
a lightly guided holiday travelling along the Swedish Mountains, up above the Arctic Circle into Sapmi, the ancestral lands of the Sami people.
the recognized indigenous people of Sapmi (Lapland) who named the mountains, forged the reindeer trails and whose life, culture & history are kept alive at Batsuoj Sami Encampment, Ostersud & Jokmokk.
a unique single track rail line stretching over 600 miles from Mora by Lake Silja to Gallivare just above the Arctic Circle. Predominately used commercially by loggers, but carrying passengers in special cars for 3 months either side of Mid Summer. Stops here, there and everywhere for victualing & sightseeing.
a gem of a place on two upper floors of an Art Nouveau building tirelessly run by Maria whose family have run the hotel for many years. There are 32 rooms mostly on the small size but all with private WC/shower, radio, TV and mini bar. Much of the original décor has been retained not least in the sitting and breakfast rooms. Most importantly the hotel is on Strandvagen overlooking the harbour and just a 10 minute walk from the Old Town.
overlooking Lake Silja with spectacular evening views from the restaurant terrace the Mora is the best show in town. Privately owned by Mikael & Cecilia who are very much hands on owner drivers which shows not least in the restaurant and the infectious charm of the staff. Standard rooms have private WC/shower, TV, telephone & a small seating area.
in the very centre of town and a few minutes’ walk from the station, the Grand’s twin rooms all have private WC/shower/bath tub/hairdryer/Wi-Fi and a small desk area. In the restaurant chef Fia Mortensson melds his New York experience with the area’s artisanal produce.
a log wood Kota with wooden cots radially arranged around an open hearth fire with reindeer skins and sleeping bags. There is an adjacent sauna where you can rinse yourself clean and dry toilet facilities 25yds from the Kota.
candidly not exactly that ‘grand’ but more a bed for the night, which in any event, is all you’ll be using it for. The hotel was substantially rebuilt and renovated in 2013 but at the time of publishing we haven’t had the chance to check whether this merits an upgrade of our view.
fly to Stockholm’s Arlanda airport, transfer by Express train to the city transport terminal and taxi to your hotel. Stay the night at Hotel Esplanade.
time for a stroll around the Gamla Stan before transferring by mainline train to Mora and Lake Silja in the afternoon. Stay the night at Hotel Mora.
after breakfast there’s time to see something of Mora.You can catch Dalarna’s iconic painted Dalahasten being crafted at Nusnas or just stroll along the edge of Lake Silja. The train passes the dramatic Storstupet and Helvetesfallet waterfalls , stopping for coffee and a meal before arriving in Ostersund where you stay for 2 nights at the Hotel Grand.
after breakfast in your hotel, visit Jamti and take a trip back in time through the Viking era and also follow the nomadic journey of the Sami from their summer pastures in the mountains to the forest in winter. Your local guide will fill you in on other things to do of which a sail on Lake Storsjon is a must.
leave bright and early for Slagnas passing numerous fish laden lakes and streams crouched amongst birch forests. When you arrive in Slagnas transfer by bus to the Batsuoj Sami Encampment and meet your hosts who will take you to a corral and show you their reindeer. Learn from them of the traditional Sami life both of today and their nomadic past. Transfer to hotel in Arjeplog.
After breakfast there will be a guided walk, with emphasis on Arjeplog's exciting history. And after lunch, travel by bus to Slagnas and re-board the train for Jokmokk. Keep an eye out for Elk and Moose both of which seek the protection of the adjacent forest. Stop as you cross the Arctic Circle to record your formal passing into the Land of the Midnight Sun before continuing through Laponia and the Muddus National Park. Stay the night at Hotel Jokkmokk.
explore Jokkmokk the very soul of Sapmi and in particular the Alpine Gardens with its intersecting pathways down by Lake Talvatis and Ajtte where the life of the Sami, their clothing, jewellery and shamanism have been meticulously recorded. In the evening drive to the top of Dundret Mountains from where you can see all the way to the famed Kebknaise mountains silhoutted against the Midnight Sun. Stay the night at the Grand Hotel Lapland.
transfer after breakfast by train to Kiruna for your return flight to the UK via Stockholm
Stay longer in Stockholm and/or extend your journey from Swedish Lapland across to the Norwegian Coast and sailing down to Bergen on a Hurtigruten Steamer.
Return scheduled flight(s) from the UK to Sweden
Pay on board cabin service;
All passenger service charges and airport departure taxes
7 nights accommodation as specified in itinerary
Lodgings in twin room(s) with private WC/shower & room amenities (shared Kota at Batsuoj)
Board: 7 Buffet breakfasts, 1 supper
All internal transport by main line and Inlandsbanen rail according to itinerary
Travel Pack including Swedish Mini Guide Book.
Saturdays, from June 15th to August 9th
Guide £1,465 pp
Guide prices are in part based on our mid-level contract air fares which are variable in real time unlike our ground supplier contract costs which are generally fixed. We don’t do fancy lead in prices and the time you confirm your booking always use the lowest air fare available. This may mean the confirmed price of your holiday being slightly less or more than the guide price in which case a proportionate reduction-supplement will apply. Carpe Diem = the earlier you book the better, especially for public & school holidays.