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See our Activity Level Guidelines to check if this holiday is right for you
See our Activity Level Guidelines to check if this holiday is right for you
Travel 125mi (200km) above the Arctic Circle to Sápmi (Lapland) in Sweden, where wild rivers and vast forests dominate the landscape. Our base is Rajamaa on Pitkäsaari island, where the Malmström family has welcomed guests since 1986. In this wilderness, we discover the indigenous Sámi culture and explore nature by dog sledding, snowshoeing, and forest skiing. Each night, we watch for the Northern Lights. The trip ends with a two-day forest expedition, staying in a traditional log cabin surrounded by untouched nature.
One of Our Top Recommended Trips for 2026… Here’s Why
If you’re as much of a travel addict as I am, you will have read that winter escapes are the hot thing – but not as we once knew them. Travellers are trading busy ski resorts for untouched frontiers and wilder experiences, and that’s the essence of this trip. A true adventure in wintery Nordic landscapes − Garance Chuzel, destination expert
This trip starts at Rajamaa, a complex of cosy wooden chalets on a remote island in the River Muonio with views over both Sweden and Finland. At check in, we are welcomed by the friendly Malmström family, our hosts for the week, who have been running the accommodation for more than three decades. Depending on the arrival time of the group, the main briefing is usually done tonight or tomorrow morning.
After a hearty breakfast, we are provided with all the equipment and information needed for a week of activities in Arctic conditions. Setting off on our snowshoes, we venture into the fabled wintry landscape surrounding Rajamaa and learn more about the unique raw nature of Sápmi (also known as Lapland). Our guide will help us to spot the tracks of birds and other local fauna in the snow and explain how the trees and bushes have adapted to this harsh climate. We enjoy lunch by a log fire in the forest, before walking back over frozen hills and through snowy landscapes to our chalets. In the afternoon, we have free time to enjoy the sauna or a hot drink in the dining room. Over the course of the week, we enjoy presentations about some of Scandinavia’s big predators: lynx, wolverines, bears and wolves.
This morning, we visit a small husky kennel run by neighbours of Rajamaa. We meet Anna, a professional musher, who tells us about the life of the friendly Siberian husky dogs, their training and behaviour. She also explains a few simple rules to safely ride and lead the dogs. Divided into pairs, we then enjoy the challenge and adventure of driving our own dog sled for approximately 9mi (15km) through a winter landscape of snow-clad forests and frozen swamps. Taking turns during the tour gives you the chance to feel like a real musher and to enjoy the landscape when sitting on the dog sled as a passenger.
In the afternoon, we return to our accommodation and familiarise ourselves with forest skiing in preparation for our two-day expedition later in the week. Forest skis originate from Scandinavia and Russia and have been used in this area as a means of transportation for thousands of years. They are usually wooden and differ from cross-country skis as they are longer and broader. They come with simple bindings that you can use with your provided winter boots. This evening, before a hearty dinner, we enjoy another wildlife presentation at the main lodge.
Today is free for you to enjoy one of the optional activities available locally. You may decide to experience the thrill of driving a snowmobile through snowy forests and over frozen lakes or explore the surroundings on snowshoes with a fun geocaching activity. Alternatively, you may choose to relax at the lodge and enjoy the tranquillity of this beautiful setting.
Today we have a special insight into the life and work of a reindeer-herding Sámi family. Between 75,000 to 100,000 Sámi people live in the Arctic regions of Norway, Finland, Sweden and Russia, preserving their unique languages and ancient customs. We travel by foot and in traditional reindeer sleds to a kåta (typical Sámi hut), where we feed the reindeer before spending a couple of hours beside a crackling fire, conversing with the family and learning about their culture, as well as the complex challenges they face. We enjoy a warming lunch and hot coffee in the kåta before returning to Rajamaa and have free time to enjoy the sauna or relax before dinner.
Today, we start a two-day tour on forest skis. On our adventure, we carry only the necessary equipment for the day in a backpack while the rest of our equipment is transported for us by snowmobile. We venture deep into the forest, crossing frozen lakes and pine-clad hills, until reaching our special accommodation for the night, a cosy log cabin. Traditionally used for forest workers, the cabin is heated by log burners and we cook using water collected from the frozen river nearby. We all participate in the preparation of tonight’s dinner and may enjoy an optional sauna before going to sleep in our dorm-style rooms. That is, if the impressive Aurora Borealis is not keeping us awake!
After breakfast, we get on the skis and head back to Rajamaa, stopping for lunch by the fire on the way. If we are lucky, we may come across the tracks of lynx or wolverines during our journey. Back at the lodge, enjoy a well-deserved sauna before our final dinner of the week.
The trip ends this morning and we begin our return journey home with plenty of tales and memories to share with friends and family. Of course, if you’d like to explore the Swedish wilderness a little more, speak to us about extending your stay.
Saturday 14 Mar 2026 to Saturday 21 Mar 2026
This departure is guaranteed to go ahead and is now fully booked, although we may have people holding spaces without payment. Please contact our Sales team for further information.
This departure is guaranteed to go ahead and is now fully booked, although we may have people holding spaces without payment. Please contact our Sales team for further information.
USD 4950 (excl. flights)
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In harmony with the remote wilderness of Sápmi, our base for the adventure is Rajamaa, a welcoming adventure hub on Pitkäsaari island in the River Muonio.
In Sweden, but just across the border from Finland, it has been run by the Malmström family since 1986 and consists of a main building with a dining room and sauna, plus two-bedroom wooden chalets with shared bathroom facilities.
To make our adventure even more immersive, we also spend one night in a remote forest lodge with dorm-style sleeping (up to four people per room).
Upgrade to a one-bedroom chalet with private bathrooms in Rajamaa – speak to your sales representative for more details.
Worth knowing
This trip is rated Activity Level 3 (Moderate). For more information on our trip gradings please visit the Activity Level Guidelines page. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip please do not hesitate to contact us.
It’s a mixed-activity week for adults, with a good selection of guided activities and free time for independent excursions or relaxation. Although none of the activities require previous experience, a good level of fitness, agility and balance is required.
Some forest ski training and tuition will be provided during the week. The distance covered on the two-day expedition will depend on the group’s fitness and on the temperature and weather conditions. Usually, you cover approximately 4.5mi-7.5mi (7km-12km) each day and the activity duration is around four hours plus a lunch stop by the fire.
Temperatures in this part of Sweden can drop as low as -30C (-22F). Come prepared for such extremes. With standard precautions and good clothing, the cold weather won’t be a problem but can be tiring. Arctic outerwear (snowsuit, gloves, hat, socks and winter boots) is provided – please see our essential packing list for more information.
Start hotel: Rajamaa, Muonionalusta 25, 984 95 Muodoslompolo, Sweden
Phone: +46 978 430 40
Recommended arrival time: You can arrive at any time today. There will be a welcome briefing in the evening or the following morning, depending on the group’s arrival time
Airport: Kittilä, Finland (KTT), or Kiruna (KRN), Sweden
Exodus provides one group arrival transfer from the airport, which is timed to coincide with the arrival of a chosen flight from London, UK. You may join this transfer at no extra cost, provided you can be at the airport before the transfer leaves. Speak to your sales representative for the group arrival transfer times or to arrange a private transfer.
If you would like further information on joining this trip, please speak to your sales representative.
There’s a group departure transfer to the airport for customers who Exodus booked onto a chosen flight to London, UK. Please speak to your sales representative if you wish to join. If the group departure transfer does not suit your flight time, speak to your sales representative to arrange an alternative transfer.
Travellers from the UK, US and EU normally do not need a visa to enter Sweden. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.
Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.
All meals are included; however, the dinner on Day 1 is only available subject to your flight arrival time (dinner is usually served at 7pm).
The food at Rajamaa is a mix of Swedish food and sometimes international dishes, all prepared on site. They only use regionally sourced meat and fish from the Arctic Sea.
Breakfast is continental style, with fruit, cereal, porridge, boiled eggs, cheese and cold meats. The lunches provided as part of the itinerary will be eaten outside or at the lodge and are usually a sandwich (plus yoghurt and fruit) or a hearty soup. Dinner each evening consists of a main course and dessert. Vegetarian options are also available.
Temperatures should remain below freezing point for the whole season; however, recent years have had some unexpected fluctuations, both warmer and colder. Generally, you should expect much colder temperatures in December and January: around -25C to -10C (-13F to 14F). As the days get longer, the temperatures rise to around freezing point by March.
Daylight hours: As we are inside the Arctic Circle, the sun remains just below the horizon during the day from 1 December to 7 January. But it is not dark: there is plenty of reflection from the snow, so expect four to five hours of daylight. At the end of January, daylight hours increase to six to seven. In February, there are 10 hours and in March 15 hours.
Northern Lights: The Aurora Borealis are one of nature’s most awe-inspiring sights and seeing them hover above us on a cold winter’s night is an experience never to be forgotten. Scientists will tell you the Northern Lights occur when solar wind particles collide with air molecules in the earth’s atmosphere, transferring their energy into light. The ‘season’ runs from August to April (when there is sufficient darkness). Within this window, the slightly better months are September and March. During periods of high solar activity (not forecastable) they can often be seen every night, but the sky has to be clear of cloud cover, and you need to be away from other light sources. Displays can vary in intensity, from a greenish-yellow glow moving gently around the sky, to a spectacular multi-coloured show dancing across the heavens. Sightings not only vary in intensity but in duration too, from just minutes to sometimes hours.
As a certified B Corp, we’re on a mission to improve our social and environmental impact across all our adventures.
We do this through our innovative Thriving Nature, Thriving People plan.
This ‘nature positive’ approach is designed to help nature and communities thrive in harmony through practical solutions, such as reducing carbon and waste on our trips, supporting conservation projects through the Exodus Adventure Travels Foundation, and rewilding 100 square metres for every Exodus traveller.
What's not to love about this trip? If you are like me and you love winter activities, head out to Rajamma to go dog sledding, reindeer sledding, eat the most fantastic food and relax with traditional local Sami folk!
Making friends with 32 of the most beautiful huskies is up there!
Janne was caring, kind and had a fantastic relationship with the whole group.
Don't overpack! They provide a really warm snowsuit and accessories for your time there.
This was the best vacation we’ve ever had. There were four things that made this vacation absolutely outstanding: First: the location- between the Northern lights and the snowy forest and river landscapes, this place is heaven on earth. Second: the guides- Janne and Lars made this a really special trip....
Besides seeing the northern lights and the beautiful nature all around us, finding I was able to ski downhill on forest skis without falling was the most personally inspiring moment for me.
Janne is the best!!
This is a great trip and a great company. Definitely book this if you are considering it! You will fall down skiing- but it's ok- there were many, many before you who did the same.
The week is a mixture of activities, snowshoeing, dog sledding, reindeer’s and forest skiing through the amazing arctic wilderness. You stay in a chalet and eat and have talks in a main building. The hosts are all amazing as is the food.
The dog sledding was fantastic but we loved everything
Sami, he was great, but we also had Lars and son Johann because Sami was not well enough to do all the activities Add
Add powerbanks to the kit list to use on the overnight stay at the lodge. Take thermal/ woollen mittens NOT gloves
It is a truly amazing week, loads of variety. The activities off site with Henrik and Anna are brilliant too. The food is exceptional and you are really well looked after. Can’t fault it.
What a fantastic week , full of excitement and plenty of adventure . The Northern lights came out within a couple of hours of us arriving and our trip was off to an amazing start. We had great fun out snow shoeing , this place is hard to describe you...
It would be difficult to say one in particular, but seeing the smoke rising above the trees where the hut was located after we had e been travelling on forest skis all day in -30 is right up there.
Lars was great , lots of laughs and interesting information for everyone.
This is an excellent trip and I have previously done the snow shoeing in Oulanka , but it was definitely a unique adventure not to be missed , and this felt like you were so far away from everything and totally calm.
What a fantastic trip, we arrived and saw the aurora on the first night. The rest of the trip never failed to disappoint. It was an amazing group, a fabulous mix of activity, combined with a great landscape and the stunning northern lights. The mix of activities kept us busy,...
This really was the adventure to beat all adventures, so many amazing sights and experiences. The accommodation was very comfortable, the food fantastic and the activities were stunning. The river and forest scenery as well as the sunrises and sunsets were incredible.
Where do I start? The beauty of the area, the quiet, the clean air, the activities, but I think that the awe of experiencing the Northern Lights would take some beating. We truly were in the wilderness with no light pollution to obscure the views, and we could stand outside the cabins and have a 360 degree vista of the sky in unobscured darkness with the Northern Lights dancing across the sky, backlit by a clear array of moon and stars. Then during the day immersing ourselves in the depths of the snow laden forest, crossing frozen rivers, tracking through Narnia like environs, and coming back to base in the evening to warm cabins, a sauna, good company and faultless food.
Lars had the gift of keeping us entertained, but at the same time sharing with us his great love of this part of the World. During the day he guided us with great friendliness, humour and expertise through the activities, and in the evenings before dinner presented a talk with slides on some of the wildlife of the area. We were kept informed about what was happening all the time, and he provided us with all the equipment that we would need to make the most of our experience for the week. Lars regularly shared with us something of the history, the culture and the life of this region, and this was done in a very informed chatty way, sometimes over the open fire, sometimes while we were walking along a track. I certainly finished the week feeling that not only had I gained a wealth of food memories, I also learnt a lot, and perhaps without realising it.
The trip notes provide all the information that you will need. I took an extra set of base layers because they don't take up much room and provided me with extra flexibility when wrapping up in the evenings. A head torch with a strong beam would be useful as we were with the Huskies as night fell and a directional beam would have been of more benefit that just a glow.
This really for me is the trip to go on to experience the arctic environment. I am a bit of a sponge soaking up culture, and so the time with the Sami family and their reindeer and huskies was so interesting. Experiencing their lifestyle even for a day or two and hearing their story really places things into perspective. This is an environment like no other that I have experienced and have valued every day of the trip.
If you're considering this trip, just book it, you will NOT be disappointed!! The trip was fantastic from start to end, I did not want to come home. The activities laid on by Exodus were fantastic, everyone was so nice and there was always a relaxed / welcoming atmosphere. I...
This was my favorite trip among the dozens of trips I have taken with various tour companies. Our host Lars was amazing - he deeply cares about the environment and is extremely knowledgeable about nature and history and full of patience for those of us that aren't as skilled as...
When we got to the cabin on our forest ski expedition and we went down to the river to break the ice to get water for the sauna. We worked as a team to make a nice toasty sauna to warm our bodies to the core. It was teamwork followed by a great dinner in the cabin once we warmed that up with our fires.
Our group had a running joke about wanting to be adopted by Lars (one of his son's is also a guide) to be able to explore with him year-round and learn from him. I think that alone says a lot.
Don't worry about needing to bring too many cold weather clothes - bring your thermals and your base layers and Lars and his family will provide the rest.
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