Erä-Oula
Sarek ski expedition
Sarek is among the oldest national parks in Sweden, and the first of its kind in Europe. Sarek is a high alpine area with mountain tops ricing up to 2000 meters above sea level. Long, deep, narrow valleys offer endless opportunities for ski expeditions. During this tour we will ski into the heart of the national park, far away from the civilization. There might be some local reindeer herders passing us with snowmobiles, but otherwise the park is closed from any motorized traffic. There are no marked routes or huts in the area, so we can enjoy a week of true Arctic wilderness.
In early April the days are getting longer and warmer. However, the temperatures are dropping when the sun is disappearing behind the mountains. We can expect anything from sunny and calm weather to winter blizzards.
This is a challenging ski tour, and you should have experience of cross country skiing and staying outside all day. The total length of the tour from Ritsem to Saltoluokta will be around 105 km. You will be pulling a pulka with all your personal gear and food for 8 days. Daily distances will vary from 15-20 km. The nights are spent in tents.
Day before the expedition starts, we will meet at Ritsem Fjällstation. You can book accomodation at the station: https://www.svenskaturistforeningen.se/boende/stf-ritsem/. It is also possible to sleep in a tent outside the station for a reasonable cost.
Daily itinerary
Day 1
After the breakfast we will do final packing of the pulkas. When everything is ready, we will start skiing towards the wilderness. Day starts with crossing of lake Áhkájávrre.
Day 2-7
Full days of skiing. We will ski daily 15-20 km and camp in different location according to our progression and weather conditions. We will prepare breakfast and dinner in the camp. During the day we will enjoy lunch outside. All the food and equipment is carried by ourselves in our pulkas. Day by day our pulkas will get lighter, and we get used to skiing and the expedition-life.
Day 8
End of our expedition is coming towards the end. On the way we have possibility to stop by the legendary STF's mountain station Saltoluokta. We might be able to enjoy their famous waffles with coffee. In the evening we arrive to Kebnats, where we establish our last camp.
Day 9 – goodbyes
From Kebnats you can take a bus towards Gällivare, or to Ritsem if your car is standing there.
Food package
If you are not sure what kind of food you should bring, we will make it easy for you. We are offering food package for additional cost. It will be 300 nok per day including breakfast, lunch and dinner. You only need to take care to bring enough snacks and sweets with you.
How to get there
The nearest airports are in Gällivare and Kiruna. You can also reach Gällivare by train from Stockholm/Gothenburg and Narvik. There are daily bus connections from Gällivare to Ritsem/Saltoluokta.
Bus route and rates:
Equipment
You will find equipment list for the winter tours from info folder.
Expedition info
Price: 9900 NOK
Dates: 29. March - 06. April 2025
Start: Ritsem
End: Saltoluokta/Kebnats
Group size: 4-8
Languages spoken: Finnish, English, Norwegian
Included
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Certified Arctic Nature Guide
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8 nights in tents
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Tent
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Expedition pulka
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Camping stove and fuel
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Cookware and eating kit
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Safety and communication equipment
Not included
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Food
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Ski equipment
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Sleeping bag and sleeping mat
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Transport to Ritsem and from Saltoluokta/Kebnats
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Accommodation in Ritsem
For additional cost
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Food package: 300 NOK/day
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Breakfast
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Lunch
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Dinner
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