Swedish Lapland
5
Day Itinerary •
Sweden
Five days in Swedish Lapland is one of the most extraordinary travel experiences available anywhere in the world. Above the Arctic Circle, the remarkable Icehotel at Jukkasjarvi where every room is carved from ice and snow, the extraordinary Northern Lights dancing over frozen lakes, the remarkable husky safari across the extraordinary tundra landscape and the outstanding Sami reindeer culture make Swedish Lapland unlike anywhere else on earth. This winter route covers the complete Swedish Lapland experience. The extraordinary Icehotel and the remarkable ice chapel where couples are married, the outstanding husky and snowmobile safaris, the remarkable Northern Lights chase, the extraordinary reindeer herding with Sami families, the fine mountain town of Abisko and the outstanding Aurora Sky Station for Northern Lights viewing.
Best Time To Visit
December to March for winter activities and Northern Lights
Getting There
Fly to Kiruna Airport (KRN) from Stockholm
Getting Around
Transfers included with most activities
Budget Per Day
Approx 3,000 to 6,000 SEK per person per day
Difficulity
Easy to moderate, cold weather activities
DAY 1
ARRIVAL AND FIRST NORTHERN LIGHTS
MORNING
MIDDAY
AFTERNOON
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Sapmi Experience at Jukkasjarvi, a traditional Sami camp beside the Icehotel with reindeer herding demonstrations and joik singing, is the finest introduction to the remarkable indigenous culture of Swedish Lapland. Approx 800 SEK.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Stockholm or flight Good meal before the Kiruna flight. | Lunch: Kiruna on arrival Simple lunch in the Arctic town before the transfer to Icehotel. | Dinner: Icehotel restaurant The finest Arctic cuisine. Reindeer, cloudberry and local Lapland produce.
DAY 2
HUSKY SAFARI AND SAMI CULTURE
MORNING
HUSKY SAFARI ACROSS THE TUNDRA
The husky safari is the most extraordinary activity in Swedish Lapland. Teams of eight remarkable Siberian huskies pull traditional wooden sleds across the extraordinary frozen tundra landscape of Arctic Sweden. Each visitor drives their own sled after a brief introduction from the extraordinary guides. The remarkable silence of the Arctic forest broken only by the sound of the sled runners and the excited huskies, the extraordinary snow-covered pines and the outstanding wilderness landscape are unforgettable. Approx 2,500 SEK. Travel: Transfer from Icehotel
MIDDAY
SAMI REINDEER HERDING EXPERIENCE
Meeting a Sami reindeer herding family in their remarkable lavvo tent beside a frozen lake is the finest cultural experience in Swedish Lapland. The extraordinary reindeer, remarkably tame and curious, can be fed and led through the outstanding snow landscape. The remarkable Sami guide explains the extraordinary traditional lifestyle of the indigenous people of Lapland, the remarkable joik music and the outstanding relationship between the Sami and the reindeer herds. Approx 1,200 SEK. Travel: Transfer
AFTERNOON
ICEHOTEL ART SUITES AND ICE CHAPEL
Exploring the extraordinary art suites of the Icehotel, each carved by a different artist and at minus 5 degrees Celsius, is one of the most remarkable experiences in Scandinavia. The extraordinary ice sculptures, the remarkable sleeping bags on beds of ice and reindeer skin and the outstanding ice chapel where couples marry with a ring of ice are all unforgettable. The warm Icehotel 365 rooms and the remarkable sauna are outstanding. Entry art suites approx 200 SEK.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary ice fishing on the Torne River, where guides drill through the ice and teach the traditional technique for catching perch and Arctic char, is the finest quiet activity in Swedish Lapland. Approx 800 SEK.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Icehotel breakfast Good warm breakfast before the husky safari. Very important. | Lunch: Sami lavvo lunch Traditional Sami meal beside the reindeer in the extraordinary tent. | Dinner: Icehotel restaurant Outstanding Arctic menu. Reindeer steak and cloudberry dessert.
DAY 3
SNOWMOBILE AND ABISKO
MORNING
SNOWMOBILE SAFARI TO THE WILDERNESS
The snowmobile safari through the extraordinary Arctic wilderness of Swedish Lapland is the finest way to cover large distances across the remarkable frozen landscape. The outstanding guided route passes through the most extraordinary spruce forest in Lapland, across frozen lakes and over the remarkable fells to remote wilderness huts where traditional coffee is drunk by an open fire. The extraordinary sense of space and the outstanding Arctic silence are unmissable. Approx 2,000 SEK. Travel: Transfer
MIDDAY
ABISKO NATIONAL PARK
Abisko National Park, 95km west of Kiruna on the shores of the extraordinary Lake Tornetrask, is the finest national park in Swedish Lapland. The remarkable Aurora Sky Station on Mount Nuolja, accessible by chairlift, is the finest place in the world to view the Northern Lights due to the extraordinary local microclimate that keeps the sky clear when clouds cover the surrounding mountains. The outstanding Kungsleden hiking trail starts here. Chairlift approx 400 SEK. Travel: 1.5 hours drive
AFTERNOON
AURORA SKY STATION EVENING
The Aurora Sky Station at Abisko, 900 metres above sea level on Mount Nuolja, is the finest Northern Lights viewing point in the world. The extraordinary statistical advantage of clear skies here, the remarkable heated viewing platforms and the outstanding scientific equipment make it the most reliable place to see the aurora in Swedish Lapland. Return to Kiruna for the final evening. Station entry approx 700 SEK.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary tree line in Abisko, where the birch forest ends and the extraordinary Arctic fell begins, is visible from the chairlift to the Aurora Sky Station. Walking above the tree line gives the finest view of Lake Tornetrask. Free.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Abisko tourist station Good breakfast before the snowmobile safari. | Lunch: Wilderness hut fire lunch Traditional Swedish coffee bread beside the open fire in the Arctic. | Dinner: Kiruna restaurant Swedish Lapland dinner with extraordinary reindeer and local game.
DAY 4
KIRUNA AND REINDEER SLED
MORNING
KIRUNA IRON MINE AND CITY
Kiruna, the northernmost city in Sweden, has the most extraordinary relationship with mining in Europe. The remarkable LKAB iron ore mine beneath the city is so large that the entire city centre is being moved 3km to save it from subsidence. The extraordinary Kiruna Kyrka, voted the finest building in Sweden, is being dismantled and rebuilt at the new city location. The remarkable Kiruna city move, the largest in Swedish history, is outstanding. Entry mine tour approx 300 SEK. Travel: 30 min drive
MIDDAY
ICE FISHING AND TORNE RIVER
The extraordinary Torne River frozen to 70cm depth in winter is the source of the ice used in the Icehotel. Ice fishing for Arctic char and perch through the remarkable frozen river surface, with the extraordinary guidance of Sami fishing experts and the outstanding warm hut beside the ice, is one of the finest quiet activities in Lapland. The remarkable experience of the ice creaking below and the outstanding Arctic silence above are unforgettable. Approx 800 SEK. Travel: Transfer
AFTERNOON
REINDEER SLED ACROSS FROZEN LAKES
The reindeer sled, the traditional Sami transport across the extraordinary frozen lakes of Swedish Lapland, is the most remarkable alternative to the husky safari. A single reindeer pulls the traditional pulka sled across the outstanding frozen lake landscape with the Arctic forest surrounding and the remarkable Lapland sky overhead. The extraordinary speed, the remarkable silence and the outstanding connection to the Sami tradition make it the finest activity in Lapland. Approx 1,500 SEK.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Midnight Sun in June and July means complete 24-hour daylight in Kiruna. Summer Lapland has hiking, white water rafting on the Torne River and the remarkable midnight sun fishing. A completely different but equally extraordinary experience.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Kiruna hotel Good breakfast before the mine tour. | Lunch: Kiruna cafe Simple Arctic town lunch. | Dinner: Camp Ripan, Kiruna The finest restaurant in Kiruna. Outstanding Arctic and Sami-inspired cuisine.
DAY 5
FAREWELL TO LAPLAND
MORNING
NORTHERN LIGHTS PHOTOGRAPHY WALK
A final morning dedicated to photographing the extraordinary Northern Lights landscape of Swedish Lapland. The remarkable combination of the aurora over the frozen Torne River, the extraordinary snow-covered trees and the outstanding silence of the Arctic creates the finest photography conditions in Europe. The remarkable guides from the Icehotel know the best locations for aurora photography and the outstanding light conditions of the Arctic winter are unmatched. Approx 1,200 SEK. Travel: Transfer
MIDDAY
FINAL ICEHOTEL EXPERIENCE AND FAREWELL
A final walk through the extraordinary Icehotel before departure, touching the remarkable ice walls, sitting in the ice chapel one last time and experiencing the extraordinary cold of minus 5 degrees inside the most remarkable hotel in the world. The outstanding gift shop has the finest Swedish Lapland souvenirs. The remarkable memories of five days above the Arctic Circle are outstanding. Entry art suites approx 200 SEK. Travel: Transfer to Kiruna
AFTERNOON
KIRUNA FLIGHT AND DEPARTURE
.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Icehotel 365, the permanent year-round section kept frozen by mechanical cooling, allows visits even in summer when the seasonal Icehotel has melted. The remarkable art suites are available all year. Entry approx 200 SEK.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Icehotel final breakfast Last warm breakfast in the extraordinary Lapland setting. | Lunch: Kiruna airport or cafe Simple final lunch before the flight south. | Dinner: Stockholm return or flight Farewell to the most extraordinary Arctic destination in Europe.
Where To Stay
Icehotel, Jukkasjarvi, all nights The extraordinary ice hotel is the finest base. Warm rooms available. Rooms from 2,000 SEK. Alternative Camp Ripan in Kiruna offers excellent warm accommodation at lower prices. Approx 1,500 SEK. Booking Book Icehotel rooms 6 to 9 months ahead. They sell out rapidly.
Top Tips
1. The Northern Lights require clear skies and solar activity. Check aurora forecasts daily.
2. The Icehotel art suites are cold. The warm rooms at Icehotel 365 are an excellent alternative.
3. Husky safari is the finest activity in Lapland. Book as early as possible as it sells out.
4. Pack thermal base layers, mid layers and outer shell. Minus 20 requires proper preparation.
5. The Aurora Sky Station at Abisko has the finest statistical chance of Northern Lights in Sweden.
6. Book everything months ahead. Swedish Lapland winter activities sell out by September each year.
Total Budget
4,400 to 9,600 SEK/day