Sarek National Park Expedition
"[The highlights were] glacial river crossings and stunning views coupled with the remote isolation." Jonathan
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Photo: Håkan Hjort/Niac-photo
Photos: 1,3-7:STF Bildarkiv; 2:Håkan Hjort/Niac Photo
Visions of Sarek National Park - "Europe's Last Wilderness" - are the stuff of dreams for many a hiking enthusiast. Together with a guide and like-minded mountain adventurers, you will take a journey through the Sarek mountains and gain a unique insight into a magical area of northern Sweden. The attraction of Sarek is that it is wholly untamed - no marked paths exist to guide you through its breathtaking landscape of mountains and valleys.
The route taken through Sarek National Park has been specially chosen to showcase the diversity of this beautiful area, offering stunning views of moorland to the west, the dramatic high alpine peaks of the Sarek mountain chain with their glacial landscape, and the rainforest-like vegetation of the Rapa Valley (or "Rapadalen" in Swedish). The itinerary also includes time for day excursions and peak tours, allowing you to explore Sarek's wild beauty with lighter packs.
During the hike you will also have the opportunity to discuss mountain skills with your experienced local guide - including how to assess the weather and wind, the snow and the glaciers, and what to look for when choosing where to pitch camp for the night.
Sarek is a wild and challenging environment, but you do not need to be an expert adventurer to participate. Distances covered daily are manageable, but if you would like to take part in this experience, you should have some experience of mountain hikes carrying a tent and be fit. You should bear in mind that you will need to count on adding another 6-8kg to your personal pack weight to allow for food, tent, kitchen equipment and fuel.
As always in Sarek it is the weather that decides the itinerary. As with any mountain environment, conditions can be unpredictable and your guide may choose to alter the route depending on circumstances. But whatever route you take, you will find the space and freedom of Sarek an uplifting, some would say spiritual, experience, far from the trappings of the modern world.
Sarek National Park is a place to cleanse your soul and rediscover what it really means to be alive!
Meet in Ritsem when the first bus arrives. Lunch and short information talk about the week. The equipment and food will be divided among the participants and you will go through and get to know your equipment for the coming week. In the evening you will take the boat over Akkajaure and hike around 8km to a beautiful camp spot beneath the western peaks of Akkas. Bear in mind that it will be late into the evening before camp is pitched and dinner made.
The hike continues towards the south-east. After some hours you will cross the National Park boundary into Sarek! The needs and wishes of group, as well as weather conditions, will determine the length of the route.
For the most part the hike continues through Ruohtesvagge towards the far end of Rapadalen and Pielaslätten. The terrain will vary from easy-going on heather moorland to high alpine stony ground, possibly through areas covered with snow and ice. The exact route taken will vary dependent on weather conditions, which can be very changeable in this high alpine area.
Towards Guhkesvagge and a bridge which leads over a mountain stream. On the other side you cross into Stora Sjöfallet ("Big Waterfalls") National Park.
Over Nienndo towards Slugga. You can make out the lake of Pietsaure in the pass between Gahppo and Slugga, where a boat will be waiting to take you over to the Pietsaure Sami camp (the indigenous people of Lapland). Here you will be welcomed with a meal - it is a real experience to sit at a table to eat after a week in the mountains! You will pitch your tents for the night at a spot around 3km east of the Sami camp.
You will break camp for the last time, hiking around 4km down to Saltoluokta Mountain Station. Here await showers, sauna, and a served dinner! In the afternoon the boat will take you over Langas, where the bus will be waiting on the other side to take you to Gällivare and the train south.
Please note that the itinerary is for guidance only and may be subject to change dependent on weather conditions, abilities of the group, etc.
The midnight sun does not shine the whole summer, but it is daylight around the clock from approximately 15 May to 31 July. In August, bring a small torch or headtorch.
Mobile phones do not normally work on the mountains. The guide will carry a satellite phone for use only in emergencies.
Detailed information about times, guides, etc, will be sent out to all participants around 2-4 weeks before departure.
23.07-31.07.12
Prices are in British Pounds. If you wish, you are also welcome to make your payment by bank transfer in Euros or Swedish Kronor. If this would be of interest, please let us know and we will be happy to provide prices.
NB: Members of YHA/Hostelling International receive a discount of £38/person on the price below. Please let us know at time of booking if you are a member.
£646/person
Wild camping in shared tents.
All meals during hike, meal in Ritsem, meal in Pietsaure Sami camp, meal at Saltoluokta Mountain Station.
Camping and kitchen equipment, tent and fuel.
Boat transfers on Akkajaure, Pietsaure and Langas.
Experienced and knowledgeable local guide.
Alcoholic drinks.
If you would like to extend your stay before or after the tour or rent some equipment, please contact us and we will be happy to discuss the alternatives.
You should have a good level of health and fitness and be used to hiking in alpine conditions. The distance covered each day varies between 10-20 km. Note that 20km over rough, pathless terrain can be considerably more challenging than hiking in other environments.
Largest height difference in a single stretch around 300m, excluding peak tours and other exploration.
Recommended minimum age 18 years.
A detailed recommended equipment list will be sent with your booking confirmation.
NB: We advise you not to buy equipment or clothes for your trip or to incur other non-refundable expenses such as flights until you have received confirmation of your booking from us in writing.
Minimum 6 and maximum 14 participants. This experience is open to travellers from all over the world. Groups may be made up of participants from a number of countries, around 60% of whom are likely to be from Scandinavia.
Groups of minimum 5-6 persons can book private tours at standard prices on other dates by arrangement. Please contact us for details.
Area: 197,000 hectares
Sarek is strikingly alpine for Sweden with magnificent mountain ranges and narrow valleys, glaciers and wild rapids. It is a splendid piece of unspoiled wilderness. The park contains over 200 mountains over 1,800 metres. Six of Sweden's 13 highest mountains are found here, as are about 100 glaciers. Rapadalen valley is the artery of Sarek. The Rapaätno river has an enormous flow and carries green glacial water from about thirty glaciers. Rapadalen contains dense thickets of mountain birch, osier and herbaceous plants. The flora is rather poor in most of the park, but the animal life in the great valleys is rich. If you are lucky you can see bear, wolverine, lynx or one of the unusually large moose.
Sarek is not recommended for beginners. Those wishing to visit the park must have considerable alpine experience and the correct equipment and should be used to spending time outdoors. Sarek is an extremely inaccessible wilderness with no facilities whatsoever for tourists. Here, you are on your own. The foremost sights of Sarek are the alpine landscape with its sharp peaks, glaciers and narrow valleys, the animal life and the delta areas in Rapaselet and Rapadeltat.
Hiking in Sarek requires familiarity with alpine conditions, difficult terrain and rapidly changing weather. There are no sleeping facilities for tourists. There are only a few bridges, and crossing the many rivers may be difficult: rain, or warm weather that accelerates glacial melting, may dramatically increase the flow of water.
This provider has received a prestigious Swedish Ecotourism award for its commitment to high standards to cultural and environmental sensitivity.
Detailed information on travel options will be sent with your booking documentation. We are happy to advise on suitable connections and assist you with any aspect of planning your journey.
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Ferry from Harwich to Esbjerg (Denmark) for onward train connections to Gällivare.
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