From CAD 5,605
Guarantee
Small Group
Average
Rating
(6 reviews)
Experience Overview
Travel 125 miles (200 km) above the Arctic Circle to Sápmi (Lapland) in Sweden, where wild rivers and vast forests dominate the landscape. Our base is Rajamaa on Muonionalusta island, where the Malmström family has welcomed guests since 1986. In this wilderness, we discover the indigenous Sámi culture and explore nature by dog sledding, snowshoeing, and forest skiing. Each night, we watch for the Northern Lights. The trip ends with a two-day forest expedition, staying in a traditional log cabin surrounded by untouched nature.
Profile
— Accommodation: 7 Simple nights (6 chalets, 1 wilderness lodge) — Five days of mixed activities and one free day — Group normally 4 to 16, plus guides and instructors. Minimum age: 16 — Arctic clothing provided
At a Glance
— Accommodation: 7 Simple nights (6 chalets, 1 wilderness lodge) — Five days of mixed activities and one free day — Group normally 4 to 16, plus guides and instructors. Minimum age: 16 — Arctic clothing provided
Trip For You
This trip is rated Activity Level 3 (Moderate). For more information on our trip gradings please visit the Activity Level Guidelines page. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip please do not hesitate to contact us.
It’s a mixed-activity week for adults, with a good selection of guided activities and free time for independent excursions or relaxation. Although none of the activities require previous experience, a good level of fitness, agility and balance is required.
Some forest ski training and tuition will be provided during the week. The distance covered on the two-day expedition will depend on the group’s fitness and on the temperature and weather conditions. Usually, you cover approximately 4.5mi-7.5mi (7km-12km) each day and the activity duration is around four hours plus a lunch stop by the fire.
Temperatures in this part of Sweden can drop as low as -30C (-22F). Come prepared for such extremes. With standard precautions and good clothing, the cold weather won’t be a problem but can be tiring. Arctic outerwear (snowsuit, gloves, hat, socks and winter boots) is provided – please see our essential packing list for more information.
Group Description
During the week, you will be well looked after by the Rajamaa owners and staff. All activities will be guided by one of the owners and/or other local instructors.
Eating Drinking
All meals are included; however, the dinner on Day 1 is only available subject to your flight arrival time (dinner is usually served at 7pm).
The food at Rajamaa is a mix of Swedish food and sometimes international dishes, all prepared on site. They only use regionally sourced meat and fish from the Arctic Sea.
Breakfast is continental style, with fruit, cereal, porridge, boiled eggs, cheese and cold meats. The lunches provided as part of the itinerary will be eaten outside or at the lodge and are usually a sandwich (plus yoghurt and fruit) or a hearty soup. Dinner each evening consists of a main course and dessert. Vegetarian options are also available.
Transportation
A minibus is used for transfers.
Joining Instructions
Key information
Start hotel: Rajamaa, Muonionalusta 25, 984 95 Muodoslompolo, Sweden
Phone: +46 978 430 40
Recommended arrival time: You can arrive at any time today. There will be a welcome briefing in the evening or the following morning, depending on the group’s arrival time
Airport: Kittilä, Finland (KTT), or Kiruna (KRN), Sweden
Getting to the start hotel
Exodus provides one group arrival transfer from the airport, which is timed to coincide with the arrival of a chosen flight from London, UK. You may join this transfer at no extra cost, provided you can be at the airport before the transfer leaves. Speak to your sales representative for the group arrival transfer times or to arrange a private transfer.
If you would like further information on joining this trip, please speak to your sales representative.
Catching your return flight
There’s a group departure transfer to the airport for customers who Exodus booked onto a chosen flight to London, UK. Please speak to your sales representative if you wish to join. If the group departure transfer does not suit your flight time, speak to your sales representative to arrange an alternative transfer.
Weather Information
Temperatures should remain below freezing point for the whole season; however, recent years have had some unexpected fluctuations, both warmer and colder. Generally, you should expect much colder temperatures in December and January: around -25C to -10C (-13F to 14F). As the days get longer, the temperatures rise to around freezing point by March.
Daylight hours: As we are inside the Arctic Circle, the sun remains just below the horizon during the day from 1 December to 7 January. But it is not dark: there is plenty of reflection from the snow, so expect four to five hours of daylight. At the end of January, daylight hours increase to six to seven. In February, there are 10 hours and in March 15 hours.
Northern Lights: The Aurora Borealis are one of nature’s most awe-inspiring sights and seeing them hover above us on a cold winter’s night is an experience never to be forgotten. Scientists will tell you the Northern Lights occur when solar wind particles collide with air molecules in the earth’s atmosphere, transferring their energy into light. The ‘season’ runs from August to April (when there is sufficient darkness). Within this window, the slightly better months are September and March. During periods of high solar activity (not forecastable) they can often be seen every night, but the sky has to be clear of cloud cover, and you need to be away from other light sources. Displays can vary in intensity, from a greenish-yellow glow moving gently around the sky, to a spectacular multi-coloured show dancing across the heavens. Sightings not only vary in intensity but in duration too, from just minutes to sometimes hours.
Spending Money
This trip includes all meals (dinner on Day 1 is included subject to flight arrival time). Drinks are not included but are sold at the bar (prices are around €3-€5 for soft drinks, €8 for a beer (50cl) and €25-€40 for a bottle of wine). Teas and coffees outside of mealtimes are €2.50. Rajamaa operates an honesty bar policy where guests write down what they have taken and are charged accordingly at the end of the week.
Optional excursions – paid locally
Snowmobile safari: €170 per person (maximum of two people per snowmobile)
Important note on snowmobiling: All drivers must be over 18, have a valid (car) driving licence and carry this with you while driving. You will be liable to pay for any damage to snowmobiles, which can be approximately €1,000 per machine. You can pay for additional insurance cover (€15) that reduces the excess to approximately €200. Snowmobiles are not for everyone and can be difficult to master; however, damage is very rare if the driver is alert and considerate.
Tipping
Staff in Sweden are paid well for their job but if you feel you have received good service, we suggest leaving a discretionary tip of 225 Swedish krona (approximately €20) per person at the end of the trip, which will be shared among the staff at Rajamaa.
Highlights
— Travel beyond the Arctic Circle to explore Sápmi’s wild winter wonderland — Spend a memorable morning with a Sámi family to learn about their traditional lifestyle — Make friends with a pack of Siberian huskies on a dog-sledding adventure through the forest — Hop on forest skis to go off-grid on a two-day wilderness expedition — Look to the vast sky for a nightly chance to witness the Northern Lights
Trip Details
Product Code: 4202
Tour Type: Small Group
Accommodation: Moderate
Transport: ransfers.
Guide Language: English
Supplier Code: CSW
Starts: Muonionalusta (Rajamaa), Lapland
Finishes: Muonionalusta (Rajamaa), Lapland
Duration: 8 days
Departures: Guaranteed
Physical rating:
Average
Includes
— All breakfasts, six lunches and seven dinners — All accommodation — All transport and listed activities — Tour leader throughout — All specialist equipment (see packing list in Trip Notes) — Group arrival and departure transfers availableAccommodation
Rajamaa chaletsOur base for the week is Rajamaa, a complex of cosy wooden chalets run by the welcoming Malmström family since 1986. The accommodation is in Sweden on an island in the River Muonio, just across the border from Finland. Rajamaa consists of a main building with a reception area, dining room and sauna. Accommodation comprises two-bedroom chalets with shared bathroom facilities and one-bedroom chalets with private facilities. All chalets are equipped with shower/WC and a mini-kitchen. Complimentary wifi is available. Twin and double rooms will usually be allocated in the two-bedroom chalets. This means that a maximum of four people (two couples or twin sharers) will stay in each chalet and will share bathroom facilities. Twin sharers may share bathroom facilities with up to two members of the opposite sex, but bedrooms are always single-sex. Couples/pairs travelling together who do not wish to share bathroom facilities with others may be able to pay a supplement to secure a one-bedroom chalet. This is strictly based on availability and the make-up of the group. Single rooms are limited and subject to availability. These will be offered for a supplement, payable upon booking. Single rooms may be allocated in the big chalets (shared facilities) or in a small chalet (private facilities), depending on availability. One night during the trip will be spent in a remote forest lodge where accommodation is dormitory style (maximum of four people per room). No single rooms are available at this accommodation and bathroom facilities come in the form of an outhouse with a longdrop.
Price
Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD 5605 (CAD 701 /day)
Itinerary
This trip starts at Rajamaa, a complex of cosy wooden chalets on a remote island in the River Muonio with views over both Sweden and Finland. At check in, we are welcomed by the friendly Malmström family, our hosts for the week, who have been running the accommodation for more than three decades. Depending on the arrival time of the group, the main briefing is usually done tonight or tomorrow morning. Alternatively, if you'd prefer to ease into the trip, speak to us about booking nights at Rajamaa before the adventure begins.
After a hearty breakfast, we are provided with all the equipment and information needed for a week of activities in Arctic conditions. Setting off on our snowshoes, we venture into the fabled wintry landscape surrounding Rajamaa and learn more about the unique raw nature of Sápmi (also known as Lapland). Our guide will help us to spot the tracks of birds and other local fauna in the snow and explain how the trees and bushes have adapted to this harsh climate. We enjoy lunch by a log fire in the forest, before walking back over frozen hills and through snowy landscapes to our chalets. In the afternoon, we have free time to enjoy the sauna or a hot drink in the dining room. Over the course of the week, we enjoy presentations about some of Scandinavia's big predators: lynx, wolverines, bears and wolves.
This morning, we visit a small husky kennel run by neighbours of Rajamaa. We meet Anna, a professional musher, who tells us about the life of the friendly Siberian husky dogs, their training and behaviour. She also explains a few simple rules to safely ride and lead the dogs. Divided into pairs, we then enjoy the challenge and adventure of driving our own dog sled for approximately 9mi (15km) through a winter landscape of snow-clad forests and frozen swamps. Taking turns during the tour gives you the chance to feel like a real musher and to enjoy the landscape when sitting on the dog sled as a passenger. In the afternoon, we return to our accommodation and familiarise ourselves with forest skiing in preparation for our two-day expedition later in the week. Forest skis originate from Scandinavia and Russia and have been used in this area as a means of transportation for thousands of years. They are usually wooden and differ from cross-country skis as they are longer and broader. They come with simple bindings that you can use with your provided winter boots. This evening, before a hearty dinner, we enjoy another wildlife presentation at the main lodge.
Today is free for you to enjoy one of the optional activities available locally. You may decide to experience the thrill of driving a snowmobile through snowy forests and over frozen lakes or explore the surroundings on snowshoes with a fun geocaching activity. Alternatively, you may choose to relax at the lodge and enjoy the tranquillity of this beautiful setting.
Today we have a special insight into the life and work of a reindeer-herding Sámi family. Between 75,000 to 100,000 Sámi people live in the Arctic regions of Norway, Finland, Sweden and Russia, preserving their unique languages and ancient customs. We travel by foot and in traditional reindeer sleds to a kåta (typical Sámi hut), where we feed the reindeer before spending a couple of hours beside a crackling fire, conversing with the family and learning about their culture, as well as the complex challenges they face. We enjoy a warming lunch and hot coffee in the kåta before returning to Rajamaa and have free time to enjoy the sauna or relax before dinner.
Today, we start a two-day tour on forest skis. On our adventure, we carry only the necessary equipment for the day in a backpack while the rest of our equipment is transported for us by snowmobile. We venture deep into the forest, crossing frozen lakes and pine-clad hills, until reaching our special accommodation for the night, a cosy log cabin. Traditionally used for forest workers, the cabin is heated by log burners and we cook using water collected from the frozen river nearby. We all participate in the preparation of tonight's dinner and may enjoy an optional sauna before going to sleep in our dorm-style rooms. That is, if the impressive Aurora Borealis is not keeping us awake!
After breakfast, we get on the skis and head back to Rajamaa, stopping for lunch by the fire on the way. If we are lucky, we may come across the tracks of lynx or wolverines during our journey. Back at the lodge, enjoy a well-deserved sauna before our final dinner of the week.
The trip ends this morning and we begin our return journey home with plenty of tales and memories to share with friends and family. Of course, if you'd like to explore the Swedish wilderness a little more, speak to us about extending your stay at Rajamaa.
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Tour Operator
Exodus Travel
It’s all about adventure That is what Exodus was founded upon 50 years ago, and what the company is still all about. Discovering countries, cultures, environments, cities, mountain ranges, deserts, coasts and jungles; exploring this amazing planet we all live on. At Exodus, we know what makes you tick when it comes to holidays. It’s a desire shared by so many others. A yearning to visit new places and come home with a real sense of what they’re all about. This means delving into local traditions, cultures, cuisine, lifestyles – anything that contributes to its unique identity. At the same time, we always remember that we are only guests. So we travel courteously and respectfully, in smaller groups to minimise our impact, to ensure that every Exodus holiday is a beneficial experience for everyone involved. This is a philosophy we take with us around the world, helping you reach some incredible destinations on 500 itineraries across over 90 separate countries. We also strive to provide as much flexibility and choice as we possibly can, making it simple for you to experience a very different holiday. Exodus started life on 4 February 1974 when two friends got together to provide an overland truck to travel to the Minaret of Jam, deep in the heart of the Hindu Kush, the most inaccessible of the world’s great monuments. See our history page for more details about how we began and how we have grown over the past 50 years. Never travelled with Exodus before? Visit our New to Exodus page for some useful, first-timer information.
In Business Since 1974
Reviews
Sally Gray - Traveled, December 2023
Good description The week is a mixture of activities, snowshoeing, dog sledding, reindeer’s and forest skiing through the amazing arctic wilderness. You stay in a chalet and eat and have talks in a main building. The hosts are all amazing as is the food. Most Inspirational Moment The dog sledding was fantastic but we loved everything Thoughts on Group Leader Sami, he was great, but we also had Lars and son Johann because Sami was not well enough to do all the activities Add Advice for Potential Travellers Add powerbanks to the kit list to use on the overnight stay at the lodge. Take thermal/ woollen mittens NOT gloves Suggestions It is a truly amazing week, loads of variety. The activities off site with Henrik and Anna are brilliant too. The food is exceptional and you are really well looked after. Can’t fault it.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 01/30/2024
Amanda Sleight - Traveled, February 2023
Amazing Week What a fantastic week , full of excitement and plenty of adventure . The Northern lights came out within a couple of hours of us arriving and our trip was off to an amazing start. We had great fun out snow shoeing , this place is hard to describe you are on an island , surrounded by trees and snow . It’s is so peaceful there was nobody else here but the group and the air is so clean and dry. The reindeer ride to the Sami house went on for over an hour each way , and we gained lots of insight into the lives of the Sami people . The dog sledding was truly amazing and we were out for a few hours without meeting anyone, cutting across lakes of fresh snow. Finally the forest ski trip and an overnight stay to sleep in the forest hut was a true delight -30 with a couple of log burners to keep us warm and cutting the ice to access water from the lake , miles away from anywhere. Lars had non stop information on the wildlife and the local area , each night we had an interesting talk on a different predator – bear, wolverine etc Most Inspirational Moment It would be difficult to say one in particular, but seeing the smoke rising above the trees where the hut was located after we had e been travelling on forest skis all day in -30 is right up there. Thoughts on Group Leader Lars was great , lots of laughs and interesting information for everyone. Advice for Potential Travellers This is an excellent trip and I have previously done the snow shoeing in Oulanka , but it was definitely a unique adventure not to be missed , and this felt like you were so far away from everything and totally calm.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 02/28/2023
C and G J - Traveled, January 2023
Adventures in the snow What a fantastic trip, we arrived and saw the aurora on the first night. The rest of the trip never failed to disappoint. It was an amazing group, a fabulous mix of activity, combined with a great landscape and the stunning northern lights. The mix of activities kept us busy, exhilarated us, created some laughs and kept the fun going. We had done none before but enjoyed every moment, some challenged us but we quickly learnt a fall in the snow was like being in cotton wool! This was our first ‘snow’ or ‘cold’ trip and we’d encourage anyone to take the plunge!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 02/03/2023
Julian Penfold - Traveled, January 2023
Absolutely amazing This really was the adventure to beat all adventures, so many amazing sights and experiences. The accommodation was very comfortable, the food fantastic and the activities were stunning. The river and forest scenery as well as the sunrises and sunsets were incredible. Most Inspirational Moment Where do I start? The beauty of the area, the quiet, the clean air, the activities, but I think that the awe of experiencing the Northern Lights would take some beating. We truly were in the wilderness with no light pollution to obscure the views, and we could stand outside the cabins and have a 360 degree vista of the sky in unobscured darkness with the Northern Lights dancing across the sky, backlit by a clear array of moon and stars. Then during the day immersing ourselves in the depths of the snow laden forest, crossing frozen rivers, tracking through Narnia like environs, and coming back to base in the evening to warm cabins, a sauna, good company and faultless food. Thoughts on Group Leader Lars had the gift of keeping us entertained, but at the same time sharing with us his great love of this part of the World. During the day he guided us with great friendliness, humour and expertise through the activities, and in the evenings before dinner presented a talk with slides on some of the wildlife of the area. We were kept informed about what was happening all the time, and he provided us with all the equipment that we would need to make the most of our experience for the week. Lars regularly shared with us something of the history, the culture and the life of this region, and this was done in a very informed chatty way, sometimes over the open fire, sometimes while we were walking along a track. I certainly finished the week feeling that not only had I gained a wealth of food memories, I also learnt a lot, and perhaps without realising it. Advice for Potential Travellers The trip notes provide all the information that you will need. I took an extra set of base layers because they don't take up much room and provided me with extra flexibility when wrapping up in the evenings. A head torch with a strong beam would be useful as we were with the Huskies as night fell and a directional beam would have been of more benefit that just a glow. Suggestions This really for me is the trip to go on to experience the arctic environment. I am a bit of a sponge soaking up culture, and so the time with the Sami family and their reindeer and huskies was so interesting. Experiencing their lifestyle even for a day or two and hearing their story really places things into perspective. This is an environment like no other that I have experienced and have valued every day of the trip.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 02/27/2023
Lorraine Rowan - Traveled, December 2022
Fantastic Experience! If you’re considering this trip, just book it, you will NOT be disappointed!! The trip was fantastic from start to end, I did not want to come home. The activities laid on by Exodus were fantastic, everyone was so nice and there was always a relaxed / welcoming atmosphere. I personally loved the husky and reindeer days. They exceeded my expectations and had the added bonus of learning a little about these beautiful animals. During our week the weather was in our favour and our group were very lucky to experience the Aurora on four nights. It was an amazing experience and something I will never forget. Our guide Lars was fantastic, very welcoming and knowledgeable. The scenery was stunning, hard to describe, go and experience it for yourself ??
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 02/19/2023
Kate Eberhardt - Traveled, December 2022
Absolutely Amazing!!! This was my favorite trip among the dozens of trips I have taken with various tour companies. Our host Lars was amazing – he deeply cares about the environment and is extremely knowledgeable about nature and history and full of patience for those of us that aren’t as skilled as others on forest skis or snowshoes. Coming from a warm climate, I was a tad concerned about getting cold but the winter clothes they provided kept me nice and warm even when it got down to -30C (admittedly I did wear 2 levels of thermals underneath). The accommodations were delightful – cozy cabins, great food, toasty sauna. The beauty of this area is hard to describe – one of my fellow group members said it reminded her of Narnia, which seems about right. The air was so clean. The vibe was always so calm. I came home feeling so rested while also knowing I got my share of exercise. For me, the exercise level was perfect. I am not at my fittest but the level of intensity on this trip was perfect for me. I definitely earned my dessert calories. Most Inspirational Moment When we got to the cabin on our forest ski expedition and we went down to the river to break the ice to get water for the sauna. We worked as a team to make a nice toasty sauna to warm our bodies to the core. It was teamwork followed by a great dinner in the cabin once we warmed that up with our fires. Thoughts on Group Leader Our group had a running joke about wanting to be adopted by Lars (one of his son's is also a guide) to be able to explore with him year-round and learn from him. I think that alone says a lot. Advice for Potential Travellers Don't worry about needing to bring too many cold weather clothes - bring your thermals and your base layers and Lars and his family will provide the rest.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 02/16/2023
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