Sarek Ski Expedition
The ultimate challenge for the adventurous
Be part of our small team exploring the dramatic valleys of Sarek National Park on skis. During one week, we travel through one of the wildest and perhaps most beautiful, but also most extreme mountain areas in Sweden. You can wake up to a sunny, crispy morning without as much as a ripple in the tent, and a few hours later you find yourself plodding through a full-on snow-storm. Together with an experienced guide from Laponia Adventures, you ski through an untouched landscape during the day. In the evening you’ll help build the camp, enjoy tasty meals together with the team. And hope for Mother Nature to turn on the Northern light show.
Our idea is to gather a small team of enthusiastic outdoor people to experience the beauty and the challenge of Sarek National Park together
Book your adventure online!
Or actually, our longer tours 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 to go to Sarek on skis 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 is booked out or the available dates experience Sarek on skis 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:
- Dramatic mountain views
- Good fellowship and team spirit
- Quietness and pure nature
- Tasty food made from local ingredients
- A good physical and mental challenge
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 with a sledge for up to 10 hours per day.
- be a fairly strong skier to be able to handle both tough uphills and travel downhill without too many falls.
- have earlier experience from at least one multi-day ski tour during the last 10 years.
- have experience from backcountry camping, summer or winter.
- have the ability to deal with cold and wet environment 24/7.
- like to travel in a group and work well in a team.
We also recommend that you:
- like to go on active vacations with authentic nature experiences.
- have earlier experience from at least one night in a tent in arctic winter conditions.
- are 18 years old or older.
The first skiing day is like a test!
During the first skiing day we approach Sarek 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 Sarek National Park we are far away from civilization and the only way out is basically forward, or that the whole group to turn 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-two guides and we’ll need a minimum of 3 guests in total to give it a go. At least one of the guides will have experience from leading several expeditions in Sarek National Park on skis. In the team there will also be a second guide or trainee.
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: Sarek National Park
Length: 9 days
Date 2024: March 16-24
Price: 29150 SEK/person
Early bird 10% discount until end of August
Group size: Maximum 8 guests
Level: Very demanding
The price includes:
- Experienced and local English-speaking guide
- Accommodation 8 nights
- Full board with all meals
- All camping, 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 750/person
Itinerary
Included meals marked each day with B=breakfast, L=lunch and D=dinner
DAY 1 ARRIVAL JOKKMOKK (L,D)
We’ll pick you up at Jokkmokk guest house and drive you to our base just outside Jokkmokk where we give you an introduction to the expedition before having lunch together. In the afternoon we all help to check and pack all equipment and food for a week in Sarek National Park. You will also get a chance to test your skis and boots and practice setting up the tents before the adventure starts for real. There will also be time to pack your private bag and to get to know the other expedition members. When everything is packed and ready we head back to Jokkmokk Guesthouse where you will have some time to check in to your rooms and have a shower and sauna before we enjoy dinner in the restaurant.
DAY 2 HEADING TO THE MOUNTAINS (B,L,D)
After breakfast we pack the mini-van and head west towards Sarek National Park and the World Heritage Site of Laponia. 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. You’ll get the chance to test your skiing ability and sleep one night in a tent before the adventure starts for real. We find a nice place to build our camp for the night have dinner and sleep well after our first day in the mountains.
Distance on skis: about 6 km, elevation gain/loss: +50m, estimated time out skiing: 2h
DAY 3 ENTERING SAREK NATIONAL PARK (B,L,D)
We wake up to the sound of the mountain and have breakfast together in the restaurant tent. Leaving the sparse birch forest behind us we aim for the high peaks in the east entering Sarek through the northwestern entrance. After about 15 km of steady but gently uphill we find a nice spot to call home and set camp for the night. We’ll have lunch on the way brought in thermoses and then cook a hearty dinner at camp in the evening.
Distance on skis: about 14 km, elevation gain/loss: +250 m, estimated time out skiing: 8h
DAY 4 SKIING THROUGH RUOHTESVÁGGE (B,L,D)
We continue in Sarek on skis through the valley Ruohtesvágge passing the highest point of the expedition. The snow and weather conditions will decide our exact route and distance for the day. Before we enter the deep valleys of Sarek we discuss safety considerations for traveling in avalanche terrain and introduce you to your safety equipment.
Distance on skis: about 16 km, elevation gain/loss: -100 m, estimated time out skiing: 8h
DAY 5 HEART OF SAREK NATIONAL PARK (B,L,D)
We wake up in middle of Sarek National Park, surrounded by high peaks and miles away from civilization. We are now in Skarja, where the Rapa River is born and will continue down along the Rapa River.
Distance on skis: about 15 km, elevation gain/loss: -200 m, estimated time out skiing: 8h
DAY 6 RAPA VALLEY (B,L,D)
We’ll continue down the Rapa valley with high peaks in all directions. We pass the spectacular Bielloriehppe peak and in the end of the day small birch trees starts to appear. We set camp just before arriving to the Rapa Delta where we also find Sarek National Park border.
Distance on skis: about 20 km, elevation gain/loss: -100, estimated time out skiing: 8h
DAY 7 EXTRA DAY (B,L,D)
All our winter expeditions in Sarek national park have a planned extra day to give us the flexibility to respond to weather and snow conditions.
DAY 8 SALTOLUOKTA MOUNTAIN LODGE (B,L,D)
We’ll continue through a meandering delta landscape to Aktse where we will be picked up by a snowmobile that will take us the last stretch to Saltoluokta mountain lodge. We’ll finish the expedition with a well-deserved sauna followed by dinner in the restaurant.
Distance on skis: about 10 km, elevation gain/loss: +50/-50 m, estimated time out skiing 4h
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. Saltoluokta mountain lodge organize snow-mobile transfers to Kebnats bus stop on the other side of lake Langas. Travel home on your own or join us in the minibus back to Jokkmokk.
Accommodation and comfort
One night 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 winter camping in Sarek National Park. High-quality tents from Hillebergs. Two-three persons in each tent. No toilets, showers, running water, electricity, cell-phone coverage or WIFI available. Just pure nature, snow and mountains!
One night at Saltoluokta mountain lodge. Cozy and rustic mountain lodge 4 km from the closest road. Single, twin- or multi-bed rooms. Shared bathroom located in the corridor. Sauna and showers in another building. Free WIFI, limited cell-phone coverage.
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 tent far out in Sarek National Park. Actually, good food is also important to stay warm and happy all day and night. We start the day with a hearty breakfast in camp 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 and Saltoluokta 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 10.00 on day 1
We’ll finish the tour after breakfast at Saltoluokta mountain lodge on day 9. You can choose to travel home directly from there or join us back to Jokkmokk. We expect to be back in Jokkmokk around 12.00 on day 9.
What to bring
We supply you with all skiing, camping, cooking and safety equipment. What you need to bring is your clothes and some small things.
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
How heavy will the sled be?
As part of the team you’ll pull your own sledge through Sarek on skis with your private gear and part of food and common equipment. In the beginning the sled weigh about 40kg but as we go it will weigh less and less. Remember the pulling 40kg is NOT the same as carrying a backpack of 40kg that’s why we use sledges!
Do I have to be super-fit?
Sarek ski expedition is our toughest tour and it requires a lot from the members of the team. But you don’t have to be running marathons or be an expert in downhill skiing. Please read through the requirement listed further up to go to Sarek on skis and don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or would like to discuss your experience level.
How cold will it be?
During a week in Sarek National Park we see all kinds of weather. We can experience sunshine and -15C degrees during the day but also +5C degrees with rain and strong winds. Night temperatures can drop down to -30C, but normally stays around -10C to -20C. But don’t worry too much about the cold. Pack according to the packing list and listen to good advice from the guide team about how to stay warm.
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. 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 Sarek 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.