Glamping rental Furudal - 1 glamping

Furudal: Sweden's Best-Kept Secret for a Glamping Getaway

Imagine waking up surrounded by ancient pine forests, crystal-clear lakes, and a silence so profound you can hear birdsong echo across the water. Welcome to Furudal, a tiny village in the heart of Dalarna County, Sweden, where nature does not just surround you, it envelops you entirely. If you have been dreaming of a glamping holiday that goes beyond the ordinary, this is the place to make it happen.

Where on Earth Is Furudal?

Furudal is a small locality nestled within Rättvik Municipality in Dalarna County, central Sweden, at coordinates roughly 61°10' N, 15°08' E. With a population of only around 400 people, this village sits on the shores of Lake Oresjön (also called Lake Ore), surrounded by dense boreal forests, bogs, and rolling hills. The nearest airport is Dala Airport (Borlänge), about 85 kilometres away, though Stockholm Västerås Airport is also within reach at around 194 kilometres. Dalarna is famously known as "Sweden in miniature" because its landscape encompasses mountains in the north, deep forests and lakes throughout, and rolling farmland in the south, giving visitors a taste of everything Sweden has to offer in one compact region.

The climate in Furudal brings warm, light-filled summers (June through August) where temperatures are pleasant for outdoor activities, and crisp, snowy winters that transform the landscape into a Nordic wonderland. The mean yearly temperature is around 4.6°C, and annual precipitation hovers around 700 mm. Summer days here are famously long, with the midnight sun keeping the sky bright well into the evening hours around the solstice.

Why Furudal Deserves a Spot on Your Travel List

There are many compelling reasons to book a glamping in Furudal for your next holiday or weekend escape:

• Unspoiled tranquillity: With only around 400 residents, Furudal is a world away from tourist crowds. You will share the landscape with moose, birds, and the occasional fellow hiker rather than queues and crowds.
• Lake Oresjön at your doorstep: This beautiful lake features sandy beaches, shallow bathing areas ideal for families, and calm waters perfect for canoeing, kayaking, or simply soaking in the views. You can even try beach-hopping along multiple swimming spots around the lake.
• Sweden's "Freedom to Roam" (Allemansrätten): One of Sweden's most remarkable traditions is enshrined in the constitution. It gives everyone the right to walk, cycle, ski, pick berries and mushrooms, and camp responsibly on almost any land. For glamping guests, this means the surrounding forests and lakeshores become your extended backyard. Pick wild blueberries, lingonberries, and chanterelle mushrooms in late summer and autumn, all free of charge.
• A landscape shaped by cosmic forces: Furudal sits on the northeastern margin of the Siljan Ring, the largest known meteorite impact structure in Europe. Approximately 380 million years ago, an asteroid struck this region, creating a crater about 52 kilometres in diameter. Lake Oresjön itself occupies part of the eroded remnants of this ancient impact. Your glamping holiday literally sits inside a meteorite crater.
• Year-round appeal: Summers bring midnight sun, swimming, and hiking. Winters offer well-groomed cross-country ski trails, ice fishing on frozen lakes, and the chance to experience a genuine Swedish "sportlov" (sports holiday) atmosphere. Furudal is known locally as an excellent base for Nordic skiing.

Highlights You Would Not Expect

Gammelstan in Norrboda: A Living Time Capsule

About 10 kilometres southeast of Furudal, the tiny hamlet of Norrboda houses Gammelstan, a remarkably preserved cluster of two farms with a total of 28 historic buildings. The oldest structures are believed to date back to the 16th century, and the farms still sit in their original positions along a fenced village street. Dalarna researcher Sigvard Montelius has described it as "a truly genuine Dalaby cluster" with no equivalent in the region. During summer weekends, guides are on site to bring the history to life, but even a self-guided stroll through these centuries-old timber buildings is deeply atmospheric.

The Siljan Geopark: Walking on a Meteorite Scar

Siljan Geopark is Sweden's first national geopark, spanning an area of about 60 kilometres in diameter. It features unique geological sites (called geosites) where you can see rocks that were upturned and fractured by the ancient meteorite impact. Limestone quarries, fossils, areas with ancient sand dunes, and ice-pit formations are all open to explore. The upturned rock layers can be seen at sites like Styggforsen and Dalhalla, providing a tangible link to an event that literally shook the globe.

Dalhalla: Music Inside a Quarry

One of the most spectacular concert venues in Europe, Dalhalla is an open-air amphitheatre set inside a former limestone quarry near Rättvik, not far from Furudal. Its dimensions are staggering: 400 metres long, 175 metres wide, and 60 metres deep. The acoustics rival those of ancient Greek and Italian amphitheatres. Each summer, Dalhalla hosts 20 to 30 events ranging from opera and classical to jazz, pop, and rock, drawing over 100,000 visitors annually. Attending a performance here as the sun sets over the quarry walls is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Alpaca Walks at Sandnäsgård

Since autumn 2022, visitors to Furudal can enjoy something delightfully unexpected: guided walks with alpacas named Thor, Ubbe, and Ivar through the forests and along the lake at Sandnäsgård. The walk concludes with a cosy Swedish fika break. It is a charming, low-key experience that appeals to all ages and is a wonderful way to slow down and connect with the surroundings.

Ärteråsens Fäbodar: The Old Summer Farms

A visit to the historic summer farms (fäbodar) at Ärteråsen offers a glimpse into centuries-old pastoral traditions. These seasonal mountain pastures were once essential to rural life in Dalarna. There is even a sound trail created in cooperation with music poet Anna Vild, consisting of nine stops along a stream linked by QR codes to a conceptual album describing the inner and outer life of a fäbod house. It is art, nature, and history woven together.

Five Things to Do That Are Not in Every Guidebook

1. Walk the Kyrkstig (Church Trail): This historic 7-kilometre trail is the old route that villagers from Norrboda took to reach the church. It winds along forest paths, small gravel roads, and the shores of Lake Oresjön. Start at Gammelstan or the Ore Church for a peaceful walk through woodland and along the water, with barely another soul in sight.
2. Go mushroom foraging with the local nature association: In autumn, the nature protection associations in Orsa and Edsbyn organise educational mushroom-picking walks. This is your chance to learn which wild fungi are safe and delicious (chanterelles are the local prize), forage responsibly, and embrace a deeply Swedish tradition.
3. Cycle around Lake Oresjön and hunt for flea markets: Rent a bike and pedal around the lake, stopping at the many "loppis" (flea markets) scattered along the route. Pack a lunch from one of the local bakeries and find a lakeside spot for a picnic. The route connects well with the Siljansleden cycling paths.
4. Attend a folk music session at Furudals Bruk: The Dalarna region is the folk music capital of Sweden. Throughout summer, traditional fiddle music concerts and spelmansstämmor (folk music gatherings) take place in village community houses and at Furudals Bruk. These intimate events offer an authentic taste of living Scandinavian culture that most international visitors never encounter.
5. Discover wild orchids at the nature reserve: Near Furudal, a nature reserve shaped by former pasture farming and calcareous groundwater hosts an extraordinary variety of vegetation, including the protected yellow lady's slipper orchid, one of Europe's most magnificent wild orchids. There is no circular route, so you are free to explore at your own pace through a mosaic of swamp and forest areas.

Practical Tips for International Visitors

Getting to Furudal from abroad typically involves flying into Stockholm (Arlanda or Bromma airports) and then driving or taking a train to the Dalarna region. The drive from Stockholm takes approximately four hours and passes through increasingly scenic countryside. Alternatively, Dala Airport near Borlänge offers some seasonal connections.

Furudal has a local supermarket and a bakery for everyday essentials. The village also has its own bistro with a licence to serve alcoholic beverages. Nearby Dalfors Lanthandel is a charming country store with barista coffee, snacks, groceries, and handicrafts. For a more refined dining experience, Solgårdskrogen in nearby Nittsjö serves food prepared over open fire using vegetables from their own garden and local ingredients, paired with carefully selected drinks.

The Swedish currency is the krona (SEK), but cards are widely accepted everywhere, even in small villages. Sweden runs on the Central European time zone (CET, UTC+1; CEST, UTC+2 in summer). English is spoken widely and fluently throughout the region.

If you plan to fish in Lake Oresjön or nearby waters, you will need a local fishing licence, which can usually be purchased at local shops or tourist offices. The local fishery conservation association also offers ice fishing opportunities in winter.

A Destination for Every Season

One of the most surprising things about Furudal is how different and equally rewarding it is in every season. In summer, long golden evenings invite you to swim, paddle, hike, and forage. Midsummer celebrations in Dalarna are among the most vibrant and authentic in all of Sweden, with maypole dances, floral decorations, and festivities that stretch over several days.

Autumn paints the forests in amber and gold, making it the perfect time for mushroom foraging and hiking in crisp air. The annual Ore Autumn Market brings the community together with local produce and crafts.

Winter transforms Furudal into a Nordic skiing paradise, with well-maintained cross-country trails winding through snow-dusted forests and frozen bogs. The village also hosts a beloved Christmas market tradition called "Julen i Furudal," where for four weekends starting from the first of Advent, the community celebrates with Sankta Lucia processions, live music by local musicians, gingerbread from the local bakery, and gifts from Father Christmas for the children.

Spring sees the dramatic snowmelt, the return of migratory birds, and the first bright green shoots emerging through the forest floor. It is the quietest season and arguably the most intimate time to experience this corner of Sweden.

Book a Glamping and Let Furudal Surprise You

Furudal is one of those rare destinations that manages to feel both remote and accessible, wild and welcoming. It is not a place that shouts for attention. Instead, it quietly rewards those who seek it out with extraordinary natural beauty, deep cultural roots, and a pace of life that many of us have forgotten existed. Book a glamping now and give yourself the gift of a holiday that trades hectic sightseeing for genuine immersion in one of Scandinavia's most enchanting landscapes.