This 10-day private tour through Swedish Lapland is all about exploring the Arctic at your own pace with a local expert. Spend your days enjoying the best attractions across Lapland and each night under the stars gazing at the northern lights.
Starting and ending in Luleå, you’ll drive through some of northern Sweden’s most beautiful and remote parts, seeing frozen lakes, snow-covered forests, and wide open skies. Along the way, you’ll meet reindeer, visit the famous Icehotel, and catch the spectacle of the northern lights overhead. You’ll also get a real feel for Sámi culture and local life in Lapland. It’s the perfect mix of quiet nature, cozy stops, and unforgettable winter experiences.
All itineraries can be customized to suit your needs. The sample itinerary below is designed for a winter vacation, but we can tailor the itinerary depending on when you would like to visit and how many days you would like your tour to last.
Destinations On Our 10 Day Swedish Lapland Tour
Day 1: Luleå
Your private tour begins in Luleå, a coastal city in Swedish Lapland, where your private guide will meet you at the airport or at your accommodation. As you travel into the city, your guide will share some stories from Lapland’s history and tell you what to expect from your private tour.
The first attraction of the day is Gammelstad Church Town, a beautifully preserved 15th-century village and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The village features 400 red cottages built around a stone church, and your guide will tell you about remote villagers gathered here for worship in the harsh winter months.
Back in the city centre, you’ll walk along the frozen harbor promenade and then warm up at a local cafe for fika, a Swedish custom of enjoying freshly brewed coffee with pastries. After your coffee break, visit the Norrbottens Museum, which teaches you about Sámi Culture and life in Swedish Lapland from prehistoric times to the modern day.
Enjoy the first dinner of your private tour in a restaurant handpicked for you, and if weather conditions are clear, your guide will take you outside the city for views of the northern lights.
Days 2 & 3: Jokkmokk
After breakfast, you’ll start your journey to Jokkmokk, one of the cultural centers of Sámi life in Swedish Lapland. Storforsen Nature Reserve along the way, stretching your legs by walking along the frozen forest trail.
Arrive in Jokkmokk and head to the Ájtte Museum, featuring fascinating exhibits on Sámi heritage. Your private guide will help explain the exhibits, immersing you into Sámi life. Enjoy a guided walk through Jokkmokk’s town centre, where you can shop for souvenirs such as handmade items from reindeer antlers and leather.
Your 3rd day will feature an exclusive reindeer experience where you’ll head to a traditional Sámi reindeer camp. Feel like Santa as you ride through a snowy forest on a sled pulled by reindeer! Following this unique experience, sit around an open fire as your local host shares stories about the Sámi way of life and the bond between people and the reindeer.
When you return to Jokkmokk, visit a local workshop to learn how to make traditional Sámi craft from skilled artisans.
Depending on the weather on the 2 nights you are in Jokkmokk, your private guide can arrange a 2nd attempt at a sighting of the northern lights.
Days 4 & 5: Kvikkjokk
Start day 4 with a scenic drive through the highlands, with scenic stops for photos of frozen lakes and snowy roads. Upon arriving in Kvikkjokk, you’ll embark on an exciting snowshoe hike into Sarek’s Edge. As you walk through the snowy landscape, you’ll learn to identify animal tracks and spot winter birds like Siberian jays. Warm up that evening with local specialities such as elk stew, before ending the night sitting by the fireside in the lounge.
Start your 5th day at a remote frozen lake for a morning of ice fishing. Learn traditional techniques used by locals and drill your own hole as you wait to feel bites from beneath the ice. Even if you don’t catch anything or don’t want to fish, the experience itself is mesmerizing as you sit by the quiet lakeside.
After a quiet, reflective morning, it’s time for more adrenaline as you embark on a guided snowmobile safari. You can ride with your private guide or go solo on your own snowmobile. Follow ancient Sámi trails through the snowy forests and streams, and really get a sense for this unique way of life.
Day 6: Arjeplog
On day 6, you’ll leave the snowy forests of Kvikkjokk and head towards the lake landscapes of Ajeplog. The views on the way are incredible as you descend from the mountains, driving towards hills and frozen lakes.
Your first stop is the Silvermuseet, an exceptional local museum that explores the history of Sámi silverwork and the settlers’ lifestyle. It also contains archaeological finds that trace life over 10,000 years.
After a long drive and time in the museum, take some time to relax in your lakeside hotel where you can enjoy views of Sweden’s deepest lake, Lake Hornavan.
After dinner, Arjeplog’s open flat terrain and low light pollution can make for great photo opportunities. Just imagine the northern lights reflecting over frozen lakes. While you marvel at this natural phenomenon, your guide will bring hot drinks and tell stories about early settlers using starlight for navigation.
Days 7 & 8: Kiruna
Head further north and deeper into the Arctic Circle as you spend the next two days in Kiruna. En route, your guide will point out the invisible line where you officially re-enter the Arctic Circle, and you can stop for pictures while your guide tells you the full story of how the Arctic Circle works. Stop for fika to break up the journey and arrive in Kiruna in the early afternoon.
Enjoy a guided tour of the city, exploring the unique story of how the entire city of Kiruna had to be relocated due to ground deformation from iron ore mining. You’ll visit the new Kiruna City Hall and the original Kiruna Church and see where neighborhoods and monuments are being moved or preserved.
Take a short drive to Jukkasjärvi to visit one of Swedish Lapland’s most iconic attractions. The Icehotel. It’s made entirely of snow and ice and is a hybrid complex with 2 main hotels. Visit the winter hotel built every year before melting in Spring, and the Icehotel 365, which is frozen year-round using solar-powered technology. Your guide will teach you the history of the Icehotel and how artists sculpt it each winter. If you’re looking for unique accommodation, we can even arrange for you to stay here overnight in one of the ice suites.
Enjoy a dog sledding tour with eager huskies taking you through frozen forests, and regular stops for the dogs to rest, and you to enjoy warm drinks by an open fire.
Kiruna’s latitude and open horizons make it a prime destination to view the northern lights. Your guide will monitor cloud conditions and take you to a nearby hill or a quiet Sámi campsite to give you a different experience from previous nights.
Day 9: Abisko
Day 9 is spent in Abisko National Park, one of the most iconic wilderness areas in the Arctic. Start with a guided winter hike through the park’s scenic trails. Enjoy stunning views of mountains, lakes, and forests while your guide tells you about the area’s geology. Your guide will also help you find the best spots for photographs and how to track wildlife through the park.
As it’s the final night of your tour, you will have one last chance to witness the northern lights. We’ve saved the best for last, as you’ll visit the Aurora Sky Station, one of the world’s most famous northern light observatories. Take a chairlift ride up Mt. Nuolja, where you’ll first enjoy a gourmet 3-course meal. After dinner, you’ll step outside to view the lights in optimal condition. Weather conditions shouldn’t be an issue as Abikso’s unique climate means you can often get clear skies even when nearby areas are clouded.
Day 10: Luleå
On your final day, you’ll complete a full circle Arctic route as you journey back to Luleå, where it all began. After a hearty breakfast in Abisko, you’ll set off early to maximize the daylight hours. The journey retraces part of your northern route, but the journey is always unique with a chance to spot wildlife or savor landscapes you enjoyed on the first journey.
Depending on your time available, you can stop at small villages along the way for a final fika or leisurely walk. Your guide can drop you off wherever is most convenient for you, whether that’s the airport, a hotel, or so on!
