12 days Dog sled Expedition in Swedish Lapland

It is really something special to be out on a journey in nature for a long time, and this is the longest dog sled expedition we offer. Imagine, after six days, we will only be halfway through!

We start from Saltoluokta mountain station and cross high mountains, through old primeval forests and will pass through six different mountain valleys. During our journey we will both winter camp, sleep in small wilderness huts but also spend some nights in the Swedish tourist associations mountain cabins and, the last day on the dog sleds we will steer them up to the dogs  kennel and our home just outside Jokkmokk north of the Arctic Circle.
We have a plan for where we are going, but it almost never goes as planned when you’re on an expedition trip. Weather and wind can force us to change the route but that we don't know anything about today, because on real adventures it is the law of nature that rules.

Day 1 - Welcome to Saltoluokta Mountain station
Saltoluokta mountain station is located in an open landscape right on the Kungsleden, the King’s trail. The main building was built in 1918 and is still intact with a lot of the original handmade furniture’s, paraffin lamps and open fireplaces.
We meet in the evening for a shared delicious meal in the charming and reputed restaurant. After dinner we will go through the gear and you will get your clothes and shoes.
For anyone who arrives earlier in the day we have snowshoes that you can borrow if you would like to check out the surroundings

Day 2 – The King’s Trail to Sitojaure
After breakfast we pack up our sleds and you will get instructions in how to drive you dog sleds and handle the dogs. Then it’s time to get the harnesses on the dogs and take off.
We start our journey south along Kungsleden (the King’s trail) towards the huge lake Sitojaure. After 20 km we will arrive to the Sitojaure cabin where we going to spend our night.

Day 3 – The delta of Rapadalen and Aktse
Today we’ll follow the Sito River valley downstream. We start high up in the birch forest and will travel lower and lower in to the needle forest. After lunch we will turn in towards the valley Rapadalen and lake Laidaure. After 42 km we will arrive to the cabin in Aktse which is situated with a great view over the delta of Rapadalen (Rapa valley).

Day 4 – Virgin Pine tree forest
We cross the lake Laidaure and continue in to the Rittak valley. During the day we will cross lake Tjaktjajaure and heading in to a true virgin pine tree forest. We will stop at the Pårte cabin for the night. 26 km.

Day 5 - Kvikkjokk and the valley Tarradalen
We continue along the Kungsleden trail to the tiny mountain village Kvikkjokk. In Kvikkjokk we will head west leaving the King’s Trail and travel into the valley Tarradalen. We will travel through the frozen delta landscape and stop for tent camping around Njunjes. Exactly where depends on the weather forecast and where we find water.

Day 6 – Tarrakaise and back
Today we plan to continue up to the Tarrakaise cabin and then turn back towards the delta for another night in our mountain tents.

Day 7 – Västerfjäll, the small mountain village
From the Kvikkjokk delta we continue and head out on the Kungsleden again and continue south. The plan is to visit Västerfjäll, a remote small mountain village without road access. Here in the middle of nowhere we’ll find a church. We turn around at the glen of the Piteälven valley and go back to find a good camping spot. Weather, snow conditions and the dogs decide exactly how far we will go this day.

Day 8 – Peuraure and Karats
We have left the Kings Trail again and today we will run many kilometers on the big lakes Peuraure and Karats. Long lakes with old beautiful needle forest and low mountains. An area with a great wilderness feeling. Another night in tents.

Day 9 – The Pearl River Nature Reserve
Today we continue over the big lakes to where river Pärlälven (Pearl river) starts. Small lower mountains and old virgin forest surrounding us and we will pass by a small settlement that have no road access. Only two persons live here permanently. In the end of the day, we will reach Laxholmen, an island with several small cabins. The plan is to stay one night in one of the cabins but if
it’s crowded we maybe choose to tent instead somewhere in the surroundings.

Day 10 – Elk land
From the lake Karats we continue our journey along the Karats trail. The trail goes along lakes, through forests and frozen wetland. Now we will reach an area where there usually are more elks during this time of the year. Nature is nature and the wild animals usually try to stay away from people so we need a bit of luck if we should be able to see something. In end of the day, we will
drive to the small Juoksaure cabin or set up our tents and camp one more night along the trail.

Day 11 – Juoksaure to Jokkmokk
We start from Juoksaure and travel the last 30 km to our kennel and home just outside Jokkmokk. We will follow the lower part of the Pearlriver down to lake Purkijaure that is a part of the river Lilla Luleälven. Finally, we’ll reach the kennel and you will get to see how the dogs live back home. After the tour we’ll take you to the cozy Åsgård Guest House where you can enjoy a warm shower before our final dinner at Caisa’s restaurant.

Day 12 – Goodbye Jokkmokk
Your last day in Jokkmokk. Breakfast and then time to travel back home.

ALTERNATIVE ROUTE
Day 6 – 8
It’s possible to go a different route. We could choose to continue higher in to the valley of Tarradalen and spend a night in the Såmmarlappa cabin or Tarrakaise cabin. To be able to do this we will need good weather. If we choose this route, we will probably not reach Västerfjäll (that was the plan above).
On long expedition tours like these usually things happen. As always travelling in and with nature we will have to adjust the plan along the tour. 

Group size:

Minimum 2 persons maximum 4 persons.

Included in the price:

• Experience wilderness guide
• One dog team per person
  
• Warm jacket, pants, warm shoes, hat, gloves
  
• Sleeping bag and equipment for the tour
  
• Fullboard from breakfast day 1 until breakfast day 9 (Typical Lapland and Swedish food)
  
• Accommodation, 1 night at Saltoluokta Mountain Station (group room), 1 night in Jokkmokk Hostel Åsgård (shared room) and 9 nights in mountain huts and tents
  
  

Not included in the price:

• Travel as well as transfer to Saltoluokta Mountain Lodge and from Jokkmokk
  
• Travel insurance
  
• Alcoholic beverages
  
  

For Who?

Minimum age is 18 years old.

NOTE! A certain level of fitness is required.
Read: »What it takes to join this adventure

No previous dog sledding experience is required, but you must like animals and feel empathy for them.

Tour conditions:

In wilderness cabin we sleep on bunk beds in mixed room with both gentlemen’s and women’s. The wilderness cabins are heated with wood/gas and have no electricity or running water. Dry toilet is available at the camps but at tent camps we dig hole in the snow.

Location:

How to get here: