager to show you their home and the surrounding area.
The vacation home: a barn overlooking the lake
The house is nestled among the trees, with a view of the meadows, the lake, and the hills in the background. During the renovation, as much of the barn’s original character as possible was preserved. Friluft Sweden can accommodate 1 to 6 people, spread across three bedrooms:
- Ground floor: two bedrooms with twin beds, one of which can also be made up as a double bed.
- Loft: a cozy bedroom upstairs, accessible by stairs, with a double bed or two single beds.
The kitchen-dining area is fully equipped with a refrigerator, freezer, dishwasher, and combination oven, as well as a dining table that seats six. A wood-burning stove is lit in the sitting area. The bathroom features a spacious walk-in shower. Outside, you’ll find a porch that gets morning sun, a private fire pit, and a deck by the water with a lounge set. From the dock, you can hop into a Canadian canoe or a kayak. Bed linens, towels, final cleaning, and firewood for the stove and fire pit are included.
Meals: Cook for yourself or have them arranged
You’ll be cooking for yourself, and you’ll also need to take care of breakfast on your own. You can do your grocery shopping at the ICA supermarket in Ytterhogdal, about a 15-minute drive away. In the same village, you’ll also find the library and a few cozy spots for coffee or lunch, such as Astoria and Hembygdsgård, which serves Swedish waffles.
Don’t feel like heading to the supermarket right after you arrive? Then ask for a basic grocery package or a prepared meal. During the guided activities, there’s always fika or lunch by the campfire. Fika is the Swedish coffee break, and we take it seriously here.
Friluft Sweden: Outdoor Life Through the Four Seasons
At the heart of Friluft Sweden are the guided activities with Bart. Each activity lasts half a day, and equipment and fika or lunch are included. You can book individual activities or opt for a Friluft Nature Week: seven nights at the cabin with three guided activities tailored to the season. The program is tailored to the weather and your preferences.
Winter (January through March)
The lake freezes over and becomes a playground. You’ll hike through the winter forest on snowshoes, learn to read tracks, go ice fishing, and cross-country ski across the ice. Bart will teach you how to build a fire and survive in the cold. With local partners, you’ll go on a husky sled ride or a snowmobile trip. With a little luck and a clear night, you’ll see the Northern Lights. That, of course, can’t be planned…
Spring (April and May)
The forest is waking up. Early morning hikes give you the best chance of spotting moose, and from a photo hide you can watch the black grouse courtship. At sunrise, you’ll cruise across the lake. If you want to see a bear, you’ll need a bit of luck. If you want to see a moose, you’ll definitely need to get up early.
Summer (June through August)
Long, sunny days for canoeing, hiking to forest beaches, fishing, and campfires. You’ll learn the basics of bushcraft: building a fire, filtering water, and cooking in the great outdoors. Later in the summer, you’ll pick blueberries and raspberries along the edge of the forest.
Fall (September and October)
The forest turns yellow and red, and it grows quiet. You go on a wildlife safari, pick lingonberries, learn to identify edible mushrooms, paddle past little islands, and fish from the boat. A peaceful season.
Wildlife and Birds Around Storån
The forests around the house are home to moose, white-tailed deer, roe deer, foxes, and black bears. Birdwatchers can spot cranes, bald eagles, shrikes, and capercaillies. Bart also leads photography tours if you’d like to capture the wildlife on camera.
Friluft Family Week: A Week Outdoors with the Kids
For families, there’s a special weekly package: seven nights with five guided activities lasting about two hours each (which you choose together). Think of building a hut out of branches and moss, going on a treasure hunt, taking a boat trip to uninhabited islands, making campfire soup and Swedish meatballs, and building a birdhouse or insect hotel in the woodshop.
In the winter, sledding and ice fishing are on the schedule. The program is suitable for children ages 3 and up and remains challenging up to about age 15. Camp cots and high chairs are available. Two sports instructors who have two young children of their own: they have no shortage of patience or ideas.
InnerTrail Sweden: Coaching in Nature
Under the name InnerTrail Sweden, Friluft Sweden organizes small-scale coaching weeks for those who want to consciously take time to reflect on what truly matters. The program alternates between conversations, moments of silence, and group outdoor activities. There are trails with set dates and specific themes: Leadership Trail, Men on the Trail, and InnerTrail Women, each with a maximum of six participants. You can also book a customized coaching trip, either alone or with two or three people—for example, with your partner through Trail in Connection.
The surroundings: forests, water, and almost no tourists
Storån is located on the Ljusnan River, in the municipality of Härjedalen, not far from the geographic center of Sweden. From the house, it’s a one-and-a-half-hour hike to the summit of Flornipan. An hour’s drive away, you’ll find Fettjeåfallet—at about 60 meters, one of the country’s highest waterfalls—and the Hamra and Sonfjället National Parks, home to one of Sweden’s densest bear populations.
See also: Nature in Central Sweden: Waterfalls, Viewpoints, and Bears Around Ytterhogdal. It lists all the tips for the area, from swimming lakes to an abandoned gold mine with turquoise water.
How do you get to Friluft Sweden?
Central Sweden is farther away than it appears on the map, but the journey is part of the adventure. You have several options:
- By car: Plan on a two-day drive (about 20 hours) through Germany and Denmark, crossing the Great Belt Bridge and the Øresund Bridge. You can also take the overnight ferry from Kiel to Gothenburg and then drive for about 8 hours. For those traveling by car, read Road Trip Through Norway and Sweden. Want to combine this with an overnight stay on the Swedish west coast? Stop along the driving route via Gothenburg.
- By train: There’s a direct train from Stockholm Arlanda to Ljusdal (about 2.5 hours). From there, it’s an hour by rental car, or Bart and Mariëlle can pick you up. It’s definitely handy to have a car once you’re there, unless you don’t plan on leaving the grounds.
- By plane: Fly to Stockholm or Oslo and rent a car. From Arlanda, it’s about a 4-hour drive. There’s also a domestic flight to Sveg, which is a 40-minute drive away. In the winter, you can fly directly to Scandinavian Mountains Airport near Sälen, about a 3-hour drive away.
- By bus: FlixBus runs from Stockholm to Kårböle, which is 20 minutes from the house. Pickup is available upon request.
Why Friluft Sweden Is a Good Fit for Nature Travel Lab
Friluft Sweden is exactly the kind of place we’re looking for: small-scale, personal, and located in a region that’s virtually unknown outside of Sweden. Most activities rely on physical strength and knowledge of nature: paddling, hiking, building fires, observing, and listening. To be honest: the huskies are sustainable, but the snowmobile and ATV are a bit less so.
With a minimum stay of four nights and activities available year-round, you don’t come here for a quick selfie, but to truly get away from it all and enjoy the peace and quiet and the beautiful nature.
Why Friluft Sweden Is Special
- You’ll rent the entire house, which sleeps 1 to 6 people, complete with its own dock, canoe, and kayaks
- Dutch hosts: personal contact in your own language, from booking to campfire
- Guided outdoor activities in every season, from bushcraft to ice fishing
- Chance to see moose, bears, bald eagles, and the Northern Lights
- Special family weeks and coaching trips (InnerTrail Sweden)
- Located in an obscure, wooded region along the Ljusn River
More about nature travel in Sweden.
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Over de auteur
Met een passie voor reizen en fotografie én meer dan 30 jaar ervaring in de reisbranche, deel ik graag mijn bijzondere natuur-reistips. Reizen is heerlijk en belangrijk, je ontmoet nieuwe mensen en culturen en het opent je blik op de wereld.
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Laat je inspireren
Ben je op zoek naar de mooiste wandel- en fietsroutes? Of wil je informatie over reizen met de trein of advies voor de mooiste roadtrips door de natuur. Laat je inspireren voor je volgende reis in het groen; ideeën om je eigen reis te plannen of te kiezen voor een georganiseerde reis.