kungsleden ski tour

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• Trip Styles
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• Trip Destinations
• Sweden Guided Ski Tours

Arctic Circle Winter Traverse

Kiruna, sweden, trip highlights.

• World Class Skiing/Snowshoeing
• Stunning Mountain Views
• Northern Lights
• Remote Mountain Huts
• Deep, Dramatic Valleys
• Delicious Regional Cuisine
• Luggage Transport
• Solitude & Wilderness

Description

Our Arctic Circle Winter Traverse (locally known as the “Kungsleden Traverse” is a dream expedition for any adventurous world traveler and winter sport enthusiast. Come experience the far North of Sweden while gliding along the famous ‘King’s Trail’ within the Arctic Circle. Starting in Abisko National Park, our world-class ski/snowshoe tour traverses routes through long snow swept valleys, over scenic mountain passes, past frozen lakes, and below the highest mountains in Sweden. The beauty and solitude of this remote region draws you in and the adventurous lifestyle of backcountry winter travel and mountain hut living combines to envelope you with a true sense of exploration and discovery.

Let our professionally certified ski guides show you the way through this truly wild landscape, first settled by the Sami people, traditional reindeer herders, thousands of years ago. Interesting local culture, rich indigenous history, excellent regional cuisine, unique wildlife and the chance to get a glimpse of the colorful Aurora Borealis are all just bonuses on this spectacular itinerary. Each night during the ski/snowshoe tour we stay at a different comfortable unique mountain hut, warmed by wood fire stoves, lit by candles and filled with the aroma of a delicious meal being prepared for dinner. Included in the cost of this trip is your lodging, all meals, local transportation, ski or snowshoe gear rental/use, transfer of personal items hut to hut by snowmobile porter and an unforgettable trip of a lifetime!

Important Note : Guests signing up for this trip should have some Nordic ski or snowshoe experience. This trip is a moderate ski/snowshoe tour for average to good skiers/snowshoers. The technical level of the tour is not very difficult in good weather and snow conditions, but one must be prepared for the possibility of quickly changing and extreme climatic conditions.

$4950 Per Person

$290 single supplement.

The single supplement on this trip allows for single rooms at our hotel stays in Kiruna (Day 1 & 8) only. The other accommodations do not allow for single rooms and guests stay in a dormitory style lodging in mountain huts (Day 2-6) or in shared dbl. rooms at the Kebnekaise Mountain Lodge (Day 7).

DIFFICULTY LEVEL 4

Scale of 1-5. 1 is least difficult; 5 is most difficult

SUMMARY OF DIFFICULTY This trip is a moderate ski/snowshoe tour for average to good skiers. The technical level of the tour is not very difficult in good weather and snow conditions, but one must be prepared for the possibility of quickly changing and extreme climatic conditions. Expect an average of 4-5 hours, with a max of as much as 7 hours, of skiing or snowshoeing in a day. Ascents can be up to 1,550 feet/470 meters.

Hiking Distances:

More Than 10 Miles

Backpack Weight:

Moderately Rugged

Max Daily Elev. ↑↓:

Up To 2,000 Feet

Heights Exposure:

No Heights Exposure

Please Note: Terrain, Elevation Gain and Heights Exposure ratings reflect the section or day of the trip with the maximum difficulty of each. Much of the trip is at easier levels. See the trip itinerary for more detailed information.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS OF THIS TRIP

• Should have some prior Nordic/cross-country skiing or snowshoeing experience
• Nordic Skiing/snowshoeing uphill (up to 1,550 feet) or downhill with a 10-20 lb backpack for 5-7 hours
• Maintaining balance on variable snow conditions and uneven terrain
• Manage body temperature and self in potentially extreme Winter climatic conditions for up to 5-7 hours

SOLITUDE LEVEL 3

1 least solitude, 5 most solitude

On this ski/snowshoe tour our groups often have longer stretches of multiple hours without seeing other groups day to day. Most nights will have other groups at mountain hut accommodations.

•   Minimum Guests

We require a minimum of 4 guests to confirm this trip. If booking within 90 days of the trip date, we require a minimum of 4 guests to confirm this trip. If a trip date is not confirmed yet, you can register and will be notified when the trip is officially confirmed. We recommend not making final travel arrangements until your trip meets the minimum number of guests and is confirmed.

In most cases, if a trip does not reach the minimum number of guests, you may choose to transfer to another trip date or another trip, be refunded your payments in full, or you may have the choice to pay a supplemental fee to run the trip with fewer guests. We make the final determination for these trips 65-60 days before the departure date.

Private Trips

Travel in perfect company by booking a private trip exclusively for your group!

Our sliding scale for private trips is based on the final number of guests in your group. Rates are per person and do not include sales tax, national park fees or guide gratuity. The final rate is based on the actual number of guests on the trip and may adjust based on cancellations or additions.

Please Note: you can also enjoy a private trip at our normal scheduled rates by filling any empty tour to capacity. However, if group members drop from the tour those spots will automatically become available on our website for instant booking. By purchasing a private trip at the rates listed below, your trip will remain exclusive to your group regardless of cancellations. 

Private Rates FOr This Trip

• 4-5 People: Rate x 1.5
• 6-10 People: Rate x 1.15
• 11-12 People: Rate x 1

*all rates are per person and single supplements apply

Learn About Our Private Trips

• Airport Shuttle: ~20 Minutes

On this Swedish Ski or Snowshoe Tour, you will be picked up from the Kiruna airport by our team. Kiruna is the Northernmost town in Sweden. A short transfer will get you to our comfortable hotel for the night and you may check-in anytime after 3pm and get settled in to your room. We are planning to meet in the main lobby at 6pm for an orientation meeting and full introduction of our group. We’ll then have dinner together at our hotel and get a good night’s rest in preparation for the start to our ski tour tomorrow.

• Skiing Distance: 9.3 mi (15 km)
• Elevation Gain: 492 ft (150 m)
• Skiing Duration: 4-5 hours
• Train: 1:15 hours

Our day starts with a Swedish breakfast buffet at our hotel and then we’ll head to the train station in Kiruna and catch a ride to Abisko, the starting point of the Kungsleden or “King’s Trail”. After meeting with our Sami friend and snowmobile porter, we’ll start out on our Nordic ski/snowshoe tour for the day. This stage takes us through a Birch forest and  along the frozen Abisko Lake until reaching our refuge for the night, the Abiskojaure hut. Our guide(s) will introduce and orient the group to the details of winter mountain hut living and all the duties we must perform as a team each night. This includes chopping wood, fetching water from frozen sources nearby, tending the wood fire stove and preparing & cooking dinner. Tonight’s hut has a tiny shop for extra snacks and beverages and a sauna available. All hut saunas have set time slots for men and women separately and usually a time slot for mixed genders.

• Skiing Distance: 12.4 mi (20 km)
• Elevation Gain: 1148 ft (350 m)
• Skiing Duration: 6-7 hours

After breakfast, today’s activities start by packing up our gear and leaving the hut as clean or cleaner than we found it. Our ski/snowshoe tour continues by following the Kamajakka Valley through another Birch forest until we climb up between two high mountains, Kieronand & Kartinvare, leaving the scarce forest behind. We top out today on a long mostly flat mountain pass before descending down towards the large frozen Lake Alisjari and our refuge for the night, the Alesjaure hut. This hut is very close to a Sami village, perched on a small hill at the end of the lake, that is usually uninhabited in Winter. This hut has outstanding views, a small snack & beverage shop and a sauna available for our group to warm and wash up in. After a candlelit dinner, we’ll turn in for the night snuggled into our warm and cozy beds.

• Elevation Loss: 328 ft (100 m)
• Skiing Duration: 5-6 hours

Today’s stage is through the big open valley of Alesatno and up a long scenic gradual climb to a mountain pass. The highlight today, comes during our extremely beautiful descent from the Tjäktja Pass towards tonight’s refuge of the same name. Our mountain hut tonight is a bit more remote and has no sauna or shop available, but is still very comfortable and warm. The surrounding views and general setting of this hut give a truly adventurous expedition feel as we do our daily routines and team duties to remain comfortable in this Winter wonderland. If we are lucky, maybe we’ll catch a glimpse of the colorful Aurora Borealis dancing above our heads after another hearty meal together and before turning in for the night.

• Skiing Distance: 9.3 mi or 13.7 mi (15 km or 22 km)
• Elevation Gain: 985 ft or 1542 ft (300 m or 470 m)
• Elevation Loss: 1312 ft or 2133 ft (400 m or 650 m)
• Skiing Duration: 5-6 or 6-7 hours

Today’s total distance and elevation changes depend on which of two routes your guide(s) decide to take based on weather conditions, group safety, etc. Our favorite route takes us a bit off the beaten path over a wild pass, eventually descending into the splendid Sälka Valley past the Nallo mountain refuge. Our stay tonight at the Sälka mountain hut; here several scenic valleys intersect and we are surrounded by higher mountains again with amazing views. This hut has a small shop for snacks or drinks and a sauna for warming & washing up.

• Skiing Distance: 8.1 mi (13 km)
• Elevation Gain: 656 ft (200 m)
• Elevation Loss: 985 ft (300 m)

Our stage today traverses stunningly beautiful scenery on our way to our next remote mountain hut. We will follow the wild valley of Cuhcavaggi. The East- and West-facing panoramic views of the surrounding peaks change dramatically throughout the day as we pass multipleside valleys. Our refuge tonight is the Singi mountain hut and does not have a shop or sauna but is a warm and comfortable place to relax after an epic day of skiing. The environment around this hut is exactly the remote wilderness we came to experience firsthand, and is a truly inspiring landscape. Tonight we will enjoy another amazing meal prepared by the guide(s) before turning in for the night.

• Skiing Distance: 8.7 mi (14 km)
• Elevation Loss: 820 ft (250 m)

After breakfast, packing and cleaning up our hut, the adventure continues and we’ll start this stage by ascending towards a small mountain pass before dropping down into the wide open Laddjuvaggi Valley. This river valley leads us back into a Birch and Arctic Pine forest for the first time in many days. Our accommodations tonight are at the Kebnekaise mountain lodge. This lodge is a break from the remote style of mountain huts we have been staying at and has many more amenities, including hot showers and a restaurant. The lodge sits by the Ladjojakka River at the base of Sweden’s highest point, Mount Kebnekaise (6,978 ft/2,127 m). After another rewarding day of skiing/snowshoeing and jaw-dropping views, you’ll love swapping adventure stories and laughs with other guests in the lodge’s cozy communal rooms, sitting by warm glowing fire places.

• Shuttle: 1 hour

After breakfast, we’ll start out on our final stage of our ski/snoeshoe tour continuing down the scenic Laddjuvaggi Valley. Our route today glides us past the Laddjujarvi Lake eventually landing us into a bit of civilization and the quaint Sami village of Nikkaluokta. Here we’ll say a final goodbyes to are extremely helpful Sami friend, snowmobile porter, and driver. A private shuttle awaits to transfer our group back to Kiruna, where we spent our first night of the trip and stored our extra luggage. Here we’ll get checked into our hotel, get cleaned up, and meet to have one last celebratory dinner together.

• Airport Shuttle: 20 Minutes

Today marks the end of our journey. We’ll enjoy one last breakfast together, where we’ll say “ hej då ” or “ adjö ”   like the locals- our fond good-byes, and start dreaming of our next adventures! A transfer is provided to the Kiruna airport for your departure flights anytime today.

Please Note : We always do everything in our power to follow the set itinerary, however occasionally trips are subject to itinerary changes based on a variety of circumstances, including but not limited to: lodging/campground availability, extreme weather, political or bureaucratic obstacles, earthquakes, fires, flooding and more. Normal  terms and conditions  apply to trips with itinerary changes.

Trip Dates & Booking

Trip dates & booking.

Click on a date to register. You can also click here to request new dates or book through customer service.

AVAILABLE TO BOOK

This trip is available and bookable online! Click on the date to register now or contact us online to book through our award-winning customer service team!

This trip has 1 or 2 spots remaining and is bookable online! Click on the date to book now or contact us online to book through customer service.

REQUEST A RESERVATION

This trip is exclusively booked through customer service due to logistics with lodging, permits, staffing, availability, or something else. Please contact us online or call us at 800-715-HIKE (4453) to request a reservation.

Don't see your dates? Call us! We may be able to add new trip dates.

Trip details, what's included.

• A detailed trip packet that takes the guesswork out of your travel, packing, training and preparing for the trip
• Trained guide(s) and certified ski/snowshoe instructors with years of personal wilderness and skiing experience, medical certifications, and a passion for leading people into breathtaking landscapes. See Guide Bios .
• Transportation for the duration of the tour starting on Day 1 and ending on the day you depart
• Lodging for the duration of the tour
• Transportation of personal items between mountain huts by snowmobile (weight limit applies)
• Use of ski or snowshoe gear: “Nordic” style sturdy, wide & steel edged skis, poles, boots & synthetic skins. Snowshoe gear includes snowshoes and poles.
• All meals from dinner on Day 1 through breakfast on the last day
• Emergency equipment including a company-issued first-aid kit and communication device

What's Not Included

• Transportation to Kiruna, Sweden
• Trip insurance that includes medical coverage and at least $200,000 in evacuation and repatriation coverage (required on our Sweden tours)
• Bar bills, drink bills, extra snacks, telephone bills, wifi bills and other personal expenses (shopping/laundry)
• All expenses due to unavoidable events e.g. flight cancellation, personal illness, strikes, etc. (we recommend trip insurance coverage for these variables)
• Backpack, clothes & Winter gear ( see recommendations )
• Sunscreen, toiletries and personal items
• Water bottles/thermos and a headlamp/flashlight
• Guide gratuities are optional and at the discretion of each customer. A suggested guideline is to reward outstanding service with a tip of 5-10% of the total trip cost. Please tip your lead guide and they will distribute responsibly to the crew. Local currency is preferred, or USD is also appreciated.

Click here to see a printable, downloadable trip information packet with more detailed guidance about what to pack.

Meals: What To Expect

This remote Sweden ski or snowshoe tour (your choice!) features a combination of in-town meals and meals prepared by your guides. We’ll have dinners in-town at carefully selected, wonderful restaurants in Kiruna as well as meals prepared on the trail and at mountain huts each night by your guides.

For optimal taste and energy, we supplement all our meals with spices, herbs, oils, cheeses, butter, sugar, and fruits and vegetables. In addition, we provide you with with an assortment of trail snacks* (nuts, dried fruit, chocolate, & cookies) to eat at your own discretion.

We can often accommodate vegan, vegetarian, and non-gluten diets and make adjustments for food allergies. These and other special dietary requests may require an additional fee, and in some countries may be more difficult to accommodate than others. Please inquire with us for more information about the specific trip you’re interested in.

*Common trail snack brands and items found easily in the US are not readily available in this destination. (i.e. protein bars, trail bars, etc…) We recommend guests that prefer these types of trail snacks to bring a few of their own choice items from home.

Gear We Provide

• Ski or Snowshoe Gear:
• “Nordic” style sturdy, wide & steel edged skis, poles, boots & synthetic skins. Snowshoe gear includes snowshoes and poles.
• Dry bag(s) for packing extra personal items for the snowmobile porter
• Company-issued first-aid kit
• Emergency communication device(s)

Guest Packing List

When you register for this tour you’ll receive access to a printable, downloadable trip information packet with a detailed packing list specific to this trip ( click here to see it now.) All trips require a sturdy pair of boots, ski jacket/pants, a recommended clothing system, a headlamp or flashlight, a hydration system and other items specific to each trip. If you choose the snowshoe option, note that your waterproof hiking boots will be used with the snowshoes.

Trip Logistics

How do i register.

Reserve your spot today! In the Trip Dates & Booking section of this page, the green and red dates are bookable online by simply clicking on the date, and blue dates must be booked through our customer service team for a variety of possible reasons. To email our customer service team, you can  click here  to get the ball rolling. Our adventure consultants will confirm availability, and if you’re ready to register we’ll email you a link to a registration profile. You’ll have 72 hours to complete your profile (and that of any dependents) and pay the deposit.

Feel free to call us for more info – we’re here 7 days a week!

Where Do We Meet?

We will meet you at the Kiruna airport upon arrival Day 1 and transport you to our hotel in Kiruna, Sweden (included, check-in available after 3pm), where we’ll meet our entire group and conduct an orientation meeting at 6:00 PM. Our Sweden communications team will be in contact approximately 45 days before your trip to answer any last-minute questions you have and be available until the travel day of your trip.

Click here to see a printable, downloadable trip information packet with more detailed guidance about flights, airport transportation, recommended extra lodging and more.

Travel to Kiruna

Booking flights.

The closest and easiest airport to fly into for this trip is Kiruna, Sweden. You will have to fly to Stockholm, Sweden first since there are no direct flights to Kiruna from anywhere else.

Our team will meet you at the Kiruna Airport (KRN) and transfer you to our 1st night’s hotel (included, check-in available after 3pm), where we’ll conduct an orientation meeting at 6:00pm. Airport transportation is included in the tour.

Please arrive to Kiruna Airport no later than 5pm, day 1 of itinerary; depart anytime, day 9 of the itinerary. Check-out is 12pm, at latest, from our last accommodation.

An orientation meeting, dinner and accommodations are included on Day 1. Your return flight should be scheduled for the final day of the tour.

Flights to and from Stockholm Arlanda Airport (ARN)/Kiruna Airport (KRN) are the guest’s responsibility. Multiple airlines operate flights into Stockholm from many U.S. and European international airports. Some of the primary U.S. departure cities include Los Angeles, Phoenix, Denver, Newark, Baltimore, Washington DC, Boston, San Francisco, New York and Minneapolis. The duration of flights is 10-30 hours normally with one or two stops. There are usually multiple direct flights per day from Stockholm to Kiruna; this flight is usually 1.5 hours.

Safety Precautions

Your safety is our top priority. Our ski and snowshoe tours are led by professional certified Ski instructors & guides, all of whom are wilderness-certified first responders or EMT’s, each with years of guiding and wilderness experience. Guides adhere to standardized risk management protocols in case of any potential or actual incident, and all tours carry an emergency communication device and comprehensive first-aid kit. Additionally we have a “24/7” system through which guides or guests can reach Wildland support personnel at any time.

In the interest of your safety, it’s important to refer to the  Center for Disease Control website  for up-to-date recommendations on immunizations before your trip.

Essential Eligibility Criteria

Essential Eligibility Criteria (“EEC”) have been specifically identified to help you understand the skills and abilities necessary to participate on each Wildland trip, and they apply uniformly to all potential trip participants, irrespective of the presence or absence of any disability.

Once you identify a trip in which you may be interested, please carefully review the EEC and itinerary details. If after reviewing the EEC that apply to your desired trip, you determine you need an accommodation in order to meet the EEC, please contact us prior to registering to discuss your requested accommodation.

The EEC exist for your own safety and the safety and enjoyment of all participants. If you are unable to meet the EEC for the trip, with or without an accommodation, you are not eligible for that trip. If you register and arrive for a trip for which you do not meet the EEC, you will be disqualified from participation on the trip and will be dismissed or evacuated from the trip without a refund.

Our approach to international travel is to combine the best of two worlds: the dialed-in details, professionalism and consistency Wildland trips are known for; and the cultural immersion and intimate regional knowledge that only local guides can provide. To excel with this approach, we vet and hire the best local guides, welcome them into the Wildland family and train them to meet our standard of excellence with every aspect of a trip. But along with managing logistics and safety, your guides will teach you about the area’s history and culture, and provide a level of familiarity and intimate detail only local experienced guides can.

Check out our  Meet Our Team  page for staff bios.

Guide Working Parameters

Guides are required to take 8 hours off each 24-hour period to sleep, recuperate, take personal/down time…etc. In addition, as part of the 8 hours off they must sleep/rest or be in their tents/rooms  uninterrupted  for a minimum of 5 hours each night. We ask guests to respect these requirements and to not interrupt guides’ off time and sleep time unless there is a true emergency.

Age Restrictions

Age restrictions on this trip are as follows:

• 14 and older to join scheduled tours (mixed groups)
• 10 and older to join private tours, with final approval and specific logistical requirements (such as porter or stock assist) determined on a case by case basis

Trip Insurance Requirements

Field evacuation, repatriation, and medical insurance is required on all Sweden trips as a condition of partnership terms with our European vendors (field evacuation and repatriation minimum coverage is a combined $200,000 USD).

If you need to purchase field evacuation, repatriation, or medical insurance we recommend IMG/iTravelinsured. They are one of the world’s leading providers of travel insurance and policies meet all our requirements.

For information on the recommended IMG/iTravelinsured policies please  click here .

For even greater information, or if you simply prefer communicating with a real, live person, feel free to contact our exclusive agent Michael Bennett. Michael will help you identify the best product for your needs, and there is no cost associated with his assistance. You may contact him at:

Email: [email protected] US by Phone: 877-305-9083 Direct/International by Phone: 702-448-3664

If you already have the required insurance or wish to purchase from anyone other than IMG/iTravelinsured, we recommend careful consultation with the provider to ensure appropriate coverage. This is because many providers have a number of policy exclusions.

Weather in Kiruna, Sweden

The climate of Kiruna is cold continental, with freezing winters and mild summers. The city is located in northern Sweden, in Lapland, in the province of Norrbotten, at 1,650 feet (500 meters) above sea level.

In March, the weather in Kiruna is usually freezing cold. Snowfalls are possible during this tour. The average day temperature is of 18°F (-7.7°C), with a minimum average of 9.6°F (-12.5°C) and a maximum average of 26.8°F (-2.9°C). On the coldest nights, normally occurring at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -11 °F (-24 °C). However, it dropped as low as -22.2 °F (-30.1 °C) in 2001. On the warmest days, normally occurring at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 41 °F (5 °C). However, it reached as high as 48.2 °F (9 °C) in 2000. March precipitation on average amounts to about 0.8 in (20 mm), distributed over 5 days throughout the month. The day lasts on average 11 hours and 50 minutes. On average there is ~5 hours of sunshine per day, ~44% of the time. The average humidity is 74%. Hence, the air is normally humid. The average wind speed is 9 mph (15 kph).

All huts are equipped with wood fire stoves and gas available for heating accommodations.

• Accommodations

SCANDIC KIRUNA

This newly built hotel is next to the town hall in Kiruna’s new city location*. This comfortable hotel is a perfect base camp for our groups and has a great restaurant, sauna and bar for guests to relax from their travels. The views of the surrounding Swedish mountains from the Sky bar on the top floor are top notch and a guest favorite.

*The entire town was recently moved due to mining operations creating the old town to be unstable in some areas.

SWEDEN'S MOUNTAIN HUTS

Sweden’s Mountain hut system provides an array of different comfortable dorm style accommodations with sturdy bunk beds for guests. Often our groups will be in their own building or room together. These huts have wood fired stoves for heating and gas is provided for cooking in communal kitchen areas. They have no running water or showers, but many have saunas which are traditionally used for cleaning and warming up after a wintry day of skiing. These huts require that groups work together to fetch their own water by breaking through the ice at nearby water sources, chop their own wood, and generally leave buildings and rooms as clean as they were found before departing. It is a team effort to complete all these duties, but Winter mountain hut living is part of the adventure of this tour and lots of fun!

KEBNEKAISE MOUNTAIN STATION

This mountain refuge sits in an idyllic setting nearby Sweden’s highest peak of the same name, Kebnekaise. It has a more services than our other mountain hut accommodations on this trip. It has 2-4 person shared rooms available, shared bathrooms with hot showers, a restaurant/bar, a large store and a sauna with amazing mountain views. We know you’ll love swapping stories, with other adventure travelers, gathered around the warm fireplaces in the refuge’s communal rooms.

* These exact accommodations are not guaranteed. In some instances alternative accommodations of similar quality and location may be used.

Trip Reviews

Average customer ratings:.

• 5.0 (1 reviews)
• Most recent

An incredible trip, and an absolute must for anyone who loves winter adventuring. Unbelievably vast, remote and beautiful landscape. Our guide Mat was just awesome and made sure we were well looked after on the trail and off. The huts were comfortable and a neat experience. We enjoyed first class backcountry food thanks to Mat and our friendly snowmobile porter. Would love it if Wildland expanded its winter ski tour offerings in Scandinavia (Norway??!)!

See All Guest Reviews!

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• December 24, 2022

Ski touring in Kungsleden

Home " Blog " Inspiration " Ski touring in Kungsleden

The Kungsleden, literally "King's Trail", is known as one of the most beautiful walks in Sweden. Over 400km long, the trail crosses Swedish Lapland between Abisko and Hemavan. In summer, the landscape is dotted with rivers and bright colours. In winter, everything is immaculate white. The Lapland foothills are bordered by towering, domed mountains. No wonder it's also one of the most beautiful ski touring spots in the world. In this article we tell you what it's like to ski the Kungsleden.

How to get to the start of Kungsleden

From Stockholm, there are three options for getting to Kiruna: by car, by plane or by night train.

Driving takes too long, the plane goes too fast and doesn't allow you to soak up the scenery, but sleeping in a comfortable bed while the train whizzes through Lapland is just perfect! Once in Kiruna, there are scheduled buses that run between Kiruna and Nikkaluokta, where our ski tour of Kungsleden starts.

Our programme ideas

Once you've arrived in Nikkoluokta, you'll need to reach the Nallo refuge. This can be reached by a 2-hour snowmobile ride or by a full day's walk on touring skis. Once you arrive at the refuge, take the time to chop wood, fetch water and, above all, rest.

The Nallo refuge offers an ideal base camp in a great playground. You'll find plenty of opportunities for ski touring

From the refuge you can ski Sielmatjåkka, one of 12 peaks over 2000m in Swedish Lapland.

Nallo hut to Tarfala hut

To get from Nallo to the Tarfala refuge, you have to cross three passes through arctic landscapes, with wide valleys bordered by imposing peaks.

Tarfala is a name familiar to Swedish skiers and mountaineers. This valley along the east face of Kebnekaise is home to the country's largest glaciers.

From here, the choice is vast: gentle skiing (Tarfalatjäkka), couloirs (liljetoppsrännan, drakryggen) or glacier skiing. The wide variety of terrain means you're sure to be able to adapt to the conditions of the moment. All you have to do is choose!

Tarfala hut to Kebnekaise hut

You can then reach the Kebnekaise refuge from Tarfala. A magnificent day's gently downhill hiking awaits you. In the evening, you can enjoy the sauna at the Kebnekaise hut.

The next morning, you have two choices: either ski Kebnekaise (Sweden's highest peak), or Tuolpagorni and its impressive crater-shaped slope, reached by abseiling. Depending on your level and the snow conditions, your guide will decide which is best for you.

After this unique day, it's already time to head back to Kiruna. Either by snowmobile or, if you still have some strength left, by ski touring.

Go to ski the Kungsleden with a guide ?

DiscoveRent offers you one of the most legendary expeditions north of the Arctic Circle, an exploration on skis of the immaculate white wastes of Lapland, bordered by large rounded peaks. Magnificent ascents in the midst of unspoilt nature. Nights watching the Northern Lights from the warmth of your refuge stove. And yes, you can experience the expedition you've just read about in a small group with a French-speaking mountain guide. Interested? Go here!

Crossing the Kebnekaise high route is all about surpassing yourself and experiencing a unique adventure in the wilderness. It's a huge project, and we want you to be part of it.

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• Lapland Info

The King’s Trail – Kungsleden

Kungsleden – the king's trail.

Anyone who googles Kungsleden will receive more than half a million hits. That speaks volumes about Sweden’s most well-known hiking trail. Since more than 40 years back Kungsleden the King’s Trail covers 425 kilometers, from Abisko in the north to Hemavan in the south. But the northernmost parts of this rich hiking trail are more than a hundred years old.

Already by the end of the 19 th century the Swedish tourism association (STF) began formulating plans of a connected hiking trail through the Swedish mountains. It would be a trail passing through all the most beautiful spots, a king of trails so to speak – the result was Kungsleden, or the King’s Trail. As early as 1907 the first cottages were built along the trail by the Swedish tourism association, near Abiskojávri and Giebnegaisi/Kebnekaise. The preparations of the trail began from the north. By the end of the 1920’s the entire stretch from Abisko to Kvikkjokk, or Huhttán which is the Sami name, was complete. At that time, in 1928, STF also began using the name “Kungsleden” in a more official capacity for the first time. In the 1950’s the King’s Trail reached all the way down to Ammarnäs in the county of Västerbotten, and in 1975 it would reach what is currently the southernmost point, Hemavan.

Winter and summer trail

All of the King’s Trail is both a summer trail for hiking, and a winter trail for skiing. The red cross markings reveal that the trail is also made for winter use. In many parts the winter trail is both a ski trail and a snow scooter trail simultaneously. The winter trail is mostly not prepared. For the most part it uses the same sections as the summer trail, but in some places the winter trail goes over ice-covered lakes. During winter time we often travel with dog sled along parts of the trail on our longer dog sled tours .

Overnight stay

The Swedish tourism association, STF, is in charge of the cottages located along th Kungsleden trail. No less than 16 cottages and several mountain stations can be found along the trail from Abisko to Hemavan. In the section between Kvikkjokk and Jäkkvik there are not cottages.

The landscape

Kungsleden, the King’s Trail passes through a major part of Sami country, Sápmi/Sábme/Saepmie as it’s called in North, Lule and South Sami respectively. The trail passes through the four national parks of Abisko, Stora Sjöfallet, Sarek and Pieljekaise. It will take you through almost all of the county of Lappland and partly through the Unesco World Heritage area of Laponia. The terrain that the King’s Trail swirls through is varied, but above all the hiker will set foot on a mountain landscape, sometimes barren and borderline sterile. At its highest peaks the trail reaches 1000 meters above sea level. Some sections also pass through mountain birch forest landscape and high herb landscapes, and at the lowest parts in some of the valleys you’ll be met by forests of thick pines, grey dry pines and low retained fir trees.

Nature and animals

The landscape around the Kungsleden trail is home to a rich flora and fauna. The chance of seeing one of the major four-footed predators – wolf, bear, wolverine and lynx – may not be that great, but they are there. In the autumn the lucky hiker with the help of binoculars might see a bear sniffing the ground vacuuming the mountain slopes for crowberry. Moose populate the areas and during the summer reindeer are grassing the mountains. Hare, fox and lemming are also among the rich fauna along the King’s trail, as well as a large number of bird species. Around half of Sweden’s 400 or so bird species have been spotted in Lapland. The observant hiker may spot anything from the golden eagle, regular eagle and buzzard to grouse, golden plover, blue-throat and various sea birds. The vegetation varies heavily between the highest and lowest points of the trail. In the barren mountain landscape you’ll find the real survivors of nature, including glacier crowfoot and avens. The birch forest may either be heavy on berries, moss, lichens and heather, or it may consist of a lusher so-called meadow birch forest with tall herbs such as wolf’s bane, angelica and globeflowers. Even further down in the needle forest you’ll find many of the animal species from the old forests including marten and capercaillie, and rare plants such as mezereon and red magic wand.

The King’s Trail goes through an old Sami landscape where people who have lived and cultivated the lands historically have left few or no traces behind them. It can be difficult to spot old fire places, meat hideouts and pitfalls, but they are there. Very close to Saltoluokta there’s an example of an extensive pitfall system. In the old forest you can find grey cuts on the tree trunks which are remains of Sami bark extraction. It was common that the Sami people, using a horn knife, cut off a piece of bark from young pine trees and grilled the inner parts of the bark.

The King’s Trail in litterature

Kungsleden – The Royal Trail Through Arctic Sweden by Claes Grundsten is a guide in English of the hike along Kungsleden. Others who have authored guides about Kungsleden include Annika Berggren, who have divided her books in two parts with Kvikkjokk as the center point. A more recent book is Fredrik Neregård’s Kungsleden: a complete guide to the most spectacular northern parts of the classic King’s trail . There are also numerous articles written from hikes and ski trips along the trail. Anyone looking for a fictional novel may receive inspiration in the 1963 novel Kungsleden by Bosse Gustafsson, a romantic hiking thriller which was also turned into a movie in the mid 1960’s.

Tours on the King's Trail

Explore Sarek National Park

Sled dog Adventure through Sjaunja and Kebnekaise

Hiking to Mount Skierfe and the Gate to Sarek National Park

The 9-days Final Spring Husky Adventure

A taste of Sarek National Park

Crossing Lapland with Dog Sled

With huskies along the Northern King's Trail

With Dog Sled to the Gate of Sarek National Park

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Kungsleden Trail (kings trail): Itinerary, Gear and Budget

The Kungsleden is a hiking trail far from the civilization in Swedish Lapland that promises to bring us some wonderful adventures. Here is what we take with us in our backpacks for...

Last Update: 16/02/2024 39 COMMENTS

Believe it or not, the Kungsleden trail (or Kings trail , which is in Swedish Lapland) was not our idea at all… One day, Marine, one of Fabienne’s best friends, sent her the link to a blog post saying:

Look at that, the Kungsleden looks SOOO cool…. Wouldn’t you like to do it with me?

I have to say that since our return from our round-the-world trip , Marine has had the great pleasure of hiking with Fabienne, first for a day and then a few pretty excursions over 2 days with a night in a hut. I guess she got a taste for it and wanted to step up her game. But since she had also read somewhere that there were bears in Swedish Lapland, she also thought it would be nice to have some travel companions just in case…. #NotCrazyMarine 🙂

And as you can imagine, you shouldn’t offer us twice a nice hike in partial autonomy in one of the least populated places on the planet… A few weeks later and after having embarked my sister on the adventure, here is the complete #chattingHiking team with 4 plane tickets in their pockets to Kiruna , in the very north of Sweden.

Note: This article was originally written in preparation for our trek. We totally updated it once we got back to include our comments after the trek as well as brand new sections dedicated to the budget and food on the trek. And if you can see a little bit of our more global impressions after the trek then Benoit published a “ first impression ” article about our trip to Lapland and the Lofotens

• What’s the Kungsleden (kings trail)
• When to hike the Kungsleden ?
• Budget: How much does it costs?
• Infrastructures
• Itineraries

Hiking gear

• Food on the trail

Useful links

The kungsleden trail (kings trail): where is it what is it.

The Kungsleden (or kings trail in english) is actually a hiking route of about 440 km between Abisko and Hemavan in Swedish Lapland . This trek crosses one of the least populated regions in Europe, passing through large wilderness areas but also the highest mountains in Sweden. The trek passes north of the Arctic Circle, which also makes it an ideal place to see the Northern Lights (finger crossed) and the midnight sun in the middle of summer. It’s already making it quite attractive, isn’t it?

In our case, we will focus on the northern part of Kungsleden, the 100-110 km between Nikkaluokta and Abisko for several reasons:

• Marine and my sister have a big week of vacation at their disposal and that’s exactly what’s needed to take our time on the northern part of the kings trail.
• The stages are quite short and the elevation changes are not very important . Perfect for a 1st experience of semi-autonomy hiking.
• In case of emergency, there are huts every 10-20 km so even in case of serious problems (injury, tent damage) or horrible weather, we don’t risk much. It is also possible to get supplies in some of the huts, which will allow us to avoid having 7 days of food in the backpacks.
• Even if it is the most popular part of the Kungsleden (although in September one should not meet too many people), it is also the most mountainous and “Arctic” part of the trek.
• Both ends of this section (Kiruna and Nikkaluokta) are easily accessible by bus / train

When to hike the Kungsleden trail

The weather in swedish lapland.

One of the challenges of going on a 7-day hike over the Arctic Circle is the weather. In this part of the world, the weather can change extremely quickly and you have to be prepared for rain, lots of wind and even snow at night! But well, as the proverb says very well:

There is no bad weather, only bad clothes

We’ll talk about our gear below , but basically, you just need to have the right gear 😉 . If you are interested, you will also find the history of the weather in the region on this website . But globally the months with the most precipitation are June, July, August and September (there can be up to 150mm per month) which are precisely the only months when the trek is practicable by foot. Indeed, in June there may still be a lot of snow on the passes and late September marks the period when the snow returns and temperatures drop significantly. Otherwise it is obviously possible to be lucky and have a nice sunny week… but it is better to count on very changing weather and rain about every other day.

Feedback after the hike

Honestly in terms of season and weather, we were soooo lucky!!!!! The autumn colors were sublime and we had relatively little rain and wind (I mean for the area… we got pretty severly wet once or twice to be honest).

My nightmare!!!!! I must admit that mosquitoes alone have the power to completely ruin my pleasure on a hike. On the Kungsleden, mosquitoes return as soon as the temperature increases (mainly July – August) and can be particularly vigorous, especially below the tree line. But they disappear again when the temperature drops to around 0 degrees at night in September.

In any case if you go in July and August, it is better to have a mosquito net to protect your face.

We had no issue with the Mosquitoes! There were still some left towards Alesjaure and the Kebnekaise hut, but really nothing to be bothered about… No bites to report, so it was great at that level!

We decided to do the northern part of the Kungleden in mid-September at the end of the season (all huts close between September 20 and 30). Although the temperatures will certainly be cooler, we should be able to enjoy the beautiful autumn colours and above all we should not have too many mosquitoes. Another thing is that in September the nights get longer again and it is one of the best months of the year to observe the northern lights. And since we’ve never seen them with our own eyes before, we just dream of having a nice clear night and being able to watch them.

After trekking : WE HAVE SEEEN NORTHERN LIGHTS!!!!!!!! 🙂 … and we even wrote a whole article about these magnificent lights and especially how to capture them here .

Travel Budget: how much does it cost to hike the Kungsleden?

So I don’t know about you, but when I started preparing this trip I automatically said to myself: Scandinavian countries and even more “Lapland”: it’s going to cost me a lot of money!

So, first good news: Lapland is expensive, but lapland in hiking mode remains totally ok from a financial point of view !

In detail we spent:

• 263€ for a return flight from Geneva to Kiruna. See flight prices on Skyscanner
• 42€ for 2 nights in an hostel the day before the trek and the day before the return flight (21€ per person per night in a double room at Yellow House in Kiruna). This is the cheapest hotel we’ve found… Not particularly charming, but it does the job. To book, you must contact them by email or through  their website .
• 40€ per person for transport in Sweden (this includes the airport bus to Kiruna (SEK 200 return), the bus from Kiruna to Nikkaluokta (SEK 150) and the trains from Abisko to Kiruna (SEK 55)). Note: In Sweden it is cheaper to book your bus and train tickets in advance. The links to book are at the end of the article
• 57€ of “food” budget before departure (price per person). (This includes all the food carried in the backpacks as well as the gasoline purchased in Kiruna for the burner. More details on food later in the article ).
• 28€ of “restaurant”. This includes the lunch buffet after finishing the trek and a small meal on the last evening.
• 36€ of purchases per person in huts. This includes the purchase of a lyophilized meal, some picnics and lots of cookies. 🙂
• 0€ of camping. It is absolutely possible to camp next to the refuges and enjoy the latter’s facilities (toilets, kitchens, etc.) but this costs almost 30€ per person per night (10€ if you use the facilities only during the day (for cooking at noon for example)). As for us, we preferred to camp far from the huts and thus not spend anything at this level.

This makes the great amount of… drum roll… 466€ per person for 9 days and 7 nights of trekking in Lapland! In other words, it’s not that expensive for a holiday in Lapland! 🙂 #justSaying

Info: We were 4 people. This budget is per person and includes all expenses for accommodation, transport and food for 7 days on the Kungsleden Trail.

The price of the flight ticket can obviously vary a little… But overall it is between €250 and €350 per round trip from central Europe. If eventually the price of the plane gets too expensive, the other option is to take a flight to Stockholm (these are often cheap) and then take the night train to Kiruna or Abisko. By booking in advance, it costs less than 50€ for a bed on the train.

About the plane tickets I gave you the price of the round trip that Marine and Sabine paid. For our part, we had a one-way ticket (210€ per person) because we continued our trip to the Lofoten Islands .

Find a Flight on Skyscanner

I have also included the train ticket from Abisko to Kiruna that Marine and Sabine took to return to the plane and their night at the hostel the day before their return. This way you have a more precise idea of how much this trek “in its entirety” costs.

For the hotel we went for the cheapest option… After that if you want a more charming accommodation you can take a look on Booking or at the map below that will show you the available hotels and apartments:

Note: In order not to confuse you, I have put here only the expenses related to the trek, excluding everything related to the equipment itself. However, for this trek we had some expenses for “winter” equipment such as 2 warm down jackets (200€), 2 floor mattresses (156€) and leggings (80€). Find all our equipment later in this article .

Infrastructures on the Kungsleden trail

As I said at the beginning of this article, one of the points that shifted the balance in favour of the Kungsleden was the excellent infrastructure available on the northern part of this trek. There are STF refuges (Swedish Tourist Association) every 10-20 km approximately and they should all have a small shop with some food (obviously the prices should be quite high lost in the mountains). You can find the huts on this page of the STF website as well as all the necessary information about the functioning of the shelters and prices here . So certainly we don’t plan to sleep in a hut on this trek but it’s still cool to know that we won’t necessarily need to carry 7 days of food and that we can take shelter in case of a storm 🙂 (note that there is no electricity or running water in the huts).

Otherwise the trail looks very well indicated (according to my research) and all major river crossings should be equipped with footbridges. So there should be no difficulty on that side.

Feedback after the trek

Indeed the infrastructures and the markings of this trek are very good! We’ve never got lost 🙂 and we’ve never had to cross a river on foot! About the map we had only downloaded the gpx on our mobiles (you can also download our gpx above by clicking on the little cloud at the top of the map). Afterwards if you are rather for paper map then it is possible to buy the kungsleden map online. As for shelters and food, a special section is dedicated to them later in this article.

Itineraries for the Kungsleden trail

The most classic route of 100 km ( approximately) between Abisko and Nikkaluokta does not represent any particular difficulty (at least according to my readings). There are about 65 km on the original Kungsleden route between Abisko and Singi and then 35 km to reach Nikkaluokta via Kebnekaise (the refuge not the summit 😉 ). This itinerary is clearly feasible in 5 days, which leaves us plenty of room to take our time and/or make a small unplanned excursion.

For this trek, the itinerary is not very complicated and it is especially well marked. In short, there is no need to make a thorough study of the terrain before you start. However, we recommend you to have a map with you! To do so, you can download all our maps from the article (button above each map).

To download the map from AllTrails (the website and mobile application we use) you simply need to have an account (free to create) and then you can download the map in the format of your choice!

Be sure to have access to an “offline” map during this trek (Maps.Me, AllTrails+ , etc.) The mobile network is almost non-existent on this route!

Note that it might be interesting to have an AllTrails+ account to be able to print the maps in full resolution (you won’t have to worry about batteries). The AllTrails+ account normally costs 29,99€ per year. If you go through this link , you will get a 30% discount.

Here is the route:

There are also several variants that I have identified during my readings on different sites. The first is the Tarfala Valley, which looks absolutely magnificent as it passes very close to large glaciers and high altitude lakes. Just before the Kebnekaise refuge from Nikkaluokta, you can go up the Tarfala valley to the right to the eponymous refuge by the lake. It should be possible to continue through a pass around the Kebnekaise and then descend a long valley to join the Kungsleden route. As the pass still rises above 1450m, it will just be necessary to make sure that the snow conditions are good. Here is the map of this variant:

The itinerary through Tarfala can only be considered if the conditions are good! For this route you pass at the foot of a glacier and it is only possible to pass if there is enough snow. This autumn it was very hot on the Kungsleden and as a result the snow had melted too well. As a result, this route would have been done on ice patches with cliffs underneath. In other words, it is unconscious to do this without crampons and adequate equipment! The huts are very well informed about the state of the trails, so before you start in the Tarfala Valley, pass imperatively either at the Kebnekaise or Sälka refuge (depending on the direction from which you arrive) and ask the rangers!

I also came across another route that takes a rather different path in the middle of the trek. This itinerary passes through the Nallo and Vistas refuges instead of Tjäktja. This route was recommended to get away from the “crowd” in July-August on the main trail.

Another popular one-day detour is to climb the Kebnekaise (2100m and Sweden’s highest mountain) from the Kebnekaise refuge (as a round trip so you can leave with a light bag on your back).

In short, you can see that it is possible to do a lot of things around this Kungsleden hike. On our side we do not yet know exactly which route we will choose but we will see on the spot depending on the weather and the motivation.

Update : In the end we followed the so-called “classic” itinerary (the first one presented above). The Tarfala Valley was not accessible without crampons and about the alternative route, we did not feel the need to escape the “crowd” because in September there were not that many people on the trail. 😉

On the other hand, this first trek on the northern part clearly made us want to see more! Next time we will probably try to continue on the trail on the southern part!

Our hiking gear for the Kungsleden trail

We finally get to the part about the equipment for the Kungsleden. Here is what we plan to bring in our backpacks (if you want to compare, you will also find here our gear for the Via Alpina , a 15-25 day summer hike through the Swiss Alps that we did in 2017):

As we get more and more questions about bivouacking during our long hikes, we published a practical guide with all you need to know about backpacking and bivouac in nature: read our backpacking guide to bivouac

Camping Gear

• Sleeping bag Valandré Swing 500 : As with the tent, we had bought them for the Via Alpina and we were very satisfied with them. A light weight of 900gr for a comfort temperature limit around 0/-5 degrees… nothing to say. It may be around -5 degrees on the Kungsleden in September at night. But we preferred to buy well insulated floor mats rather than replace our sleeping bags. Feedback after the hike Always very happy also on that side! Then we won’t hide the fact that the comfort temperature was just okay for this time of year on the trek (we really recommend that you don’t go with a cooler sleeping bag… we were fine, but it shouldn’t have been colder)

• MSR WhisperLite Universal Stove : We are loyal to our good old gasoline stove that has never let us down since our round the world trip. It is light, super compact, robust and above all it works with almost all types of gasoline (white benzine, gasoline, diesel…). We prefer petrol burners (even if they are a little more difficult to use) because it’s much easier to find petrol than gas bottles all over the world. feedback after the hike Always happy! Arriving in Kiruna on a Sunday evening we were able to simply stop by a gas station in the evening to fill our bottles. For your information, for the 7 days of trekking and 4 people we counted 2 bottles of 0.6L
• Cooking Equipment : A small pot , 2 forks, 2 cups and of course our faithful Swiss Army knife 😉
• 1 head torch

• Hiking poles :Nothing crazy on this side… we have three-section clip clamping sticks from Quechua (we often had problems with the rotation clamping models). They are not the lightest either but we are not ready to put 100€ more to win 50gr 😉 . I think that sticks are essential for hikes with a lot of weight on the back. It distributes the loads and helps a lot for stability, especially downhill.
• 1 Lifestraw water filter bottle : To drink, we only have to take one lifestraw filter bottle per person. If there is one thing you shouldn’t miss on the Kungsleden it’s water. So there is no need to charge ourself with several bottles when we should be able to fill our lifestraw everywhere. Feedback after the hike We are still so in love with these bottles! Even if in the absolute on this trek the water is so pure that the filter was not necessarily required… 😉 And about water, there is really nothing to worry about, there is some every 100 meters (or almost). We never had more than 6dl per person on our backs.

Regarding clothes, we leave with warm layers on this hike… especially since with Fabienne we will extend our stay in the north after the hike on the Lofoten Islands. If you don’t want to go home the first time it gets cold, we might as well have something warm to wear.

• 2 long-sleeve thermal sweater: the idea being to have one for walking and one dry for sleeping
• 1 thermal leggins in merinos to walk
• 1 fleece leggins for sleeping
• 1 thick enough hiking pants
• 1 fleece sweater / hoodie
• 1 warm down jacket
• 1 waterproof jacket / windproof gore-tex or other type
• 1 waterproof poncho
• 3 underwears
• 3 pairs of walking socks
• 1 pair of gloves
• 1 microfibre towel

Frankly for the clothes we don’t even ask ourselves the question anymore and we go to Decathlon (good news they arrive in the US as well)… we find almost everything we need at very affordable prices (except maybe thermal clothes in Merinos)

We are very happy with the equipment we brought! In terms of warmth, we were fine and we used everything we had taken! Fortunately for us, we didn’t have to pull out the waterproof ponchos (the rain jacket were more than enough for the few showers we had). Despite that we don’t regret having taken them because we were really lucky with the weather during our week of trekking…. The situation could have been different!)

The only “unnecessary thing” was the leggings in merinos to walk. On the principle we thought we would wear a merino during the day and so we took 2 leggings per person in order to always have a dry one for the evening. In the end we never put on our leggings under the hiking pants; the cold was quite manageable in simple pants when we were on the move.

Electronic gear

That’s where we have some problems 😉 … Even if we have already improved our setup quite a bit, we can’t leave light with our photo / computer equipment. Because after the trek we will continue towards the Lofoten, we will have a laptop with us (in case of emergency work, we can’t leave for a month without a laptop) plus our photo/video equipment. So don’t be afraid as you read these lines, we don’t have the electronic equipment of an average hiker… here is our equipment (for 2 people) :

• 1 Lenovo X1 Carbon computer (with charger)
• 1 Sony a7ii body and 4 batteries
• 1 Laowa 15mm f/2 FE Zero-D lense : The new baby in my small collection… a wide angle lens with a beautiful opening that will allow me to take (if everything goes well 😉 ) beautiful night pictures, northern lights and also very beautiful landscapes.
• 1 Sony 70-200 f4 lense
• 1 lense pouch (that attaches to the belt)
• 1 Sirui T-025X Carbon tripod: It is impossible to photograph the Northern Lights without a good tripod. So I invested in an ultra light tripod (between 700gr and 900gr depending on the setup)
• 1 GoPro Hero 5 and 2 batteries
• 1 Karma Grip: Even if we replaced the gopro and the Karma grip with an Osmo pocket
• 2 clip Capture to attach the camera and GoPro to the backpack
• 1 remote control for long stops
• 2 smartphones
• 1 solar panel charger for hiking
• 2 solar batteries of 15’000-20’000 mAh
• 1-2 charging cables

Aouch that’s all for the equipment… so without the food in the backpacks, it makes us a bag that weighs around 15kg for me and 12kg for Fabienne 😉 .

Update : After filling our bags with food and weighing them at the start of the trek we ended up at 19.5kg for Benoit and 16kg for Fabienne (Marine and Sabine also had 16kg each).

On the electronic side we used everything we took… 🙂 Even if we say it, solar panels are not the best for destinations where the sun is a little shy (we could have guessed it, you will tell me hahaha)

Food for the kings trail: What should you take?

This section is new in the article, but after completing the trek we thought you might be interested to know a little bit about how we managed the food on this trek.

As you may have seen in the budget above, a large part of our food expenses were made before departure. Indeed we decided to leave with the equivalent of 5 hot meals per person for the evening, 3 picnics, all breakfasts and especially a whole lot of snacks! The main motivation for this choice was not to spend too much money in shelters, as food is expensive there.

Here is a little overview of the food we brought and bought during this trek.

Our breakfasts during the hike:

We left with 2 kg of oats. The idea was to have 7 breakfasts for 4 people with this. In the end it turned out to be too much (we brought back almost 800g)!!!!! We didn’t know exactly how much to count and we clearly took too much. In the end we ate the equivalent of 45g of oats per person per morning. In short, there is a small lack of optimization at this level…

In addition to the oats that we mixed with hot water, we also had enough to give this mixture a little taste:

• about 80g of cinnamon
• 2 large tubes of condensed milk (we used to sweeten the mixture but also for coffees! caloric and effective!)
• 600g of nuts and dried fruit to add a little crunch to this slightly “pasty” mixture, otherwise
• Regularly we enhanced our morning meal with fresh blueberries harvested all over the trek.

Otherwise we also brought 150g of soluble coffee and some tea bags.

Lunch during the hike

Here we have chosen not to eat a hot meal at lunchtime (to save fuel but also for simplicity). In short we left with 16 wraps (the fajitas things, we counted 2 per person per meal) and a good piece of Swiss gruyère and 2 large sausages.

The other noon we ate either things bought in shelters or simply lots of snacks

Evening meal during the hike

As usual we left with our couscous buddy. Quick to cook, very nutritious, it is the number one ally of the hiker! With 1kg of couscous we had some for 2 hot evening meals for 4 people. In order to enhance all this we also brought 2 bags of powdered sauce that we simply put in hot water before adding the couscous. (Onion sauce and mushroom sauce).

We also had 6 bags of tomato soup. Not very caloric it was still quite nice to have a very hot soup one evening.

For all our other meals we brought lyophilized menus with us. It was the first time we ate it and we must confess, we were a little apprehensive about the concept. In the end we were quite happy with our menus! We had bought the several different things: aligot, truffade auvergne, noodles bolo, rice with beef, etc…. We were really surprised to see that the menus were not too bad!

Personally I had a preference for dishes in which “there was something to chew” such as pasta or rice. Aligot and trufade were good, but the mashed potatoes didn’t really stop me.But otherwise, it’s quite strange, because the caloric intake is relatively “low” if you have enough activity. Some evenings we clearly completed our menus with lots of snacks, because 500 kcal the menu was a little slim. After the taste/weight/calorie ratio remains great!

Snacks are life!

So there you guys, we didn’t make half measures… Linz tarts, lots of soft caramels, chocolate bars, cereal bars and lots of cookies! When you walk all day, and especially if you don’t make a real meal at lunch, snacks are just essential… And well, chocolate is good for morale, so we don’t deprive ourselves!

What we bought in the huts

The vast majority of the refuges are equipped with small stalls and it is therefore possible to get supplies there. For our part we bought a lyophilized meal for the last evening, many cookies (those of the brand Ballerina are a delicious…) 😉 , rye bread for lunch and… tube cheese (sacrilege I know… but that’s all they had that we could spread).

Food on the Kungsleden trek: our opinion

The food on this hike is clearly a matter of weight and budget! The shelters are well organized and equipped, so basically you can leave with zero food on you and promised you won’t starve! On the other hand if you buy everything in a refuge you will on the one hand spend more money (prices are roughly 30%-40% more expensive, lyophilized cost for example 9€ each) and especially the variety of your menus will be quite poor… In short, if you can carry your food, or at least part of it, we advise you to take a few menus with you!On the other hand, shelters are great for snacks! We could clearly have brought fewer snacks and eaten more Ballerina and Daim chocolates.

Note: here is  a document with the food in the big shelters and prices. Not all products are always available but overall we found the shelters well provided anyway. On our itinerary the “big” refuges that had this assortment were Abiskojaure, Alesjaure, and Sälka.

Below are some links that have been useful to me in preparing this article and that could be useful to you:

• Infos about huts and prices
• Find and book the huts
• Infos about the shops in the huts
• Hotels in Kiruna
• Hotels in Abisko
• A very good map of all the huts in Swedish lapland
• Train timetable between Abisko and Kiruna (and maybe Stockholm)
• Bus timetable between Kiruna and Nikkaluokta
• Some blog posts that I likes: Aaron, a dude from Singapore that made me laugh a lot with his experience on the Kungsleden

Here it is… I hope you liked this article and that it will help others to prepare a trek on the Kungsleden. In any case, we are super excited to discover Swedish Lapland hiking in summer. In addition with our fine team of #ChattingHiking, it promises good moments of fun on the Swedish trails 😉

P.S. If you buy something through one of our affiliate link, we will receive a small commission that will help us maintain and grow the site. Of course, we only talk about the products we use and it won’t cost you anything more 😉

About Benoit

Self-taught web developer and passionate photographer, I love travelling and hiking for this incredible feeling of freedom they bring me. Curious, I constantly need to learn new things, to take on new challenges and I couldn't live any other way. I share with you on this travel blog my experiences on the roads but also my thoughts to travel better while respecting our beautiful planet (which is unfortunately in a very bad shape).

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Reader Interactions

5 years ago

Thanks for read 🙂

3 years ago

Thank you for this information-filled article! My son wants to take this hike and all of your details are so helpful!

Hey this is super helpful! Do you know if I want to buy a physical map can it be bought at the entry points to the trail? Since I cant seem to find any online.. Also did you find you needed a map to navigate or was it very well marked? Thanks ! Louise

Hi Louise, Glad you found some useful infos here. I have no idea about the map but I didn’t feel like I really needed a map as the trail is well marked. Plus we had the map on our phone the we were checking from time to time

Hey, thank you so much for this article. It helped to fill the knowledge gaps that I had. I plan to go hiking from Abisko to Nikkalauka in few days. Thanks to you I feel much more calm and know what to expect

Hey glad to read our blog post was useful for you. Hope you’ll have a great adventure on the kungsleden 🙂

Thank you so much for this. I hope to do the hike next year. (1year prep should be enough;-). Been thinking about it for 10 years now. 1 question though…do you take the foods on the plane or did you buy them on site at the beginning of the trek?

Thanks, Patrick

Hi Patrick,

Really hope you’ll be able to do it next year. It’s a great hike!

For the food, we bought everything beforehand in Switzerland. Not sure what you can find there…

2 years ago

Hey, I really loved this post with so many helpful information! A question to the writer (or the crowd): how “crowded” in terms of other hikers will it be in July/August (which is the main season)? Is it really that you walk in groups, or does “crowded” has a completely different meaning in northern Lappland? 🙂 Thanks for any replies!

Hi Dominic,

Well we did it in September and it was not crowded at all on the trail (we don’t know about july – august). But one thing you should know is to avoid the Fjallraven classic week (third week of august this year I think –> https://classic.fjallraven.com/about-classic/the-story/). Enjoy 🙂

Hi Benoit, Many thanks for your quick reply. So I have to find out on my own about the July/August season, let’s see 🙂 And thanks for your hint regarding the Fjallraven classic hike, I wasn’t aware of that (which will definitely cause a lot of people being up there..). All the best on jour journey and greetings from a Swiss fellow, Dominic

I hiked Abisko-Nikka in 2020 (my first multi-day hike ever) and Nikka-Kvikkjokk in 2021 in July. Both did not feel crowdy at all; maybe the former a bit more, but it was lovely to chat with other hikers. Super helpful to talk to those who go the opposite way – they have the freshest info on your next stage. I would say that the crowdedness does not come from people, but from mosquitoes (thousands of them!) 🙂 For summer, I strongly recommend a portable mosquito repellent device like Thermacell MR300; it works! Feel free to ask more questions about summer Kungsleden.

Best, Irina

Thanks for you summer feedback and your help Irina!

Many thanks for your very helpful comment. It is great to hear that it did not feel crowded in July, at least two years ago 😉 I will do Abisko-Nikka early July, so your feedback is very encouraging. And I totally agree, regular encounters with other hikers are great!

Regarding mosquitos: I plan to have a mosquite head net and mosquite repellent spray, hoping that’s enough. Do you think that this MR300 is an upgrade worth to do?

Best, Dominic

I would say that the northern trail, in general, has a low level of mosquito population, i.e. you do not have to wear a head net at all while you walk. However, if you plan to stay in your tent and not in the huts, Singi is the worst in terms of the mosquito situation. It was extremely uncomfortable to be outside my tent – I had to eat and brush my teeth inside. You can also be a bit annoyed by them in Sälka and Abiskojaure. So, if you are okay with such an inconvenience, a head net and repellant are more than enough even in Singi 🙂

Hi Irina Thanks for sharing those details, that’s all very helfpul. Since I will stay in the huts overnight at least the nights should be ok 🙂 The rest, let’s see! Best, Dominic

Hi all, Sorry I have another question since my hike is coming closer (will start beginning of June).

If you stay in the mountain cabins and don’t use a tent, what should you bring to sleep? I see on the STF homepage that the cabins have beds with duvets and pillows, so I would expect a travel sheet is sufficient? Or does it make sense to still bring a sleeping bag?

Many thanks again for your help! Best, Dominic

In principle, you can bring your bed linen – however, the sleeping bag worked for me. Stugvärdar (hut hosts) just told me to ensure that a pillow and mattress are covered by it, i.e. no head touching the pillow etc. But you can call STF just in case 🙂

Thanks Irina!

It was an absolute pleasure to read this post. I’m planning several hikes through Europe and loved the organization / information you shared – it makes the process so much simpler to have someone share what they learned and the approach they took. I might be arriving to Sweden a bit too late in the year to make the Kungsleden, but WOW, you have certainly made me want to add this to my list

Hi Toby! Glad you liked our post and really hope you’re gonna make it to Kungsleden one day. Totally worth it 😉

HeyHey, I used your guide to prepare me for the hike from Abisko to Nikkaluokta at the end of August this year. It was my first hiking experience for more than one day. I was and I’m still very thankful for your detailed guide. I oriented myself very close to your advices and experiences and I’m now very happy about it. I finished my yourney after 6 days without any problems at all. My conditions were pretty much the same as yours, just light rain (every day), cold nights with 2 nights colder than 0C° and also absolutely no mosquitoes.

I think I have to optimize my gear a bit, because my backpack was 22-24kg heavy, but it wasn’t that hard to carry it.

For all who read this guid and think/plan to do the trail: Yes! Just do it! I did it alone, and the loneliness was awesome 🙂

Overall I was so happy with my gear, food and the trail that I continued directly with the Höga Kustenleden from Örnsköldsvik to Hornöberget and so I did 12 days of hiking in total. Thank you again for your guide an please continue your work for us <3

Super glad to read that our post here helped you prepare your first solo long hike! It’s even more cool that you kept going and did a second hike straight after the Kungsleden. Well done!

11 months ago

This blog post and the comments especially are giving me the motivation to go on this hike alone this summer! Thanks!!!

Glad to read that Victoria! Have fun this summer on the Kungsleden 🙂

Hello Benoit,

I’m planning on hiking between Abisko and Nikkaluokta early October this year. I understand it’s off season and there will be certain difficulties including snow and cold to overcome.

Having said that,

1) Do you know if the hand rowing boats are still available for use? Or, can you complete the trek without having to cross lakes? Can’t seem to find this information anywhere…

2) My current plan is to buy last minute food/gas supply in Kiruna, get a taxi from Kiruna to Nikkaluokta, then hike my way to Abisko to the north, due to the availability of transportation to Nikkaluokta. Would you have any advise on my general itinerary?

I do have certain hiking experiences with the longest ranging a week in 2-3000m mountain ranges with a 25kg pack, in addition to some outdoor climbing and crampons usage as well. (I don’t plan on bringing such technical gear this time.)

Any advise would be most helpful. Thank you in advance.

Ahah yeah at the beginning of October you might well have some snow and cold to overcome. But as long as you are aware of it and you’re going prepared for it, it’s fine 😉

On this part of the Kungsleden, there is no lake crossing that I know of so it’s one problem less for you.

Your plan sound fine to me and I have no special advise for you (all the infos are in the article). You will have to take a cab as the bus season is over already plus the huts will be closed as well so you’ll be on your own out there. But that’s part of the fun right? 🙂

Thank you for your prompt reply and info.

It’s a great relief to know I won’t be feeling helpless in front of a body of water. Will do some more research and enjoy the early winter in the arctic!

Benoit & whoever reading this thread,

The following is a brief report of my experience in the norther part of Kungsleden, Oct. 5-6, 2022.

Due to schedule constraints, my plan was to hike north from Nikkaluokta to Abisko in 4 days, requiring an average hike of about 27kms per day, which I thought was possible, but rather long even for active and experienced multi-day hikers.

After reaching Kiruna from Stockholm airport, I stayed a night at the SPIS hostel to prepare for the hike. After supplying last minute food at the main COOP supermarket, and purchasing the trail map and 2 gas cartridges at the local sport shop Intersport (next to COOP), my 35L expandable backpack including a solo double walled tent was full and somewhere around 12-14kgs.

According to one taxi company, a one-way taxi ride from Kiruna to Nikkaluokta was about 1700SEKs, with the earliest departure time around 8:15. With no other choice, I was about to take it until the hostel staff offered me a ride for a much cheaper deal. (Thanks Vincent!)

Although quite cloudy, the first day was quite ideal for hiking. Barely any wind, temperature around 6 degrees celsius throughout the day. The mountain tops on both sides of the trail were covered in light snow, signaling the end of a quick autumn. Carrying a 500ml flask was enough, as water was abundant.

Although I hoped to hike up to the 2nd station Singi, with my feet getting sore, I got somewhat lazy and decided to camp after walking about 26kms from Nikkaluokta.

Then in the night, a moderate snowstorm hit the area and I woke up to about 10cm of snow all around. Although I expected seeing snow at some point, I did not expect zero to 10cm!! Temperature was around 2 degrees celsius the 2nd day.

Although finding the route didn’t seems too difficult as the terrain features were quite clear, with my schedule (distance per day) being tight, in the end, I decided I didn’t have sufficient time to complete the trek, and headed back to Nikkaluokta on the 2nd day.

Upon reaching Nikkaluokta around 6PM, the cabin was unexpectedly open for the night due to a group of special guests, and I was able to use their shower for a fee, and pitched the tent nearby. The following morning, the same staff was able to pick me up and give me a ride back to Kiruna. Though out my 2-day hike, I met 2 solo guys on the first day, both heading to Nikkaluokta.

To summarize, although I do not recommend it, I believe hiking between Nikkaluokta and Abisko in early Oct. is possible, IF you have a considerable number of days to play with, AND you’re completely prepared for snow. I’ve learned that there is a reason they shut down the mountain stations. Also, hiking solo comes with certain risks, so I would not advise it unless you have sufficient experience, a backup route/plan in case things goes south, insurance, and satellite phone for emergencies. The snow covered hills were gorgeous to look at though. Thank you and good luck.

Hey Yusuke,

Thanks for your detailed feedback! Glad you could experience a part of the Kungsleden and happy to read you could come back safely. I think you took the right decision taking into account you had quite a tight schedule. Weather in the area can be pretty rough

Thank you so much for the information. It was so enjoyable to read about your adventure. Anne

9 months ago

I read through your informative blog and still have a few questions for our upcoming early September hike. We would like to camp starting from the first day out of Abisko until we arrive at Kebnekaise Mountain Station. Is it ok to wild camp along the route? It sounds like you can camp near the huts though I’d prefer not too. Your insight would be very much appreciated. Thank you.

You can camp anywhere you want along the route. The only exception is the Abisko national park where there are specific location you can camp. After the national park you are free to camp anywhere 🙂

4 months ago

Your photos are magnificent! We’re planning to do the northern part of the Trek with two friends, with perhaps one day dedicated to the summit of Kebnekaise and another day after the trek dedicated to the summit of Skierfe. We’re planning to leave in September 2024 for ten days or so, and I wanted to know what part of September your photos were taken on? I’ve seen a lot of blogs about similar trips with these colors and lightly snow-covered peaks in “September” or “autumn”, but I wanted to know if you could give me more precise dates to get an idea of when to leave, not too early and not too late either (ideally, as autumn weather and colors are always unpredictable depending on the year). Thank you very much!

Well as you said it’s a bit unpredictable depending on the year. But If I remember well we did it the 2nd week of September

3 months ago

Hi Benoit, I’m in the market for new hiking shoes and will go with your recommendation (Meindl Air Revolution 4.1). Is there a referral link somewhere, so that when I buy these shoes – there is ‘some’ benefit for your reference.

cheers, Shash

Ouuppss did not even realize there was no referral link for the shoes (I added it to the post)… Not sure the 4.1 model is still available but the 4.4 should be even better. For this kind of gear we only partner with snowleader… so not sure if you can buy on their website (depends where you live). But if not don’t worry too much about it ;).

Have fun on the trails

Thanks for prompt response and adding the link. Am in France [and if i jump a bit long, in Switzerland 🙂 … one of those frontailier]. Snowleader does deliver and am on the site right now. You are right, 4.1 is not available. They have 4.4, 5.3 (or Island MFS Active among others). I’m tempted by the Island MFS Active. Hopefully, your referral link works for any pair – otherwise do you mind linking to the Island .or 5.3 … then i can gladly click on it 🙂 cause the honest truth is- I’m buying the brand cause you have tried it out (like a lot of other gear I’ve bought based on your – and Fabienne’s – recommendation. cheers, Shash

Yeah don’t worry if you click on one of our link and end up buying smth on snowleader, we’ll get a small referral 🙂 (so it works for any pair). Thanks a lot for your support btw.

Meindl is a great hiking shoe brand and I’m pretty sure you won’t be disappointed. I would personally go for the 4.4 as they are a bit lighter in terms of weight. And if you take care of the shoes, they will last for years!

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The Kungsleden

• Discovering Europe’s last great wilderness on Sweden’s ‘King of Trails'.
• Hiking through remote Arctic Circle landscapes of alpine forests and glacial valleys.
• Relaxing in saunas as you enjoy the olde-worlde charm of mountain cabins.
• Getting to know the Sami people; traditional reindeer herders.
• A plethora of wildlife, including the elk, golden eagle and ptarmigan.

Check in at Abisko Turiststation, in the heart of Swedish Lapland in the afternoon and perhaps chat to fellow walkers. Dinner will be served later on in the restaurant.

Kiruna  is the closest airport to Abisko and has flights available via Stockholm. From Kiruna, it is just a short train or bus ride to Abisko (approx 1.5hrs)

Dinner & Overnight :  Abisko Mountain Station

The Abisko Mountain Station has welcomed visitors for more than 100 years in its wonderful location 200km north of the Arctic Circle. Facilities include a sauna, shop where you can stock up for your walk, and restaurant. You may like to add extra nights here to explore the area further—various activities are available to book from Abisko including painting classes, birdwatching, and midnight sun tours on the Nuolja chairlift. An upgrade to private rooms is available on request.

Local mountain guides are sometimes around in the late afternoon/evening to answer any questions you may have about the trail.

If you visit from the end of August onwards, Abisko is one of the best places in the world to view the aurora borealis (northern lights).

The STF Abisko mountain station is located in the heart of the Abisko National Park. You’ll no doubt meet people from all over the world who have come to Lapland to ski, snow-shoe, cross-country ski, search for the Northern Lights or simply to relax in this great wilderness. Facilities include a restaurant, shop, small library and a sauna. As well as your own personal space in your cabin, the main building also has several common spaces where you can relax and chat to fellow guests. 

After a hearty breakfast, begin your trek towards Kebnekaise! This first section takes you through Abisko National Park and along the Abisko River to Lake Abiskojaure. Birch forests rich in flora and fauna, framed by dramatic mountains, are your background drop today.

Walk : 14km, 145m ascent, 40m descent

Overnight : Mountain Cabin, Lake Abiskojaure

Whilst staying in the mountains you will be in multi-bedded mixed gender cabins with shared facilities. You’ll need to bring a sleeping bag and camping set (knife, fork, spoon).

The mountain cabins usually do not have electricity, enjoy your break from civilation in this hut which sits on a shallow shore which invites you for a fresh dip in clear mountain water after a warming sauna.

The toughest day of your trek, today’s walk begins with a manageable ascent up into the next valley. Surrounded by high mountains, the cabins at Alesjaure are visible hours before you reach them! The scenery is still very lush and green, with meadows of willow, vast lakes and babbling rivers. Relax and enjoy a sauna when you arrive and stock up on food for the next couple of days at the mountain cabin shop.

Walk : 21km, 430m ascent, 150m descent

Overnight : Mountain Cabin, Alesjaure

The mountain cabins usually do not have electricity, and mobile phone coverage often does not reach them.  Leavas Sámi village has a summer camp close to Alesjaure. Socially structured, a Sámi village or siida is a reindeer foraging area, a group for reindeer herding and a corporation working for the economic benefit of its members all in one. If you are here at the beginning of July, there is a good chance to participate in the Sámi calf marking. The waterfall on the east side of Alesjaure is also worth a day tour. The hiking extends past the Sámi village and onward several kilometres. After a long day in the mountains, the warmth of a wood-heated sauna and the cold of a dip in the stream make for a wonderful combination.

A short day today allows you to take your time and enjoy the dramatic but now more rugged mountain landscapes surrounding you. You will also need to stock up on food before setting off for the next couple of days as there is no shop at Tjäktja cabin.

Walk : 14km, 375m ascent, 160m descent

Overnight : Mountain Cabin, Tjäktja

The mountain cabins usually do not have electricity, and mobile phone coverage often does not reach them.

A short distance from the cabins provides you with vast views in every direction with rolling mountains to the west and the alpine landscape towards the Kebnekaise mountains to the south and east. Wolverines frequently pass through the valley, so keep an eye open and you might also see one in the distance in its characteristic gallop.

Heading towards the highest point of the trail at Tjäktjapass (1150m), the terrain becomes almost lunar-like today. Reaching the high pass, the extraordinarily beautiful Tjäktjavagge valley opens up below you with incredible views stretching for over 40 kilometres! Once again, relax with a sauna in the evening when you reach Sälka before replenishing your food supplies in the shop for the next two days.

Walk : 13km, 155m ascent, 345m descent

Overnight : Mountain Cabin, Sälka

The mountain cabins usually do not have electricity, and mobile phone coverage often does not reach them.

Sockertoppen is another obvious area for wild strawberries, which you can reach after a couple of hours of hiking. From here, enjoy the view towards the peaks of Nallo, Sälka and Sarek to the south. Another gem is the lake, situated 1,050 m.a.s.l., under Sälka’s majestic peak and shining glacier.

If you want a rest day from hiking, Sälka is the perfect place to stay. Not the least to enjoy the warmth from the sauna and then mix it with a cold dip in the stream

Important information concerning payment using debit and credit cards at STF Mountain Cabins located off the beaten track. At present, mobile telephone coverage is lacking in large portions of the mountain region; this means, unfortunately, that non of our mountain cabins can accept card payments. Of course, we offer alternative solutions if you don't carry cash. Read more at www.svenskaturistforeningen.se

Return to lush meadows as an easy day’s walking takes you through the Tjäktjavagge Valley to Singi. The Sami culture is very much alive along the King’s Trail and you may come across one of their camps where they breed their reindeer, giving you a fascinating insight into their way of life.

Walk : 12km, 105m ascent, 240m descent

Overnight : Mountain Cabin, Singi

Our mountain cabins usually do not have electricity, and mobile phone coverage often does not reach them.

The Sámi camp Kårtjevoulle, belonging to the Sámi village of Girjas, is located one kilometre from the cabin. Socially structured, a Sámi village or siida is a reindeer foraging area, a group for reindeer herding and a corporation working for the economic benefit of its members all in one.

Important information concerning payment using debit and credit cards at STF Mountain Cabins located off the beaten track. At present, mobile telephone coverage is lacking in large portions of the mountain region; this means, unfortunately, that non of our mountain cabins can accept card payments. Of course, they offer alternative solutions if you don't carry cash. Read more at www.svenskaturistforeningen.se

Today’s stretch is surrounded by high peaks and glaciers from start to finish, and you can see why this majestic area has become known as Europe’s last wilderness. After arriving at Kebnekaise Mountain Station, enjoy dinner and a sauna. If you are up for a challenge, then it is possible to add on an extra day at Kebnekaise to summit Mt Kebnekaise, Sweden’s highest mountain at 2105m in the company of an experienced guide.

Walk : 15km, 210m ascent, 250m descent

Dinner & Overnight : Kebnekaise Mountain Station

Kebnekaise is one of the entry or departure ways from the Kungsleden trail, reached after a day’s walking to the west. Both Abisko and Saltoluokta can be reached along the Kungsleden.

Those walking or skiing can enjoy a pleasant day trip here from Nikkaluokta, where the road ends. The mountain lodge has 190 beds in one main building and five annexes: Lillstugan, Tuolpa, Gorni, Liddo and Jägar’n.

After enjoying breakfast, an easy walk brings you down to Lake Ladtjojaure. Travel by boat over the lake (payable locally) before walking through the forest to Nikkaluokta. Your walk on the ‘Kings Trail’ finishes here. It is possible to eat at the local restaurant and take a shower before departing by bus back to Kiruna.(1h)

Walk : 16km (if not opting for boat add 7km), 90m ascent, 296m descent

This trip has a carbon score of 8kg per person per night, meaning it’s one of our greenest trips! For comparison, a carbon count of 8kg is equivalent to 12 pints of local beer at a bar. Here at Macs, we pride ourselves on being a responsible travel company and continue to adopt, develop and innovate ways to positively impact the environment. Find out more information about how we've carbon counted our trips .

Other Information

Swedish Lapland is often referred to as Europe’s last great wilderness and this trek is ideal if you would like to have a real mountain experience but with relatively easy walking. Whilst the ascents are not particularly tough The Kungsleden is more suited to those with previous experience as you will carry provisions for a maximum of 2 days at a time.

Classic Routes | If you’re the active, outdoorsy type, who’s interested in taking on the great routes of the world or looking for a challenge, then our Classic Routes are for you. We’re talking the West Highland Way, Tour Du Mont Blanc and the Passau to Vienna Danube Cycle Path, to name but a few!

Hut to Hut Walking | Walk from hut to hut, changing accommodation each night

Families with Teens

The minimum age for this tour is: 16 Years

This walk is graded as moderate. The longest day is 21km and the highest ascent is 430m. So whilst the walking is not too tough, you should have previous experience of long-distance walking and be in relatively good physical shape to get the most from this walk. There is no bag transfer available on this tour and as well as your belongings you will need to carry at least a few days' worth of food with you, adding 1-2kg on to the weight of your backpack.

The terrain is a mixture of rocky trails, faint grassy paths and wooden foot boards which are in place to enable covering large areas of bog. The boards are generally well-maintained, but care should be taken in wet conditions as they can become slippery. Some easy river crossings are also involved. As there are very few trees here, the route is particularly exposed to the elements, particularly wet or windy weather can slow you down a bit.

It is important to note that the terrain covered on the Kungsleden is wild and remote. There is   no mobile phone coverage   for the duration of the hike. At times you could be as far away as 50-60km from a road. There are frequently placed manned cabins along the way which have rescue phones and the trail is popular so you are unlikely to be alone on the trail, however, you should keep in mind that you will be hiking in a true wilderness. 

7 nights accommodation is included in your trip. 2 nights are in multi-bedded rooms at the Abisko and Kebnekaise mountain stations, and 5 nights will be spent in multi-bedded rooms in mountain cabins on the trek. Saunas are available at Abisko, Alesjaure and Sälka.

The mountain cabins have mixed-sex rooms with 4-10 beds. The beds are fitted with mattresses, pillows and blankets. You should bring a light sleeping bag and camping kit with knive, fork, spoon etc with you. Occasionally if the beds are all taken then you will get a space on the floor with a mattress but this is not very common and is only really a problem at the Tjaktja cabin during peak season.

The cabins are basic and have no electricity or running water. Everybody helps with domestic duties including cleaning, cooking and taking the rubbish out. Cooking is done on gas-stoves. All the huts are manned by hut custodians.

It is possible to upgrade to private rooms in Abisko and Kebnekaise but this is on a request basis and will only be confirmed on booking dependent on availability. Please select this option if you would like to do this.

Single Rooms and Solo Walkers

This trip is not available to solo walkers, and as the accommodations are multi-bedded rooms, single rooms are not available.

2 Breakfasts and 2 Dinners are included at the Abisko and Kebnekaise Mountain Stations. The rest of the time you will need to carry provisions with you (for a maximum of 2 days worth of food at a time).

In Abisko, Alesjaure and Sälka you will find small shops where you can buy dried and canned food, drinks and snacks etc. There is no fresh food for sale. Budget approx 150SEK per person per day for food plus a beer in the sauna!

The Kungsleden is part of a national trail system and comprises of a well-worn path with painted poles/stones where the trail is difficult to follow.

We will provide you with a comprehensive guidebook and map so you should have no problem finding your way. You will also have access to the Macs Adventure Smartphone App enabling you to follow the route using your phone’s GPS. Using this combined with the provided map means you should have no problems finding your way.

• 2 Nights in mountain stations in multi-bedded rooms
• 5 Nights in mountain cabins in multi-bedded rooms
• 2 Breakfasts and 2 Dinners at Abisko and Kebnekaise mountain stations
• Sauna in Abiskojaure, Alesjaure and in Sälka
• 1:100,000 Swedish map, guidebook and detailed information pack
• Access to the Macs Adventure Smartphone App
• Travel insurance (required)
• Travel to Abisko and from Nikkaluokta
• Boat on Lake Ladtjojaure (day 8)
• Meals other than dinner on Day 1 and Day 7 and breakfast on Day 2 and Day 8
• Drinks and snacks
• Personal equipment
• Mountain rescue/emergency assistance
• Luggage Transfers
• Additional nights before, during or after the walk
• Extra night in Kebnekaise to summit of Mt Kebnekaise (includes services of a local guide)
• Upgrade to twin/double room in Abisko or Kebnekaise (available on request) - 1200 SEK per room

This trip is available to start on any day of the week between the middle of June and the middle of September. We do recommend booking as early as possible as the accommodation gets booked up quickly.

Time of Year

The summer season in Swedish Lapland is quite short from mid-June until mid-September. To experience the 'midnight sun' you should plan to visit between June and the middle of July. For sightings of the famous northern lights, visit from the end of August onwards.

By Air :   Kiruna Airport   is the closest airport to Abisko at the start of your walk. Flights are available via Stockholm (1h30).

By Rail : You can take the train or bus from Kiruna directly to Abisko Railway Station. The journey takes approx 1.5 hrs. See   https://www.sj.se/en/home.html. We recommend you check the timetables and book your tickets in advance, as depending on the time of your flight into Stockholm, you may not always find a connecting train and will have to arrange a transfer from Kiruna Airport.

By Bus:   An airport bus runs between Kiruna and Abisko. See   http://www.ltnbd.se/   Again we recommend you check the timetables and book your tickets in advance.

Private Transfer:   Private transfers can be arranged with VisitAbisko from Kiruna to Abisko. See   http://www.visitabisko.com/location/how-to-get-here   for information and to book tickets.

By Air : Kiruna is also the closest airport to Nikkaluokta. From Nikkaluokta there is a   daily bus   which departs late afternoon back to Kiruna which takes approx 1 hour. This will get you back to Kiruna for about 6pm so depending on the time of your flight you may require to stay overnight in Kiruna. If that is the case we can also help you arrange an extra night in Kiruna. The other option is to take the   overnight train   from Kiruna to Arlanda International Airport (Stockholm) for onward flight connections.

Baggage transfers are not available due to the remote location of the mountain cabins. You can send things not needed for your hike by bus to Nikkaluokta. Arrangements for this can be made at Abisko Mountain Station. (payable locally).

The distances and ascents/descents are approximations of the recommended routes. Please be prepared by packing all necessary items, (for example, proper rain gear jacket and pants, sun hat, sunscreen). Your information pack has a detailed equipment list which includes standard walking gear such as good walking boots or shoes, warm and waterproof clothes for the cooler months and lightweight clothing for summer, and a day pack.

Our pre-departure information pack (and the supplied guidebook) have detailed advice and a kit list on what to take on The Kungsleden. This includes warm and waterproof gear, hats and gloves, good walking boots, a sleeping bag liner/sleeping sheet and lots of other useful bits and bobs.

It is a requirement of booking this trip that you have adequate travel insurance in place, including covering you for the activity,  emergency medical evacuation and/or curtailment of your trip. Please ensure that you check your policy as it should include cover for trekking at altitude.

This walk is graded as moderate. The longest day is 20km and the highest ascent is 300m. So whilst the walking is not too tough, you should have previous experience of long-distance walking and be in relatively good physical shape to get the most from this walk. You will also need to carry food and a sleeping bag with you, adding 1-2kg on to the weight of your backpack.

The summer season is quite short in Swedish Lapland so this walk is only available between mid-June and mid-September. If you would like to experience the midnight sun, visit between mid June and mid July. And if you would like the chance to see the northern lights then visit from the end of August onwards. In June the birdlife is at its best, and it is light around the clock. In July the flowers are out and it is at its warmest but bear in mind that the mosquitoes are at their worst at this time of year. During August, the evenings begin to get dark. September is when you have the best chance to see wonderful colours in the forest and big game wildlife like Elk but the birdlife is more scant. So there are different advantages to each month!

We will supply you with a detailed equipment list as part of your pre-departure information pack. You will need normal walking and travelling gear as well as a sleeping bag and warm clothes.

You will need to carry a light sleeping bag with you as well as a camping kit, and provisions of food for a maximum 2 days at a time. 

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The King´s Trail

On this 6-day long winter tour you get to experience the true essence of skiing in the Swedish mountains. You will be traveling through deep valleys, over awe-inspiring plateaus, passed deep frozen waters and through mysterious Scandinavian mountain forests. You will be skiing from hut to hut and enjoy the connivance of not having to carry a tent or a sleeping bag. After a long day of skiing you will get to relax in a fire heated sauna and cool down in with a cold dip in the snow. Together with your experienced guide and our small group of maximum 10 you get to prepare delicious dinners over the gas stove in off-grid mountain huts. This is the perfect tour for skiers wishing to experience the true essence of the Swedish mountains while enjoying the convince of living indoors in traditional Swedish off-grid mountain huts.

The King´s Trail is one of Sweden´s most popular mountain trails and have been visited by hikers and skiers from all over the world since the early 1900s. We will ski along the trail´s most southern part from the small mountain village of Ammarnäs to the village of Hemavan. This part of the track is a hidden pearl that summarizes the whole Scandinavian mountain range. The trail offers breath-taking scenery of steep U-shaped valleys, high snow-caped peaks, deep frozen mountain waters, endless plateaus of white open landscape and mysterious Scandinavian mountain forests. Wildlife benefit immensely from this wild and varied landscape.

You will ski with a professional Outdoor Vagabond guide that will share his or hers immense knowledge of the Scandinavian mountains. Your guide will not only keep you safe in rough weathers, but also teach you everything there is to know about the area´s unique nature, history and wildlife.

We believe in smaller groups for greater community. On this tour we have groups of minimum 5 and maximum 10 participants. We all share a common mission and we all help out and do our part in the daily shores at our off-grid mountain huts. Expect laughter, joy and a sense of comradeship to be a highlight of this great journey.

We stay in traditional Swedish off-grid mountain huts. These huts, which are managed by the Swedish Tourism Association, are primitive and cosy. Here we all take part in the duties of gathering water from the nearby mountain stream, chopping firewood and cooking our meals from our delicious menu on gas stoves. After a long day hike you get to sleep comfortably in a nice big bunkbed. In some of these mountain huts you even get enjoy relaxing in a hot fire heated sauna as well as dips in the deep powdery snow. For many participants, experiencing life in these off-grid mountain huts is a highlight in itself.

Enjoy comfortable hotels and three-course dinners before and after the tour. While staying in off-grid mountain huts surely can be an experience, we also do wish to spoil our guests by beginning and ending our tours with nice hotels and delicious hotel meals. All of this included of course.

This tour is suitable for both novice and more experienced skiers. What you need is a fairly good physique and a set of good skiing gear. You do not have to have experience with touring skiis, but some previous experience with cross-country skiing is required. We will ski between 8 to 19 kilometers a day in hilly terrain. Depending on your own personal equipment you will have to carry a backpack weighing between 7-12 kg when we start (see our packing check-list below). At the same time, since you will be traveling with a professional guide you do not need any extensive outdoor knowledge. Our guide will keep you safe and sound even in rough weathers.

We want you to be prepared. Included in the tour is a one-on-one online meeting with one of our Outdoor Vagabond guides. Here you can ask anything you like to help you get prepared for this great journey. Also, read our packing-checklist below and contact our booking department for any further questions.

Hope to see you in the Scandinavian mountains!

Packing checklist soon to be announced

Price SEK 21 000

Language Our guide speak Swedish and English

Group size 4-8 participants

Guides 1 Swedish mountain leader

Departures New dates to be announced for 2023. Please contact us for more information.

Total duration 8 days

Days skiing 6 days

Tour starts at Town of Hemavan

Tour ends at Town of Hemavan

Total distance 78 km

Daily distance 8-19 km (4-8 hours)

Difficulty Medium

Minimum age 16 years

Outdoor Vagabond´s words about the trip ”Ski from hut to hut along Swedens most famous hiking trail and experience the essence of the Scandinavian mountains”

Day 1 – Welcome to Hemavan

This winter expedition on the King’s trail starts in the small village of Hemavan, where your guide will meet you and the rest of the group at the locally owned hotel – Trolltunet. The afternoon is spent planning and preparing and the evening for celebrating the beginning of our adventure. Enjoy a delicious three-course dinner at our hotel based on local delicacies.

Day 2 – Via Ammarnäs to Aigert

After a steady breakfast at our hotel it´s time to organize our things and start our 6-day long expedition. A private bus will take us to our starting position in the cozy little village of Ammarnäs. The bus ride is about 3 hours. Once we have arrived we prepare the last things before leaving for our winter expedition along the King´s Trail. Today´s ski is not long but at times with a challening climb. Enjoy spectacular views of the Ammarnäs valley as we ascend above the tree line. Our destination, the off-grid cabin of Aigert, is placed in a spectacular setting. Before preparing our dinner we can enjoy a dip in the snow and relax in a fire-heated sauna.

Today’s skiing: Distance: 8 km Time: 3-4 hours

Day 3 – Ski to Serve

Today is the longest ski of the tour. We start by ascending to a beautiful plateau high above the tree-line. Here, vegetation is sparse and the endless withe landscape spread out infront of us. On the highest point of today´s ski we can take rest at a small shelter at Juovvatjåkka. From here the view is breathtaking! Shortly after Jouvvatjåkka we follow the trail downwards and ascend into a crispy Scandinavian mountain forest. Hidden in the forest next to a fresh mountain stream we find today´s destination – the off-grid cabin of Serve.

Today’s skiing: Distance: 19 km Time: 7-8 hours

Day 4 – Ski to Tärnsjön

Today´s ski continue mainly through the forest. The Scandinavian mountain forests are truly special with their small crooked birch trees and sparkly snowcrystal-cover branches. The area is during summer home to more than 120 species of bird, different types of small rodents, massive moose and of course the Sami reindeers. We travel over frozen waters and through the powdery landscape as the spectacular mountain views lure in distance ahead of us. Our goal for the day is the mountain hut Tärnsjö where we can enjoy a sweaty sauna and a cold dip in the snow.

Today’s skiing: Distance: 14 km Time: 5-6 hours

Day 5 – Ski to Syter

Today we ski along the lake Tärnsjön. Beautiful mountain scenery is all around us and the nearest sign of civilization is a few days march. We enjoy the convince of a marked trail, but here in the outback there is no cell-phone coverage, no roads and no electricity. Today´s destination is the beautifully placed off-grid cabin of Syter. The cabin lies just above the tree-line next to a wild river.

Day 6 – Ski to Viterskalet

Today, on our winter expedition along the King’s Trail, we will continue our ascent above the tree-line and into the huge U-shaped valley Viterskalet. We ski along the frozen water of the Syter-creek and feel completely safe surrounded my the massive steep rock walls. Enjoy listening to your guide explaining how this impressive landscape came to be over a hot cup of tea or coffee. Today´s destination is the off-grid cabin of Viterskalet palced right in the middle of this great valley.

Today’s skiing: Distance: 12 km Time: 4-5 hours

Day 7 – Final ski to Hemavan and celebrate at hotel

Today is our last day of this winter expedition along the King’s Trail. We leave the Valley of Viterskalet behind us and start descending to the village of Hemavan. In Hemavan you can enjoy a well-deserved shower and the hot sauna. In the evening we all celebrate at our hotel Trolltunet with a delicious three-course dinner based on local delicacies.

Today’s skiing: Distance: 11 km Time: 4 hours

Day 8 – Departure

Today is the day you depart or continue your next adventure on your own.

• Breath-taking scenery
• Wildlife and culture
• Off-grid mountain huts
• Fire-heated sauna and refreshing dips in the snow
• Professional Swedish mountain leader
• Nice hotels and delicious food!

Tour summary

Price includes

• Certified Swedish mountain leader
• 2 x Breakfasts at hotel
• 2 x Three-course dinners at hotel
• 5 x Breakfasts on tour
• 6 x Lunches on tour
• 5 x Dinners on tour
• 2 x Nights in hotel
• 5 x nights in off-grid mountains huts
• Backpack for skiing
• Essential safety equipment

Price does not include

• Personal outdoor clothes and general skiing gear (please see our packing-checklist)
• Personal snacks and treats for the trip
• Drinks to hotel meals
• Transport to our starting destination – Hemavan
• Transport from our end destination – Hemavan

Transports All transport are included in the tour except the transport to our start and finish destination, Hemavan.

The town of Hemavan is accessible by daily flights from Stockholm. Hemavan/Tärnaby airport is just walking distance from our hotel Trolltunet.

Please contact our booking department and we will help you find the best alternative based on your needs and desire.

Intinary: Day 1 – Welcome to Hemavan Day 2 – Via Ammarnäs to Aigert Day 3 – Skiing to Serve Day 4 – Skiing to Tärnsjön Day 5 – Skiing to Syter Day 6 – Skiing to Viterskalet Day 7 – Final ski to Hemavan and celebrate at hotel Dag 8 – Departure

Booking A booking is made after contact with our booking department and after a 20 % payment of the total tour price.

Terms and Conditions Download Outdoor Vagabonds Terms and Conditions for 2021 here >

Packing Checklist Soon to be announced

Accommodation

Trolltunet is a very nice and beautifully located hotel in central Hemavan with walking distance to the airport. Here we enjoy delicious three-course meals and have an opportunity to celebrate our tour in the hotel lounge. Also enjoy a last day of Scandinavian fire-heated sauna!

Swedish off-grid mountain lodges

Life in these traditional Swedish off-grid mountain huts are managed by the Swedish Tourist Association and are a highlight in itself. Here you get to experience true communal living in the Scandinavian mountains. We share a kitchen other hikers and we all help out with the daily shores such as chopping firewood and getting fresh water straight from the nearby mountain stream. The rooms are in a dormitory style and we sleep in bunkbeds with a thick comfortable mattress. We bring our own bedlinen.

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A SWEDISH LAPLAND STORY

Hiking the king's trail, the king of all trails, photo: ted logart, text: håkan stenlund.

Sweden’s most famous hiking trail, Kungsleden, initially went from A to A. From Abisko to Ammarnäs, or vice versa. It was not until 1975 that the trail was extended to go past the King’s fishing spot at lake Tärnasjön in Sorsele municipality as well, and on to Hemavan. The Swedish Tourist Association (STF) began working on the King’s Trail back at the turn of the last century. In the STF yearbook from 1900, you can read about it, marked on a map: “This will become the King’s Road through the Lapland mountain world”. 75 years later, it was all ready to go, and in 1977 the trail became part of the state mountain trail system. But it was not a case of STF creating a brand-new trail for the state system – there were old hiking trails joined together to create a ‘royal vein’ through the mountains. Indigenous people and others walked here for thousands of years before anyone came up with the idea of a signposted trail.

These days, the stage between Abisko and Nikkaluokta is the most hiked trail in all of Sweden. The stage Abisko to Hemavan also gets a lot of visitors, but between Ammarnäs and Jäckvik, there are not quite as many who wander. And between Jäckvik and Kvikkjokk, it mostly comes as a surprise if you come across other hikers. But you are not alone. There is history here and nature: other cornerstones of human life.

The King’s trail

Kungsleden runs from Hemavan to Abisko in the Swedish mountains. The 450-kilometre long trail will take you through the Vindelfjällen nature reserve, the Laponia World Heritage, four national parks and the headwaters of Sweden’s four remaining national rivers. This is the most beautiful hike up north, covering some vast and wild land.

A dream of freedom

“The path is made in the walking of it” – Zhuang Zi.

A hiking trail, what is it – really? For most people who set off on a hike, or even a ‘thru-hike’ of the entire King’s Trail, there is a dream of freedom. But as you find yourself on the high plateau at Stabburet above Ammarnäs, with large swathes of Vindelfjällen nature reserve – one of the largest in Europe – in front of you, you realise that the trail does not provide oceans of opportunities at all. Instead, the trail reduces your flow of opportunities to a trickle: if it had not been for the path you are walking, you could have chosen a billion different options where to put your feet. As Zhuang Zi wrote: “The path is made in the walking of it”. What you dream of as freedom is the choice of the collective, in a way. Simply because it is the right way to go. Ideally, a path works as a helper, someone who discreetly shows you the way as the world just opens up. Surely that is why the path or trail in literature, philosophy and religion has always been a metaphor for man’s inner guidance.

Zarathustra spoke of the threefold path: good thoughts, good words and good deeds. Siddhartha Gautama spoke of the eightfold path to nirvana. Tao basically means trail. The Hebrew word for Jewish law, Halakhah, means the walking, and the Islamic law, Sharia, can be translated as the path to water. The Bible is, of course, also full of stories about people taking the path up the mountain or through the valley of the shadow of death. The Psalms state that the word is “the lamp unto my feet and light unto my path”. But on your way between Kvikkjokk and Saltoluokta, it is not very likely that you will be struck blind by a light and converted like Paul, even if you are walking in the midnight sun. The most important thing is that you stay on the road and keep walking. Because on the King’s Trail, a spiritual path is not much more than the ground in front of you, worn clean down to rock, gravel and dirt. Something you put your feet on because you want to get from here to there – because possibly you will encounter your new interpretation of things, something that will make you see the world as a little bit more beautiful.

The Vindelfjällen mountains

The Vindelfjällen mountains is one of Europe’s largest nature reserves; allegedly, there is one somewhere in Russia that is larger. The King’s Trail runs like an artery straight through the reserve, from Hemavan towards Arjeplog and Norrbotten. When you have hiked the first 100 kilometres between Hemavan and the Norrbotten border, you have walked through two municipalities, and there are four municipalities to go through before you get to Abisko. Ludmilla Wieslander works at Naturum in Ammarnäs. She is from Lund, in the very south of Sweden, but came here for an Easter break and her heart stayed put. First at the bar at Ammarnäsgården with a handsome man, then in the beautiful location itself. — Yes, to me, Ammarnäs is the very heart of Vindelfjällen. The day-trail loops and the two big trails, King’s Trail and Vindelvaggeleden, like two massive blood vessels through the reserve, they all start from the village in one way or another. — The nature is amazing, this place is stunning, and in the middle of all this, the beating heart: Ammarnäs.

As stated, the Vindelfjällen nature reserve is large, and its preservation is based on many different things. This area is not just about hiking; it is also home to some of the finest bird watching in the mountain world. The University of Lund runs one of the world’s longest-running bird-observation projects here: the Luvre project. Every year the red-listed lesser white-fronted goose visits the village for a stop before the birds fly into the mountain world. The reason for the Luvre project and other nature projects in the area is that the nature in Vindelfjällen changes on nature’s own terms. Even if it is not a wilderness per se – people have lived here for 8,000 years – it is a cultural landscape that changes very slowly. It is difficult to talk of a wilderness when hiking on a trail equipped with footbridges and marked with cairns. But there is something enchantingly wild and beautiful about the seemingly endless landscape. As if it should always be like this because it has always been like this.

It is only really the wind itself that has explored this landscape, everything in front of you, in detail.

In 1949 Aldo Leopold wrote his classic book A Sand County Almanac. It begins: “There are some who can live without wild things and some who cannot”. No one has really explained it better, why some walk, fish, go out into the woods – and why others do not. Without the dream that the wild is needed, there is no need to go looking for it. Perhaps it is as simple as that – two types of people: those who are looking for nature and those who are not. Somewhere above Ammarnäs, some fifty metres from the King’s Trail with the Björkfjället mountain behind you and Arjeplog municipality and mountain world before you, you set up your tent and ponder the fact that there are just over 300 kilometres left until you reach Abisko. The King’s Trail will guide you step by step along the way. The area in front of you has basically been the same since the end of the ice age, and in this kind of nature, the process of evolution is a matter of course. No plants grow here without reason, merely to decorate the landscape. If they are able to grow here, they grow where they can, to feed the animals who need the plants that grow. In many ways, this is a place defined more by body than soul. You have to be strong to get somewhere; just thinking about it is not enough. It is only really the wind itself that has explored this landscape, everything in front of you, in detail.

A path is created based on a need. The easiest way to discover this is among city blocks. People will not follow a paved path if it fails to support people’s need. Between walkways drawn by city architects, nature paths are shaped by people’s laziness, and these so-called ‘desire lines’ will soon create short cuts and simplifications. Our feet understand this; the pen being traced across the drawing board does not. The new routes become a graffiti of the feet, protesting against what the authorities believe they drew and planned. No trails are drawn on the mountain. From the beginning, human feet followed paths created by the hooves of animals, then those feet made their own short cuts, and the path became more and more defined. Not just as a thought – a King’s Trail from A to A – but a reality. In Japan, these paths are called kemonomichi, animal paths, while the Dutch have given the animals a persona in olifantenpad, elephant paths. What is clear is that if a hiker walks a path and other hikers find it worth following, the collective will make the path better and better, together, or at least more adapted to the hiker’s needs.

Along the stages between Abisko and Kvikkjokk, and Ammarnäs to Hemavan, there is a well-developed cabin network. Between Kvikkjokk and Ammarnäs, on the other hand – the least-visited stretch of the trail and perhaps the wildest part of the King’s Trail – there is a lot more distance between cabins and service points.

The hike between Abisko and Nikkaluokta is the most alpine stage and the most-hiked trail in all of Sweden.

Roadless land

Roadless land. That is what it is called, beyond the car park. But in the middle of this roadless land, there are some really big surprises. A place to sleep, a shower, a sauna and a cold beer with your meatballs at Bäverholmen Inn. Or Janne picking you up by boat in Vuonatjviken, and then you decide to stay there for dinner. Everything is basically as locally produced as it gets here along the Arctic Circle by the family that has lived here – beyond the highway – for several generations. Elk, arctic char, reindeer and cloudberries. Nature’s pantry around the corner. It is impossible not to think about how tough it must be to live like this, in isolation. – You don’t forget to buy sugar more than once in your life if it’s sugar you wanted. There’s such a long time in between shop visits, says Janne and continues: – But, as I’m sure you understand, our needs are different, and it would have been a lot tougher for us to live in the city. We have no traffic jams here, and the problems are completely different. We mostly choose those problems ourselves – as long as they’re not caused by nature. Since restaurants are few and far between in roadless land, you have a three-course meal this evening before the trail leads you further. Alone.

There are questions you will always ask yourself as a hiker. It is about the physical person as well as the inner person. About blisters and doubts. They say you only start feeling like a proper hiker on the tenth day. That is when your body starts to feel like it is made for it. It is not an obvious or easy thing to manage ten days in a row on the trail. Some have the feet for it. Others do not. “A woman is as young as her knees”, wrote Mary Quant, and Polish philosopher Stanislaw J. Lec wrote, “He who limps is still walking”. The main thing to overcome is the comfort of the sofa. Another question that always comes up is whether you should hike on your own or with someone else? From a safety perspective, it is better not to go on your own. But perhaps it is safety you want to get away from? An Irish proverb says that “two shorten the road”, while Henry David Thoreau crassly states that “the man who goes alone can start today”. When Jeremias and Hannah, from Northern Soul Journeys, trotted along the whole King’s Trail a few years ago, they did so as a new couple. They also decided that they would each carry a part of the essentials in their packs, so they had to do things together when the day was over. No one carried the whole tent or the entire kitchen; they had to make camp together for the night. There is something very beautiful in that thought.

Food occupies the mind of many hikers. Dreaming of what will be on the plate when the hike reaches the end of a stage or is finished, even. — If you ask me, you get the best burger at Topprestaurangen in Hemavan, but the suovas-smoked burger at Guidecenter in Ammarnäs and the burgers in Saltoluokta are tasty, too.

Jeremias Kinnunen at Northern Soul Journeys likes to talk about the burgers he has eaten along the King’s Trail. A couple of years ago, as said, he wandered along the entire length of the green ribbon with Hannah, but it is the burgers of the King’s Trail he remembers when we ask him about the experience. And his favourite stages, of course. – It is a bit strange, but the trail between Ammarnäs and Jäckvick is one of the least hiked stages of the King’s Road. But it is amazingly varied and beautiful there, walking down Björkfjället mountain through Stijguojá, across Pieljekaise national park towards Jäckvik. – It’s as if the King’s Trail has everything right there. Even some burgers.

– You can definitely tell the difference between a thru-hiker and someone who’s only here for day trips and food, says site manager Elin Strannegård at the STF mountain station in Saltoluokta. – You can tell from the hunger and the packing. They have a lot of the first and a little of the second. Saltoluokta has become a luxurious destination along the King’s Trail. It is easy to get here, travelling by car and boat all the way, and there is an incomparable view of Lake Langas and Stuor Muorke national park in the ambitious restaurant. This is why Saltoloukta gathers lovers of life and mountain veterans in a great mix. You can feel it when you leave the mountain station behind, that you really wanted to stay.

The summer season begins in June and lasts until mid or late September. During this time, there are cabin hosts at most cabins. The distance between cabins varies but is usually between 12-15 km, a fairly comfortable days stage.

Hiking the King’s Trail does not have to be a hike with heavy rucksacks and long stages. You can buy food at most cabins during the time of year they are staffed, and if you plan ahead, you can do a ‘light-weight hike’. In general, good planning always makes trips like these easier.

Along the trail, you pass some of Sweden’s most famous nature areas, as is to be expected. We have already mentioned the Vindelfjällen nature reserve, but the national parks Pieljekaise, Sarek, Stuor Muorke/Stora Sjöfallet and Abisko are also part of the trail. These four national parks were involved when Sweden, as the first country in Europe, set aside land for nature conservation on May 24, 1909. Sarek and Stuor Muorke has since been joined with Padjelanta and Muddus national parks to create Laponia, which due to its unique nature and culture, was designated a World Heritage Site in 1996 by the UN agency Unesco. Along the entire length of the King’s Trail, you are hiking through Sápmi, the indigenous people’s land. On the trail between Hemavan and Abisko, you walk through the reindeer grazing land of fifteen different Sámi communities. In some parts of the year, calf branding takes place in the mountains. During other times of the year, reindeer are gathered for other purposes. Always be considerate and remember that you are in the middle of Sámi everyday life and at their workplace. In summer, newly born reindeer calves do not need to be stressed for a selfie; it is difficult enough for them already in a land that is only truly known by the wind.

One step at a time

Sooner or later, we will all hike to Abisko. It is the most popular stretch of the King’s Trail, especially with the detour past Sweden’s highest mountain: Kebnekaise, and on towards Nikkaluokta. The King’s Trail, the original one, does not really pass the Kebnekaise mountain station. It keeps its ambition from A to A. But the trail from Abisko to Nikkaluokta, or vice versa, is also a trail of pilgrimage. The words that you find on the path are written by the former Secretary-General of the UN, Dag Hammarskjöld, who wrote the magical book Markings. The first quote: “The longest journey is the journey inwards”, is a true classic, and the idea is probably that you have to learn to live with your blisters. Once you are on the trail, it takes time to get into the rhythm and to understand that it is one step at a time that takes a hiker further. Nothing else. As you arrive at the path, leaving the highway and modern society behind, it will take time to understand that this is actually how your brain works best: in harmony with nature, on the road, on foot. Perhaps this is one of the most difficult things to accept, that our senses are made to work best on foot. But if you manage to do it, you will also experience the magic of being in the present. It is you and your camp, and a starry sky clearer than you have ever seen it before. Simply because you have never had time to look for it. Tomorrow everything will be different, but right now, you are here.

In the 1920s, the first stretch from Kvikkjokk to Abisko was cairned, and today the King’s Trail stretches some 430 kilometres from Abisko in the north to Hemavan in the south. There is a well-developed network of mountain stations and cabins, making the hike easy and fun in summer as well as winter.

STF has a lot of information about the King’s Trail, all the cabins, what to pack in your rucksack and ideas for children along the hike. You can find all this at swedishtouristassociation.com .

Suggested tours along the King's Trail

Abisko–nikkaluokta.

Distance 105 km Days 5–7 Number of STF cabins 5 on the King’s Trail and 7 nearby Provisioning Abisko, Abiskojaure, Alesjaure, Kebnekaise, Sälka, Vistas, Unna Allakas Sauna Abisko, Abiskojaure, Alesjaure, Kebnekaise, Sälka, Unna Allakas, Vistas

At the Singi cabins, you can veer o the King’s Trail and head towards Nikkaluokta via Kebnekaise mountain station, or keep going south towards Vakkotavare. To follow the King’s trail south from Vakkotavare you take a bus to the pier at Kebnats and a boat across to STF Saltoluokta mountain station.

Kebnekaise–Saltoluokta

Distance 52 km (bus from Vakkotavare to Kebnatsbryggan/Saltoluokta) Days 4–6 Number of STF cabins 4 Provisioning Kaitumjaure, Kebnekaise, Saltoluokta, Vakkotavare Sauna Kebnekaise, Saltoluokta, Teusajaure, Kaiutumjaure

Saltoluokta–Kvikkjokk

Distance 73 km Days 4–6 Number of STF cabins 3 Provisioning Saltoluokta, Kvikkjokk, Aktse Sauna Saltoluokta, Kvikkjokk

Boats are available to borrow where you need to cross lakes, or you can ask for a lift. There’s information on the internet, so do a search for ‘STF boats in the mountains’. Keep in mind that certain parts of the trail have no mobile coverage, so call ahead to book.

Kvikkjokk–Ammarnäs

Distance 157 km Days 7–10 Number of STF cabins 0 Provisioning Kvikkjokk, Jäkkvik, Adolfström and Ammarnäs Sauna Kvikkjokk, Ammarnäs

The King’s Trail between Kvikkjokk and Ammarnäs is more demanding than other parts of the trail. This part of the King’s Trail is not equipped with cabins and shelters, so you need to bring a tent and other necessary equipment.

Ammarnäs–Hemavan

Distance 78 km Days 5–7 Number of STF cabins 5 Provisioning Alla stugor. Aigert, Serve, Tärnasjö, Syter, Viterskalet and Ammarnäs and Hemavan Sauna Ammarnäs, Aigert, Tärnasjö, Hemavan

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Have your own adventure with the #1 outdoor app today., 2018 - winter - nördlicher kungsleden, tour overview, tour profile, speed profile.

April 4, 2018

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Hut-to-hut along Kungsleden with a day tour into Sarek National Park

Join our hike along Kungsleden together with a guide and visit Skierffe in Sarek, a 700 meter cliff with a view over Rapa Valley and the Rapa River. Kungsleden and Sarek National Park is a hiking tour for those who would like to go to Sarek National Park and Rapa Valley, but stay in huts .

The idea is to offer the possibility to visit Sarek National Park but still sleep comfortably in mountain huts.

We start down in the forest by Sitoälvsbron. As we hike toward the top of Skierffe the surrounding nature changes to a sparse mountain birch forest and later open tundra . We continue north across the wide-open mountain landscape to Saltoluokta Mountain Lodge where we finish our hike with dinner in their cozy restaurant. 

Join us and experience:

• To hike Kungsleden and visit Sarek National Park
• A day hike to Skierffe with a view over Rapa Valley
• Staying in cozy cabins
• Dinners with fresh and locally caught fish from a mountain lake
• Hot saunas and ice cold mountain lakes

Book your adventure online!

Booking our hike along Kungsleden is easy. Start by filling out the booking form below and we’ll send you a payment link for a 20% deposit to secure your reservation. The remaining balance is cleared 30 days prior to arrival by a new payment link.

>> See our Terms and conditions

Requirement to join the group

We want you to:

• have the ability to hike 20+ km along a trail with a backpack of around 8-12kg.
• be in relatively good shape and able to be out in nature full days.

We also recommend you to:

• like traveling in a group and work well in a team.
• like going on active vacations with authentic nature experiences.
• be 16 years old or older.

Please  contact us  if you have any questions regarding your physical ability or experience level .

What date is best to go?

June 28th-July 2nd – The land of the midnight sun! We have daylight all day and all plants grow fast! It is still pre-high-season and not so many hikers out. A nice time of the year to hike along Kungsleden. This hike can also be combined with Yoga and hiking retreat in Saltoluokta . – Book both tours together and get 10% discount.

September 2-6th – Autumn colors and dark evenings! The mosquitoes are gone and the mountains are painted in yellow and red colors. A perfekt time to go hiking if you would like to experience autumn colors and maybe the Northern light. This hike can also be combined with Weekend hike in Muddus. – Book both tours together and get 10% discount.

If this hike is booked out?

Or the available dates for  Kungsleden and Sarek this year don’t match your schedule . Would you like to know when we open up for reservations for next year?

>> Please sign up on the interests list.

Quick info:

Location: Kungsleden and Sarek National Park Length: 5 days Date 2024: Jun 28-Jul 2 & Sep 2-6 Price: SEK 16500/person Group size: Maximum 8 guests Level: Intermediate

The price includes:

• Experienced and local English speaking guide
• Accommodation 4 nights
• Full board with all meals
• All safety equipment
• All transportations from Jokkmokk and back to Gällivare

Not included

• Travel to Jokkmokk and from Gällivare
• Travel insurance
• Beverage at restaurants
• Upgrading to single room last night in Saltoluokta: SEK 460/person

Included meals marked each day with B=breakfast, L=lunch and D=dinner

DAY 1 ARRIVAL JOKKMOKK AND AKTSE (L,D)

We’ll pick you up at the bus station in Jokkmokk and drive to our place just outside town. You’ll get an introduction to Kungsleden and Sarek followed by a last check of the equipment. We have lunch before we load everything in the minivans and head west, to the parking spot by Sitoälvsbron. Today’s hike starts along a smaller gravel road and at the end of the day we follow a small path through the forest. We hike towards the west and often we get a glimpse of the well-known silhouette of Skierffe.

Hiking distance: about 16 km, elevation gain/loss: +100/-0m, estimated time out hiking: 5-6h

DAY 2 SKIERFFE AND SAREK NATIONAL PARK (B,L,D)

We’ll start the day with a real mountain breakfast before getting ready for a peak ascent. The trail goes step uphill through the mountain birch forest. When reaching the open mountain landscape the terrain gets flatter for a few kilometers. We’ll pass the border into Sarek National Park before the last couple of uphills. If the weather is clear we are rewarded with a stunning view over the turquoise meandering Rapa River hundreds of meters below us. We hike back to Aktse cabin and enjoy a wood heated sauna and tasty dinner.

Hiking distance: about 16 km, elevation gain/loss: +650/-650m, estimated time out hiking: 8-10h

DAY 3 SITOJAURE CABINS (B,L,D)

We hike up the steep uphill behind the cabins once more and this time we continue along Kungsleden towards the next cabin by Sitojaure. Also today we’ll have good chances for great views over Sarek National Park. The last kilometers to the cabin we go by boat across the lake to the Sami settlement next to the cabin. We buy freshly caught fish from the lake and sleep well in the cabin.

Hiking distance: about 9 km+boatride, elevation gain/loss: +400/-300m, estimated time out hiking: 4-5h

DAY 4 SALTOLUOKTA (B,L,D)

Today’s hike takes us to Saltoluokta. The trail is relatively easy to hike with more gentle uphills. We follow Kungsleden through a U-shaped valley with steep mountains to the west and more round mountains in the east. In Saltoluokta we’ll take a well-deserved shower and sauna before we sit down around the table in the restaurant.

Hiking distance: 20 km, elevation gain/loss: +150/-400m, estimated time out hiking: 8h

DAY 5 DAY TOUR SALTOLUOKTA AND DEPARTURE GÄLLIVARE (B,L,D)

We have breakfast in the restaurant and head out on a shorter day tour in the area with lunch packages in our backpacks. In the afternoon m/s Langas takes us across the river to Kebnats from where the minivans will take us to Gällivare travel center. It is now time to say goodbye and with you safe travels home.

Hiking distance: 5-10 km, estimated time out hiking: 4h

Small groups and experienced guides

The team will be up to 8 guests with one guide. To be able to run the hike we’ll need a minimum of 3 guests in total. The guide has experience from leading several hikes along Kungsleden. In the team there will also sometimes be a second guide or trainee .

Accommodation and comfort

Three nights in mountain cabins along the Kungsleden trail. Cozy, basic cabins often with scenic surroundings. 2-5 persons in each room/cabin sleeping in bunk-beds. Mattresses, pillows and duvets available, outhouses outside the cabins. No showers, running water, electricity or WIFI. Very limited cell-phone coverage.

One night at Saltoluokta mountain lodge. Cozy and rustic mountain lodge away from roads. Twin- or multi-bed rooms or single rooms for an extra fee. Shared bathroom located in the corridor. Sauna and showers in another building. Free WIFI, limited cell-phone coverage.

Let’s be honest! We are not a “go-light” company, and we like good food ! And we want you to try the best that the north of Sweden has to offer. At least the best that you can have in a cabin far out in the mountains. Actually, good food is also important to stay warm and happy all day and night . We start the day with a hearty breakfast in the cabin in the morning followed by a simpler lunch somewhere along the trail during the day. In the evening is where the magic happens.

In Saltoluokta we enjoy a 2-course dinner  in the evening and breakfast buffets the following morning.

Meeting point and how to get here

We will meet you at Jokkmokk bus station . If you choose to arrive one day earlier we recommend you to stay at Jokkmokk Guesthouse . Pickup can also be organized from there.

Meeting time: At 10.00 on day 1

We’ll finish the tour around 17.00 at the travel center in Gällivare on day 5. PLEASE NOTE that this tour starts and finishes in different locations.

>> Information about how to travel here and home

Solo travelers

Most of our guests travel on their own and some travel as couples, family or friends . Traveling solo is a great way to experience new areas and to find new outdoor friends.

What to bring

We bring cooking, eating and safety equipment for everyone. What you need to bring is your clothes and some small things .

>> Packing list Kungsleden and Sarek

We reserve the right to make changes

Nature is a dynamic place and we may need to adjust the route and the itinerary according to the current weather conditions. We are also in contact with representatives for the local reindeer herders’ communities and other local actors to collaborate in the best way possible.

Common asked questions and answers

How heavy will the backpack be.

As part of your hiking experience you’ll carry your own backpack with your private clothing and part of the common food and equipment . During the hike along Kungsleden we carry food for two days at the most and your backpack will then weigh around 8-12kg , depending on how much you choose to bring.

Do I have to be very fit?

To hike Kungsleden  means daily distance between 9-20km as well as a longer day tour with a lot of elevation gain. The trail has a lot of elevation difference and part of the trail is rocky and requires big steps. Please read through our requirements to join the group and don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions .

How cold will it be?

During a hike along Kungsleden we see all kinds of weather . We can experience sunshine and +35 C degrees during the day but also +5 C degrees with rain and strong winds . But don’t worry too much about the cold. Pack according to the packing list and listen to good advice from the guide team about how to stay warm.

Will there be a lot of mosquitoes?

There will be mosquitoes . How much depends on the temperature and how much rain we get during the weeks before our trek. But also how windy it is during the week that we are out on our hike along Kungsleden . We do our best to have breaks where there is a light breeze that keeps most of the mosquitoes away. If you are sensitive to insects we recommend that you bring a mosquito hat and repellent . If you are allergic, please discuss with your doctor if you should bring some antihistamin.

I have high blood pressure; can I still go?

We don’t automatically say no just because you have a medical condition but it should not be a high risk factor for you or the group . We recommend that you talk to your doctor and make sure you have medication that you know works well for you. AND please let us know when filling out the application form and we can discuss this with you before we head out.

I am a lactose intolerant; can I join the group?

We are used to handling most food preferences and allergies , just let us know when filling out the application form. BUT with limited cooking space we can’t handle too advanced requests or guarantee that it will be totally free from gluten or lactose etc. If you have a severe allergy please contact us to discuss this with us.

Do you have any questions?

Please send us an email to [email protected] We are happy to help and will answer you as soon as we can.

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Kungsleden Trek - The Kings Trail of Sweden

9 days from

Walk the Kungsleden Trail in Sweden and climb the highest peak, Kebnekaise

Holiday Grades

Our holiday grades explained.

To show the relative difficulty of our holidays, each trip is graded on a scale of 1 to 12, with 12 being the most challenging. Although we have tried to make our grading system as clear as possible, it cannot take into account your personal interests, abilities or experience. If you have any questions about the nature of a particular trip or its suitability for you, please read the 'Is this holiday for you?' section or contact us.

1 - 3 LEISURELY

Suitable for most people in good health, holidays at this grade include only limited amounts of activity.

4 - 6 MODERATE

Suitable for reasonably fit individuals, such as weekend walkers and cyclists. There can be the occasional more difficult day.

7 - 9 CHALLENGING

Physically challenging holidays, where you need to be prepared before you go.

10 - 12 TOUGH

Our toughest holidays, involving many long days, often in isolated areas. A high level of fitness and previous wilderness and mountain experience is essential.

• Guided ascent of Sweden's highest mountain, Kebnekaise (2104m)
• Relax in saunas and experience the delights of the midnight sun in Swedish Lapland
• Spectacular Arctic Circle landscapes and wildlife
• One of the wildest and most remote trekking holidays in Europe

At a Glance

• Group Size 4 to 12
• 7 days trekking
• Max altitude - 2104m
• Join In Kiruna

Accommodation & Meals

• 8 Breakfasts
• 7 nights Mountain Hut / Refuge
• 1 nights Hotel

Trek through Swedish Lapland and climb its highest peak on one of Europe's most wild and remote hikes, the 'King's Trail' or 'Kungsleden', on this superb walking holiday. The King's Trail is situated 200 kilometres north of the Arctic Circle deep in Swedish Lapland. In summer, the approach to Kebnekaise (2117m) Sweden's highest mountain, crosses an unspoiled land of flower-carpeted birch forest and spectacular glacial valleys where the indigenous Sami people tend their herds of reindeer. Starting out alongside the Abisko River, we trek to the wonderful viewpoint of the T'tja Pass (1100m) and continue via the impressive waterfalls of the Tj'ktajakka Valley. Carrying light backpacks, we overnight at a series of comfortable mountain huts, some of which have saunas to help soothe the limbs after a day's walking. Upon reaching the Kebnekaise Mountain Station, we have time for a glacier trek and for the ascent to the exposed and snowy summit of Sweden's highest peak. Superb trekking and the unforgettable experience of daylight at midnight makes this a unique adventure holiday.

Is this holiday for you?

The days on the King's Trail (excluding the ascent of Kebnekaise) involve straightforward walking on well-defined paths. However some of the days are reasonably long with the longest being 25 kilometres. Additionally, you will need to carry all of your personal equipment and a minimal supply of the communal food. For this we recommend that you take a comfortable 50-60 litre backpack. We estimate t …

The days on the King's Trail (excluding the ascent of Kebnekaise) involve straightforward walking on well-defined paths. However some of the days are reasonably long with the longest being 25 kilometres. Additionally, you will need to carry all of your personal equipment and a minimal supply of the communal food. For this we recommend that you take a comfortable 50-60 litre backpack. We estimate that you should be able to keep the weight of your pack to no more than 10-12 kgs, since you will not be carrying either a sleeping bag or a camping mattress. The modest altitudes attained on this holiday will not have an effect on the strenuousness of the hiking. The longest and most strenuous day of the trekking holiday will be on the ascent of Kebnekaise. Group members will be issued with a climbing harness and a climbing helmet. With the local guide leading, the group will be roped together when crossing the lower glacier and on any snow-slope sections of the route. Because this route is regularly climbed there are usually big foot-steps in the snow to follow. Sections of the route involve easy scrambling, with the assistance and security of fixed ropes, which you will clip in to. The ascent of Kebnekaise is entirely optional.

This trip was recently featured in The Telegraph’s article: Great escapes in Europe’s last empty places . KE is one of the few tour operators in the UK, and the world, who offer the King's Trail as a fully guided and inclusive package.

Meet at the Abisko Mountain Station located approximately one hour's drive from Kiruna Airport. A single group transfer from Kiruna Airport is provided. The drive leads through undulating countryside covered in birch and pine forest, with views across to the snow-patched mountains. The town’s name comes from the Sami word 'Giron', meaning ptarmigan. Time allowing, this evening there will be a short presentation about Abisko and the King’s Trail. Overnight at the Mountain Station

Accommodation

From Abisko, we follow the impressive Abeskoeatnu River to a lake, Abiskojaure. An easy day on a flat trail with a good path throughout. In marshy areas there are boardwalks to protect the fragile semi-tundra vegetation and keep your feet dry! There are many wild flowers to be seen along the trail, including 6 varieties of orchid. If you are lucky it’s also possible to see tracks of bears, wolves, lynx, wolverine! Golden eagles and Fish eagles can often be seen circling high up in the sky. We spend the night in a hut at the far end of Abiskojaure lake. Dinner is prepared on a communal basis, with the assistance of the guide.

After making breakfast and sandwiches for lunch, we head off for the day. Following a trail to the west of the stream, we may pass Sami communities living in the forest. After walking over a low col, we drop spectacularly down into the next valley. From here there are great views of the high peaks. Although today’s 20 km walk is quite a long one, it is over easy terrain with no big hills to climb. To save your legs, it is possible to take a boat ride along the lake for the last 6 km to the hut at Alesjaure. This informal ferry service is provided by the local Sami people but is only available from early July (earlier departures will not be able to take advantage of this little boat). There is a cluster of huts at Alesjaure, and an excellent sauna in a separate hut next to the stream where you can get hot then jump into the crystal-clear meltwater stream (not for the feint-hearted). Hot water can be drawn off the sauna wood-burning stove for a DIY shower. Note that saunas are mixed male and female timed sessions.

After breakfast we pack up and head off on today’s walk, which will be one of our longest. We follow a long valley that rises gradually for 13 kilometres before a short steep section up to the Tjäktja Pass (1140m). Clear weather permitting, there are fantastic views of the next valley from the top. We now drop steeply into the Tjäktjajakka Valley, reminiscent of Glencoe but with more sisters! There are some spectacular waterfalls tumbling down the eastern side of the valley. Our overnight halt, the Sälka Hut is in a great location for exploration of other valleys and peaks, if you have the inclination - there will certainly be sufficient daylight. The water in this entire area is safe and good to drink, direct from the stream. The locals just have a plastic cup hanging off their belts that they remove and dip into a stream whenever required. Dinner is once again prepared communally. Again there will be access to a sauna for those keen to relax those tired legs.

To make sure our legs are in good condition for the optional ascent of Kebnakaise, we now enjoy two consecutive shorter day walks and today we continue to follow the Tjäktjajakka Valley to Singi Hut. We should be lucky enough to spot groups of reindeer in this area. Uncomfortable in the heat of summer, these animals tend to sit on the snow patches, which does make them very visible! We overnight in the hut at Singi.

Today we leave the Kungsleden trail to head east to the Kebnekaise Mountain Station. The 33km trail from Singi out to Nikkaluokta is not part of the Kungsleden itself, but this route does allow an easy exit from the area and also affords us the opportunity to ascend Sweden’s highest mountain, Kebnekaise. The Kebnekaise Mountain Station in the Laddjuvaggi Valley is like a small mountain village, accommodating and feeding those who visit to make the ascent of Kebnekaise. There are excellent facilities here, with showers, saunas, post-sauna chill out rooms (kept at an ambient 25°C), comfy chairs, a restaurant, bar and shop selling souvenirs, trail food and some clothing and equipment. No more communal cooking is necessary, as all food is provided in the restaurant. After dinner, there is a briefing about the ascent of Kebnekaise presented by the mountain guides.

An early start to the day for those wanting to make the ascent of Kebnekaise. We meet our guide for the climb at the equipment store where everyone will be allocated harnesses and helmets. (Note that all technical equipment is provided at no additional cost). Then we head off alongside the Kittelbäcken stream in the Kitteldalen Valley towards the Björlings Glacier. The trail is the steepest ground encountered on the holiday so far. The glacier, which is crevassed, leads to a narrow snow ridge with some exposure. Our guide will ensure that everyone clips into the fixed lines at this point to secure the scramble onto a rocky terrace. After a further 50m, we reach a wide gulley. From here, the fixed lines continue up a steep and exposed scramble for about 100m. After crossing some easy rocky slopes, there’s a final steep snow and ice section to the summit. Kebnekaise was first climbed by a Frenchman, Charles Robot, in 1883 and the summit is a glacier that is slowly melting. Depending on your map, Kebnekaise is reported as being either 2104, 2108, or 2111 metres. There are excellent views along the sinuous snow ridge to the rocky north summit and to all the peaks that mark the border with Norway. Descent is via the same route as we head back to the comforts of the Kebnekaise Mountain Station.

Another early start. Easy walking for a couple of hours to the lake, Ladtjojaure. From here, we take a boat ride down the river and across the lake. Looking back across the turquoise lake water to the dramatic peaks and valleys of Kebnekaise makes a fitting finale to the trip. We walk out throught the forest to Nikkaluaokta. On arrival in Nikkaloukta we say goodbye to our guide and catch the bus to Kiruna where we check in to our comfortable hotel.

The holiday ends after breakfast at the hotel in Kiruna. A group transfer to Kiruna Airport is provided.

Essential Information

We've compiled some of our Frequently Asked Questions to help you learn more about this amazing trip.

• A professional amd qualified tour leader
• STF Guided ascent of Kebnekaise
• Single timed airport transfers on arrival and departure
• All accommodation as described
• Meals as described in the Meal Plan
• All land transport required by the itinerary
• Boat trips on Lake Alesjaure (July/Aug departures only) and Lake Ladtjojaure
• Travel insurance
• Airport transfers other than group transfers
• Some meals as described in the Meal Plan
• Miscellaneous expenses - drinks and souvenirs etc

The group will meet at the Abisko Mountain Station. On Day 1 of the itinerary there will be a single timed transfer from Kiruna airport to Abisko Mountain Station. This transfer will be timed to meet the SAS flight from Stockholm arriving in the early afternoon. The journey takes 1.5 hours. On the last day of the Land Only itinerary there will be another single timed transfer from Kiruna to Kiruna Airport timed to meet the check in of the SAS flight to Stockholm departing in the late morning. Anyone may join the group transfers by prior arrangement. Travelling as a group or on public transport saves energy. tf your flight schedule does not allow you to take advantage of the arrival transfer you should make your own way to the Abisko Mountain Station. There is a reliable airport bus service which will meet every flight. Accommodation contact details and an emergency number will be provided with your booking confirmation.

All meals except 1 dinner are included in the holiday price.

It is not recommended to drink untreated water from the taps. If you are on a trekking or cycling holiday, water is supplied to fill up your individual bottles. This will be boiled, filtered or provided in large jerry cans or 5 litre bottles. Additionally you should take purification tablets or a filter bottle (such as a Water-To-Go bottle ) to treat your water when in towns or where water is not supplied. We do not encourage the purchasing of single use plastic bottles.

Whilst staying at the mountain huts, everyone will be expected to assist with preparing meals. The Tour Leader will organise a rota for these communal duties. The huts have basic cooking facilities. Breakfast will consist of bread, porridge or muesli with dehydrated milk, coffee, tea, hot chocolate and some jam. Lunch will be bread, sandwiches and soup, made up from hot water from a thermos. Dinner will be co-ordinated by the Tour Leader and will also be mainly dehydrated and processed food. The fresh food that we carry from Abisko is estimated to last to Alesjaure cabin. The rest of the food for this hike will be cached in the Alesjaure cabin and in the Slka cabin. There is no shop in the Tjktja cabin so the group will carry food from Alesjaure to Tjktja. Whilst staying at the mountain stations, all meals will be taken in the restaurants. 

Whilst we can cater for vegetarians, albeit sometimes with a more limited choice, we cannot always provide special diets.  Due to the nature of some of the trips that we operate and the countries in which we operate them, it can be very hard (and sometimes impossible) to cater for a wide range of dietary choices and you may have to supplement your diet with food/snacks from home.  If you have specific dietary requirements please do speak to our sales team and they will be able to advise you whether or not we will be able to offer your specific choice.  Please note that we are unable to provide separate menus and cannot accept liability for any problems arising from special dietary requirements or intolerances.

We will spend 3 nights in "Mountain Stations", at Kebnekaise and Abisko, which are more like lodges and have great facilities. Here the group will sleep in 6 berth rooms, with shared toilet and shower facilities and communal seating areas. All bedding is provided. Each station has a separate male and female saunas, a good restaurant and a bar. During our time on the trail we will stay each night in a different mountain hut. These are maintained by the Swedish Tourist Association (STF) and each has its own host in residence. The huts are simple, but comfortable, and each has its own unique personality! There is no electricity, running water or mobile phone coverage, this is all part of the special and unique experience of staying in the remote Swedish wilderness. The biggest hut has spaces for around 90 people, split over several smaller individual cabins, others are much smaller. Our group will usually have exclusive use of one of the lodges, though at busy time we may be required to share. Inside each of the huts you will find a combined kitchen and cosy day room, bedroom and drying room. We will sleep in mixed dorms of 4 -10 people. Pillows and blankets are provided and all rooms have a wood-burning stove or gas heater. For comfort we recommend taking your own pillow case and a sleeping bag liner. Each hut has a shared outside toilet block. These are well maintained and have plenty of toilet paper and antibacterial hand wash available. Most of the mountain huts also have their own wood-fired sauna. The saunas will have split session times in the evening: female only, male only and mixed. Towels are not provided at the huts so we recommend taking a travel towel that is large enough to wrap around you. Each of the saunas will have and a small basic washroom attached to it, where bowls and hot water (from the sauna) are provided for you to wash. It is possible to wash your hair here if there is enough water. One of the most fun aspects of this holiday is getting involved in the hut chores. Chores include fetching water, cooking dinner, preparing breakfast and packed lunch items, and clearing up. The tour leader will coordinate. It is expected that you leave the hut in the condition you found it with fresh water and wood for the next weary travellers. Single rooms are not available..

The group will be led by a professional and qualified tour leader.

The altitudes on this holiday are not extreme and the maximum altitude attained is no more than the equivalent of a pressurised cabin on an international flight. You may ‘feel’ the altitude the first time you trek above 2000 metres but all that is required is a slower pace to compensate. You should pay particular attention to your hydration levels while trekking above 2000 metres.

Approximately £100 (or equivalent in US dollars, Euros etc.) should be allowed for miscellaneous expenses, drinks and souvenir purchases. This amount will allow you to pay for the final dinner in Kiruna and also to pay a tip to your local guide. Additional baggage which you do not need for the trek is transported from Abisko to Nikkaloukta where it is stored until your arrival. There is a 40 SEK (£4/$6) additional cost for this bag storage which is paid directly to the Sami people living in Nikkaluokta, and this service is a vital part of their earnings. We recommend that you carry your travel money in the form of currency (Swedish Krona) since there will be not be any opportunities to change it once you leave Kiruna. There is no ATM in Kiruna airport, but you can withdraw cash at ATM's at Stockholm/Arlanda airport when you change flights. If you are intending to buy considerable quantities of soft drinks or beer, or expensive souvenirs you should budget accordingly.

Tips are the accepted way of saying ‘thank you’ to your local guides. They do not form part of their wages. KE always pays local crews the best rates of pay, no matter what country they are in and any tips they receive are seen as a personal thank you from group members. For our part, we advise local teams that tips are not a duty or a prerequisite but are a bonus and entirely dependent on the service that was given. For your guides we recommend that you give a tip if you feel that their services have met your satisfaction.

You should try to keep the weight of your equipment to a minimum. A reasonable overall weight for your packed rucksack during the trekking is 10 kgs / 22lbs. You need to allow space in your backpack for an extra 1-2kgs (2 – 4lbs) of fresh food you will be carrying from Abisko. After the first night in Abiskojaure the extra weight is reduced to approx 1 kg. The fresh food from Abisko is estimated to last to Alesjaure cabin. The rest of the food for this hike will be cached in the Alesjaure cabin and in the Sälka cabin. There is no shop in the Tjäktja cabin so the group will carry food from Alesjaure to Tjäktja. The weight of the food is estimated to approx 0,5-1 kg/person (1-2lbs). Luggage not required for the hike (your main luggage and travel clothes) will be transported from the Abisko mountain station to Nikkaloukta where is it stored until your arrival. There is an additional charge for luggage to be stored here whilst you are on your trek (see spending money).

For each holiday there is a minimum number of participants required to enable it to go ahead. Once the minimum number is reached, the trip status will change from 'Available' to 'Guaranteed to run'. You can check the trip status for each departure in ‘Dates and Prices’ table. Other than in exceptional circumstances, we will not cancel a trip once it has achieved this guaranteed to run status and so you are free to proceed with your international flight booking and other travel arrangements.

Your passport must meet 2 requirements. It must be:

less than 10 years old on the day you enter (check the ‘date of issue’)

valid for at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave (check the ‘expiry date’)

For the latest details on visiting countries within the EU or the European Economic Area (EEA), please check the UK Government website

The information that we provide is for UK passport holders. A passport with 6 months remaining validity at the end of your stay is generally required , and you should have at least 2 blank pages for each country that you visit.

It is your responsibility to ensure that you have the correct travel documents and visas for your holiday. Please ensure that you check for the latest advice before travel. For the most up to date information on entry requirements, please visit the UK Government website .

If you have a severe allergy please inform the KE office before you travel. We will do all we can to help, but we cannot guarantee an allergy free environment on KE trips. You will need to carry your own treatment for the allergy with you, as 'adrenaline auto-injectors' are not carried as standard by KE leaders and staff. You should inform your leader on arrival of your allergy, and let them know where you keep your adrenaline pen.

Vaccinations

You should contact your doctor or travel clinic to check whether you require any specific vaccinations.

GHIC / Medical cover

UK residents should carry a free Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC). This entitles you to state provided medical treatment when you're visiting an EU country or Switzerland. This is not a substitute for medical travel insurance which is vital when travelling overseas.

The summer months from June to early September offer the only timeframe to trek the Kungsleden. Daytime temperatures in Kiruna in July and August range from 8°C / 46°F to 18°C / 64°F. Sunny weather can be expected, with occasional rainfall, although it is more likely to be wet in August. It can also be cold at night and in more exposed areas. There can also be some snow patches remaining on the trail, and muddy, boggy sections of trail, so boots need to be suitably waterproofs. The midnight sun shines from late May to mid-July, and it is daylight 24 hours a day from mid-May to the end of July. The summer sun is never far below the horizon.

As a reputable tour operator, KE supports the British Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's ‘Travel Aware ’ campaign to enable British citizens to prepare for their journeys overseas. The 'Travel Aware' website provides a single, authoritative source of advice for all kinds of travellers and we recommend that prior to travel, all KE clients visit the official UK Government website at travelaware.campaign.gov.uk and read the FCDO Travel Advice for their chosen destination. North Americans can also check out the U.S. Department of State website: www.travel.state.gov for essential travel advice and tips.

KE treat the safety and security of all clients as the most important aspect of any trip we organise. We would not run any trip that we did not consider reasonably safe.  Should the FCDO advise against travel for any reason, we will contact everyone booked to travel to discuss the situation.  We receive regular updates direct from the FCDO and are in constant touch with our contacts on the ground.  If you have any questions about government travel advice, please call our office.

KE do not encourage the use of single use plastic items. We are ensuring that our agents all over the world are working together to reduce the problem and educate those around them. We are leading by example in our KE office by reducing our plastic use.

The Rough Guide to Sweden. James Proctor and Neil Roland.

Sweden – Lonely Planet Guide. Carolyn Bain and Graeme Cornwallis.

Kungsleden: The Royal Trail Through Arctic Sweden - Claes Grundsten

Fjallkarta. Abisko - Kabnekaise - Narvik. Lantmteriet (Sweden Survey) 1:100,000

A detailed topographic map in colour, at a smaller scale than most UK hikers’ maps but with a useful 25m. contour interval. The map is in Swedish with an English legend.

It is an essential condition of joining a holiday with KE Adventure Travel that you have a valid travel insurance policy to cover the cost of medical treatment and to protect the value of your holiday in the event of cancellation.  When taking out insurance please ensure the policy you choose covers you for the activities and altitude included in your itinerary.

For appropriate insurance cover we recommend Campbell Irvine Direct.  Please go to our Travel Insurance page for further information and to get a quote.

Please try to keep the weight of your baggage to a minimum. See the ‘baggage allowance’ section for further details.

You SHOULD bring the following items:

Hiking boots (approach shoes will not be suitable for the ascent of Kebnekaise)

Trainers or slippers for use in the huts.

Walking socks (2 or 3 pairs)

Spare laces

Trekking trousers

Lightweight waterproof overtrousers

Thermal baselayer shirts

T-shirt / casual shirt

Fleece jacket or warm jumper

Lightweight waterproof jacket

Sun protection (including total bloc for lips, nose etc.)

Thermal gloves

Backpack 50 - 60 litres

Mug and spoon (for lunches)

Antibacterial hand wash

Vacuum flask ½ litre

Water bottles 1 Litre (x2) (we encourage re-filling water bottles rather than single use plastic)

• Water purification tablets

Insect repellant

Basic First Aid Kit which should include: Antiseptic cream, throat lozenges, diarrhoea treatment (Imodium), painkillers, plasters and blister treatment, Insect repellent (DEET), and re-hydration salts (Dioralite). Glucose tablets and multi-vitamin tablets are also a good idea.

The following items are optional:

Foam sit mat (for lunch stops)

Washbag and toiletries

Small towel

Sleeping bag liner

Travel clothes (can be left in main luggage)

Selection of dry bags (to keep kit dry)

Trekking poles

Pen-knife (remember to put all sharp objects in hold baggage

• Reusable cloth bag for shopping (to avoid plastic bags)

Your main luggage and travel clothes will be transported from the Abisko Mountain Station to Nikkaluokta where they will be stored, and then transported on to the hotel in Kiruna. There is a small charge of approx 40 SEK for this baggage storage which you will need to pay directly to the local Sami people living in Nikkaluokta.

You need to allow space in your backpack for an extra 1-2kgs of fresh food you will be carrying from Abisko. After the first night in Abiskojaure the extra weight is reduced to approx 1 kg. The fresh food from Abisko is estimated to last to Alesjaure cabin. The rest of the food for this hike will be cached in the Alesjaure cabin and in the Salka cabin. There is no shop in the Tjaktja cabin so the group will carry food from Alesjaure to Tjaktja. The weight of the food is estimated to approx 0.5-1 kg/person.

Although the summer months from June – early September offer the best conditions to trek the Kings Trail with day time temperatures of between 8 – 18C (46 – 64F), it can be cold during this period and warm clothing should be packed. There can also be some snow patches remaining on the trail, and muddy, boggy sections of trail, so boots need to be suitably waterproof.

Fantastic wilderness trek ★★★★★

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Fantastic wilderness trek, related articles.

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• Kungsleden Trek - The Kings Trail of Sweden With Flights Without Flights
• Departure Reference: SKT /01/24/
• This trip departs the UK on Sun 23 Jun returning to the UK on Mon 1 Jul This trip begins on Sun 23 Jun and ends on Mon 1 Jul
• Contact us for single room pricing

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Please be aware that the flight industry is experiencing a high level of service fluctuation and changes to your flights may occur. This may also require amends to the transfers and joining arrangements. Thank you all for continuing your patience and understanding.

BOOK WITH KE CONFIDENCE - No surcharge guarantee

The price of our holidays can change depending on a variety of factors but unlike some other tour operators, KE have undertaken to guarantee the Land Only price of your holiday will not change after you have booked. The price when you book is the price you will pay , whether you are booking for this year or the next. Book early to avoid any tour price increases, get the best flight prices and take advantage of our 'No Surcharge Guarantee'.

KE Adventure is a fully bonded tour operator. We hold an ATOL license (No: 2808) and are bonded with ABTA (Membership No: W4341)

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Kungsleden Abisko – Kebnekaise with guide

The King’s Trail is the most known trail in Sweden. Join us for a hike through the northern part through lush birch forest up to the open mountain landscapes and views. For those who choose to, the tour will offer a chance to climb Mt. Kebnekaise.

Hiking the King’s Trail is a bucket list item. In the summer you have the best opportunity to see the mountains in color. The tour starts in Abisko on the evening of your arrival when you meet the guide and the group, before getting a final nights sleep in civilisation.

The next day you will pack your bag and start heading south. Throughout Abisko National Park you will be surronded by mountain birch and soon be above the treeline. The mountains will open up and you will get to enjoy the views and the valleys around you.

After reaching Singi you will turn east and head towards Kebnekaise Mountain Station. Here you will have a spare day to climb to the roof of Sweden if you want to challenge yourself further or just take a rest day.

After two nights there you will head to Nikkaluokta to reach the finish.

The price includes

• Accommodation for seven nights (lodging is in mixed dorm rooms)
• Meals from dinner on arrival day until lunch on departure day
• Guide certified according to the Swedish standard Fjälledarnomen

Important: Guided tour to the summit of Kebnekaise is not included, you need to book it seperately .

Good to know

• Reslängd/tid: 8 days, 7 nights
• Gruppstorlek: Min 6 / max 10
• Avbokningsvillkor: For booking terms, see information sheet
• Åldersgräns: Age limit: 16 years (accompanied by a guardian)
• Förkunskapskrav: Participants should be in good physical condition and have some experience from hiking with a backpack. You need to be sure that you can hike up to 25 km per day with a 10-15 kg backpack

More information

• Information sheet

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Our 20 Best Moscow Tours of 2022

Join us on an unforgettable tour to Moscow, the capital of Russia. Imagine visiting Red Square, St. Basil’s the Kremlin and more. Moscow is one of Europe’s most vibrant cities and one of Russia’s most historical. All of our tours to Moscow are fully customizable and can be adjusted to fit any budget. Our most popular tours are listed below. Please click on the tour details to learn more or contact us for more information about our Moscow tours using the form at the side of the page. You can also schedule a call with one of our Russian travel specialists to learn more.

Classic Moscow

This is our most popular Moscow tour that includes all the most prominent sights. You will become acquainted with ancient Russia in the Kremlin, admire Russian art in the Tretyakov Gallery, listen to street musicians as you stroll along the Old Arbat street, and learn about Soviet times on the Moscow Metro tour.

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A Week in Moscow

This tour is a perfect choice for those who wish to get to know Moscow in depth. One of the highlights of this package is the KGB history tour which gives an interesting perspective on the Cold War. You will also have time for exploring the city on your own or doing extra sightseeing.

Weekend in Moscow

This tour is a great way to get acquainted with the capital of Russia if you are short of time. You will see all the main attractions of the city, the most important of which is the Kremlin - the heart of Russia. The tour starts on Friday and can be combined with a business trip.

Group Tour Moscow Break by Intourist

Russia's capital has so much to offer, from the Kremlin and the Metro to the Old Arbat street and the Tretyakov Gallery. Besides these sites, you will also visit a fascinating country estate which today is quite off the beaten path, Gorky Estate, where the Soviet leader Lenin spent the last months of his life.

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Lena, our guide in Moscow was excellent. She was very knowledgable and could answer any question we had for her. We liked that she could pick up on our interests and take us places we might not have thought of to go. When we realized that one of the places we had chosen to see would probably not be that interesting to us, she was able to arrange entry to the Diamond Fund and the Armoury for us. Riding the Metro with Lena was a real adventure and a lot of fun. In Saint Petersburg we found Anna well versed in the history of the Tsars and in the Hermitage collection. Arkady in Veliky Novgorod was a very good guide and answered all of our questions with ease. Novgorod was perhaps a long way to go for a day trip, but we did enjoy it. Vasily was a great driver to have and kept us safe with good humour and skill. We enjoyed ourselves so much, my daughter says she is already planning to return. We would both have no hesistation to recommend ExpresstoRussia to anyone we know.

Just wanted to let you know that My grandson Bruno and I couldn´t have been more pleased with our week in Moscow (6/15 - 6/21). We were absolutely enchanted with the whole experience, including getting lost a couple of times in the Metro during our free time. Although both our guides (both Eleanas) were excellent, I would particularly commend the first one (she took us to the Tatiakov, the KGB tour, and to that beautiful cemetery where so many great Russian artists, authors, composers, musicians, militarists, and politicians are buried). Her knowledge is encyclopedic; and her understanding of today´s Russia as a product of its past was, for us, truly enlightening. I will be taking another tour in Russia, with my wife, within the next two or three years. I will be in touch with you when the time comes. Meanwhile, I will refer you to other potential visitors to Russia as I meet them.

Tours to Moscow

Our Moscow tours are land only meaning that you arrange your own air travel to Russia and our expert staff meets you at the airport and handles everything else from there. Our online Airline Ticket booking system offers some of the most competitive rates to Russia available on the web so if you need tickets, please visit our Russian air ticket center . Rest assured that you will be taken great care of on one of our Moscow tours. Express to Russia has a fully staffed office in Moscow that will help to make your visit fun, informative and unforgettable. Please remember that of all these tours are private and can be adjusted to your taste. You can add, replace or skip some sights; you can add more days to the package or cut the tour short. Our specialists will be glad to help you create the tour of your dreams!

Moscow, a City Like No Other

Moscow is Russia’s largest city with a population of between 12 and 13 million. It is also Europe’s largest city and when you visit Moscow, you can feel it. The layout and architecture of the city is eclectic, ranging from crooked, ancient streets and alleyways to wide, bustling boulevards, from medieval churches to Stalin skyscrapers and to modern, glass buildings towering over everything and of course in the center of it all is the Kremlin and the magnificent Red Square. Moscow is also home to a fantastic, efficient and very beautiful metro system – each station having its own special design. In fact, Express to Russia’s Moscow metro tours and excursions are some of our most popular attractions that we offer. On our Moscow tours, you will see this and more.

Moscow Tours centering on Russian History

Moscow has a long and interesting history and has been the capital of Russia in many of its different iterations – capital of the Grand Duchy of Moscow , the Russian Empire and of course the Soviet Union (who could ever forget the Soviet Union?). Moscow, was founded in the 12th century by Prince Yuri Dolgaruki (Yuri of the long arms – he really did have long arms!). From that time on, it was home to the Russian Tsars until Peter the Great moved the capital to St. Petersburg in 1703. The city has survived invasions and sieges from the Mongols, the Tartars, the Poles, Lithuanians and Napoleon but has always persevered. Our Moscow tours will enlighten you on this great history and give you insights into Muscovites and their unique culture. Our Moscow tours show you what the city is like today but also brings to life the past. Moscow never seems to sleep and is bursting with energy. A Moscow tour with Express to Russia is truly the best way of getting to know Russia’s largest and most vibrant city.

Frequently Asked Questions From Our Travelers

What is the best time to visit moscow.

Any time of year is fine depending on what you plan to do. Summertime is pleasantly warm, ideal for exploring the city and its vibrant atmosphere, but Moscow will be much busier and accommodation is more expensive. Winter can be quite cold but beautiful nonetheless, and this is unproblematic if you intend to spend most of your trip in museums and galleries. There are also various festivals and events organised throughout the year. For more information about the best time to visit, read our guide

How many days are enough in Moscow?

If you plan your itinerary strategically and aren’t averse to a packed schedule, you can cover Moscow’s main sights over a long weekend. Most popular attractions are in the city centre, and the Moscow Metro allows you to cover much ground in a small amount of time. Ensure that your accommodation is fairly central and book tickets in advance, so that you can make the most of your days. For an informative and well-organised day out, check out our Moscow day tours with options to suit all interests.

Do they speak English in Moscow?

As Russia’s capital city, tourists are well accommodated in Moscow. There should be English-speaking staff in restaurants, bars, hotels, shops and attractions in tourist hotspots, and there are also English-speaking tourist police. Transport services have English translations on their maps and English announcements via intercom; alternatively, order taxis from the Yandex Taxi app (Russian Uber), though it’s unlikely that your taxi driver will speak English. If you get stuck and cannot communicate, it’s fine to use Google Translate.

Is it safe to travel to Moscow?

It is no less safe to travel to Moscow than to any European city if you exercise common sense and look after your belongings. As with every city some regions can be more unsavoury than others, but no tourist attractions are located there. The traffic in Moscow is notorious, so exercise caution when crossing roads. Do not take unlicensed taxis; book in advance or take public transport, which is widespread and perfectly safe. If you encounter any problems, look for the special tourist police who can help you. For more information, read our guide about staying safe in Russia .

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