Arctic ecotourism awarded and recognized

Rajamaa in Muonionalusta has been awarded the Ecotourism Prize 2025. The family business, which has been welcoming guests to its island Pitkäsaari in the Muonio River for 40 years, is being recognized for its long-term work in sustainable tourism and sharing knowledge about Arctic nature and culture.

“Of course, our guests are the most important evaluators of our work. We were very surprised to receive the Ecotourism Award. It’s great to be recognised for what we do and to know it’s appreciated. It’s easy to get caught up in your own work, so getting external validation is very rewarding”, says Lars.Lars Malmström to Nature’s Best in connection with the award ceremony at the Grand Travel Awards.

Reasons for the Rajamaa Ecotourism Award 2025:

The Malmström family has run Rajama in the small village of Muonionalusta on the island of Pitkäsaari (Långön) since 1986. They do so with a deep love for nature, people, animals, and Sámi culture.

Through their ecotourism business, which has been quality labeled by Nature’s Best for many years, they keep the area alive and enable permanent residence.

By working with small visitor groups, they ensure unique experiences and leave guests with a deeper understanding and appreciation of sustainability, nature conservation, and Sámi life and heritage.

Further south, in Harads, the success of the innovative Arctic Bath hotel continues. The company has recently received Nature’s Best certification, a quality label for sustainable nature tourism.

“Receiving the Nature’s Best certification is a great honor and a confirmation of the work we do to create a sustainable and genuine nature experience for our guests. We look forward to continuing to develop our sustainability work and inspiring more people to travel more responsibly,” says Saga Wallin, Restaurant Manager, in a press release.

The success doesn’t stop there for Arctic Bath. The hotel is also nominated in the category “The Special Ones 2025” in the Culinary Hotel Awards, an award that highlights unique hotel experiences that put Sweden on the international hotel map. Led by Chef David Staf, the hotel offers a culinary journey inspired by local ingredients and seasonal flavors from the Arctic wilderness. The winners will be announced at a ceremony at Berns in Stockholm on March 10.

Read about Rajamaa and the 2025 Ecotourism Award here

Read the Arctic Baths press release about Nature’s Best here

Read the Arctic Baths press release about the Culinary Hotel Awards here (only Swesdish)