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Types of Skiing Explained: Alpine, Nordic, Touring & SkateTrip Guide
Ready to try a whole host of winter activities in Swedish Lapland? This guide covers everything you need for 5 nights of winter adventure. You’ll stay in an eco-hotel surrounded by wilderness, enjoy three-course organic dinners, and try snowy activities you’ve never done before, no experience necessary.
The nearest airport is Umeå, about an hour’s drive from the eco-hotel. There are no direct flights from the UK, so you’ll route via Stockholm Arlanda and take a short domestic hop up to Umeå. Stockholm is served by loads of flights from across the UK, so getting that first leg is easy, and we’ve listed the Umeå flight times below rather than every UK-to-Stockholm option.
We’d recommend, where you can, booking both legs together with the same airline. That way your connection is protected if the first flight runs late, whereas separate bookings leave the onward flight at your own risk. You’ll find the Stockholm–Umeå leg with SAS, and our suggested flights line up with the included transfer.
Prefer to stay on the ground? There’s also a high-speed train from Stockholm Central or Arlanda Central to Umeå Central, around six hours, and the transfer collects from the station as well as the airport. Full flight and transfer times are below.
Fly into Stockholm Arlanda, then take a domestic flight to Umeå in time to meet the transfer.
10 Jan, 7 Feb & 28 Feb departures
10 Mar departure
Yes. You can book trains at sj.se/en. The SJ High-speed train has a roughly 6 hour route between Stockholm Central and Umeå Central. Check your transfer times to ensure you reach the station in time to meet the minibus.
There’s an overnight train too. This runs to Vindeln (NOT Umeå) from Stockholm Central. From there it’s just a 20 minute taxi ride to the hotel. (583 SEK per taxi one way). Please note that you don’t get a discount for not using our transfer.
To self transfer you will need to collect any hold bags and exit the arrivals area, before checking them in again and heading back through security and passport control again. If you book with different airlines, your transfers won’t be guaranteed. Booking flights together with the same airline could provide some protection against possible missed connections.
This trip is rated moderate. It’s active but not intense, with back-to-back activities over several days, trying new sports and probably using muscles you never knew existed. You don’t need to be sporty or in peak condition, but a reasonable baseline of fitness will make the difference between enjoying the days and just getting through them, since moving over snow always takes more effort than it looks.
The most demanding parts are the two snowshoe days, each around five hours over uneven, snow-covered ground, plus a shorter night snowshoe. The snowmobile, dog sledding and backcountry ski sessions are shorter and easier going, though sledding does mean hopping off to help the dogs on the uphills. There’s plenty of time built in to stop, refuel and warm up along the way. The cold adds to the effort too, as your body works harder to stay warm, which is part of why we rate it moderate rather than easy.
On skill, no prior experience is required for any of the activities. Everything is taught from scratch by expert local guides, so you just need reasonable fitness, a sense of fun and a willingness to give it all a go. The one thing to sort in advance is a valid driver’s licence if you want to drive the snowmobile, otherwise you’ll ride as a passenger.
You’ll have 4 days of guided adventures including: 2 days of snowshoeing (5 hours each), a half-day snowmobile tour (3 hours), half a day husky sled riding (3 hours), an intro to backcountry skiing (2 hours) and a visit to Sami Camp, plus a spa afternoon with sauna, hot tub, and ice bathing.
Snowshoeing is hiking over snow with snowshoes that attach to your boots and distribute your weight to prevent sinking. Made from lightweight materials, they make snow travel easier. It’s the easiest way to walk through a snow-covered wilderness.
We’ll be doing backcountry style cross country skiing – which means going off neat paths and making our own tracks. It’s like hiking with skis on, with the added help of some slide. The 2-hour tour starts with easy, flat terrain on the river, before we head out on a gentle route around the local area.
The experienced trainers will show you what to do and once you get the basics, you’ll realise the dogs have most of it in paw. You just need to focus on steering and balancing the sled. There will be two per sled, so you’ll drive yourself and also ride along as another guest takes the reins.
We’ll spend 5 nights in an eco-hotel with sustainably built rooms, tucked away in the forest. The hotel is surrounded by forest, right on the river, sustainably heated by geothermal energy and located on a stone slope with views of the surrounding nature.
Rooms are cosy with comfy beds, en-suite bathrooms with a shower and fresh towels, TV, WiFi and tea/coffee selection.
All meals, from dinner on arrival to breakfast on departure, are included. Expect hearty Swedish cuisine designed to fuel active days – think locally sourced wild game, fresh produce, and warming three-course dinners rather than fancy restaurant presentations. The eco-hotel is KRAV-certified organic and works with local hunters, farmers, and foragers.
Nestled in nature, the hotel is fully committed to living by its eco status. Don’t think they’ve sacrificed comfort though – rooms have cosy beds, en-suite bathrooms, all the usual mod cons and tea and coffee facilities.
Yes, both towels and hairdryers are provided. You may want to bring a travel towel though for use in the sauna and swimming pool.
Yes, we cater for all dietary requirements. Please inform us of any allergies or preferences in advance. Vegan and vegetarian options are available, although please be aware that choices may be more limited than you’re used to.
The hotel can do laundry for an extra cost – you simply drop it at reception in the morning and collect it the next day. If things just need a quick rinse though we recommend some travel wash and a dunk in your bathroom sink.
You’ll be in proper Arctic winter whenever you visit, but there’s a real shift in feel across the season.
Average temperatures sit between -10°C and -20°C, and can dip lower during cold snaps. Swedish winter is a “dry” cold, which tends to feel less harsh than the “damp” cold we get in the UK, though you’ll still know about it when the wind picks up. There’s thick, reliable snow cover throughout, and every activity is built around those conditions.
Early in the season is the deepest part of winter: the coldest temperatures, the shortest days, and long stretches of blue twilight rather than full daylight. It’s also the best time for northern lights, thanks to the long, dark evenings. As the season goes on the light starts to return, days grow longer and brighter, and the cold softens a touch, while the snow stays deep. Later trips are a good pick if you’d rather have more daylight to play with.
Northern Sweden has limited daylight through the whole season, but there’s always enough for the planned activities, and the low winter sun and long twilight are part of what makes it feel so different. If seeing the northern lights matters most to you, aim for earlier in the season; if you’d prefer longer, brighter days, go later.
Layer correctly and keep dry. We recommend merino wool or synthetic equivalent base layers (never cotton) to control your body temperature. Also it might sound mad in the face of temperatures way below zero, but avoid overdressing. You don’t want to get really hot and sweaty while moving, as you’ll cool down quicker when you stop.
January, February and March have limited daylight hours in northern Sweden, but there’s enough light for all planned activities and it’s all part of the adventure.
You’ll be in winter conditions with a thick snow cover throughout. Your activities are designed around this, taking in different snowy environments.
You can rent a full winter clothing bundle from our partners in Sweden. For £65 you get proper winter kit – polar boots, thermal trousers, a thermal jacket and thick gloves. This stuff is made for these conditions AND you don’t even have to worry about fitting it all in your suitcase.
Communication: Every room has free WiFi, so staying connected isn’t an issue at any point on this trip.
Money: Most places in Sweden accept card, so there’s no need to carry much cash. A small amount of local currency is worth having for personal expenses, but you won’t be caught out without it.
Tipping: Tipping is not compulsory on our adventures, but if you’ve had a great trip and brilliant service, a tip for your guide or host is always appreciated. We recommend giving 200-300 SEK, or whatever you can or feel is the right amount.
We work with the best guides available, male or female. There are fewer women in outdoor guiding roles, so we prioritise expertise and guest experience. We vet every guide carefully and monitor feedback closely to ensure all guides align with our ethos and standards. We also hope more trips like ours encourage more women to find new activities and become guides themselves.
Guides will adjust the plan if conditions make an activity unsuitable. The order of activities may change and a level of flexibility is key. Safety comes first throughout the week.
Max 8 guests.
As soon as you book. Your policy should cover trip cancellation, medical emergencies and evacuation, baggage loss, travel delays and missed connections, and all activities included in your itinerary — snowmobiling, dog sledding and backcountry skiing included.
Fabric choices: Avoid cotton – it retains moisture and then gets cold. When cross country skiing you can generate a lot of heat, but when you stop you cool down quickly. Whereas Merino wool or synthetic equivalents keep you warm and dry, cotton stays damp and sweaty and you can get really cold. Cross country skiing does NOT require the same clothing as downhill skiing.
Trip Code SWEGRAMLT – Include this code in any message so we can find your trip straight away.
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