These are our frequently asked questions.
Here we answer some of the more common questions asked by our guests. If you have a different question please use the Contact Us
If you are after the ‘legal bit’ then take a look at our Terms and conditions page.
When are your tours and accommodation available to book?
For our Multi day tours please enquire about your preferred date. These tours run from December to early April.
Our guest lodge accommodation is open for bookings all year round. In the Summer, the Lodge can be used as a comfortable base for visitors to Abisko National Park and hikers of the ‘Kings Trail’ or ‘Kungsleden’. Talk to us if you would like to know more about our accommodation and transport service for summer hikers (soon to be available on the website!).
What's your minimum/maximum capacity?
Any tour with overnight accommodation at our guest lodge has a minimum booking of 2 people.
Our maximum capacity on short tours is usually 12 but it can often be less than this especially outside of the peak times of Christmas and February half term. Larger groups can be catered for but please contact us with your request. Our multi-day tours are on a small group basis of no more than 6 or 8 people or less.
Do you offer private tours?
Yes, it is possible to book any of our tours on a private basis. We specialise in small group tours but please contact us with your request if you would like a private booking guarantee.
Do you have a minimum age for children?
We have a minimum age limit of 2 years for most of our ‘sit-down’ dog sledding tours. The child’s rate is applied to anyone under the age of 12. Please respect that proof of age may be required.
We do have tours that are only available to over 18’s.
The age limit for the tour will be identified on the individual tour page.
Do you provide pick-ups and drop-offs?
For our short tours (Forest Escape and Aurora Hunt), please be ready 10 minutes before the tour start time indicated on the invoice/booking confirmation; in consideration of our other guests, we cannot wait for late arrivals.
We will soon be launching a transfer service to Abisko for guests that book our lodge accommodation during the summer time only. Contact us for more information.
When should I visit Lapland? What are the average temperatures and daylight hours each month?
January: Our coldest month but quite a magical time of year with frozen trees, lots of snow and amazing moon rises. Daytime temperatures vary between -15C and -30C with an average of around -20C. Daylight hours are between 09.30-14.00 increasing to 08.00-15.30 by the end of January. January is a great time to visit to get quiet trails and smaller groups on tours. The long, dark nights also increase your chances of seeing the Northern lights!
February: This is the most popular month when the trails get busier and so do our tours. If possible, we suggest you try and avoid mid February half term for schools. It’s a great time to visit as the days are getting longer (08.00-15.30 increasing to 06.30-17.00 by the end of February) and a little warmer. Average temperatures are still around -15C to -20C, perfect temperatures to experience Lapland! The nights are long enough to have good chances of seeing the Northern Lights.
March: By March, temperatures are rising and if you’re worried about the cold, this is a good time to visit. Average temperatures are around -5C to -15C and by the end of March, Lapland can sometimes feel quite spring-like. Daylight hours rise from 06.30-17.00 at the beginning of March to 04.30-19.00 at the end of the month. With the dark evenings, you will still see the Northern Lights during this time.
April: Spring time has arrived and our tour location shifts from short/multi-day tours in Kiruna to the mountains nearby where snow conditions are better and our tours get longer. It is a great time to be outside and we can often be found walking around without a jacket! With the strong sun and long days, temperatures rise quickly during the day but the nights can still provide a chill. Average daytime temperatures are around -5C to +5C and the daylight hours already extend beyond 20.00 in the evening (23.00 by the end of April). If you want to see Northern Lights in April, you’ll have to stay up a little later!
May: By May we don’t offer dog sledding tours. Both us and our guides are usually taking a break from the long winter season. Be prepared for cool to warm days but with the odd rain or snow shower. The upside is the absence of mosquitoes! Our Lodge is available to book for self-catering overnight guests all summer long.
June & July: These are the warmest months of the year and if there are clear skies the temperatures can hit +30C, although the average is more like +18C. But precipitation can be high. Welcome to Kiruna’s summer! It’s during these months that we experience 100 days of 24-hour sunshine or “white nights” as they can be called. Because of this, our dogs are often more active during the night at this time of year, as are the wild forest animals. It’s impossible to see Northern Lights in the summer time in Lapland but there are many outdoor activities not far from our doorstep. Walking, running, cycling, kayaking, white water rafting and wild water swimming are all favourites.
August: In the second week of August the sun sets again and the night temperatures start to lower. Average daytime temperatures are around +11C and we can often experience some rain showers. In August we see some very beautiful autumn colours.
September: At last, we get some relief from the long daylight hours and the nights appear once again. Temperatures cool off and the mosquitoes have disappeared. It’s at this time of year that we start training our sleddogs for the winter. Normally, there’s no snow on the ground but frost creeps in by the end of September.
October: Now winter is approaching and October usually brings our first snow. It doesn’t settle at first but by the end of October we can often have a thin layer remaining on the ground. Daylight hours are very similar to March and average daytime temperatures hover just above freezing (+2C). This is a great (and often over-looked) month to see Northern Lights as the skies get darker and darker. The dogs are training hard by this point and we are often found out on our quad bikes training the dogs for hours at a time.
November: Snow is coming thick and fast now and by the end of the month we usually have just enough snow to start our short tours. Temperatures are below freezing (-11C) and daytime hours are similar to February. It is a good time for Northern Lights.
December: December is our busiest month with Christmas and New Year drawing big crowds. It’s a dark yet really exciting time to visit Lapland. Our tours are in full swing and the winter snow is fresh and sparkles like diamonds. It can be very cold however, so be prepared! During the last half of December the sun does not rise above the horizon and daylight hours are limited to between 10.00-13.00. Temperatures are around -15C on average but can drop to -30C. Northern Lights can be seen throughout the month.
If the temperature drops below -30C (-22F) it may be necessary to shorten any trip for your comfort.
What is a sit-down dog sled tour?
Our sit-down tours are Forest Escape and Aurora Hunt and are suitable for all the family.
This is a ‘sitting’ experience with up to four people sitting on a large sled driven by an experienced guide. Occasionally it may be possible (or necessary) for five people to sit on one sled but this is only in exceptional circumstances.
Please note, guests must be able to sit on a low bench style seat with knees bent at an angle of at least 90 degrees. It is with regret that we are not able to cater for guests who do not have good use and control of their legs as this can lead to increased safety risks.
What is a drive-your-own dog sled tour?
Will I see the Aurora Borealis / Northern Lights?
To see the Northern Lights (or Aurora), you need several factors to be aligned: High sun-spot activity, dark, clear skies and good timing! The Aurora can appear for just a few minutes or a few hours so it’s always advisable to be looking towards the sky whenever possible.
If the conditions above are satisfied, guests can see the Northern Lights from our Lodge and kennels. For the best time to visit, please see above ‘When should I visit Lapland?’
Do you provide outdoor clothing?
We can also provide a hat and neckwarmer should you not have your own.
Small children are provided with insulated ‘jumpsuits’ often worn over their own sweaters or coat (sizes 110-160cm). Children’s boots are stocked in size 11 upwards. If it is really cold, we provide blankets and even a child’s sleeping bag on our short, sit-down tours.
What are your accommodation facilities?
Our Lodge was hand-built by us in a rustic chalet style with all the luxuries of home and can sleep up to 8 adults. We offer the Lodge on a private basis to guests so you can be sure of privacy for your group, family or as a couple. There are 2 x twin or double rooms and 1 x family room for up to 4 adults/children (including 2 single bunk beds), one bathroom upstairs, one bathroom downstairs, and a fully-fitted kitchen with dining/lounge area.
In the winter, we can offer accommodation on a catered or self-catered basis. Vegetarians can be catered for with prior notice. If you have another special dietary requirement, please contact us to discuss options before booking. In the summer, we only offer a self-catered stay.
No alcohol is provided or sold by us, however you may bring your own alcohol if staying at our Lodge.
What should I bring if staying overnight with you?
For any of our tours that include a stay at our lodge, we recommend a set of woollen thermal underwear which is used as a first layer and regular warm clothes on top. Jeans are OK to travel in, and to ‘lounge’ in but we don’t recommend wearing them during our tours (even underneath the insulated trousers we provide). Instead we recommend fleece trousers or tracksuit bottoms, which are also ideal lounge wear for the evenings. For upper body warmth we recommend a sweater, fleece or light jacket depending on the weather. It’s always a good idea to bring several pairs of good, thick socks.
We provide all of our guests with insulated outerwear: jacket, trousers, warm boots and big over-mitts. We can also provide a hat and neckwarmer if you don’t have your own. It’s a good idea to bring your own pair of thin gloves to wear underneath our big mitts.
In the lodge we provide towels and bed linen. The bathrooms are stocked with toilet roll and soap but please bring your own toiletries such as shower gel and shampoo. A hairdryer is provided. The kitchen includes all utensils, crockery and pans as well as washing-up liquid, cloths/sponges, tea towel and dishwasher tablets.
For more specific advice on packing for our multi-day and week tours, please click on the PDF’s below to download a kit list.
Multi-day tours that include an overnight stay in a wilderness cabin
What languages do your guides speak?
How do we pay?
Our short tours require full payment at the time of booking.
Multi-day tours require a non-refundable deposit of approximately 20% in order to confirm your booking, with the full balance being paid 30 days before arrival in Sweden. These payments are invoiced in advance and usually paid via bank transfer.