SAREK NATIONAL PARK TRAVERSE

Sweden

Swedish Lapland

departure: April - October

Duration: 13 days

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FROM

1.800€

X-plore wishes to accompany you on an exciting adventure that combines wild nature, arctic landscapes and unforgettable experiences. Crossing the land of the Sami, hidden and protected by nature itself, we will enter one of the most rugged national parks in Europe.

For 8 days we will ski, or walk with snowshoes, pulling pulkas through snowy valleys, pine forests and across frozen lakes, passing numerous glaciers and imposing vertical walls to live a unique expedition. Our guide will teach us the skills necessary to travel confidently and comfortably through this inspring, remote, arctic landscape: navigation, arctic survival, ski techniques, animal tracking and wildlife observation.

Sarek National Park received it’s designation in 1909, and was the first of its kind in Europe. The mountain massif dominates the park and makes up for 90% of it’s area. Sarek, along with adjoining Padjeanta, Stora Sjöfallet, Muddus and Rago National Park in Norway make up the UNESCO designated Laponia World Heritage Site, which is recognised as being the largest wilderness area in Europe. During the course of this traverse, we will travel within three of those national parks; Sarek, with more than 100 glaciers; Padjelanta, with its lakes and expansive plateaus, and Stora Sjöfallet with its forests, alpine peaks and ice-falls.

Archaeological findings indicate that the Sami people have lived in the Arctic region for thousands of years. Today, the Samis lives are based around their rich cultural foundation and deep-rooted traditions but they also take advantage of modern technological improvements, such as the snow-mobile, to make life easier and more efficient.

Due to our northern latitude (67ºN) and the commonly clear winter sky’s of this region, we may have many possibilities to observe the northern lights.

This traverse takes place in the winter months where temperatures this far north are likely to be continuously below freezing, and the presence of any wind can considerably increase the cooling efficiency of the ambient temperature. The climate is typically arctic with temperatures commonly reaching below -20C and, exceptionally, below -30ºC. The average temperature in March ranges between -6ºC and 2ºC.

Good physical condition and adequate equipment is essential, although previous experience in this type of terrain is not necessary. The guides of X-plore have extensive experience in Arctic terrain and specific qualifications endorsed by the Wilderness Guide Association. We will be happy to advise you on everything related to the preparation for the trip and all necessary equipment.

Best season:
April - October

Selección X-Plore

TYPE OF ACTIVITY:

PHYSICAL:

TECHNICAL:

WILDERNESS:

TRAVEL ITINERARY

DAY 1. FLIGHT TO STOCKHOLM AND CONNECTION WITH LULEA
From Stockholm airport we will take another plane to the city of Lulea, on the shores of the Baltic Sea, where we will spend our first night in a hotel.

Hotel accommodation, Lulea.

DAYS 2. LULEA – RITSEM
Breakfast.

After breakfast we will leave the city for the transfer to Ritsem. The road to Ritsem is also called by locals as the road to nowhere. On the way we can already see the wild terrain blanketed with snow, the frozen lakes and extensive pine and fir forests. At night we can enjoy a sauna with views of the Queen of Lapland; Akka mountain (in Sami it means old woman).

Accommodation in hostel, Ritsem.

DAY 3. RITSEM – NIJAK
Breakfast, lunch, dinner.

Snowmobile transfer to Lake Akkajaure and Lake Kutjaure, getting closer and closer to the slopes of Akka. The Akka (or Áhkká) is one of the most famous mountains in northern Sweden. It is located north of the Arctic Circle in Stora Sjöfallet National Park and belongs to the Unesco Laponia World Heritage Site. This mountain does not have a single summit, but it has several, the highest, the Stortoppen, is 2,015 meters high. It also contains several glaciers; the largest is Hambergsjökel and gives the mountain that characteristic shape. We start our journey looking for the path between fir forests following the river to the southeast looking for the huge wall of Nijak Mountain.

Tent accommodation, Nijak.

Day 4. NIJAK – MIKA
Breakfast, lunch, dinner.

The journey takes us more and more in to the heart of Sarek National Park, also called the Alaska of Europe. Sarek is very alpine, with magnificent mountains and narrow valleys, huge glaciers and vertical walls. The park has more than 200 mountains of more than 1,800 meters. Six of the 13 highest mountains in Sweden are found here, along with around 100 glaciers. On route we can find Sami huts, which are used as a refuge when caring for their reindeer. The terrain is quite regular and relatively easy until we reach the Mikka hut, an emergency hut where we can have dinner.

Tent accommodation, Mika.

DAY 5. ASCENSIONS IN THE AREA
Breakfast, lunch, dinner.

Reserve day or optional climb to one of the mountains in the area, the Mahtuoalgge with 1284 meters high, offering magnificent views over the glacier and “the artery” of Sarek the Rapadalen valley. At night we can take advantage of the cabin to try to contemplate the always impressive northern lights.

Tent accommodation, Mika.

DAY 6: MIKA – BIERIKJAVVRE
Breakfast, lunch, dinner.

Following the course of the frozen river, the ravine in front of us, in the Rapadalen valley, is getting deeper. Heading east we leave the river climbing a snow ramp to enter a wide valley where we will comfortably navigate above Lake Bierikjavvre.

Tent accommodation, Bierikjavvre.

DAY 7: BIERIKJAVVRE – SLUGGA
Breakfast, lunch, dinner.

The terrain is opening more and more, giving rise to huge valleys and vast plains covered in white snow and blue ice. We will cross the moraines, the footprint of the great glaciers that once reigned over this land, beginning the descent through an increasingly narrow canyon. In the north we can see the famous ice waterfalls of the park, aknowledged as being one of the 5 best places in Europe for ice climbing. The conical shape of the Slugga mountain is obvious and serves as a good reference, where we will finally strike our camp.

Tent accommodation, Slugga.

DAY 8: SLUGGA – PIETSAURE
Breakfast, lunch, dinner.

Pietsaure Lake – Stora Sjöfallet National Park – Already covered between mountains and forests we cross the banks of the river, going down to 645 m. where we start crossing the huge lake of Pietsaure. Here we may find the tracks and sign of Arctic species such as the wolf, arctic fox, wolverine or the ptarmigan; the bear is still in its state of hibernation.

Tent accommodation, Pietsaure.

DAY 9: PIETSAURE
Breakfast, lunch, dinner.

Reserve day –

Tent accommodation, Pietsaure.

DAY 10: PIETSAURE – SALTOLUOKTA
Breakfast, lunch, dinner.

The mountain refuge is only 6 kilometers away. We will pass through the Sami summer camp before starting the descent, with views over the extensive mountain ranges and valleys of Stora Sjöfallet N.P. and Lake Akkajaure.

Tent accommodation, Saltoluokta.

DAY 11: SALTOLUOKTA – KEBNATS – GALLIVARE – LULEA
Breakfast, lunch, dinner.

Gallivare-Lulea – Transfer by bus and train to Lulea.
Hotel accommodation, Lulea.

DAY 12: LULEA – STOCKHOLM
free day with optional activities – departure by night train to Stockholm-Arlanda.

DAY 13: FLIGHT BACK HOME
Arrival in Arlanda in the morning and departure to destination.