So there you guys, we didn’t make half measures… Linz tarts, lots of soft caramels, chocolate bars, cereal bars and lots of cookies! With 500m to go, it felt unnatural after so long in the wild to see motor vehicles and walk on tarmac again. The highest point on the Kungsleden is the Tjäktja Pass, reaching an elevation of 3,770 ft. Wildlife and Plants. This itinerary passes through the Nallo and Vistas refuges instead of Tjäktja. Another thing is that in September the nights get longer again and it is one of the best months of the year to observe the northern lights. Receive the latest news from the blog directly in your inbox! Early the next morning, I awoke to see reindeers grazing nearby in swirls of mist. It passes through one of Europe's largest remaining wilderness areas. As usual we left with our couscous buddy. If you are interested, you will also find the history of the weather in the region on this website. In this part of the world, the weather can change extremely quickly and you have to be prepared for rain, lots of wind and even snow at night! “I feel tired, excited, and a bit sad it’s over,” said Ben, an arboriculturalist from Worthing who was walking with his partner, Saskia. Hi, Seems like the majority of huts along the Kungsleden opens 13th of June but there's always an emergency room open. The summer is the perfect time to trek the Kungsleden, one of Europeâs remotest trails. “So I love the feeling of getting back to basics. As for shelters and food, a special section is dedicated to them later in this article. On the other hand if you buy everything in a refuge you will on the one hand spend more money (prices are roughly 30%-40% more expensive, lyophilized cost for example 9€ each) and especially the variety of your menus will be quite poor… In short, if you can carry your food, or at least part of it, we advise you to take a few menus with you!On the other hand, shelters are great for snacks! On the Kungsleden, mosquitoes return as soon as the temperature increases (mainly July – August) and can be particularly vigorous, especially below the tree line. So certainly we don’t plan to sleep in a hut on this trek but it’s still cool to know that we won’t necessarily need to carry 7 days of food and that we can take shelter in case of a storm (note that there is no electricity or running water in the huts). Glacial springs catapulted off the mountainsides, delivering pure sources of water, while the springy grass sward provided a comfy mattress. On our itinerary the “big” refuges that had this assortment were Abiskojaure, Alesjaure, and Sälka. The route bore southwards from Abisko’s mountain station, and throughout the 20th century it was expanded in piecemeal fashion until, by 1975, it had reached as far as the Hemavan Ski Resort in Västerbotten County, 440km south of its starting point. Entry for the Fjällräven Classic 2017 (Aug 11-18) costs SEK2,220pp (£200) and includes bus transfers to and from Kiruna’s airport and railway station, maps, a hiking pass, freeze-dried meals and cooking fuel. As the valley constricted to a pronounced U-shape, I could almost visualise some Ice Age glacier wedged within it, grinding ancient bedrock to smithereens. On the principle we thought we would wear a merino during the day and so we took 2 leggings per person in order to always have a dry one for the evening. Indeed, in June there may still be a lot of snow on the passes and late September marks the period when the snow returns and temperatures drop significantly. Hiker checking map on Kungsleden trail (Dreamstime). Another popular one-day detour is to climb the Kebnekaise (2100m and Sweden’s highest mountain) from the Kebnekaise refuge (as a round trip so you can leave with a light bag on your back). This makes the great amount of… drum roll… 466€ per person for 9 days and 7 nights of trekking in Lapland! It is one of the world's most famous hiking trails, and the stage between Abisko and Nikkaluokta is the most-travelled trail in all of Sweden. Now Electronics is extending and expanding its lease contract to 982 sq.m. In the winter Kungsleden is a ski trail with approximately the same route. Here we have chosen not to eat a hot meal at lunchtime (to save fuel but also for simplicity). However the northern section of the Kungsleden it is still approximately 110km/70miles over a week, so the fatigue may accumulate. I shivered at the thought, instead contenting myself with gazing up the valley towards Sweden’s largest mountains, the Kebnekaise Massif. It’s a sodden environment, so care is required on the narrow boardwalks that sometimes float on puddles like surfboards or tilt like seesaws. For our part we bought a lyophilized meal for the last evening, many cookies (those of the brand Ballerina are a delicious…) , rye bread for lunch and… tube cheese (sacrilege I know… but that’s all they had that we could spread). The Kungsleden is a great introduction to walking in Scandinavia. The most classic route of 100 km ( approximately) between Abisko and Nikkaluokta does not represent any particular difficulty (at least according to my readings). After trekking: WE HAVE SEEEN NORTHERN LIGHTS!!!!!!!! The idea was to have 7 breakfasts for 4 people with this. We decided to do the northern part of the Kungleden in mid-September at the end of the season (all huts close between September 20 and 30). And to continue the theme of ‘nuts’, the sweaty stream of pale, naked bodies exiting the sauna in the drizzle lacked a certain je ne sais quoi. It was then that Alan’s words about the size of the area came back to me, but this was just the start. That speaks volumes about Swedenâs most well-known hiking trail. It was the first time we ate it and we must confess, we were a little apprehensive about the concept. Kistaâs location with good transport connections and commuter trains and buses to and from the city was also an important factor for the company. Click on the different category headings to find out more. In order to enhance all this we also brought 2 bags of powdered sauce that we simply put in hot water before adding the couscous. The author travelled with Jagged Globe, which is due to run the ten-day Fjällräven Classic with Alan Hinkes OBE group trip in August 2017. You could rent a car and go for a daytrip around Östersund. We’ve never got lost and we’ve never had to cross a river on foot! This autumn it was very hot on the Kungsleden and as a result the snow had melted too well. He also put into context the relativedifficulty of hiking the Kungsleden. The first is the Tarfala Valley, which looks absolutely magnificent as it passes very close to large glaciers and high altitude lakes. Camping will be fine if you have a tent. Beyond this watershed col, a broad stony plateau stretched ahead, while carrot cupcakes at Tjäktja checkpoint set us up for an afternoon tracing the meandering Alesätno River. If you make a reservation or make a purchase through one of these links, we may receive a modest commission, of course without extra costs for you. … and we even wrote a whole article about these magnificent lights and especially how to capture them here. The Kungsleden (or kings trail in english) is actually a hiking route of about 440 km between Abisko and Hemavan in Swedish Lapland. You may also like (Onion sauce and mushroom sauce). Quintessentially Scandinavian, some of the huts along the Kungsleden have their own saunas. That’s where we have some problems … Even if we have already improved our setup quite a bit, we can’t leave light with our photo / computer equipment. “Nine or ten was pushing my luck, and by the time I’d nearly finished the 14, I’d psychologically come to terms with the fact I should’ve been dead.” Our tired limbs were trifling by comparison, so imagine how brave I felt when I bottled the Swedish sauna up ahead. Personally I had a preference for dishes in which “there was something to chew” such as pasta or rice. Usually, though, all you can expect to encounter en route are scattered hikers, lots of reindeer and a few curious Arctic hares. I decided to pass on dinner, having spotted a ptarmigan moseying around my guy ropes – the thought of rehydrating game casserole would have created a major guilt trip. By midsummer, most of the snow has melted, and you can hike the Kingâs Trail. Dicentia is moving in to Kungsleden's premises in Kelavik 1 in May. Here is a little overview of the food we brought and bought during this trek. The 70 kilometers tour ⦠The 70 kilometers tour … Indeed the infrastructures and the markings of this trek are very good! As we crossed slippery mud, bog-spanning wooden boardwalks and bouldery scree falls, I soon became grateful for the regular presence of the mountain huts, offering solace to our weary feet. in major padel initiative in Umeå; 12 May Kungsleden to modernise 3,600 sq.m. At an average walking pace, a month is required to hike the entire Kungsleden, but I’d come to trek its remote final quarter, a section entirely within the Arctic Circle. Some hikers, embracing the Scandinavian spirit, had already whipped off their kit for an icy dip. Free Ebook to prepare a round the world trip, How to chose the best backpacker insurance, Our Backpacking Gear for a round the world trip. Below are some links that have been useful to me in preparing this article and that could be useful to you: Here it is… I hope you liked this article and that it will help others to prepare a trek on the Kungsleden. Believe it or not, the Kungsleden trail (or Kings trail, which is in Swedish Lapland) was not our idea at all… One day, Marine, one of Fabienne’s best friends, sent her the link to a blog post saying: Look at that, the Kungsleden looks SOOO cool…. When to hike Kungsleden? Mark Stratton encounters grazing reindeers, glacial springs and naked locals on a hike across Swedish Lapland. Since more than 40 years back Kungsleden the Kingâs Trail covers 425 kilometers, from Abisko in the north to Hemavan in the south. Mark Stratton encounters grazing reindeers, glacial springs and naked locals on a hike across Swedish Lapland And if you can see a little bit of our more global impressions after the trek then Benoit published a “first impression” article about our trip to Lapland and the Lofotens. Published on May 11, 2015 Skiing Kungsleden from Abisko and over to Unna Allakas for some nice bath in the new sauna. Yet I was also excited to have the resources to survive in a realm once considered the preserve of grizzled explorers. The highest point on the Kungsleden is the Tjäktja Pass, reaching an elevation of 3,770 ft. Wildlife and Plants. Afterwards if you are rather for paper map then it is possible to buy the kungsleden map online. Kungsleden - easily accessible hike through Sweden`s magical mountain world!Kungsleden Kart & Guide is a series of 5 parts between Abisko and Hemavan, which have been developed in collaboration with the Swedish Tourist Association. #NotCrazyMarine . In short, you can see that it is possible to do a lot of things around this Kungsleden hike. I hiked the northern 105 km of the Kungsleden in June/July 2017. Extremities frozen, I felt lightheaded with an exhilaration that continued the next morning as we followed the raging Abisko River, which hurtled towards the Kungsleden’s denouement on Lake Torneträsk’s shoreline. About the plane tickets I gave you the price of the round trip that Marine and Sabine paid. After living in Vienna for 2 years and travelling around the world for 19 months, we left our comfortable life in Switzerland behind to become nomads. If youâve more time on your hands taking extra nights at a hut you like might be a good idea too, to recharge and to enjoy nature! But we preferred to buy well insulated floor mats rather than replace our sleeping bags. In addition with our fine team of #ChattingHiking, it promises good moments of fun on the Swedish trails , P.S.If you buy something through a link like this one, we will receive a small amazon commission that will help us maintain and grow the site. Mark Stratton | 14 May 2017 Trekking the Kungsleden trail in remote Swedish Lapland. But well, as the proverb says very well: There is no bad weather, only bad clothes. Fortunately for us, we didn’t have to pull out the waterproof ponchos (the rain jacket were more than enough for the few showers we had). Quick to cook, very nutritious, it is the number one ally of the hiker! Published on May 11, 2015 Skiing Kungsleden from Abisko and over to Unna Allakas for some nice bath in the new sauna. Kungsleden is a long-distance hiking trail that runs from Abisko in Swedenâs far north to Hemavan, about 325km southeast as the crow flies. We broke camp on the third morning for a rugged 26.5km trek under a blackened sky. We could clearly have brought fewer snacks and eaten more Ballerina and Daim chocolates. HAPPY, that was the feeling at that moment.We could start the ‘Dag Hammarskjöld trail‘, the most northern part of the Kungsleden or ‘Kings trail’. And as you can imagine, you shouldn’t offer us twice a nice hike in partial autonomy in one of the least populated places on the planet… A few weeks later and after having embarked my sister on the adventure, here is the complete #chattingHiking team with 4 plane tickets in their pockets to Kiruna, in the very north of Sweden. A giant Sami teepee had been erected, and amid the rapture of finishing I scarcely baulked at the £17.50 it cost for a beer and some falafel. In other words, it is unconscious to do this without crampons and adequate equipment! We reached the first checkpoint at Kebnekaise Mountain Huts shortly after the forest petered out. The summer is the perfect time to trek the Kungsleden, one of Europe’s remotest trails. The archaeological remains of trapping pits suggest the Sami have inhabited this area for several thousand years. to schools in Trollhättan; 19 May Kungsleden leases 3,000 sq.m. The summer is the perfect time to trek the Kungsleden, one of Europe’s remotest trails. For a start, it offered the novel sensation of 24-hour hiking, thanks to the Arctic phonemena of ‘midnight sun’ during the summer months. If so, Östersund may be an option. Here is the route: There are also several variants that I have identified during my readings on different sites. Footpath with wooden planks on the trail (Dreamstime). Was this the best tea break in the world? I also came across another route that takes a rather different path in the middle of the trek. Here is the map of this variant: The itinerary through Tarfala can only be considered if the conditions are good! Weâre talking wild mountain landscapes, bubbling brooks, foaming rivers and high mountain plateaus. Aligot and trufade were good, but the mashed potatoes didn’t really stop me.But otherwise, it’s quite strange, because the caloric intake is relatively “low” if you have enough activity. Otherwise it is obviously possible to be lucky and have a nice sunny week… but it is better to count on very changing weather and rain about every other day. It should be possible to continue through a pass around the Kebnekaise and then descend a long valley to join the Kungsleden route. That morning’s hike was the most beautiful of all, following a string of glacial-fashioned lakes. HAPPY, that was the feeling at that moment.We could start the âDag Hammarskjöld trailâ, the most northern part of the Kungsleden or âKings trailâ. Both ends of this section (Kiruna and Nikkaluokta) are easily accessible by bus / train, 2 long-sleeve thermal sweater: the idea being to have one for walking and one dry for sleeping, 1 waterproof jacket / windproof gore-tex or other type, 1 Karma Grip: Even if we replaced the gopro and the Karma grip with an, 2 large tubes of condensed milk (we used to sweeten the mixture but also for coffees! Start Kungsleden Abisko. Even if it is the most popular part of the Kungsleden (although in September one should not meet too many people), it is also the most mountainous and “Arctic” part of the trek. Sweden has between 15,000 and 20,000 Sami, around 900 of which work as reindeer herders. The animals loitered all morning as we climbed a treeless moorland pockmarked with lakes and scree fans, fashioning a sort of super-sized Lake District that would have had Wordsworth ramping up the hyperbole. If eventually the price of the plane gets too expensive, the other option is to take a flight to Stockholm (these are often cheap) and then take the night train to Kiruna or Abisko. During long stretches, the trek proved highly sociable and allowed ample time to chat with my fellow hikers. Crossing an exposed pass, we veered away from the lakes, passing beneath the 1,154m summit of Kartinvare. “The great thing about the trail is that you get a diverse wilderness encounter,” enthused my local guide, Mikael Nyman, as I checked into Högalidsskolan outdoors centre in Kiruna. That may be something to consider. Kungsleden is magnificent but if you have to navigate deep, slushy, snow you will lose quite a lot of the fun. The price of the flight ticket can obviously vary a little… But overall it is between €250 and €350 per round trip from central Europe. It was during this early evening stretch that Kungsleden’s uniqueness really started to dawn on me. But I certainly wasn’t going to be alone this time. “I have a very comfortable lifestyle,” explained Esther Green, a fellow hiker and tax-accountant from Rugby. But this depends on weather condition and can change a bit from year to year. 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