Current as of: May 10, 2024 - 21:56
North Sweden: Active Summer Adventure Trip Notes
- Ways to Travel: Guided Group, Private Group Adventures
- Destination: Sweden
- Programmes: Culture
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Activity Level:
3 out of 7 - Moderate
- 7 Days: Land Only
- Ages: 16+
- Trip Code: ASW
- Carbon Footprint: 9.2kg CO2e
Trip Overview
Experience the last wildlands of Europe and indigenous Sámi culture on an activity-packed trip far beyond the Arctic Circle
Reinvigorate with a complete nature immersion in the pristine landscapes of Sápmi, an area known to most as Lapland. We trek and bike to explore the untamed wilderness, while also learning more about the indigenous Sámi people and the Big Four Scandinavian predators. Our trip culminates with a two-day forest expedition, where we stay in a traditional log cabin and get back to nature in the peaceful, untouched wilds of northern Sweden.
At a Glance
- Five nights in fully equipped chalets with twin rooms and shared facilities (in two-bed or four-bed configurations); one night in a wilderness lodge (dormitory-style); one night at a wildlife-watching hide
- Six days of mixed activities
- Group normally 4 to 16, plus guides and instructors. Minimum age: 16
Highlights
- Meet a forest Sámi to learn about his indigenous culture
- Enjoy a presentation by Wildlife Photographer of the Year winner, Staffan Widstrand
- Embark on a two-day wilderness expedition by boat and foot
- Cycle around Lake Muodosjarvi
- Spend a night animal spotting at a wildlife-watching hide
Is This Trip for You?
This trip is rated Activity Level 3 (Moderate). For more on our trip gradings, visit our Activity Level Guidelines page.
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.
The distance covered on the two-day expedition depends on the group’s fitness, temperature and weather conditions. Usually, we cover 4.5mi-7.5mi (7km-12km) each day and the activity duration is around four hours plus a lunch stop by the fire.
Group
We are looked after by the owners and staff of Rajamaa, our main accommodation. All activities are guided by one of the owners and/or other local instructors.
Adult min age: 16
Min group size: 4
Max group size: 16
Itinerary
Land Only
- Start City: Muonionalusta (Rajamaa)
- End City: Muonionalusta (Rajamaa)
Land Only Itinerary
Start at Rajamaa in Muonionalusta, north Sweden
This trip starts at Rajamaa, a complex of wooden chalets on a remote island in the Muonio river 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 group’s arrival time, the main briefing is usually held tonight or tomorrow morning.
After dinner at the restaurant, we have a presentation by Swedish photographer Staffan Widstrand (a former Wildlife Photographer of the Year winner). It’s the first in our series covering the Big Four Scandinavian predators: lynx, wolverines, wolves and bears. Tonight’s is about the lynx.
Fly to Rovaniemi; transfer to Rajamaa in Muonionalusta, north Sweden
After landing at Rovaniemi Airport, we drive to our base for the week, Rajamaa, a complex of wooden chalets on a remote island in the River Muonio. Upon check in, we are welcomed by our hosts, the friendly Malmström family, who have been running the accommodation for over three decades. Depending on the arrival time of the group, the main briefing will be done tonight or tomorrow morning. Dinner is included if the group flight times allow.
Morning trek to learn about Sámi culture; follow the river downstream back to our accommodation
Starting the day with a hearty breakfast, we then embark on our first trek of the week, a 5mi (8km) journey north, tackling differing terrain but mostly through forest. Along the way, we meet Henrik Sevä, a forest Sámi, whose family has herded reindeer for generations. He teaches us about his culture, covering the old ways and modern times. We enjoy a packed lunch en route before following the river downstream back to our accommodation for the afternoon. Tonight, we have dinner in the restaurant and enjoy our second presentation, this time on the mysterious wolverine.
Cycle around Lake Muodosjärvi; spend the night trying to spot wildlife in a hide
After breakfast, we hop on mountain bikes for a four-hour cycling adventure, covering around 9mi (15km) along roads and forest trails. We head out and make our first stop by the church in Muodoslompolo and then continue around Lake Muodosjärvi. We stop for lunch by the river Merasjoki and then return to Rajamaa. We have dinner at the restaurant before heading out by bus (30 minutes) to Metelivaara. We then have a 0.6mi (1km) walk to our forest hide. It has beds and a small window for everyone to sit and watch for wildlife. We set out food near the hide and hope to spot the forest residents, including sea eagles, foxes and, if we’re lucky, a bear.
Free morning to rest before heading out with huskies in the forest
This morning, we head back to the lodge for breakfast and then you have time to rest after a night in the hide.
At noon, we meet a group of huskies in the forest for a three to four-hour walk in the picturesque landscape. You can walk with a husky tied to a belt-harness called a cani-rando. After a packed lunch along the way, we walk our four-legged friends back to the lodge. Tonight, we have dinner at the restaurant and enjoy our final presentation, this time on the king of the forest, bears.
Set off on our two-day wilderness expedition
Today we embark on our two-day wilderness expedition to a remote log cabin. Our journey starts by boat and then we disembark and start walking south (6mi/10km) before stopping for a fireside lunch to fuel us for the rest of the walk. We reach our forest lodge by late afternoon/evening and warm up with a wood fire, plus you can enjoy a traditional Swedish sauna. We prepare and enjoy a group dinner.
Trek back to Rajamaa; enjoy our final dinner
After breakfast, we start our 6mi (10km) journey back to Rajamaa. We follow old forest paths before stopping for a lunch by a campfire. We continue our trek over the hilltops until we stop the river Muonio, our signal we have almost arrived back to our lodge. Tonight, we have our final dinner of the trip in the restaurant.
End at Rajamaa
The trip ends this morning and we begin our return journey home with plenty of tales and memories to share with friends and family.
Transfer to Rovaniemi; fly to London
After breakfast, those on the group flights or wishing to join the group transfer will be driven to Rovaniemi Airport. Flights to London are usually via Helsinki or Stockholm.
Please note: It is possible the order of the itinerary listed above will be changed to ensure the best possible conditions for each activity during the trip. All listed activities and services will be included. Your leader will inform you of any changes locally after assessing conditions.
Accommodation
Rajamaa
Our base for the week is Rajamaa, a complex of wooden chalets run by the welcoming Malmström family since 1986. The accommodation is in Sweden on an island in the river Muonio, just across the border from Finland.
Rajamaa consists of a main building with a reception area, dining room and sauna. Accommodation comprises two-bedroom chalets with shared bathroom facilities and one-bedroom chalets with private facilities. All chalets are equipped with a shower/WC and a mini-kitchen. Complimentary wifi is available.
Twin and double rooms are usually allocated in the two-bedroom chalets. This means a maximum of four people (two couples or twin sharers) will stay in each chalet and share bathroom facilities. Twin sharers may share bathroom facilities with up to two members of the opposite sex, but bedrooms are always single sex.
Couples/pairs travelling together who do not wish to share bathroom facilities with others may be able to pay a supplement to secure a one-bedroom chalet. This is strictly based on availability and the make-up of the group. Single rooms are limited and subject to availability. These are offered for a supplement, payable upon booking. Single rooms may be allocated in the big chalets (shared facilities) or in a small chalet (private facilities), depending on availability.
One night during the trip is spent in a remote forest lodge where accommodation is dormitory style (maximum of four people per room). No single rooms are available at this accommodation and bathroom facilities come in the form of an outhouse with a longdrop.
Single supplement from 300 €
Food & Drink
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 are eaten outside or at the lodge and are usually a sandwich (plus yoghurt and fruit) or a hearty soup. Dinner consists of a main course and dessert. Vegetarian options are also available.
Transport
A minibus is used for transfers.
Weather & Seasonality
Temperatures in Sweden at this time of year are 15C-20C (59F-68F).
Joining Instructions
Key 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
Getting to the start hotel
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.
Catching your return flight
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.
Full joining instructions including local emergency numbers will be sent to you as part of our Final Joining Instructions. If you do not receive these at least a week before departure, or require them earlier please contact our office or your travel agent.
Location start: Muonionalusta (Rajamaa)
Location end: Muonionalusta (Rajamaa)
What To Take
Essential Equipment
- Warm daily and evening clothes (including fleece and jacket)
- Thin and thick socks
- Thin gloves (to wear under provided mittens)
- Headtorch (head lamp) with a minimum of 200 lumens and spare batteries
- Sleeping bag (one- or two-season as the wilderness lodge is heated)
- Sandwich box
- Water bottle
- Backpack for daily use
- Sunglasses and sunscreen
- Swimwear
- Flip flops (for the sauna)
Practical Information
Visa
Sweden
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.
- Australia: www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/europe/sweden
- Canada: www.travel.gc.ca/destinations/sweden
- United Kingdom: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/sweden/entry-requirements
- USA: www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Sweden.html
Vaccinations and Health
Sweden
There are no required vaccinations. However, you may want to consider vaccinations for tetanus, rabies (bat lyssavirus) and tick-borne encephalitis (TBE). Please confirm with your doctor or travel clinic.
Local Time
Sweden's time zone: Europe/Stockholm (UTC +02:00)
Electricity
Sweden's electricity: Plug types C (two round pins) and F (two round pins) – 230V, 50Hz
Money
Sweden's currency: Swedish krona (SEK)
ATM Availability
There is an ATM in the village of Muonio, our hosts can take you to the village if necessary. Your bank may charge you for withdrawals. There are no ATMs at the accommodation; however, credit and debit cards (Mastercard and Visa) are accepted. We recommend bringing some cash (euros or Swedish krona) if you plan to leave a tip at the end of the trip.
Extra Expenses & Spending Money
This trip includes all meals (dinner on Day 1 is included subject to flight arrival time). Drinks are not included but are sold at the bar (prices are around €3-€5 for soft drinks, €8 for a beer (50cl) and €25-€40 for a bottle of wine). Teas and coffees outside mealtimes are €2.50. Rajamaa operates an honesty bar policy where guests write down what they have taken and are charged accordingly at the end of the week.
Tipping
Staff in Sweden are paid well for their job but if you feel you have received good service, we suggest leaving a discretionary tip of 225 Swedish krona (approximately €20) per person at the end of the trip, which will be shared among the staff at Rajamaa.
People, Places & Planet
We work hard to create trips that improve life for the people and places we visit and look after the planet we explore. Find out more about our sustainable travel ethos and practice here, and find out about the work of the Exodus Travels Foundation here.
Some sustainable travel highlights of this trip include:
People: How this trip helps improve life for local communities.
- Our base for the week is in the small village of Muonionalusta, approximately 125mi (200km) above the Arctic Circle, which is home to only seven inhabitants, including our two hosts. By using this remote, family-owned accommodation, we provide an income directly to local people, and the small size of the group allows us to stay at a property that cannot benefit from coach tours and mass tourism due to its limited size.
- This is a small-group tour, meaning we have a low impact on the communities we visit and ensure we do not disrupt or lead to the displacement of local people.
- Within this community, local people make handicrafts which provide an extra income for villagers and their families. You can support their work by buying souvenirs from them.
- Local guides and leaders are also employed and paid a fair wage, often receiving additional tips from the trips, to ensure we really are benefiting the communities we visit.
Places: How this trip helps protect and conserve local landscapes and nature.
- Read about our commitment to nature protection and restoration here, including our rewilding commitment for every customer who travels.
- The huskies involved in our trip are all kept and treated well according to Swedish animal protection laws, which are among the strongest in the world.
- We work with our partners on the ground to proactively eliminate or reduce waste. You can refill water bottles with clean water, which is collected from a local well, thereby removing the need for single-use plastic bottles.
Planet: How we seek to keep the carbon footprint of this trip low.
- Read about our climate action here, including our carbon reduction and compensation commitments.
- Our accommodation uses electricity generated by wind, facilitating evening wildlife presentations. When possible, delicious homemade meals are prepared from local ingredients.
- All breakfasts, six lunches and six dinners are included in this trip, and any leftover waste is separated and recycled.
- The accommodation has been certified as Nature’s Best by the Swedish Ecotourism Society.
Tips for sustainable travel on this trip
- Leave no trace: We do all we can to ensure we leave no rubbish behind in the wild and beautiful places we visit; we ask that you do the same.
- Plastic waste reduction: Please bring your own reusable water bottle on this trip; drinking water will be provided.
Important Information
Your safe participation
When booking this trip, you should be confident in your ability to participate in all activities described in these Trip Notes. If you have any doubt about your suitability, please call the Exodus office and ask to speak to one of the experts on this itinerary.
Although our leaders are well trained to deal with different capabilities, if they have any concerns about someone’s ability to safely take part in an activity, or their impact on other people’s enjoyment, we authorise them to take necessary action which, in some circumstances, may involve asking someone to miss that activity.
By booking this trip you agree to our Booking Conditions which clearly state that our leaders have the authority to do this. In these rare instances we will ensure anyone sitting out is safely provided for and offered alternative options where possible. Refunds will not be provided for activities missed and customers may be liable for additional costs incurred.
How to Book
- Check availability: Go online to check availability, or contact us by phone or email.
- Secure your place: You can provisionally hold a place on this trip, usually for between three and seven days.
- Complete your booking and payment
When you’re ready to book, go to our website for online bookings, book over the phone or you can complete a booking form (available online or on request by calling us). We accept all major credit and debit cards, or you can pay be cheque.
After booking
You will receive your booking confirmation letter and invoice, which includes extra information and guidance about your travel arrangements.
Full joining instructions, including local emergency numbers and details of how to reach the start point, will be sent to you approximately two to three weeks prior to departure. If you do not receive these at least a week before departure, or require them earlier, please contact our office or your travel agent.
Trip Note validity
These Trip Notes are valid from the “Current as” date on page one. They will occasionally be updated after booking and before departure; if there are any updates that significantly impact the inclusions or itinerary, customers will be written to separately. They will also receive a link to the most up-to-date Trip Notes with their Final Joining Instructions before travelling.
The information in these Trip Notes is given in good faith. Where differences exist between the Trip Notes and our current brochure or website, the Trip Notes supersede the brochure and website. All holidays can be subject to unexpected changes; to enjoy them you should be prepared to be flexible where necessary. Occasionally, it may not be possible to follow the itinerary as planned. This may be for a variety of reasons – climatic, political, physical or other. In these circumstances we will make the best-possible alternative arrangements that maintain the integrity of the original itinerary.
Licensing
Exodus is fully licensed and bonded as a tour operator. We hold Air Traffic Organisers Licence (ATOL) number 2582, issued and bonded with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). We are also bonded to the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and we are members of the Federation of Tour Operators (FTO) and ABTA – The Travel Association. This means you can book your Exodus holiday with confidence, as all money paid to us for your trip is fully protected.