Current as of: April 19, 2024 - 08:25

Dog Sledding

Arctic Circle Aurora Adventure Trip Notes

  • Ways to Travel: Guided Group, Private Group Adventures
  • Destination: Sweden
  • Programmes: Winter
  • Activity Level:

    3 out of 7 - Moderate

  • 8 Days: Flight Inclusive
  • 8 Days: Land Only
  • Ages: 16+
  • Trip Code: CSW
  • Carbon Footprint: 16kg CO2e

Trip Overview

Discover the last remaining wilderness in Europe

This winter adventure takes us some 125mi (200km) above the Arctic Circle to Sápmi (also known as Lapland), where nature is raw and powerful, and mighty rivers flanked by endless forests dominate the landscape. We base ourselves at Rajamaa on the island of Muonionalusta, where the Malmström family has been welcoming guests since 1986. Situated in the River Muonio on the Swedish side of the border with Finland, there are only seven full-time inhabitants, two of whom are our hosts for the week.

Immersed in one of the most spectacular untamed wilderness areas in Europe, we spend a week learning about the Sámi culture and connecting with nature while trying a variety of activities including dog sledding, snowshoeing and forest skiing. Every night, we keep our eyes to the sky where, with luck, we will be treated to the Northern Lights. Our trip culminates with a two-day expedition in the forest, where we stay overnight in a traditional log cabin and get back to nature in peaceful, untouched surroundings.

At a Glance

  • Six 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)
  • Five days of mixed activities and one free day
  • Group normally 4 to 16, plus guides and instructors. Minimum age: 16
  • Arctic clothing provided

Highlights

  • Enjoy a Sámi cultural experience and reindeer sledding
  • Go dog sledding and snowshoeing above the Arctic Circle
  • Embark on a two-day wilderness expedition on forest skis
  • Look to the sky for a nightly chance to see the Northern Lights

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.

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 (overall, gloves, hat, socks and winter boots) is provided – please see our essential packing list for more information.

Following a review of all our trips we have categorised this trip as generally not suitable for persons of reduced mobility. However if you are a regular traveller on such trips, please contact customer services to discuss the trip and your personal condition.

Group

During the week, you will be well looked after by the Rajamaa owners and staff. All activities will be guided by one of the owners and/or other local instructors.

Adult min age: 16

Min group size: 4

Max group size: 16

Itinerary

Arctic Circle Aurora Adventure

Land Only

  • Start City: Muonionalusta (Rajamaa)
  • End City: Muonionalusta (Rajamaa)

Flight Inclusive

  • Start City: London
  • End City: London

Land Only Itinerary

Day 1
Start at Rajamaa in Muonionalusta, north Sweden

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.

Meals included: Dinner

Day 2
Snowshoe through wintry landscapes; spot animal tracks and enjoy lunch in the forest; walk back to the chalets over frozen swamps and hills

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.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3
Enjoy a thrilling dog sledding tour through the forest; afternoon introduction to forest skiing

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.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4
Free day; optional snowmobile safari

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.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5
Spend a memorable morning with a local Sámi family, learning about their traditional way of life, and enjoy a magical reindeer sledding experience

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.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6
Set off on a two-day wilderness expedition on forest skis; cross frozen lakes and pine-clad hills then stay overnight in a log cabin

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!

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 7
Ski back to Rajamaa; relax in the sauna and enjoy our final dinner

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.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 8
End at Rajamaa in Muonionalusta, north Sweden

The trip ends this morning and we begin our return journey home with plenty of tales and memories to share with friends and family.

Meals included: Breakfast

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

Arctic Circle Aurora Adventure

Our base for the week is Rajamaa, a complex of cosy 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 shower/WC and a mini-kitchen. Complimentary wifi is available.

Twin and double rooms will usually be allocated in the two-bedroom chalets. This means that a maximum of four people (two couples or twin sharers) will stay in each chalet and will 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 will be 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 will be 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 £ 370

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 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.

Transport

A minibus is used for transfers.

Weather & Seasonality

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.

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

Equipment provided

The following clothing is issued on arrival and is yours throughout the week:

  • Winter overall
  • Winter boots
  • Woollen socks
  • Woollen and leather mittens
  • Woollen hat

You will need the following:

  • Thermal base layers
  • Warm daily and evening clothes (including fleece and jacket)
  • Thin and thick socks
  • Tube scarf/buff
  • 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
  • From the last week of February onwards: sunglasses and sunscreen

Note on temperatures below -30C (-22F): Contact lenses can freeze, especially when snowmobiling. Ski goggles may help. Water-based cream/moisturisers may freeze at very low temperatures. Camera batteries usually stop working at low temperatures, so take spares.

Optional Equipment

  • Swimwear
  • Flip flops (for 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.

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

Arctic Circle Aurora Adventure

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 of 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.

Optional excursions – paid locally

Snowmobile safari: €170 per person (maximum of two people per snowmobile)

Important note on snowmobiling: All drivers must be over 18, have a valid (car) driving licence and carry this with you while driving. You will be liable to pay for any damage to snowmobiles, which can be approximately €1,000 per machine. You can pay for additional insurance cover (€15) that reduces the excess to approximately €200. Snowmobiles are not for everyone and can be difficult to master; however, damage is very rare if the driver is alert and considerate.

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 (maximum of 16 people), meaning we have a low impact on the communities we visit and can 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 and reindeers involved in our trip are all kept and treated well according to Swedish animal protection laws, which are the strongest in the world.
  • We explore the forest on a two-day wilderness expedition on forest skis (a local ski used as a means of transportation in Sápmi for thousands of years, normally made of wood and longer than cross-country skis). This has a minimal environmental impact.
  • 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.
  • We avoid all unnecessary methods of transport to ensure we remain responsible travellers. Therefore, there are no motor-vehicle activities included, alternatively snowmobiles or working animals are used.
  • Our accommodation uses electricity powered by wind, facilitating evening wildlife presentations. The sauna contains water from melted snow and, when possible, delicious homemade meals are prepared from local ingredients, though winter makes this harder.
  • 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

  1. Check availability: Go online to check availability, or contact us by phone or email.
  2. Secure your place: You can provisionally hold a place on this trip, usually for between three and seven days.
  3. 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.

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