Quick Details
Adult
15 + years old
SEK 1,995
Child
6 - 14
SEK 1,195
A Snowshoe Hike and Dinner in the Arctic Winter Night
There is a different kind of silence in winter.
Snow softens the landscape, the forest seems to grow quieter and, once we leave the lights behind, our eyes slowly adjust and the darkness begins to reveal the winter landscape around us.
On snowshoes, we make our way through the winter forest at an unhurried pace.
At first, there is the simple work of moving through the snow. Then something begins to shift. Your breathing settles, the sounds become clearer and the thoughts you carried with you seem to lose some of their urgency.
Step by step, the forest takes more of your attention.
The cold air, the snow beneath your feet, the shapes of the trees in the darkness. You stop looking for what comes next and begin to notice what is already around you.
By the time we reach the lavvu and the warmth of the fire, the evening has already done something to us.
Up here, darkness is part of winter life.
Rather than trying to escape it, we embrace it. After a while, it begins to feel familiar – almost like an old friend.
And somewhere out there, a fire is waiting.
After our walk, we settle into the lavvu and let the evening change pace. Jackets begin to steam in the warmth, smoke drifts towards the opening above us and dinner slowly comes together over the fire.
There is time.
Time for food to cook. Time for coffee. Time for stories and conversations that seem to come a little easier when people sit together around a fire.
Outside, the forest remains dark and quiet.
Perhaps there are stars above us. Perhaps snow is falling. Perhaps the northern lights decide to make an appearance.
Or perhaps nothing happens at all.
And that is perfectly fine.
Because sometimes what nature gives us is not something spectacular to photograph, but something much simpler – cold cheeks, tired legs, the smell of woodsmoke and the feeling of being completely present in one small place for a while.
Eventually, we put our snowshoes back on and make our way home through the winter darkness.
A walk, a fire, a meal and a few hours where there is nowhere else you need to be.
More Info:
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We meet at Wild Lapland and start by getting you properly dressed for the evening.
As a simple rule, dress for a slow walk in the weather we have that day. You should have your own warm layers underneath, but we provide the Arctic outer clothing.
Before we leave, you change into our winter boots and add our warm outer jacket, trousers and mittens over your own clothes.
We put on our snowshoes and head out into the winter forest. The pace is unhurried, giving us time to experience the landscape around us rather than simply covering distance.
Our walk eventually brings us to the kåta, where we light the fire and prepare dinner together.
After dinner, we put our snowshoes back on and make our way through the winter darkness to Wild Lapland.
The experience lasts approximately 4 hours.
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The walk to the kåta is approximately 1.5 kilometres through the winter forest.
We normally follow a trail that we have prepared, making the snowshoeing easier and allowing us to enjoy the surroundings rather than simply working our way through deep snow.
The route can be adapted depending on the group and how easy or challenging we would like the evening to be. Snow conditions also make a difference, and no two winter evenings are exactly the same.
The focus is not on distance, speed or physical achievement. It is about moving calmly through the forest on foot and experiencing the Arctic winter evening as we go.
We take our time, stop when there is something worth stopping for and let the conditions and the group shape the journey.
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You don’t need any previous snowshoeing experience.
Modern snowshoes help distribute your weight over the snow and make it easier to move through places where you might otherwise sink deeply.
It still requires more effort than walking on a normal path, particularly in fresh or deep snow. We take our time, help each other and adapt the pace to the group.
Your guide will show you how to use the snowshoes before we leave.
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You don’t need to be an athlete, but you should be comfortable walking for a couple of hours in winter conditions.
Snow depth and consistency make a big difference. Firm snow can make walking relatively easy, while fresh, deep snow requires considerably more effort.
We adapt the pace and route to the group and take breaks when needed.
If you have reduced mobility or are unsure whether snowshoeing will work for you, please contact us before booking. We can talk through your situation and help you decide whether this experience – or one of our less physically demanding winter experiences – would suit you better.
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Dinner is prepared and enjoyed in our kåta, a traditional Nordic tipi-style shelter with an open fire at its centre.
The fire gives us warmth, light and somewhere to prepare our meal. Smoke finds its way towards the opening above us, coffee stays close to the fire and there is plenty of time to settle in after our walk.
The kåta is simple, warm and sheltered from the winter outside – and sitting together around the fire is an important part of the evening.
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Winter temperatures in Swedish Lapland vary considerably and can sometimes be very cold.
We adapt the route, pace and time outside to the conditions.
One advantage of travelling on foot is that walking generates considerably more warmth than sitting still. This means we may adjust layers during the evening to avoid becoming too warm and damp while moving.
Cold weather does not automatically mean that we cannot go. With appropriate clothing, very cold winter evenings can also be some of the most beautiful.
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As a simple rule, arrive dressed for a slow walk in the weather we have that day.
Wear your own warm base and mid-layers underneath. We recommend wool or synthetic material closest to your body and warm wool socks. Avoid cotton as your innermost layer if possible, as it becomes cold when damp.
We provide the heavier Arctic outer clothing, winter boots and mittens.
Because you will be walking, we may not always need every outer layer while moving. Your guide will help you adjust your clothing to the temperature, snow conditions and activity level.
Please let us know your normal shoe and clothing sizes when booking so we can prepare suitable equipment.
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We provide:
– Snowshoes
– Warm outer jacket and trousers
– Arctic winter boots
– Large winter mittens
– Headlamp
You don’t need to bring specialist Arctic equipment or your own snowshoes.
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Winter weather is part of travelling in Swedish Lapland.
Snow, cold and darkness do not necessarily stop the experience, but safety always comes first.
We continuously adapt the route and evening to current weather and snow conditions. If conditions mean that the experience cannot be carried out safely, we will make that decision based on the circumstances.
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Dinner is prepared together over the fire, using ingredients from our region whenever possible.
Our food is largely based around locally raised meat and wild game, together with simple ingredients that belong here. We take great pride in knowing where our food comes from, how the animals were raised and the people behind what we put on the table.
Exactly what we serve can vary with the season and what is available. For us, that is part of cooking in this place – allowing the ingredients we have around us to shape the meal rather than making every dinner exactly the same.
The meal itself is an important part of the evening. We cook slowly over the fire, eat together and give both the food and the conversation the time they deserve.
Coffee, tea and warm drinks are included.
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Please let us know about any food allergies, dietary restrictions or special dietary requirements when booking.
Knowing beforehand gives us the opportunity to prepare properly and make the meal work for everyone.
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There is a simple outdoor dry toilet next to the kåta.
It is a proper little outhouse, but this is still a wilderness setting – so don’t expect a heated bathroom in the middle of the forest.
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Yes, for children who are comfortable spending several hours outdoors in winter and able to walk through snow.
Snowshoeing can be great fun for children, but deep snow can also require considerably more energy from shorter legs.
We adapt the pace to the group and make the journey part of the experience rather than something that needs to be completed quickly.
If you are unsure whether the experience is suitable for your child, please contact us before booking.
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Your experience includes:
– Approximately 4 hours with us
– Guided snowshoe hike through the winter forest
– Snowshoes
– Guide throughout the experience
– Dinner prepared together over the fire
– Coffee, tea and warm drinks
– Use of the kåta and fire
– Warm outer jacket and trousers
– Arctic winter boots
– Large winter mittens
– Headlamp
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The northern lights are a natural phenomenon and can never be guaranteed.
If they appear during our evening, we will of course take the time to enjoy them. But this experience is not built around chasing the aurora.
The darkness, the fire and the winter landscape are the experience – and the northern lights, when they come, are a beautiful bonus.
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You don’t need any specialist equipment.
Come dressed for a slow winter walk with your own warm base and mid-layers and wool socks. Bring any personal items you may want during the evening, and make sure your phone or camera is charged if you would like to take photographs.
We provide the snowshoes, heavier winter outerwear and equipment you need for the experience.
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We will charge a cancellation fee of 100% if booking is cancelled 14 days or less before the event
We will charge a cancellation fee of 20% if booking is cancelled 30 days or less before the event
Please make sure to have a valid travel insurance when booking a tour with us