SWEDEN KING S TRAIL COUNTRY: SWEDEN ALTITUDE: 1,140m PRICE: 1,750 DURATION: 9 DAYS Experience one of Europe s most remote treks, 200 kilometres inside of the Arctic Circle Look out for the Northern Lights Guide your own husky team to complete your Kingstrail trek Pass through wild mountain landscapes and huge glaciated valleys Spot reindeer and majestic elk Experienced British guides Training course included
INTRODUCTION In the extreme north of Sweden, a hundred miles inside the Arctic Circle, the Kungsleden - King of Trails passes through one of Europe s last remaining wildernesses. For eight dark months it is buried under deep snow. The rest of the year, carpets of bilberries and forests of stunted birch and rowan embellish the valley floors. From the vast Lake Tornetrask, undulating through the wild and beautiful Tjäkjavagge valley, the trail reaches the ancient granite outcrops of the highest mountains in Sweden. Here, sheer cliffs, hanging valleys and roaring waterfalls line the sides of the valleys, and snowfields and glaciers are daily companions.
ITINERARY Day 1 Travel to Kiruna, and meeting with your guides at 7:30pm in the hotel. DAY 2 Transfer to Abisko, the trail head. The first stage climbs steadily from Abisko through light birch forest beside the fast flowing Abiskojakka river. Behind you, the mountains of Norway may catch the sun, far away across Lake Torneträsk. Eventually, the river widens into the boulder strewn outflow of Lake Abiskojaure. Just south of the lake, the hut awaits us with wood fires and a hot meal. (15km / 9 miles). DAY 3 Today we head up into the high mountains. Big views of the peaks and icefields open up to the west as we climb above the treeline. Rugged mountains to the east, lakes and small glaciers nestled high on the northern slopes, mark the scenery of this day. On the hillsides and plains we may come across Sami huts, as we head up the Aliseatnu valley, en route to the Alesjaure Mountain Hut. Here, we have use of a sauna in the evening to relax. (20km / 13 miles)
ITINERARY DAY 4 We travel a shorter distance today, making steady way up the slopes of the Aliseatnu valley. Crossing low hills of moraine, we see the valley receding into the mountains, with small glaciers nestled up its sides, and may catch the sight of reindeer if we re lucky. We overnight at the Tatja Hut, the highest on the King's Trail. (13km / 8 miles). DAY 5 This morning we start the day climbing across the Tatja Pass (1140m / 3740ft), the highest point on the Kungsleden. On top, we have long views down the upper reaches of the 32km Tjakavagge valley. A long, steady ramble along the valley takes us to the Salka hut, which sits on an outcrop above the river with views along the valley. (12km / 7 miles). DAY 6 An easy snowshoe, continuing southward down the Tjaktjavagge Valley amid grand scenery. To the east, the Kebnekaise massif with its snowfields and glaciers opens up between the high ridges. We reach our huts at Singi, where our lodging will be in dorms with wood fires. (13km / 8 miles). DAY 7 Our final day of snowshoeing leads us east, away from the Kungsleden, climbing up a long slope before tipping over into the Laddjubahta Canyon. The ice fields of the Kebnekaise massif remain in sight from the valleys, and at the end of today s trail, the comforts of the Mountain Station welcome us with showers, saunas and a restaurant. (14km / 9 miles). DAY 8 After breakfast at Kebnekaise, we are met by our husky guides who will teach us the art of dog sledding. Your challenge of the day will be to get yourself back to Nikkaloukta, crossing frozen lakes and seeing mousse and reindeer along the way. We then spend some time at the world famous Ice Hotel for a celebratory drink to toast our success before returning to Kiruna. DAY 9 Fly out of Kiruna airport.
Experience As one of our harder challenges, this Arctic winter trek demands a reasonably high degree of fitness and is suitable for fit hill walkers. If you are used to regular multi day hill walking in the UK, you will have the right level of fitness to fully enjoy your time on this trek. Winter walking experience is desirable but not essential. Prior to the trip, we will run a Winter Skills Course, where you will learn snowshoe skills. What s Included What s not included All meals and accommodation (3 nights hotel, 5 nights huts, 8 breakfasts, 7 lunches and 6 evening meals) Day pass into the Ice Hotel Medical safety equipment and supplies All road transfers in-country (except airport transfers) Expedition team leader Travel to and from UK airport International flights and taxes STF membership fee Personal equipment (Snowshoe and walking poles) Travel insurance Drinks and personal spending Tips for local staff Visas Airport transfers to and from the in-country airport (as many people like to extend their stay. There is a cheap and regular bus route and taxis are available to the airport)
Accommodation In Kiruna you will stay in a hotel right in the centre of town. Twin, double or single rooms are available. For our expedition, we overnight in remote mountain huts, some of which have saunas the perfect place to relax after a long day s hiking. Huts have dorm-like beds with pillows and blankets provided. You will only need to bring a sleeping bag liner. Here, you should expect only basic facilities. Meals We will be catering as a team on our expedition you will be expected to take part in hut chores including cooking and cleaning. This could mean that, as a pair, you would cook 2 to 3 meals during the trips. Don t worry if you are not much of a cook, there will be plenty of help around. Breakfast: Porridge or cereal with dried fruit. Lunch: Hot soup in flask with bread and soft cheese, chocolate snack. Dinner: A hot meal is cooked every night by our team. Please bring with you extra snacks for the day if required. If you have food allergies or intolerances, please inform us in your Booking Form. We will aim to cater to your needs, but it is advisable to also bring your own supplies from home. What to carry This trek is fully supported by a skidoo and driver who will transport your main baggage between the huts. You will only need to carry a daypack. A 35l rucksack is a useful size to comfortably fit in essential items for the day.
GENERAL INFORMATION Health Please note inoculations may be required for the country visited. It is your responsibility to consult your doctor for up-to-date medical information well before departure. All our (UIMLA) International Mountain Leaders hold first aid certificates and carry a fully equipped first aid kit for medical emergencies. We recommend that you carry a personal First Aid kit and hand sanitizers / antibacterial wipes as well as any personal medical requirements. Please be aware that quite often we are in remote areas and away from medical facilities, and for legal reasons our leaders are prohibited from administering any type of drug including headache tablets, antibiotics, etc. When selecting your trip please carefully read the information and itinerary and assess your ability to cope with our style of travel. Please refer to the trek rating for trip specific information. If you have any concerns, please contact us before booking. reserves the right to exclude any traveller from all or part of a trip without refund if in the reasonable opinion of your guide they are unable to complete the itinerary without undue risk to yourself and/or the rest of the group. Insurance We advise you to take out your insurance as soon as you book your trip. This will cover you for any potential events which may cause you to cancel your trip. Insurance which covers mountain rescue, evacuation and medical expenses is essential. Please also ensure that your insurance covers you for walking above 1500m (some will exclude this option). We will require a copy of your insurance prior to departure. It is also worth bringing a copy of your passport and keep it separate to your own documents in case you lose your passport. The BMC offers insurance for Sweden. If using other companies please make sure they see the current advice from the Foreign Commonwealth Office.
GENERAL INFORMATION Flights Flights are not included in the price. You need to arrive into Kiruna airport before 7:30pm on the advertised start date to arrive in time for the briefing with your guide. This will take place at 7:30pm at your hotel in Kiruna. Return flights can be booked for any time on Day 9, or later if you wish to extend your stay in Sweden. If you need any assistance with booking your flights, please contact us. Vaccinations You should contact your doctor or travel clinic to check whether you require any specific vaccinations. UK residents should obtain a free European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). This entitles you to state provided medical treatment, but is not a substitute for medical travel insurance which is still vital when travelling overseas. Money You can obtain SEK at cash machines in Kiruna and change bureaux at the airport, or prior to travelling and this is probably the best option. It is a good idea to carry a small amount of SEK in low denominations for transport and refreshment. Passport and Visa All participants require a full passport that must be valid for 6 months beyond the intended length of stay. Contact your local embassy or consulate for the most up-to-date visa requirements. It is your responsibility to have the correct travel documentation.
TRAINING COURSE The pre-expedition training course is designed to provide you with all the skills and information necessary to make sure you are in the best shape physically and mentally to succeed on your trip and enjoy the experience of your arctic expedition. The training course will take you out into the mountains of the Lake District, where you will get used to carrying a weighted pack and have the opportunity to get to know your equipment. The course includes: You will learn about: Time out in the mountains. Itinerary and question and answer sessions Time to meet and get to know your guides and team members Kit advice session Operating in the mountain huts Appropriate clothing The use of snowshoes Winter hazards
KIT LIST The following checklist should help you with your packing. As a general rule, you should always try to keep the weight of your equipment to a minimum. You must bring the following items: Backpack 60 litre minimum should be sufficient for you to carry your provisions for the trek, spare clothing, water, sunglasses, camera, waterproofs etc. Make sure your rucksack has a waterproof liner, or you can use heavyweight shopping bags. Lightweight bags / bin bags not recommended. Small bag (to pack travel clothes in) Sleeping Gear Lightweight sleeping bag (rated to 0 degrees C for emergency use) Sleeping bag liner Pillow case Clothing Trekking trousers/pants (for travel) Ski or mountaineering trousers/pants or salopettes Waterproof overtrousers Long johns (thermal underwear) Thermal baselayer shirts (2 short sleeve, 2 long sleeve) T-shirt or casual shirt to travel in Fleece jacket Warm jacket (synthetic or down filled) Windproof/waterproof jacket with hood Sunhat & Warm hat Lightweight balaclava or facemask Eyewear- ski goggles and glacier sunglasses (Category 4) Lightweight thermal gloves Windproof and waterproof over-mittens/gloves Spare pair of warm mittens/gloves Scarf/Neck Warmer
KIT LIST Footwear 4 season mountain boots, well worn-in Lightweight shoes or slippers (for use in the huts) Socks and technical walking socks (2pairs) and spare laces Personal Equipment Full-Length Foam Mat/thermarest (for sitting on at lunch stops/emergency use 1 litre Thermos Flask/Bottle Camping mug & Spoon Water bottle 1 Litre Head torch and spare batteries Health Basic First Aid Kit including: antiseptic cream, throat lozenges, diarrhoea treatment (Imodium), painkillers, plasters and blister treatment, Insect repellent, and re-hydration salts (Dioralite) Sun protection (including total bloc for lips, nose etc.) Wash bag and toiletries & Small Towel Antibacterial hand wash Snowshoeing Equipment Snow shoes Walking poles Gaiters (unless integral to your boots) The following items are optional Binoculars Camera, film, batteries Pen knife Reading and music
KIT LIST KIT LIST Notes Before setting out from Abisko, your travel clothes will be packed into a small bag (which you should bring with you for this purpose). These will be transported to Nikkaluokta to meet the group on the completion of the tour. Everyone needs to carry certain back-up items - see above - including a lightweight sleeping bag. At Abisko, the group will be paired up and each couple will be asked to carry a snow shovel and emergency wind shelter, which will be provided. A sleeping bag is not required in the huts, which provide bedding, but a sleeping bag liner or sheet sleeping bag is essential. We recommend a 60 litre backpack minimum as many of the safety items that you have to carry are bulky (not heavy). A larger backpack is easier to pack, and also you do not want to have items hanging on the outside of the backpack.
WHY CHOOSE EXPED ADVENTURE Experienced and qualified guides Small group size Perfect safety record access to remote medical support and director is trained as Wilderness Medical Technician Personal, tailored journey from enquiry to stepping out on the mountain, to the next adventure Itineraries have an emphasis on skills and personal development one of our main aims is to help people gain confidence in themselves and their abilities for further mountain adventures Well-researched, carefully selected route and itinerary We provide a free training course and lots of advice and support prior to your trip Flexible and personalised approach we re always free for a coffee and a chat and go the extra mile to exceed your expectations