Drive your own team on a breathtaking expedition into the heart of indigenous Sami country, following the old reindeer routes in the magnificent wilderness of Arctic Lapland. 7-day program.
Day 1
This program begins at Kiruna Airport where we greet our guests upon their arrival to the magic world 200 km north of the Arctic Circle. After a short transfer of about thirty minutes we reach the village of Poikkijärvi where the Fjellborg family live together with their big pack of friendly huskies. Beautifully situated in the snow clad pine forest overlooking the magnificent Torne River, the Homestead is an ideal gateway to the vast wilderness of Arctic Lapland. The ice of the Torne River is a musher’s highway in winter and in the surrounding forests are numerous trails winding through the picturesque landscape.
Your visit to the Fjellborg Homestead will begin with a welcome lunch during which we will present the itinerary and introduce you to the basics of sled dog mushing and the art of dressing for the Arctic. After lunch you will change into expedition gear, re-pack your tour equipment and get ready to meet the dogs!
The Fjellborg Alaskan Huskies are exceptionally friendly animals. We select our breeding stock based on their working qualities, their ability to endure the Arctic climate and, above all, their friendly and easy going temperaments. These canine athletes know nothing better than to hit the trails together with their team mates but most are pretty keen on some individual attention and a tummy rub too!
Before we set out on our excursion you will be introduced to your own team of sled dogs and receive instructions on how to handle and care for your dogs, your sled and other equipment. In the afternoon it is time to embark on our expedition which will first take us from the Homestead in Poikkijärvi to our comfortable Wilderness Lodge, situated by Lake Väkkärä, 15 km away.
When we reach the Wilderness Lodge your dogs are treated to a well deserved rest in their private doghouses, which you will help fill up with fresh straw before enjoying a relaxing wood heated sauna. In the evening we enjoy a delicious dinner in the main cabin. Menu items include Lapland specialties such as reindeer, arctic char and salmon and desserts made from locally picked blueberries or cloudberries to name a few (Vegetarian diets can be accommodated with advance notice.) Far from roads and city skylines, our Wilderness Lodge provides a peaceful rest from everyday life and the silence of nature brings you fast to sleep.
Day 2
After breakfast we feed and water the dogs, re-pack our sleds and hit the trails. Today we will travel in a north-westerly direction, sledding on the ice of the Torne River, which for centuries has been a winter road for the Sami people and for subsistence hunters, connecting the mountain region of the north with the forest land of inland Lapland. Today’s leg covers about 65 km and when we are roughly halfway into our journey we will stop to enjoy a tasty lunch cooked in the wild.
In the late afternoon we reach the village of Kattuvouma where we will spend the night in a genuine Lapland homestead. Situated on the north shore of the vast Lake Torne and right on the edge of a large alpine area, Kattuvouma is a place rarely visited by outsiders. Not accessible by road, the only way to reach Kattuvouma is by boat in summer and by snowmobile or dogsled in winter. Early settlers in this harsh mountain region survived from fishing and hunting and from developing an elaborate system of exchange with the nomadic Sami people. In the 1970s there were still people living permanently in Kattuvouma but today the village is only a seasonal dwelling place. Nevertheless, its unique atmosphere remains.
After a long day on the trail we enjoy a relaxing wood heated sauna before dinner is served. When it is time to go to bed our hardworking dogs are already curled up and sound asleep.
Day 3
After breakfast for drivers and dogs we repack our sleds and return to the trail. Today’s destination is Camp Järämä situated 65 km away in a north-easterly direction. When departing from Kattuvouma we leave the pine forests behind us as our trail climbs above the tree line. In the alpine region of Arctic Lapland weather conditions can change rapidly. On a clear day this leg of our journey provides extraordinary views of the mountains and highly enjoyable sledding. When weather is less favourable, this part of the journey can be tough. Still, heading out on the boundless hills together with our hardworking dogs is always an adventure, no matter the weather.
On our journey we pass through Vouskojaure, which is the spring and autumn camp of the Talma Sami people. There are many Sami villages in Swedish Lapland, each controlling a larger territory where their reindeer can graze freely throughout the year. On this third leg of the journey we will pass through the territory of two villages; the Talma Sami and the Saarivouma Sami. In the afternoon we reach Camp Järämä belonging to the Saarivouma Sami. This location plays a central role in Saarivouma Sami life; In December each year the round-up of thousands of reindeer takes place in Järämä. The large herd is divided into smaller units that are moved to lower forest terrain for winter grazing. In spring the reindeer return to the mountains, and so the annual cycle continues.
Our accommodation in Järämä is in privately owned cabins used normally by reindeer herdsmen. During our journeys we sometimes encounter members of the Saarivouma Sami in at the Camp but most often we have this remote place to ourselves.
Day 4
On the fourth day of our journey we will mush 50km in a south-easterly direction in a low fell area characterized by birch forests and frozen bogs. Today’s destination is the village of Soppero which is a small agricultural community with a permanent population of around 200. Soppero has a mixed Sami and Swedish population and here, in the very heart of northern Lapland, we find a highly multicultural society. While Soppero lies within the national borders of Sweden, most people in this remote part of the country have Finnish or Sami as their first language, and speak Swedish only as a second language.
Our hosts for the evening, Britt-Marie and Per-Nils Päiviö, live in a traditional homestead on the shore of the Lainio River. During our stay Mrs Päviö will introduce us to past and present Sami traditions and welcome us to visit their small-scale museum. The Päiviö family are reindeer owners and we will have the chance to learn about this semi-domesticated deer which is the cornerstone of Sami society.
Day 5
The next morning we enjoy breakfast in the Päiviö lodge before feeding our four- legged friends. After re-packing our sleds it is time for departure. Today we will travel along the legendary Tobacco Trail which in the17th century was an important trade route connecting Lapland with Russia.
Our destination is the Jäkkälä Hunting Cabin built by Kenth Fjellborg’s grandfather back in the days when haymaking on the Jäkkälä bogs was crucial for the survival of both man and livestock. The hay was harvested in summer and transported by horse and wagon back to the villages during winter. In many places in Lapland, this traditional practice of growing hay on bogs was still carried out in the 1950s.
For long distance mushers the Jäkkälä Hunting Cabin provides basic but cosy accommodation. After feeding our dogs we prepare a nice dinner before relaxing in the sauna. The comfortable beds of the cabin provide a well deserved rest.
Day 6
On the last morning of our expedition we depart from Jäkkälä Hunting Cabin, heading out in a westerly direction with the Fjellborg Homestead as our final destination. On our way home we stop to prepare lunch served in the wild.
The last leg of our journey covers about 30km. The trail takes us across Lake Sautosjärvi and then out on the magnificent Torne River where our journey began nearly a week ago. After having spent several days in remote corners of Arctic Lapland, travelling along the mushing highway of the river feels almost like a return to civilization. We will pass other dog teams and snowmobiles and soon the twin villages of Jukkasjärvi and Poikkijärvi appear on opposite sides of the waterway.
When we arrive at the Fjellborg Homestead in Poikkijärvi it is time to say goodbye to our amazing dogs. On the final evening of our expedition we enjoy a farewell dinner, sharing stories from the trail and comparing photos before heading for the sauna. No doubt, our journey through the magnificent Samiland has provided us with memories to last a lifetime. The final night is spent in comfortable guest accommodation at the Homestead.
Day 7
After breakfast we head for the nearby village of Jukkasjärvi where we enjoy a guided tour of the world famous ICEHOTEL. This is the world’s first hotel built entirely from snow and ice and the interior is truly a feast for the eyes. The winter destination of ICEHOTEL includes an Icebar, an Ice Church and an Ice Gallery - all decorated with sculptures and ornaments made from natural ice harvested from the Torne River. A popular choice among our guests is to add a few extra days to their holiday in Lapland by including a stay at ICEHOTEL. However, for those of our guests who are departing from Kiruna Airport after completing a guided tour of the hotel we will provide a transfer to the airport.
Tour Info:
This 7-day expedition is suitable for both beginners and experienced mushers looking for a true wilderness experience in remote corners of Arctic Lapland. Weather conditions in the alpine region of Lapland can sometimes be demanding, especially during strong winds. Guests must be capable of sledding in these conditions and provide good care for our dogs at all times.
Price: 22300 SEK per person.
Min Persons: 4
Max Persons: We welcome large groups!
Departure Dates: Feb to middle of April.
Fee includes:
Transfer from Kiruna Airport to Homestead, Arctic expedition clothing and mushing gear, all meals including beverage, all accommodations, the services of Fjellborg Arctic Journeys staff, individual dog teams, guided tour of ICEHOTEL, transfer to Kiruna Airport for guests departing on day 7.
