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A Guide: The Best Arctic Adventure

The Ultimate Bucket List for the Swedish Lapland

By Easha MadappaPublished 4 years ago 11 min read
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A Guide: The Best Arctic Adventure
Photo by Timo Horstschaefer on Unsplash

At the top of everyone's bucket list is surely "to see the northern lights." As a person who has been there, and very happily done that I want to share with you all the best way to make the most of your Arctic adventure.

There are so many elements that make or break a trip - food, activities and accomodation. I'm going to be breaking down all three, with extra segments on budget friendly experiences!

But firstly, where did I go? and more importantly, where should you?

My northern lights experience happened in one of the most beautiful places in Scandinavia - Abisko in Sweden. Unfortunately, my stay was very brief, being only 2 nights, one in Abisko and one in a neighbouring city, Kiruna (which was gorgeous).

During my trip last year, I went to a fair few cities and countries over 2 weeks; Geneva, Bern, Copenhagen, Gothenburg... but nothing beats Kiruna and Abisko. There was a certain magic to these frosted cities that I had never experienced before. Ever.

So, if I was to recommend a place to go, Kiruna and Abisko are at the top of my list - but because my stay was so short I missed out on places like Narvik in Norway, The Finnish Lapland and Iceland.

I'll be making another trip to these beautiful places, hopefully someday soon, and I've been told that their beauty matches the Swedish Lapland's. You should definitely consider these places, and my guide will work there too!

1. NORTHERN LIGHTS

By David Becker on Unsplash

The number one reason why people even venture to the Scandinavian Laplands is because they want to see the NORTHERN LIGHTS. The whole experience of viewing the northern lights cannot be summarised in one paragraph. There are certain considerations that need explaining (which I will cover in a following post) but to be succinct.... yes it was magical.

Depending on the day you go, the lights you will see will vary. There is a new formation every day, the experience is as unique as a snowflake. Perhaps thats why people go for days together, because even though they'll be staring at the stars each night, they won't know what to expect.

In Abisko there are many ways you can catch the northern lights, but their price varies:

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At night, you can take the cable car to the Abisko Sky Station, which is at the top of this massive, snowy hill. Here, you are guaranteed the best view of the northern lights in the world (literally, Abisko is supposed to the single spot one is most likely to see the aurora borealis). This is because you are as high up as possible in the area and very far away from light pollution.

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You can also take a guided walking tour of Abisko, equipped with a teepee and a fire under the stars. Although it's not as high up as the Sky Station, you can grab a great view and see more of the vegetation and landscape of the Lapland.

COMPLETELY FREE

Do a self guided walking tour, grab a yellow/ warm nightlight and venture into the trails of the lapland. Find a place to camp that has a clear view of the sky and wait. So many people try this option and successfully see the northern lights. However, make sure you talk to the locals and guides because they will know all the best spots. You can do this in Kiruna too, but you'll have to go outside the city centre as there is too much light pollution in there.

2. ADVENTURE SPORTS/ ACTIVITIES

You cannot leave the lapland without doing at least one of these activities, and TRUST ME THEY WILL BE ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF YOUR TRIP.

By Johannes Andersson on Unsplash

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ICE CLIMBING

Abisko has many beautiful, FROZEN waterfalls, you will find yourself just wanting to stare at it for days. It even has a beautiful canyon and when the snow falls over it it is like a DISNEY MOVIE. ICE CLIMBING is one of the main adventure sports tourists can try when they are there. They can ice climb with a guide on the frozen waterfalls, overlooking the canyon, and this will give you views like no other.

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DOG SLED RIDES

If you are an animal lover then this is something you will not want to miss. In both Abisko and Kiruna you can book a husky led sleigh and go for a long ride. The experience is around 2 hours, with a canine meet and greet to start. Due to time constraints I couldn't do the ride, but I got to meet the huskies outside the hotel (completely free, coincidental meeting). They are so friendly and cute. This ride is raved about and I can see why, it is so wholesome but also gives you that adrenaline kick with the dogs reaching high speeds over beautiful snowy plains. However, I would not recommend this activity to those who have back problems because it is very bumpy.

By Astrid on Unsplash

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SNOW QUAD BIKING

You can also hire a quad bike and take a fun filled ride around the lapland. It's fast, fun and also extremely personalised because you can choose your very own route (well, within reason). You can go as fast or slow as you like and truely indulge in the adventure. It is a sure-fire way of seeing more of the lapland because there is too much to cover just by walking.

COMPLETELY FREE

Don't have that much money racked up for adventure sports? Don't worry I got you! Some free activities you could do include bringing a taboggan or sleigh (or hiring one $) and going for rides around the lapland. It's a cute way to get an adrenaline kick and can be truely adventurous depending on how high your hill is (JUST BE CAREFUL AND DON'T DO THIS IN RESTRICTED AREAS)

You can also hike (WHICH IS SOMETHING I LOVED TO DO) There are so many short and long trails around Abisko it's literally never ending. Just pick one and let your feet lead the way. It's super fun, some paths are rocky (so be careful) and high up... you will get the most breath taking views. TRY TO CATCH THE SUNRISE NEAR THE FROZEN LAKES OR FROSTY FORESTS AROUND THE TOURISTSTATION.

You can also go reindeer hunting (this is poorly named, I really mean go looking for reindeers not killing them) There are reindeers all over the lapland, and they are so magical. I literally made it my mission to go find one. Unfortunately I failed, but some fellow Aussies I met there were lucky enough to spot one. They said it was pretty cool and didn't move around too much, so you get quite a good view. You have to go wandering the forests to find them but even if you don't, that is an adventure in and of itself.

3. TOURIST ATTRACTIONS

If you want to see the tourist attractions in Abisko and Kiruna, I'm going to be honest, this isn't like Paris with 500 things to see. There's around 3 that you should and probably will end up checking out accross these cities.

By Tobias Fischer on Unsplash

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Visit the ice hotel in Jukkasjärvi, which is a 20 minute bus ride from Kiruna city centre. This ice hotel is world reknowed, I mean there literally isn't a soul who comes to Kiruna and doesn't see this. Tickets are quite cheap if you want to get the guided tour, but if you want to check it out own your own, you can for free. However, you mostly will miss out on learning about ice production, seeing the factory and museum. This is actually quite important to understanding the origins of the hotel. If you have saved up enough bucks, you should book a night's stay in their rooms that are made completely of ice. Either way, once you are there be sure to head over to the ICE BAR and try some of their cocktails or mocktails served in ice glasses. I TRIED AND LOVED APPLE BISON!!! PS: BRING A WARM JACKET INSIDE, IT IS LITERALLY FREEZING.

By Nicolas Lafargue on Unsplash

COMPLETELY FREE/ $

Check out the Church up the road from the bus stop in Kiruna. It is beautiful and comes with a frosted forest as its backyard. The architecture is amazing and belongs to some of the oldest Scandinavian tribes of the area, THE SAMI PEOPLE. It is has intricate wooden work and very simple artwork to adorn the altar. You can tell it is not a common denominational church and it is quite interesting to see. There are also guided tours, which I just randomly joined because I saw them at the entrance (whoops, may not be the right thing to do since I didn't book it, but it was informative)

COMPLETELY FREE

Check out the Sami Village in Abisko. You will find this on one of the trails which will be outlined in the TOURISTATION BROCHURE that you get upon arrival, but if not there is a sign next to the train station. It is a model of a camp ground that is traditional to the SAMI tribe. It's really fascinating because I didn't know anything about them before this trip, and it's nice to see life sized models of their villages. IT FEELS LIKE GOING BACK IN TIME.

Other than these main attractions, be sure to roam the city of Kiruna and the lapland of Abisko. Talk to locals, ask them about the best spots to visit and definitely have a snow fight!

4. ACCOMODATION

By Helena Lopes on Unsplash

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I have one word for you... HOSTELS! Both Kiruna and Abisko Touristation have them, and they are my favourite way of travelling. Abisko, by the way, is entirely lapland and has one hotel accross the station called the TOURISTATION. Everyone just stays there, but there are options between private rooms, cabins and hostels. If you are rich or ready to splurge stay in the cabins for a truely wintery experience. They're so cute and straight out of a movie. However, I will always recommend hostels to anyone who asks. The hostel accomodation is cheaper and more fun. I got to meet people from France, Australia (where I am from), India, Germany, etc. I made quite a few friends and loved to learn more about their culture. They also have shared kitchens in hostels so we had fun, communal dining experiences. Also, you won't spend too much time in your room. Better to spend the money on adventures and experiences than on fancy cabins, unless of course you're loaded!

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But what about hotels? In Kiruna, we stayed at the SPis Hotel and I loved it too. Although we had privacy, which was nice but not really needed, I still got to meet a great range of people. Some Swedes, an English person named Daisy and some other tourists. It was nice to chill in their communal lounge/ bar/restaurant and wind down with a drink and snack. The next morning they also had an amazing breakfast spread for all visitors. It was nice to have that luxury and comfort of a hotel in such a cold area. It was . so cozy, but yes, more expensive than a hostel.

5. FINALLY .... FOOD

By José Ignacio Pompé on Unsplash

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Eating out at ABISKO is expensive. This is because they have one restaurant attached to the only hotel in the area. Meals are extremely fancy and pricey, and honestly not worth it. In Abisko, they have a common kitchen in the hostels, with all that wandering and the cold you'll just feeling like a warm bowl of soup and pasta not coq-au-vin... and you can fix that up for yourself. However, eating out in Kiruna can be made cheaper by eating at local restaurants. Try not to eat at hotels by going to local pubs and taverns for cheap, native Swedish dishes. That is one reason I suggest eating out for a few meals, to immerse with local culture. YOU CAN EAT SOUP ANYWHERE BUT MEATBALLS AND KANNELBULLA (CINNAMON ROLLS) ARE QUINTESSENTIALLY SWEDISH!

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Brining ingredients from home and cooking in the common kitchens is very very cheap. You will save much needed money and you'll actually run into a lot of people in the kitchen, great place to make friends. This is because bringing and cooking your own food is a local practice. All experienced travellers do this and swear by it. So do I. By the end of the day, a simple meal to hold me over is all I need, and being as frugal as I am, I would rather spend my money elsewhere.

I AM A FOODIE HOWEVER, AND A BALANCED PERSON, SO I RECOMMEND TO GET QUICK, CHEAP, SMALL LUNCHES FROM LOCAL RESTAURANTS BUT TO STICK TO MAKING DINNER AND BREAKFAST ON YOUR OWN.

By Tobias Fischer on Unsplash

Here is my comprehensive guide to a North Pole Adventure! Being 17 hours away (by train) from Stockholm, Abisko and Kiruna feel like another world, far away from everything you ever know, isolated and closed off, but when you see the place, meet the locals and take in all the magic, you feel right at home.

Check out these links for more info:

https://www.swedishlapland.com/stories/abisko-aurora-sky-station-worlds-best-place-experience-northern-lights/

https://www.swedishtouristassociation.com/facilities/stf-abisko-mountain-station/

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