Across Padjelanta National Park on skis - Laponia Adventures

Across Padjelanta National Park

A remote hut-to-hut adventure in Padjelanta on skis

Join us on a winter adventure travelling across the snow-covered plateau in Padjelanta National Park on skis. We travel from hut-to-hut finding our own way up and down mountain passes and along frozen rivers. Padjelanta National Park is one of our most remote areas in Sweden, a hidden gem located between the pointy peaks of Sarek National Park and the Norwegians mountains and glaciers. We will most likely not see more than a handful of people, but if we are lucky, we may see moose, wolverine or ptarmigan.

Our idea is to ski across the most remote and protected area in Sweden and still enjoy the convenience and safety of staying in temperate huts during the night

Book your adventure online!

Or actually, our longer tours in Padjelanta on skis are not suitable for spontaneous online bookings. It can rather be something that you dreamed about for a while or had to prepare for. Let’s instead call it an application form to join our team!

When receiving your application, we will manually review it to make sure we think this is the right tour for you. Sometimes we even email you to ask more questions before we together make a well-though through decision. When the decision in made we’ll ask you to pay a 20% deposit to secure your reservation. The remaining balance is cleared 30 days prior to arrival.

Please start by filling out the form below and we take it from there.


>> See our Terms and conditions

If the tour in Padjelanta on skis is booked out or the available dates for this winter doesn’t match your schedule. Would you like to know when we open up for reservations for next winter? Please sign up on the interests list.

Join us and experience:
  • Spectacular mountain views
  • A remote area with few other visitors
  • Staying in cozy temperate mountain huts
  • Quietness and pure nature
  • Tasty food made from local ingredients
Requirement to join the team

THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT SO PLEASE READ THIS EXTRA CAREFULLY!

You must:

  • be able to be out in the mountains skiing off-trail with a sledge for up to 10 hours per day.
  • be a fairly strong skier and able to handle tough uphills and to ski downhill without too many falls.
  • be able to handle cold and sometimes wet environment
  • like to travel in a group and work well in a team.

We also recommend that you:

  • have earlier experience from at least one multi-day ski tour during the last 10 years.
  • like to go on active vacations with authentic nature experiences.
  • are 18 years old or older.

The first skiing day is like a test!

During the first skiing day we approach Padjelanta National Park on skis. You’ll have a chance to test your ability while there is still a chance to cancel the trip and get picked up by a snowmobile. In Padjelanta National Park we are far away from civilization and the only way out is basically forward, or that the whole group to turns around. Your guide will be there to lead you and give advices but you still have to do the job yourself.

Please contact us if you have any questions regarding your physical ability or experience level.

Small groups and experienced guides

The team will be up to 8 guests and one guides and we’ll need a minimum of 3 guests in total to give it a go. The guide has earlier experience from leading tours in Padjelanta National Park on skis. Sometimes there is also a second guide or a trainee in the team.

Solo travelers

Most of our guests travel on their own and some travel as couples, family or friends. Travelling solo is a great way to experience new areas and to find new outdoor friends.

Quick facts:

Location: Padjelanta National Park
Length: 9 days
Date 2024: April 6-14
Price: 27800 SEK/person
Early bird 10% discount until end of August
Group size: Maximum 8 guests
Level: Demanding

The price includes:

  • Experienced and local English-speaking guide
  • Accommodation 8 nights
  • Full board with all meals
  • All skiing and safety equipment
  • Round-trip from Jokkmokk

Not included:

  • Travel to and from Jokkmokk
  • Travel insurance
  • Beverage at restaurants

Add-ons:

  • Single room supplement first and last night SEK 600/person

Itinerary

Included meals marked each day with B=breakfast, L=lunch and D=dinner 

DAY 1 ARRIVAL JOKKMOKK (L,D)

We pick you up at Jokkmokk guest house and drive to our place just outside Jokkmokk. We will give you an introduction to the tour and all help checking and packing group equipment for a week in Padjelanta on skis. There will also be time to pack your private bag and to get to know the other group members. When everything is packed and ready we head back to Jokkmokk Guesthouse. You will have some time to check in to your rooms and have a shower before we enjoy dinner in the restaurant. If you arrive Jokkmokk in the morning you can leave your luggage at the guest house and have access to toilets and the common kitchen. If you have time we recommend a visit at Ájtte mountain and Sami museum and a walk around town. 

DAY 2 HEADING TO THE MOUNTAINS (B,L,D)

After the breakfast at the guesthouse we pack the minivan and head west to Padjelanta National Park and Laponia World Heritage Site. We follow a winding road for about three hours deep into the mountain area until it ends in a small village called Ritsem. From here we’ll continue by snowmobile for another hour or two before we get dropped off. The last stretch to Kutjaure cabin you’ll get the chance to test your skiing ability before the adventure starts for real. We’ll have dinner together and stay overnight in the cabin.

Distance on skis: about 6 km, elevation gain/loss: +50m, estimated time out skiing: 2h 

DAY 3 LÅDDEJÅKK (B,L,D)

After breakfast we pack our sledges and start heading south. Our route follows the mostly frozen river, named Vuojatädno, passing Sáluhávrre summer settlement. Vuojat means “to swim” and refer to that this is where the reindeer had to swim on their way from winter to summer grassing area. In the evening we arrive the huts in Låddejåkk where we have dinner together and sleep well after a full day in the mountains.

Distance on skis: about 22 km, elevation gain/loss: +50/-50 m, estimated time out skiing: 8-10h

DAY 4 ARASLUOKTA (B,L,D)

Our route to the next hut leads us up and over a pass almost 900 meters above sea level. If weather allows we build our lunch couch in the south-facing slope overlooking the surrounding landscape. We spend the night in a hut in Arasluokta, a summer settlement for the Sami people.

Distance on skis: about 14 km, elevation gain/loss: +300/-250 m, estimated time out skiing: 6-8h

DAY 5 DUOTTAR (B,L,D)

We continue east climbing the slope toward the highest point off the tour. This wide-open landscape offers great opportunities for panoramic views, but we are also unprotected if hard weather approaches. However, Duottar cabin, almost 900 meters above sea level will give us the perfect protection against strong winds.

Distance on skis: about 19 km, elevation gain/loss: +300/-50 m, estimated time out skiing: 8-10h

DAY 6 EXTRA DAY (B,L,D)

We have a planned extra day to give us the flexibility to respond to weather and snow conditions.

DAY 7 TARRA VALLEY (B,L,D)

We continue east down the mountain to Tarra valley where we start seeing small birch trees again for the first time in a few days. The frozen Tarra river leads us down to Såmmarlappa mountain cabin where we stay for the night.

Distance on skis: about 23 km, elevation gain/loss: +50/-400, estimated time out skiing: 8-10h

DAY 8 BACK TO JOKKMOKK (B,L,D)

We’ll ski down the Tarra Valley and around lunch time the snowmobile picks us up and bring us down to Kvikkjokk. After loading everything on the minivan we continue along the road back to Jokkmokk. We have a shower and sauna followed by dinner in the restaurant.

Distance on skis: about 8 km, elevation gain/loss: -50 m, estimated time out skiing 3h

DAY 9 DEPARTURE DAY (B)

We have breakfast in the restaurant before it is time to say good-bye and get ready for your journey home from Jokkmokk.

Accommodation and comfort

Two nights at Åsgård Guesthouse in Jokkmokk. Located close to town center near the closet bus stop. Charming building with a cozy atmosphere. Single, twin- or multi-bed rooms. Shared bathroom and showers located in the corridor. Sauna in the basement. Free WIFI.

Six nights in mountain cabins along the Padjelanta trail. Cozy, basic cabins often with scenic surrounding. 2-6 persons in each room/cabin sleeping in bunk-beds. Mattresses, pillows and duvets available, outhouses outside the cabins. No showers, running water, electricity, cell-phone coverage or WIFI.

The food

Let’s be honest! We are not a “go-light” company, and we like good food! And we want you to try the best that the north of Sweden has to offer. At least the best that you can have in a cabin far out in Padjelanta National Park. Actually, good food is also important to stay warm and happy all day. We start the day with a hearty breakfast in the cabins in the morning followed by a simpler lunch somewhere in the mountains during the day. In the evening is where the magic happens.

In Jokkmokk we enjoy 2-course dinners in the evening and breakfast buffets in the morning.

Meeting point and how to get here

We will meet you at Jokkmokk Guesthouse. Check-in is from 15.00 but until then you can leave your luggage and use the common kitchen and the toilet.

Address: Åsgatan 20, Jokkmokk

Meeting time: At 15.00 on day 1

We’ll finish the tour after breakfast in Jokkmokk on day 9.

>> Information about how to travel here and home

What to bring

We supply you with all skiing and safety equipment. What you need to bring is your clothes and some small things.

>> See our packing list

We reserve the right to make changes

Nature is a dynamic place and we may need to adjust the route and the itinerary according to the current weather conditions. We are also in contact with representatives for the local reindeer herders’ communities and other local actors to collaborate in the best way possible.

Common asked questions and answers

Do I have to be super-fit?

Across Padjelanta National Park is one of our toughest tours and it requires a lot of you as a participant. But you don’t have to be running marathons or be an expert in downhill skiing. Please read through the requirement listed further up and don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or would like to discuss your experience level.

How heavy will the sled be?

As part of the team you’ll pull your own sledge with your private gear and part of food and common equipment. In the beginning the sled weigh about 30kg but as we go it will weigh less and less. Remember the pulling 30kg is NOT the same as carrying a backpack of 30kg that’s why we use sledges!

How cold will it be?

During a week in Padjelanta National Park we see all kinds of weather. We can experience sunshine and -10C degrees during the day but also +5C degrees with rain and strong winds. But don’t worry too much about the cold. Pack according to the packing list and listen to good advice from the guide about how to stay warm during the day.

I am not a good skier; can I still go?

The skiing is not very technical, it is more about endurance and attitude. BUT, we have to be able to cover some distance each day and there are some downhills to ski down. Clear speaking, you can’t be too slow or fall too often.

I have high blood pressure; can I still go?

We don’t automatically say no just because you have a medical condition but it should not be a high risk factor for you or the group. We recommend that you talk to your doctor and make sure you have medication that you know works well for you. AND please let us know when filling out the application form and we can discuss this with you before we enter Padjelanta on skis.

I am a vegetarian; can I join the team?

We are used to handle most food preferences and allergies, just let us know when filling out the application form. BUT with limited cooking space we can’t handle too advanced requests or guarantee that it will be totally free from gluten or lactose etc. If you have a severe allergy please contact us to discuss this with us.

Do you have any questions?

Please send us an email to info@laponiaadventures.com
We are happy to help and will answer you as soon as we can.

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