A trip of a lifetime for nature enthusiasts to experience wildlife and the magic of northern lights in Swedish Lapland
Max group size
Up tp 7 persons
Meeting location
Luleå, Sweden
Duration
8 Days / 7 nights
Kid friendly?
From 15 years
ACCOMMODATION
2 nights hotel + 3 nights guesthouse + 2 nights tented camp
WHEN
Dec – March
DIFFICULTY
EASY. NO PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE IS NEEDED, BUT YOU’LL BE HIKING IN SNOW SO A DECENT LEVEL OF GENERAL FITNESS IS REQUIRED.
✨ Highlights ✨
Watch and photograph WILD ANIMALS
Swedish Lapland is home to some fascinating wild animals such as Europe's largest moose and herds of reindeer. This trip is a fantastic opportunity to get close to and photograph these animals surrounded by a stunning winter landscape.
View the Northern Lights
Each evening, as long as the sky is clear, we set out warmly dressed to search for the aurora borealis. Although we cannot guarantee a sighting, Northern Sweden is a great location and since you are staying for a whole week, your chances are as good as they can get.
Camp two nights in the Arctic
Stay off grid at this very cool Sápmi camp with heaters and comfortable beds. The camp is remotely located in protected Sámi lands.
Dog sled with huskies
One of the highlights of your trip is sure to be a magical morning of dog sledding, gliding across the frozen landscape with our beautiful and impressive husky companions, led by our friends Kristien and Olav.
Join a small group of people
Join a small group of people with similar interests and a local guide for a journey of a lifetime.
Welcome to Sápmi, the indigenous land of the Sami people
On this tour, you'll have the opportunity to meet, dine and hang out with the Sami community, offering an authentic understanding of their captivating culture and traditions. Though commonly referred to as Lapland, the true name of this region is Sápmi.
Try out Sámi delicacies such as Arctic Char, Gáhkku, and Suovas
Reindeer and Arctic Char are specialities that can be served in many ways. Vegetarian, vegan or gluten free? We cater for you too!
“From meeting the reindeer, dog sledding, to seeing the Northern lights , skiing and snowshoeing, and meeting wonderful Sami people I can not recommend this trip enough. Grab some friends and sign up. You will not regret it for a moment. Thank you WildSweden for a trip of a lifetime.”
HOW TO BOOK
Our booking procedure is hassle-free. Just click the button “Date & Prices”, choose a date and fill in the booking form. You pay a 20% deposit now and the rest 30 days before you arrive. If everything is okay we will send you a confirmation by email within 24 hours. For cancellations up until 30 days before arrival you will receive a 80% refund of your total sum paid. You can also choose to add an extra Cancellation Protection which will give you more flexibility.
🛡Full financial protection: Your money is safe. Every booking is fully financially protected.
7 NIGHTS IN SWEDISH LAPLAND
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Arrive to Luleå by night train or a short flight from Stockholm. Since there will be no set activities on this first day you can arrive with any flight or train. We have booked a room for you at Hotell Savoy in central Luleå, a pretty little town on the coast of Northern Sweden. The hotel is a 5 minutes walk from the train station or if you arrive by flight it will be a 20 minutes shuttle bus or a taxi from the airport.
On this first day you will have time to land at your own pace. The hotel has a small but nice spa with saunas and swirl pools where you can easily relax for a couple of hours. And during the evening you can go for a dinner at the hotel restaurant or any other of the town’s many restaurants.
Your guide will arrive tomorrow.
Night at Best Western Plus Hotell Savoy in Luleå.
Common question: Why do we need to arrive one day before we meet up with our guide? Well, our experience from previous guests is that you will need a day to settle in and wind down to be rested and ready to begin the tour on the next day. In this way we get to travel to Jokkmokk in daylight, see some nice sights along the way, and to have the energy to venture out at night to watch for northern lights.
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Meet and greet with your guide and the other participants after breakfast.
After a brief welcome we pack our bags into the van to take off and leave Luleå behind. Our first stop is Storforsen, part of the Pite river and Europe’s largest unbound rapids. The rapids thunder with a mighty power - partly frozen with white water shaping natural sculptures of ice and snow. Well worth a visit!
We then continue our Northbound journey across the Arctic circle and into remote Swedish Lapland. Here we reach Jokkmokk, a small northern outpost town which will act as a base for our excursions. It's right in the heart of the Sami's ancestral lands surrounded by mountains, tundra, forests and lakes. Jokkmokk is home to a large Sámi community and we absolutely love this place! As we arrive to our guesthouse we sit down together for a proper introduction over coffee with the hosts at the guesthouse.
We will be served dinner with local specialities, and then, if the skies are clear we will definitely fill our thermoses with hot drinks and head out to watch for the Northern Lights.
Night at Jokkmokk guesthouse.
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Today we are going dog sledding! We greet and cuddle the dogs and help prepare the sledges, before we are ready to take off.
Seated on wooden sledges we travel across the frozen landscape, hearing only the breathing of the huskies and feeling the crisp winter air on our faces. We stop somewhere for lunch and light a warming camp fire, while the dogs get some well-deserved rest and cool down in the snow. We are typically out for two to three hours including a break.
In the afternoon you will have some time to explore Jokkmokk town. You may wish to visit the interesting Ájtte museum, which tells the story of the Samis and life in the landscape they've inhabited for thousands of years. There is a church which looks like straight from a fairytale and the are also a few local handicraft shops worth visiting. Sami handicraft, made from traditional, natural materials is exquisite and unique and makes a wonderful present. Knives, wooden cups, woven tin wire bracelets and baskets woven from birch roots.
In the evening we have another chance to marvel at the Northern lights. Fill up your thermos and bring some snacks to stay warm and content.
Night at Jokkmokk guesthouse.
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After breakfast we plan to drive through a nearby valley known to host some of Europe’s largest moose, but also herds of reindeer. During the cold Winter season these two deer species gather in the valleys in search for food. This gives us an excellent opportunity to observe and photograph these magnificent animals at close range.
We stop for an outdoor lunch somewhere along the shore of a lake, where we light a campfire on the snow.
In the afternoon we meet up with our good friend Anna, just outside of Jokkmokk. Anna and her family are Sami reindeer herders. She has invited us for an evening meal in her lávvu, a traditional tent. With a native perspective Anna has a lot to share. We sit on skins on the floor around a warming open fire and try traditional Sámi dishes that she prepares for us over the open fire.
Later we have another chance to watch for northern lights, and hopefully the skies are clear.
Night at Jokkmokk guesthouse.
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After breakfast we go for a walk to a nearby forest and a bird feeding station, where some nature loving locals help birds survive the long Winters. Here we have the chance to watch a variety of species such as Willow tit, Crested tit, Siberian tit and Siberian Jay as well as Red Squirrel at close. Some of the birds may even eat out of your hand, a beautiful experience. You don’t have to be a bird enthusiast to enjoy this.
After lunch we leave Jokkmokk behind as we venture further north to experience something truly exceptional.
Our good friend Lennart in Unna Tjerusj Sami community warmly welcomes us as guests to his tented camp, nestled in the remote Laponia UNESCO World Heritage region. Here, we have the opportunity to ski or snowshoe through the surrounding forests and across the frozen lake, or simply unwind and relish the tranquil beauty of winter in the Arctic.
We will camp for two nights.
Here we recommend you to put your phone away and let snowflakes and frosty trees be your connection to the world. We're in the wild, so no electricity is available to charge your phone. Although Lennart wouldn't call it wilderness, for him this is his 'backyard'. The Sámis have lived in harmony with these lands for thousands of years.
You will sleep comfortably in one of the tents. Yes, the tents have proper beds and a heater, so it's almost like staying at a hotel. You will be surprised how comfortable a tent can be. Toilet? Don't worry, Lennart has set up some heated toilet booths near the tents. We have five tents to share so there is be plenty of room for all of us.
During the evening Lennart will cook an evening meal by the fire place in a small wooden cabin. We take turns to go outside and watch for the Aurora, hopefully dancing in the sky above the camp. In either case, the illuminated tents provide an ideal foreground for night sky photography.
Night at the tented camp.
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Wake up in your tent and join the others for breakfast in the warm cabin. Take this day to relax. Read a book, talk to your fellow travelers, go for a walk across the lake.
You can also explore the surrounding forests and the frozen lake on wooden Nordic skis or snowshoes. Experience different types of snow and search for animal tracks of grouse, moose, reindeer, fox and weasels. These activities are optional. You can also go by foot, or just lay in your bed all day. You probably deserve it.
Lennart is feeding birds at the camp and there usually some Crested tits and Siberian tits around. And there is plenty of Willow ptarmigan in the surrounding forests. Sometimes a Tengmalm’s owl is calling nearby. Lunch and dinner at the camp. No schedule, no stress.
In the evening we heat up the wood heated sauna. Heat up, then if you dare, roll yourself in the snow! Buckets of warm water will be your only shower.
Night at the tented camp.
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We enjoy another slow breakfast in the cabin. This morning you will have another chance with the skis or snowshoe before saying our goodbyes to Lennart and begin our journey back to the modern world. Time has come to leave Sápmi, although we're quite sure you will return some day. We stop for lunch at a local restaurant in Jokkmokk and then continue our return journey to Luleå on the coast.
We have booked a room for you at the same hotel where we met on the first day. Our guide will drop you off during the late afternoon. After two nights in tents you may want to soak up at their spa.
Dinner on your own at the hotels restaurant or at any other of the excellent restaurants in Luleå.
Note: You can’t catch a flight on this day since we arrive in Luleå in the late afternoon.
Night at Best Western Plus Hotell Savoy in Luleå.
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Breakfast buffet at the hotel.
If you have time we can highly recommend you to explore Luleå town before you depart on your train or flight. Strolling around with the locals at the frozen lake would be a perfect ending of your adventure.
Acommodation
First and last night in Luleå
Stay two nights at Best Western Plus Hotell Savoy in Luleå. Located in the town center near the train station, with single, double, twin, or family rooms available. Free spa access. The hotel has a nice restaurant and a cafe.
Stay three nights at Jokkmokk guesthouse
Stay 3 nights at Jokkmokk guesthouse, cozy but basic rooms. Single, double, twin, or family rooms available. The bathrooms located in the corridor can be used by all guests, but you can lock the door from the inside when you use it. Sauna in the basement.
Stay two nights the Sápmi Nature camp
Stay two nights at Sápmi Nature Camp, remotely located far out in the wild. Five tents, each with two beds. Shared toilets in a heated booth outside. No electricity.
Please note that we offer two types of tents: standard and deluxe. Our standard tents (image above) provide a comfortable and homely atmosphere, while our deluxe tents offer an elevated level of luxury, complete with their own private bathrooms. The deluxe tents are in high demand, and to reward our early-bird guests, we offer a complimentary upgrade to a deluxe tent for the first 2-4 individuals to make a reservation (depending on the number of solo travelers and couples).
One of us will be your guide
Mirja Andersson
I have been hiking and working in many different countries around the world but there is something special with the World Heritage Site Laponia. The presence of a living Sami culture together with a fantastic unspoiled nature. It is truly a perfect place to disconnect from your daily life and connect with nature and the people around you. I live in Gällivare and I am leading these winter trips in Swedish Lapland.
Christian Heimrot
I am genuinely interested in being in nature, and I like to inspire people around me to do the same. Everytime I go out I learn something new. From locals that we meet on the trail, from co-workers or from our guest. I live in Jokkmokk and I am leading these winter trips in Swedish Lapland.
Cathrin Larsson
I'm new to the team but old to the game. Found my home in the mountains from when I was young. I work as a mountain leader, freelance journalist and take on cabin hosting duties whenever I get the chance. Being out with people and helping them discover something new in nature or themselves is my thing. I lead these amazing Winter trips in Jokkmokk.
LOCATION & HOW TO GET HERE
The tour starts at Hotel Savoy in Luleå town in Swedish Lapland. Check-in time is 3 pm, but you can arrive earlier and relax in the reception lounge or visit the spa.
Address: Storgatan 59, Luleå >> Link to Google Maps
Meeting time: On Day 2 meet up with your guide at Hotel Savoy in Luleå at 10:30 am.
By train: We highly recommend the Arctic Circle train from Stockholm or Arlanda airport to Luleå, which runs on renewable energy. The journey takes around 13 hours and offers a memorable start to your adventure. You can also choose to travel by train in one direction and fly in the other direction. The train has a restaurant serving basic meals, snacks, and drinks. Purchase your train tickets online at www.sj.se. A bunk bed in a shared 6-bed compartment costs approximately 3000 SEK for a return ticket, with 3-bed and private compartments also available. Upon arrival in Luleå, it's just a short 500-meter walk to Hotel Savoy, where the tour begins.
Climate reward: If you travel by train from Stockholm to Luleå with return, you'll receive our climate reward that includes a free meal at Hotel Savoy and free access to the spa. The meal could be breakfast, lunch, or a two-course dinner, not including drinks. To claim the reward, simply email us with your preferred meal. Note that the spa has limited visitors and may be fully booked at times.
By air: To get to Luleå, fly from Stockholm Arlanda (ARN) with SAS or Norwegian. During Winter 2023 there will also be direct connections from London, Paris and Düsseldorf to Luleå. Luleå Airport is small, and you can easily reach Luleå by shuttle bus or taxi (20 minutes). As there are no scheduled activities on the first and last day of the tour, you can choose to take a flight or train at any time that suits you.
WHAT'S INCLUDED?
Tour leader, day 2-7
All the activities specified in the program
7 nights accommodation
Full board including all meals except for dinner on the first and last nights
Free access to the hotel spa in Luleå
Round-trip transportation in a 9-seater van from Luleå
ADD-ONS
During the booking process, you can choose to add the following extras:
Single room supplement for 1800 SEK. The single room supplement is mandatory if you travel solo. Please note that for the two nights in the tents, you may still be sharing with another person.
Rent winter clothing for 2200 SEK for day 2-7.
Merino wool top + long johns set to buy for 1925 SEK.
Alcoholic beverages are paid at each restaurant (cash or card).
STAY WARM & LOOK COOL
We will equip you with premium, top-quality winter gear from renowned Scandinavian brands, such as Fjällräven, Hestra, and Lundhags, including warm clothing, boots, hats, gloves and a headlamp. You can also order our recommended merino-wool set. Our utmost priority is ensuring that you remain comfortably warm throughout your entire trip.
5 reasons to choose this tour:
Are you dreaming of experiencing the Arctic region and hoping to see the Northern Lights? Then this tour is for you. Let me show you why this is the trip you've been longing for.
We take you away from the tourist trails: If you travel with us you will reach places that most travelers have never heard of, and you are very likely not seeing any other tourists or travelers during this trip. This will give you a more genuine experience and meeting with the local people.
Because Jokkmokk is the place to visit: Why, you ask? Well, this region of Lapland remains untamed and authentic, featuring snow-capped mountains, frozen lakes, ancient boreal forests, and rushing rivers across its expansive landscape.
Support the Sámi community: We have chosen to focus this trip around Jokkmokk, a stronghold for the indigenous Sámi community with a large proportion of the population being Sámis. By choosing our tour, you actively support the Sámis and also our common struggle to save the land from mining, forestry and other types of over-exploitation. Our hope is that you will become an ambassador for the Sámi community and to join them in their cause to save the natural world.
Small groups, big connections: Picture yourself in the company of a small, intimate group of like-minded individuals who share your love for wildlife and nature. Our tours are designed to bring together a community of nature enthusiasts, creating a warm and friendly atmosphere where lasting connections are forged. You'll have the opportunity to exchange stories, learn from each other's experiences, and build cherished friendships that will endure long after the tour ends.
Friendly local guides: Our local tour leaders are passionate about wildlife conservation and knows the area well. They will be your companion throughout the trip, sharing their knowledge and providing insightful commentary on the culture, ecology and conservation efforts in Swedish Lapland. Prepare for engaging discussions, fascinating insights, and the chance to expand your understanding of the captivating wildlife and nature that surrounds us.
This trip is rated excellent by earlier guests
Frequently asked questions
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Absolutely! Most of our guests travel solo, while some travel as couple or friends. As a solo traveler you will have your own single room at the hotel and the guesthouse, but you may have to share with another solo traveler during the two nights in tent depending on the group constellation.
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We certainly hope so, as it occurs quite frequently during most of our tours. Each evening, as long as the sky is clear, we set out warmly dressed to search for the aurora borealis. Although we cannot guarantee a sighting, Northern Sweden is a great location and since you are staying for a whole week, your chances are as good as they can get.
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Yes, Swedish Lapland can be really cold, especially during mid-winter. But don’t worry too much about the freezing temperatures, our professional clothing will keep you warm and happy.
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The best time to visit Swedish Lapland for a snow based holiday is from December to March.
December, January and February tend to be the coldest months, with temperatures between -10°C to -30°C, but the air is pleasantly dry and crisp, making even the extreme cold bearable.
December and the first half of January will have very short daylight hours, but that also means better chances to see the Northern Lights.
The second half of February and March is a lot more pleasant with milder temperatures with snow on the ground but longer days and chances for bright, sunny weather, and still great for northern lights.
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You need to be generally fit. On some occasions during this tour we may walk in deep snow, even in darkness with headlamps. These walks are slow with stops along the way and rarely last for more than an hour. Please only sign up for this tour if you think you will be fit enough for these walks.
Skiing and snowshoeing is optional and not required.
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The recommended minimum age is 15 years since we are out in freezing conditions for longer periods, which can be difficult for children to handle if they are not used to it.
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During this trip we will go dig sledding with our friends Kristien and Olav. Happy dogs result in happy guests and guides. They take pride in ensuring the dogs are well-cared for and do not compromise on quality to compete with budget sledding companies. The kennel is regularly checked and meets all government requirements, and retired dogs are given a comfortable home on their property.
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We actively support rewilding and local initiatives, contributing to the preservation of the region's unique wildlife and environment.
You will be invited to help save Sweden's old-growth forests from clear-cutting by donating to WildSweden's Save the Forest Fund. 100% of your donation goes directly to activists and organisations working to conserve Sweden’s forests.
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We expect to encounter Moose, Reindeer and Red Squirrel but also birds such as Siberian Jay, Siberian Tit, Willow Tit, Blue Tit, Black Grouse and Northern Dipper.
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This tour is not specifically adapted for photographing wildlife, although there will most likely be plenty of opportunities to photograph moose, reindeer, birds and capturing breathtaking moments and stunning landscapes.
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Yes, send us an email if you are interested in booking this tour privately for you, a group of friends or your family.
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Of course! Many of our guests choose to visit Stockholm before or after the tour. You can also add extra days in Luleå, a great way to extend your Arctic adventure.
