Introduction to Expedition Skiing and Camping in the Arctic

Dreaming about a genuine Arctic winter experience but having a hard time fitting it into a busy schedule? Or uncertain about your own abilities and comfort zone? This short-version expedition trip is a good way to get the most out of your valuable free time. We ski with pulks (sleds) holding everything we need for our days in the wilderness surrounding the Norwegian Sámi capital, Karasjok. Our daily skiing distance will be between 5 and 15 km, depending on snow conditions and weather.

This trip is cross-country skiing and Arctic outdoor life in a nutshell. A fabulous experience for anyone with a dream of a real winter adventure, but lacking the time to do a long "expedition-style" trip. It is suitable for any level of experience, from those who have never stood on a pair of skis to the very experienced skier.

Highlights: a genuine Arctic winter experience and training, the Northern Lights (not guaranteed) — and no previous experience needed.

Season, terrain and weather

The Northern Lights, Aurora Borealis, make for one of the most spectacular sights nature has to offer, and they have become a very popular tourist attraction in themselves. If you are looking for a unique and genuine Northern Lights experience, you should get away from civilisation and any artificial light and surround yourself with wilderness and darkness. This means going into the wilderness during the dark polar night — the time of year with the best possible chance to see them. The polar night will amaze you with its variety of lights and colours, from the midday blue to the pink twilight and the mystical Northern Lights of the night. This short ski trip presents you with the very best possibilities and makes for a great polar night adventure.

The terrain is open with only small hills, and it is easy to ski across. We decide what route to follow shortly before the trip, to ensure we get the best possible experience with regard to current snow and weather conditions. This also allows us to enjoy the interesting things to see and do along the way.

How we travel

We will be cross-country skiing the whole way, and we transport everything we need in pulks.

Comfort, food and safety

We leave the hustle and bustle of civilisation behind, and we focus on making this a stress-free outdoor experience. We take the time to enjoy the environment and to make our camps as comfortable as possible. Your very experienced guide will make sure safety is a priority at all times.

The Arctic weather can sometimes present some challenges, but do not worry! Your guides are highly professional and have years of experience in this environment. He or she will make sure you are well taken care of in any situation.

This trip is not only about learning, but also about enjoying. As such we focus on comfort, good food and, as with all our trips, safety.

Who can join

We only use highly experienced and trained guides, and they pride themselves on giving their guests the best possible learning experience. Everyone has the opportunity to pick up tips or learn new "tricks of the trade" — making even the most experienced guest better suited for Arctic camping and expedition life. During these few days we will experience every part of basic winter expedition skills, such as Nordic skiing with a pulk, orienteering, correct use of winter clothing, camping in snow, food preparation and cooking, and much, much more. Changing winter weather conditions might also be a great and positive learning experience. In other words, after completing this short trip not only will you have had a fantastic experience, you will also be much better prepared to do a longer trip, such as our 16-day North–South trip or our 78° North expedition to high-Arctic Svalbard.

What is included on this tour is specified when you book — see the booking terms or simply ask us.