Kungsleden Hut Tour, Arctic Expedition
For those that are new to winter expeditions, the hut to hut tour is a great first introduction. Sweden has a network of huts in the mountains that we can rent for the night. Touring from hut to hut is a traditional way of traveling through the Swedish mountains. If you want to experience the natural beauty of winter landscapes for the first time, choosing a hut tour over a camping tour will provide you with a more gentle introduction to the arctic climate.
The huts provide a way to warm up, dry your clothes and have a hot meal which you can prepare on a normal kitchen, inside the hut. The traditional Swedish sauna is also part of the deal (in most huts). You also get to sleep in a bed which is a luxury when you are out in the cold. This will allow you to recover after a long day of skiing and be ready for the next day!
Impressions of the expedition
It's difficult to convey the experience with just a few photos, but we'll try anyway. Here are a few photographs from past expeditions to give you an idea of what to expect. The weather can change quickly in the mountains, but we're prepared for that. Some people are surprised by how hot it can actually get. It's not uncommon to just wear a base layer shirt while skiing. The sun is very strong in the mountains. Every day you'll be surrounded by a slightly changing landscape and stunning views. All images are real and taken during our expeditions.
About the location
At more than 68 degrees north, we are well within the Arctic Circle. The Kungsleden trail is one of the most famous hiking trails in Sweden and attracts many people in the summer months, but in our opinion the trail gets even more beautiful in the winter. While reasonably accessible for us, after a day of skiing it will feel very remote.
Huts along the Kungsleden trail
The huts along the trail are between 10 and 20 km apart and allow you to travel along the trail without a heavy load. The huts are maintained by a hut warden (Stugvärd) but we need to lend a hand in getting fresh water for the kitchen and firewood. Most of the huts have a sauna which is a great way to relax after a day of skiing. You might be surprised to read that all but two huts have small shops where you can buy food and drinks. This makes it even easier to travel light as we can resupply along the way. There is no electricity in the huts but they are heated by wood stoves. For cooking we have fully functional gas stoves, pots, pans and utensils.
What kind of experience do I need?
The mission of Polar Exped is to make the Arctic accessible to everyone. With our help and guidance, you can do this expedition even if you have never been on a (winter) expedition before. This is because we do much more for our clients than other expedition companies (read about it in the benefits section below). We will teach you everything you need to know before and during the expedition. What we do require is a positive attitude, willingness to learn and a good physical condition. We also provide a personalized training plan to get your ready for this trip. Get in touch to discuss your personal situation.
I don't know how to ski. Can I still join?
Having prior ski experience is of course a plus, but not a requirement. Back-country skiing is different from traditional (downhill/resort) skiing and quite easy to learn the basics. It's more about gliding efficiently through the snow, rather than making sharp turns. The route that we're taking allows us to have a gentle introduction first before we encounter any significant downhill slopes. Even then it's not very steep and you won't be braking any speed records. To go uphill the skis are equipped with so called skins which provide grip. The skins can also be used to slow down on the downhill sections which allow for a more controlled descent.
To boost your confidence a little, we also offer a training day/afternoon at an indoor ski location where you can try the ski's and boots and get a feel for everything before the expedition.
What about food?
Nutrition is an essential part of the expedition. During the expedition we're moving every day for hours on end so we need to keep our bodies fueled and hydrated. Years of experience and research have taught us what works best in these environments. What is also taught is, is that everybody has different preferences and needs.
One size does not fit all. If we were to give you great food, but you don't like it or it's making you nauseated - you won't eat it and you won't have the energy to ski. That's why, before the expedition we'll create an individual meal plan for you. We will also ask you to test it during your training. This way we can make sure you like it and it works for you.
The food is also very heavy. Around 800-1000 grams per person per day. That's why we need to plan carefully. On our hut tours we usually carry a backpack instead of a slead (pulk). Because of that we're even more conscious of the weight of our gear and food. In order to minimize the weight on our back, we can resupply along the way.
Benefits
We want to set you up for success, that's why with Polar Exped - you'll get much, much more.
Joining our expeditions comes with a lot of unique benefits. Discover some of them here.
Training Plan
Preparing your body and mind for the expedition is the first step towards success. The better you've trained the more enjoyable your experience will be.
We will discuss your current fitness and experience, help you do a realistic assessment and set up a training plan.
Gear Assistance
Having the right gear is important. We will go trough the gear you already have and provide advice on what you need and where to get it.
We don't send out generic copy/paste gear lists and hope for the best, instead we'll make sure you have exactly what you need.
Deals with brands
We're working together with some of the leading equipment brands, manufactures and stores to make sure you can use the best gear possible.
In many cases we can offer you a special discount.
Planning & Preparation
Roald Amundsen, first man to reach both the North and South Pole said:
"Adventure is just bad planning". We live by those words. You can count on us to take care of all the preparations so you can just join without worrying about anything.
Safety First
Being outside is not without risks, but our focus is keeping everyone safe. Planning, Gear, Education & Experience. Those things combined make for a successful expedition.
For additional safety we travel in small groups of max 5 participants.
Day by day
A very brief summary of the highlights of the days to come. Focussed on the hut-to-hut tour. The camping expedition follows the same route and a similar schedule, with one additional day.
Day 1
In the morning we meet in a city called Kiruna and travel together to Abisko where we will stay for the night. We will spend the afternoon getting comfortable on our skis and with out safety equipment. Kiruna can be reached by train or plane.
Day 2
First day on the trail we will travel through Abisko National Park. The first half of it is through a birch forrest, second part we will cross a frozen lake with Abiskojaure as our destination for the day. There we will find a small shop, warm huts and a sauna.
Day 3
This will be the longest day of the journey so it's very important we start early. The first hour will be on a flat, which will be a good warm up for the not very steep, but quite long uphill that awaits us. Towards the end of the day we will take a break inside King's hut and then continue for few more hours across a frozen lake to Alesjaure. Hot sauna will be our reward.
Day 4
After a long journey the day before, this day will be easier as we're heading to Tjäktja. We will stay at the hut, located half hour away from the pass itself. This is one of the smaller huts, so there's no shop or sauna, but we do have views of the pass.
Day 5
The day will start with a relatively mild uphill bringing us to the highest pass on the trail: Tjäktja Pass. Here the views really start to open up and if the weather permits, we will have some of the best views on the trip. Then we will go down, either fast or zig-zagging slowly. From there is an easy 4 hour cruise to Sälka. Shop & sauna available.
Day 6
Today we travel from Sälka to Singi. It should be an easy day of around 4-5h depending on the weather. The small hills will give you a chance to practice your down-hill technique - that's great fun. Half way we can stop in an emergency shelter to warm up and bit and have a second breakfast - that will give us a boost for the second part of the day.
Day 7
We start the day with a bit of an uphill and then we will head to Kebnekaise through the valleys. This day will not be long but it might challenge us with icy terrain. This will be the windiest part of the trail. Lucky for us, the wind will be in our backs. Still, it's important to stay focussed. Kebnekeise will offer us a comfortable hut, long awaited showers and a fancy meal in a restaurant.
Day 8
This is where our expedition will come to an end. After breakfast we will be picked up by a snow mobile that will bring us to a nearby town called Nikkaluokta, from where we will be transported back to Kiruna.
What's included?
We try to include as much as possible so you don't need to worry about anything. This list might not be exhaustive. If you have any questions - let us know. The following is included:
- Transfers from and back to Kiruna, Sweden
- Use of premium quality ski's, poles and ski boots
- All stays in paid STF huts / mountain stations
- Extra day for a more relaxed start
- Snowmobile pickup on final day
- 1 year Swedish Tourist Association (STF) Membership
- Use of Swedish saunas
- Group satellite communication and tracking
- Group safety equipment and first aid kit
- Training plan & gear assistance
- Carefully selected, personalized expedition food plan
You will need to take care of:
- Personal clothing (we will help you get the right gear)
- Travel to Abisko, Sweden (air or rail)
- Personal (S&R) and travel insurance
- Drinks & snacks
Available to rent/borrow
We own some gear that you can borrow/rent at minimal cost (mostly cost of cleaning). Things like a sleeping bag, backpack, down jacket and more. If we don't have your size, we know where to get it.
Note: camping expeditions include different gear that we don't need here like stoves, tents, pulks, harnesses and more.
Sign up and we'll be in touch! No commitment yet - just a conversation to get to know you, answer any questions, and ensure it's the right fit. Leave us your details, and we'll guide you from there!
* The date is an estimate and can change depending on the weather and other factors.