This 15-day expedition takes you deep into Sarek National Park, one of Europe's last roadless wildernesses, often called "Swedish Alaska." We fly in by helicopter to the foot of Ahkkå, then spend around six days pushing south to Aktse, wading glacial rivers and crossing terrain with no marked trail. After a resupply stop, we turn north again, following the Rinim stugan and Bastuvagge route back toward Ritsem for the helicopter out. Nights are spent wild camping, with 3 additional nights in a hostel around the trip's edges. Your guide has spent over a decade living and guiding in Sweden and adjusts the route daily around weather and conditions. Limited to 8 participants, everyone is paired into a buddy team for the full 15 days.
Arrive in Swedish Lapland on your own, where we gather the group, check equipment, and talk through the final gear list. There’s time to ask questions and make any last-minute preparations before we set ourselves up for the wilderness journey ahead. We spend the first night in the hostel, making sure everyone’s well rested and ready to leave civilization behind.
Accommodation: Hostel
We set off early, traveling by helicopter together toward the edge of Sarek National Park. When the helicopter leaves, our trek begins! Packs on, and off we go, crossing into the wild on foot. Tonight is our first taste of true wilderness camping, setting up tents and settling in under Lapland’s vast sky.
Accommodation: Tent (wilderness camp)
We break camp and move deeper into Sarek, following the valleys’ curves and climbing higher into the heart of the mountains. The route is wild, sometimes along animal paths, sometimes forging our own. Expect river crossings and rocky terrain—real off-trail adventure. We make camp wherever we finish, always close to fresh water.
Accommodation: Tent (wilderness camp)
We cover approximately 13 kilometres across uneven terrain and several small rivers. The weather remains relatively kind, but the difficult ground is already testing our legs. We find a sheltered campsite behind a hill that protects us from the strong wind.
Accommodation: Tent (wilderness camp)
We trek westward or northward, always aiming for new views and untouched stretches of tundra. Our pace is steady—enough time to enjoy waterfalls, wildlife, and big empty spaces. Sometimes we’ll pass old Sami settlements or find reindeer herds grazing nearby. Camp goes wherever we find the best ground, far from roads, houses, or crowds.
Accommodation: Tent (wilderness camp)
The route leads us past glaciers and down wide, braided valleys. Some days, river crossings and marshes mean slow going—boots off, teamwork needed. No matter the challenge, the rewards are huge: wild beauty and a pure sense of freedom. Tonight we arrive on our resupply spot. A nice bed, a good night, we dry out socks by the stove and share stories while the fires burn.
Accommodation: Hostel
With replenished supplies, we start the second stage of the expedition. A boat transfer may form part of the day before we return to remote terrain and continue northwards.
Accommodation: Tent (wilderness camp)
We leave the more accessible southern section behind and once again enter an area without marked trails. The terrain demands careful route selection, steady pacing and close cooperation within the group.
Accommodation: Tent (wilderness camp)
The journey continues through the remote landscape around Rinim. Marshland, dense vegetation, rivers and rocky ground can make even relatively short distances physically demanding.
Accommodation: Tent (wilderness camp)
We travel farther into Sarek’s northern valleys, surrounded by steep mountain slopes and broad glacial landscapes. Weather and visibility determine whether we follow higher ground or remain in more sheltered terrain.
Accommodation: Tent (wilderness camp)
Our route continues as a loop, heading around the massif and always shaped by weather, energy, and group decisions. There are more river crossings, some boulder hopping, and maybe stopping to fish if the mood strikes. The further we go, the more distance we feel from the rest of the world.
Accommodation: Tent (wilderness camp)
The expedition continues through the Bastavagge area and its rugged mountain environment. Participants take a more active role in navigation, weather observation and daily expedition decisions.
Accommodation: Tent (wilderness camp)
We begin working our way towards the remote helicopter collection area. The route remains demanding, with river crossings, exposed terrain and rapidly changing conditions still shaping each decision.
Accommodation: Tent (wilderness camp)
We complete the final major stage and establish our last camp in the wilderness. Time is deliberately retained as a safety margin because weather, water levels and group progress can affect the expedition schedule.
Accommodation: Hostel
Weather permitting, a helicopter collects us from the designated extraction area and returns us to Ritsem. After two weeks off-grid, the expedition ends with the first chance to rest, shower and reflect on what we have accomplished.
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This is a seriously demanding expedition, and it isn’t for everyone. Over 15 days, you’ll be off-grid with no cell signal, covering wild, unmarked terrain in changeable Arctic weather—think glacial river crossings, days on end with a full pack, and conditions that can shift to snow, wind, and heavy rain even in late August. It asks a lot physically, but just as much mentally: there’s no early exit once the expedition starts, and no way to bail if a day gets hard.
This trip is a good fit if you:
It’s probably not for you if:
Your guide builds this expedition around a small, committed group, capped at 8 people and paired into buddy teams for the full trip, precisely because it depends on everyone pulling their weight. If you’re unsure whether your fitness or experience is where it needs to be, it’s worth a direct conversation with us before booking rather than finding out on day three in Sarek.
In order to join this wilderness trekking tour, excellent fitness is required as well as solid multi-day backpacking experience. This isn’t a trip to learn the basics on. The most you’ll trek within a day is up to 25 km (15 mi), often off-trail and with a full pack. Expect repeated river crossings, rocky ground, heavy packs (25–30 kg/55–66 lbs) and variable Lapland weather. Participants should be comfortable camping remotely and carrying all their own food and gear for extended periods.
Over 15 days, you can expect to cover roughly 230 km (143 mi) on foot. Expect glacial river crossings, unmarked mountain terrain, and full days carrying an expedition pack, in weather that can include snow, wind, storms, and rain even in late August. Training in the months before departure is strongly recommended, and there’s no early exit once the expedition begins—everyone commits to all 15 days.
Days are physically full and mentally demanding, and there’s no fixed daily plan — your guide adjusts the route around weather and terrain, so flexibility is part of the experience from day one. Expect long stretches of off-trail hiking, glacial river crossings, and full days carrying an expedition pack, with no cell signal for the entire 15 days.
Alongside the trekking itself, your guide teaches hands-on backcountry skills throughout the expedition:
You’ll be paired with a buddy for the whole trip, so these skills get practiced together rather than solo. Only participants who complete the full 15 days receive the official completion certificate.
That’s a second situational item, this one covering the learning/expectations angle. It’d sit naturally right after the “Is this tour for me?” item, before “How fit do I need to be?” — let me know if you want it placed elsewhere or folded into the fitness item instead.
Gear:
Clothing:
Other:
Dress for variable weather—layering is essential, and cotton should be avoided.
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Group sizes and pricing:
Sweden wilderness tours can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.
Min. age requirements:
If your group has participants under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
The starting point of your trekking adventure is Swedish Lapland (exact town confirmed upon booking). To get there, most people fly into Luleå Airport (LLA) or Kiruna Airport (KRN). From there, you can take a shuttle service, public transport, or rent a car to reach the starting town. You will meet your guide at the designated hostel and time will be confirmed prior to departure.
Covering all your bases with insurance is mandatory. To make your booking and traveling experience as carefree as possible, you’ll be offered to simply insure your trip with Redpoint at checkout.
Redpoint—the official 57hours insurance partner—tailors protection packages for adventure travel, offering a comprehensive travel program, even in remote locations! Trip cancellation, natural disasters, pandemic coverage, medical evacuation, primary medical expenses—regardless of the travel interruption that may happen, Redpoint will have you covered.