From magical summers where the sun never sets and arctic winters where it never rises to the otherworldly Northern Lights, Swedish Lapland is country sprinkled with magic. Travelling through the so-called ‘last remaining wilderness in Northern Europe’ may sound a little daunting, but under the expert guidance of native Sámi guides, you can experience the very best that the region has to offer. Read on for a taster of some of our favourite things to do in Swedish Lapland…
Go Husky Sledding
No trip to the arctic would be complete without riding through the wilderness behind a team of expertly trained huskies, that are perfectly adapted to the snowy landscapes. Even though huskies can be found throughout the world, meeting pure-bred Siberian huskies in their ideal habitat — especially those that are hardworking and well trained — is a much rarer experience. You can learn their names and say hello prior to embarking on the sled, and even little ones who may find their size a bit intimidating, will be charmed by their calm and placid temperament. The driver, or ‘musher’, will be a professional whose knowledge of the terrain and immense mutual trust with the animals guarantee a smooth ride. From frozen lakes to snowy hills and forests, the landscape are a true winter wonderland, and seeing them from a dogsled is one of the most memorable things to do in Swedish Lapland.
Try Your Hand at Ice Fishing
The fish in Swedish Lapland’s Arctic waters are large, plentiful and delicious. Fishing is not a hobby for the locals, but an integral part of their way of life, and it is something you should definitely try (if you’re the patient type). Ice fishing — which involves making a hole in the ice, casting a line, waiting, and hopefully catching one of the darting beauties making their home under the ice — is something that can only be experienced in the coldest parts of the world, and many fishing enthusiasts travel to Lapland specifically to go fishing. The Baltic salmon was on the edge of extinction, but numbers are now recovering, and as long as you fish responsibly, this 100cm-long salmon makes for quite the tasty lunch. On a guided fishing tour, you’ll be taken to the best spots on the rivers and lakes, and treated to lunch over a campfire, and perhaps — if you’re lucky — you can even enjoy a meal prepared from your catch in the evening. Go Glamping
While the classic wooden lodge nestled in Lapland’s beautiful environs is an old favourite that you can’t go wrong with, today’s travellers have a whole range of chic and sustainable ways to travel. The place you choose to rest your head at night can be an essential part of what makes a trip so memorable and while visiting Swedish Lapland nothing beats staying in a treehouse hotel. Enjoy beautiful views over the forest from your cosy room, warm up in a luxurious treetop sauna and explore the woodland surroundings on guided wildlife tours, hikes and even zip lining adventures.
Try The Local Cuisine
The wealth of local, natural ingredients that nature provides gives the food in Swedish Lapland a simple, authentic quality that you’ll struggle to find in more built-up destinations. Simple definitely doesn’t mean boring, either; rather, the high quality fish, meat and berries that the Sámi people have developed into perfectly balanced dishes over thousands of years will make you appreciate how complex simple, natural food really is. Traditions for storing food, including drying, smoking, salting and pickling, drives a lot of the flavours in the food, and even today these traditions are an essential and important part of cuisine. Trying as many of the traditional dishes as possible should be at the top of your list of things to do in Swedish Lapland, starting with suovas — dry-salted meat fried with garlic and mushrooms, and eaten on flatbread — which is a popular on-the-go meal for mountain hikes. Travelling with a local guide can expose you to incredible customs like these, and save you the monotony of another lunchtime sandwich.