| 2024-01-18 |

Imagine hiking in a snowy landscape in the wilderness of Lapland where nature is in silence and stillness and the northern lights dance in the sky.

For the third year in a row, Hikefulness-guides Ulrica Norberg and Maria Söderholm invite you to an inspiring winter hiking and yoga retreat in beautiful Abisko in Lapland, northern Sweden.

Winter hiking during the most aurora-rich period of the year is something quite extraordinary. The daylight is limited in January, so we will be hiking for a few hours and come back in the afternoon for yoga, followed by a sauna for those who wish. Dinner will be served at the Abisko Mountain Lodge, where we are staying.

Hopefully we will experience the magical Northern Lights. Did you know that Abisko National Park is one of the best places in the world to see the Northern Lights?

If you want to take the opportunity to add another experience, you can book dog-sledding. Depending on the depth of snow, it will be either in Abisko or in Kiruna.

Accommodation

Rooms

It is said that you fall in love with the Swedish wilderness here at the foot of the country's most beautiful mountain range. Here we stay at the charming Abisko Mountain Lodge with a friendly staff in a warm and inviting environment. A small and low-rise hotel and four cozy cabins make up Abisko Mountain Lodge, here you can feel a breath of the mountain hotels of old at the end of the road. Welcome to the warmth, you'll enjoy yourself here.

It is not difficult to feel a sense of community with the other guests - you are all here for the same reason. To enjoy Abisko, the wilderness and all the activities it has to offer.

Meals

Soon you may be sitting in a star restaurant in a megacity trying to figure out where you've had a better meal. And then you smile when you remember the evening at Abisko Mountain Lodge.

On the menu, you will find, mixed with seasonal ingredients, for instance char, reindeer, moose and red deer straight from the wild.

Slow-food is what applies at the Lodge, and it has been that way since the beginning. The Lodge is an official member of the Slow-food movement and they are very proud of that. They have also received an award for their wine knowledge. So wonderful with good food and drink after a day of both outdoor and indoor activities!

The breakfast buffet has everything you could wish for and will set you up for the day's activities. Breakfast is healthy. Home-baked bread, porridge, some scrambled eggs, maybe a sausage or meatball. Sit a little longer, think about the day and enjoy the view of the mountains. Toughest question right now – which type of tea out of all the many types and which type of home-made marmalade on the toast? You feel the energy tingling, time to go out. Already looking forward to breakfast tomorrow.

The dinner menu focuses on local and seasonal ingredients. This is mixed with the classic dishes from Lapland. There are always vegetarian options on the menu and for vegan options or other changes that need to be made for allergies or other special diets - no problem - as long as you tell us in advance.

Light lunch can be purchased at the lodge (soup lunch, pre-booked at least one week before or lunch package, pre-booked the day before). Alternatively, a lunch buffet is served at STF Abisko Tourist Station (approx. 2 km).

About Ulrica and Maria

Ulrica Norberg and Maria Söderholm lead this retreat and to soem extent you will also meet a local, certified hiking guide.

Ulrica and Maria have solid experience of leading hikes in different environments, around the world. During the pandemic, the idea arose to carry out a winter hiking trip in Sweden. This duo is based on the concept of "hikefulness" where hiking is a way of creating a conscious presence in nature. It is in nature, on the hiking trail, in the mountains that the physical, emotional and spiritual work together and the senses open up. Where we can grow as people in unison with each step and heartbeat. Winter hiking defines hikefulness to the highest degree.

Three yoga sessions are offered under the guidance of Ulrica. She adapts yoga to the day's activities. If you haven't done yoga with Ulrica before, you have something to look forward to as she is one of the most experienced and popular teachers in Northern Europe and she is known for her extensive knowledge, sensitivity and amazing ability to put together a yoga practice that suits everyone . You do not need to have any experience with yoga.

Program

We offer two day hikes, both along the Signature Trail Kungsleden and other circular routes. One of the days we have two local guides with us who are used to staying in these mountain environments and can tell us about Abisko, the surroundings and the unique environment. The hikes are of course adjusted according to weather and snow depth. Hiking in winter is more gentle on the body than hiking on bare ground and is an excellent exercise for the whole body. Snowshoes can be good to have if there is a lot of snow and loose snow. Read more about it under the Travel facts tab.

Last year we were lucky and got to see wonderful Northern Lights dancing in the sky and there is a good chance that we will experience it again. Scientists believe that we are in a time when the Northern Lights increase around the Arctic Circle during the winter months.

Day 1
- Arrival and check-in
- Gathering in the afternoon after everyone has arrived at Abisko Mountain Lodge for going through the days ahead, presentation etc.
- Dinner together

Day 2
- Breakfast
- First hiking day. We check the weather etc. during breakfast, if it's ok, then we hike directly from the hotel up to Stor-nebben, here you have a wonderful 360-degree view of the famous Lapporten, the lake Torneträsk and the surrounding mountains.
- Afternoon yoga
- Dinner, review of the next day

Day 3
- Same as day 2, but a different hike.

Day 4
- Breakfast
- We part ways after an experiential and wonderful long weekend

The program gives a general description of the weekend and should be seen as preliminary. Among other things, weather and wind can affect the schedule.

Closer to departure, we will send out a more detailed program.

Travel & facts

Included in the price:
- 4 days / 3 nights in shared twin room
- Breakfast and dinner
- 2 day hikes (not advanced or demanding)
- 2 qualitative yoga classes
- Excursion to see the magical Northern Lights (not guaranteed)
- Possibility of dog sledding at an additional cost
- Access to sauna

Not included:
- Flights, train etc.
- Lunch (can be pre-booked at the lodge)
- Local transports

Single Room: There is only one single room. It can be booked with price surcharges which can be seen when you click "Book on request" before registering anything.

Check-in: Check-in from 14:00. Check-out no later than 11:00

How to get there:
Flight:
SAS and Norweigan fly to Kiruna. From Kiruna Airport you can get to Abisko by airport bus, airport transfer, train, taxi or rental car. It is also possible to fly to Narvik/Evenes in Norway and from there get to Abisko by rental car or taxi.
- Airport bus/Taxi transfer: Visit Abisko: phone +46(0)980 40037, or by ticket online at www.visitabisko.com
Taxi Kiruna: phone +46 (0)980 12 020

Train:
Vy Train runs the traffic to Abisko from Kiruna. There are two stations in Abisko, make sure to get off at Abisko Östra. The train stops only a few hundred meters from the lodge and you can easily walk from the station, follow the signs.
Vy Train: phone +46 (0)771 444 111 or www.vy.se.

Car:
When you get to Abisko Östra, turn off the E10. Note that some GPSs don´t have updated maps regarding Abisko Östra and therefore sometimes shows the wrong way. We therefore recommend you to keep your eyes open and follow the signs towards Abisko Mountain Lodge.

Bus:
County traffic: phone +46(0)771 100 110 or www.ltnbd.se.

NOTE! Do not book your trip before you have received information from us that the minimum number of participants for the retreat has been reached.

Yoga equipment: There are slightly thick yoga mats to rent on site (SEK 100), but feel free to bring your own yoga mat, preferably a travel yoga mat that is a little thinner and easier to carry with you.

Other things to bring:
- Snowshoes can be good to have if there is a lot of snow and loose snow. If there is more packed snow, it is usually not needed. Snow conditions can change quickly if a heavy snowfall comes in. Snowshoes can be bought in well-stocked sports shops from about 100 EUR. Can also be rented at Abisko Fjällstation, it costs SEK 350 for the first day and SEK 175/day for the following days. If you want to rent snowshoes, fill in this booking form (only in Swedish) and send it to abisko.butik@stfturist.se. Book in time!
- Headlamp
- Stable and warm hiking boots
- Windproof warm clothes
- Smaller backpack for day trips
- Own coffee mug/coffee thermos
- Notepad and pen
- Nice normal physique is required for the hikes, it will go at a leisurely pace

Special diets: No problem getting special diets in most cases. Notify when booking.

Age limit: No children

Credit card: Accepted at the hotel

Carbon offsetting

Carbon offsetting your air travel is a good way of taking responsiblity for the emissions caused by it. You can easily carbon offset your trip directly with us when you complete your booking, and you will immediately see what it costs. We collaborate with the organisation GoCLimateNeutral and the amount goes to replacing wood and coal stoves for solar-powered fireplaces in the Chinese countryside in an UN-certified climate project that has the Gold Standard certification. If you want to dive deeper into the climate compensation, you can find more info here.

Sweden, Abisko – Winter Hiking and Yoga in the Arctic