Northern Lights Multi-activity Adventure in Lapland (Sweden)

A trip out with the huskies will be another highlight of your stay in Lapland. Photo: RM.

In addition to the included activities, snowshoe and cross-country ski equipment is available to hire for self-guided tours at other times and there are prepared cross-country trails. A snowmobile tour can also be arranged an option for one day.

Your accommodation for the week (except for the night spent at wilderness cabin during the overnight ski tour) is in private 2-person or 4-person chalets at the camp, with meals served in the restaurant and use of sauna included each night.

An overnight ski tour to wilderness cabin is one of the many winter activities during the week. Photo: RM.

Learn about Lapland's "Big Four" predators and watch the sky for Northern Lights

Located 200km above the Arctic Circle and far from light pollution, this is also an ideal place to see the Northern Lights - when conditions are suitable, spectacular displays illuminate the skies above, with the snow-clad pine forests a picturesque foreground to the beauty of the Aurora.

This experience offers good chances to see the Northern Lights during your stay. Photo: RM.

As well as taking part in a variety of outdoor activities during the week, on four evenings you will also have presentations on Lapland's iconic predators - the Lynx, Wolverine, Wolf and Bear. The beautiful wilderness area surrounding the camp is important habitat for a range of animals, including wildlife such as moose and the reindeer herded by the indigenous Sami people, and with luck you may spot many tracks and signs of these animals while out on your tours.

Northern Lights Multi-activity Adventure in Lapland is suitable for adults who wish to experience "real" winter in the far north while enjoying a range of outdoor activities during the week. This is an authentic, traditional outdoor experience in the Lapland wilderness showcasing the very special magic of the winter landscape.

Please note that the order of activities during the week may be subject to change depending on weather conditions.

Day 1: Arrival and evening Lynx talk

You will be met from Kittilä airport (Finland) for transfer (approx. one hour) to the cabins. Transfers can be offered in connection with any of the Finnair flights from Helsinki to Kittilä. Transfers may in some cases be collated with other guests arriving at different times the same day, so depending on your arrival time it may be necessary to wait at the airport before pick-up. Please let us know your arrival time in advance and we will confirm arrangements. Note that Finnish time is one hour later than Swedish time.

On arrival, there is a welcome drink and presentation of the week before dinner is served in the restaurant.

After dinner, you have the first of four wildlife presentations of the week, focusing on four of Sweden's most iconic animals. Tonight, it's the turn of the shy and rarely-seen Lynx.

Day 2: Snowshoeing and evening Wolverine talk

After breakfast, you head out for a guided snowshoe tour in the quiet wilderness surrounding the camp. Snowshoeing requires no previous experience and is a wonderful way to explore the winter landscape.

This is an opportunity to learn about the flora and fauna of Lapland from your guide - you will look for tracks in the snow and learn about how animals and plants adapt to the challenging climate.

Lunch is taken outdoors by the fire in the forest before continuing your snowshoe tour in the afternoon, making your way back to the cabins for dinner at the restaurant.

Tonight's wildlife presentation is on the rare, beautiful and much misunderstood Wolverine.

Day 3: Dog Sledding, Skiing with Forest Skis and evening Wolf talk

Today you will be taking to the trail for a dogsled adventure, driving your own team of huskies with sled shared one per two persons.

After breakfast, you have transfer to the kennels (approx. 20 mins) to meet the dogs, before setting out for a husky tour of around 17km. The dogs are friendly and enthusiastic, and you'll quickly become best friends!

After lunch, you try the "forest skis" that you will be using later in the week for your overnight tour. These are simple cross-country style skis which can be used with normal winter boots and which are ideal for skiing in landscapes of deep snow and unprepared trails.

After dinner, tonight's talk takes you into the mysterious world of the Wolf.

Day 4: Optional self-guided skiing/snowshoeing or snowmobile tour and evening Bear talk

Today you have the freedom to plan your day as you wish. After the last few days' activities, you may wish to simply take it easy and enjoy the surroundings of the camp.

If you're still in the mood for adventure, snowshoes and cross country skis are available to hire for self-guided tours in the surrounding area, or snowmobiling can also be arranged.

This evening's talk is on the majestic and powerful Bear.

Day 5: The Sami and Reindeer Herding Culture

The Sami are the indigenous people of the north, and their lives today combine a strong connection to the traditions of the past and maintaining their reindeer herding heritage, while incorporating the many benefits the modern world has to offer.

You will meet a Sami family and learn about life as a reindeer herder, before having a traditional Lapland lunch.

In the afternoon you return to the cabins with dinner in the evening.

Day 6: Overnight Ski Tour to Wilderness Cabin

During the week you will have tried a number of different winter activities and by now should be well-used to winter life in Lapland!

Today you set out for an overnight ski tour using the forest skis you tried earlier in the week, skiing over frozen lakes and marshland and through the pine forest. This area is important for both reindeer husbandry and wild moose, and you may need to adapt your route to minimise disturbance to the animals.

You will need to carry only a day-pack, as your main luggage for the night will be transported to the cabin. Distance is variable but is typically around 10-15km.

The newly-constructed wilderness cabin offers simple but comfortable accommodation, with no electricity or running water and sleeping accommodation in shared rooms with bunk beds. The cabin is heated by wood-burning stove and water is prepared by melting snow.

Everyone joins in to prepare dinner and heat the sauna for the evening - perhaps you'll brave a roll in the snow while having your sauna, hopefully with the Northern Lights shining above!

Day 7: Return to the Camp on Skis

After breakfast you pack for return by skis to the camp. With luck, you may spot tracks and signs of wildlife such as the lynx or wolverine, about which you have heard earlier in the week, and the area also has a large population of moose.

Distance is variable but is typically around 10-15km. Once back, it's time for a sauna and your last dinner together in the restaurant.

Day 8: Departure

Breakfast and transfer to Kittilä airport (Finland) for departure. Transfers can be offered in connection with any of the Finnair flights from Kittilä to Helsinki. Transfers may in some cases be collated with other guests departing at different times the same day, so depending on your departure time it may be necessary to wait at the airport before departure. Please let us know your departure time in advance and we will confirm arrangements. Note that Finnish time is one hour later than Swedish time.

Included

• Accommodation:
  • 6 nights in private 2-person chalets (if 1-2 persons) or 4-person chalets (if 3-4 persons) with 2-bed rooms. Chalets are simple but comfortable and have own WC/shower. Bedding and towels are included.
  • 1 night in shared rooms at wilderness camp during overnight ski tour. Camp has no electricity or running water and is heated by wood-burning stove. Dry, outside toilet facilities. Guests will need to bring own light sleeping bag and liner for this night.
  • Sauna is available every night at both the camp and wilderness cabin. Sauna at the camp is electric and at the wilderness camp is wood-fired.
  • The main lodge building has wi-fi, which also reaches all the chalets.
• Meals: All meals are included from dinner on Day 1 to breakfast on Day 8. Meals are served in the camp restaurant for dinner and breakfast (except for night at wilderness camp). Lunches may be outdoors during activities depending on the itinerary. Drinking water is always available and tea/coffee are included in connection with meals.
• Equipment/Clothing: All equipment for activities included in the itinerary (snowshoes, forest skis, dogsled equipment). Warm winter overalls, warm boots, woollen outer socks, woollen inner and leather outer mittens, warm (fake) fur hat. Snowshoes and cross country skis are available for borrow for self-guided tours at other times.

Example of winter outer clothing provided

• Transfers: Transfers between Kittilä airport and the camp on arrival/departure day in connected with fixed flight times; local transfers as required for included activities.
• Luggage Transfers: Between camp and wilderness cabin for overnight ski tour Day 6-Day 7.

Two-person chalets. Photos: RM.

Four-person chalets. Photos: RM.

Wilderness cabin for overnight ski tour. Photos: RM.

Not Included

• Travel: We do not arrange flights or domestic travel, but are happy to advise on suitable connections and assist you with any aspect of planning your journey. See under "Getting There" for general travel information.
• Alcoholic drinks and other drinks outside mealtimes (drinking water is of course always available).
• Snowshoes or ski equipment except as required for included activities (available to hire for self-guided activities at other times, paid locally). Both "forest" and "proper" cross-country skis are available to hire and there are prepared cross-country trails starting right from the cabins.
• Optional snowmobile tour Day 4 (paid locally).

Required

Health requirements/experience:

You should be in good health with a normal level of fitness and enjoy the outdoors. No previous snowshoeing or cross country skiing experienced is required.

For night at wilderness cabin, you should be used to living in close proximity with others.

What makes this "Medium"?

The experience is based at simple but comfortable accomodation. During day activities, you will be outdoors in winter conditions for extended periods, but the day activities have a generally accessible level of challenge. The overnight ski tour has a higher level of physical challenge, but luggage transfers are included to the wilderness cabin and so it is necessary to ski only with day pack.

NB: Perception of difficulty is very subjective. What is hard to one person may be easy for another and vice versa, depending on factors including level of fitness, age and previous experience. Weather conditions/temperatures can also dramatically affect the actual level of challenge encountered.

Equipment/clothes needed:

For information on any equipment and/or clothing included as standard for this experience, please see under "What's Included".

A detailed recommended packing list for personal items to bring will be sent with your booking documentation.

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. Note of course that the most appropriate clothing to use as well as the level of challenge experienced during any outdoor activity may vary significantly depending on factors such as the time of year and the particular weather/temperature conditions during your trip.

Preparing for your trip:

For further reading, we also have a number of general information articles to get you ready for your trip, covering a wide variety of topics from what to do on a city break before/after your tour, advice on packing, eyewear for winter and considerations for female travellers.

Minimum number:

A total of minimum 4 persons is required for this experience to be confirmed to run. You are of course welcome to book as a solo traveller.

Combine This With

This experience makes an ideal combination with the following:

• Hut to Hut Aurora Husky Safari in Lapland (7 days, located just a few km from the camp): Tours run Sunday-Saturday, making it ideal to begin with the Winter Activity Adventure - the dogsled day tour is the perfect warm up for an extended dogsled tour to follow!

Groups

Max. group size 16 persons. This experience is suitable for private groups - please contact us to discuss your requirements.

Eco Info

This activity has received a prestigious Swedish Ecotourism certification for commitment to high standards to cultural and environmental sensitivity.

"Pre-departure information was all excellent and thorough. It was a wonderful trip. It is hard to point out a single best part of the trip. The whole experience was great, beyond expectations." John, January 2023

"Lars is a fantastic host. The husky sledding, reindeer sledding, snowshoeing sessions were all excellent. I also think that the people around are extremely nice and always willing to talk with you. It doesn't feel at all like a 'timed' tour where you have to leave at a specific time because the next group is coming, so we could enjoy all moments. Finally, I cannot stress enough how good the food was during this trip. I was expecting horrible food, but it was all homemade and exceptionally good. This was the most surprising part of the trip to me and was excellent. [I chose Nature Travels because] great tours, fast and very professional responses. No issues at all." Siddarth and Sahand, New Year 2022/23