Dates: March 31 - April 5, 2008
Starting Place: Dundrets Fritidsby, Gällivare, Sweden
Days: 7 days
Airport: Lapland, Gällivare
Price: $2,500.00 per participant
Latitude: Gällivare 68°07’N
Style: Every spring the reindeer migrate from the woodlands, where they have been during the winter, up to the mountains. A migration of more than 200 kilometers. We invite you to a unique experience, to follow the herd for a week and help the herders in their work. Together with our Saami friends we have created this opportunity for folks who would like to experience real winter and to learn from cultures that have embraced the winter landscape for thousands of years.
We will work side-by-side with the Saami and experience what it is like to be a reindeer herdsman. We will sleep in a traditional Saami "kåta" (like a teepee tent) with a stove burning in the center all night. Other nights might be spent in a herdsman's cabin. For the week our mode of travel will be by ski and snow mobile. Their might be an opportunity to travel by traditional reindeer sledge as well.
The reindeer migration takes place in and around Laponia, an area so spectacular and valuable that UNESCO proclaimed it as a world heritage park. The reindeer are in the process of moving up towards the mountains in the west. The reindeer and the weather conditions decide where we actually end up for the week.
The weather of Arctic Scandinavia wintertime can be anything from mild to freezing cold. Sometimes the temperatures can be above 32 degrees Fahrenheit but more often they will range between low 30's and into the 20's. If the wind is blowing the actual temperature will be even lower on our skin. We can expect cold and clear days with not a cloud in the sky but also windy and blustery days with possible heavy snowfall.
The weather and group health will be our gauges for setting the pace during our days out. Crossing Latitudes emphasizes low impact traveling, safety, good judgment, sound outdoor traveling skills and having a great time.
Day 1: Welcome to Gällivare and Arctic Sweden!
We meet at “Dundrets Fritidsby” at 10:00a.m where we are staying in modern hotel chalets.
There are few cabs in Gällivare so if you miss "the one" at the airport or at the train station just ask them to send out another one. Dundret Fritidsby is located about 2 km outside Gällivare towards the alpine ski area.
After introductions and a snack at the Saami camp "Repisvare" our Saami guides will give us a lesson in the history of reindeer herding both in the past and in modern days. The mode of transportation might have changed but the reindeer still do their own thing based on weather, snow conditions and predators. We will also take a look at our schedule and route as we now know where the herd is.
This morning we will also make sure that everyone has the necessary equipment for a successful trip in this winter landscape. It is of paramount importance to us that each member have a safe and comfortable experience in the winter forest where the reindeer spend their winters.
The weather of Arctic Scandinavia wintertime can be anything from mild to freezing cold. Sometimes the temperatures can be above 32 degrees Fahrenheit but more often they will range between low 30's to 40 degrees below. If the wind is blowing the actual temperature will be even lower on our skin. We can expect cold and clear days with not a cloud in the sky but also windy and blustery days with maybe heavy snow fall. It is not our intention that folks will be freezing for a week so trust us when we say that we will stay warm by being active, eating a lot and that there will be heated tents or cabins to stay in as well.
Your leaders will show you their personal equipment and how they pack it. We will supply you with sleeping bags, reindeer skins, skis and snow shoes, but please read the Personal Equipment List for recommended clothing and winter boots. Call us if you have questions: 1-800-572-8747. All extra gear (such as duffelbags, extra travel clothing you brought etc) will be stored at "Dundret" while we are out working with the Saami.
After a sturdy lunch we will load the vehicles and drive towards the Laponia UNESCO World Heritage Park (approximately 2 hours). Somewhere along the road we will stop and unload. Here we will get introduced to the Saami herders and the reindeer. We will watch and learn as the Saami prepare for the night. We will most likely learn how to pitch a "kåta" (the traditional Saami teepee tent). We might be trusted with chopping fire wood for the night and we might help out with the cooking.
Tonight's dinner will be cooked on a camp stove and over the fire. We will all sleep in the "kåta". Tucked into a well insulated sleeping bags with lots of "loft" and on top of a reindeer skins we are sure you will sleep well. The stove will be burning all night and outside the door the reindeer are all snuggling as well.
Day 2 - 5: Each morning the stove in the lavu will be stoked and coffee, hot chocolate and tea made. Then we will have breakfast and break camp.
Our work will be safe and calm. The basic goal is to move the reindeer herd west. The daily work during these days will consist of breaking and building new camp for all herders, and building corals for the reindeer. We will help out with feeding the reindeer and learn what reindeer eat and where they can find food wintertime. We will also help guarding them against predators as there are wolves, wolverines and lynx in the area.
Some days we might travel by ski (5-15 kilometers in a casual pace) and other days we might be riding a snow mobile in a fast pace. Expect deep forest, large snow and ice covered lakes, hilly terrain and spectacular views of the surrounding national parks and their mountains.
A big part of this unique experience is to spend time with the Saami and learn from them. Lennart, Anders and Janne have all spent many months camping out in the winter landscape. They sense the change in weather, they can track animals and they understand where they came from and their peoples history. It is a real treat to sit around the fire after a days work and listen to their stories of their people.
We hope to find time for tracking and maybe even snare a ptarmigan or hare for dinner. We might spend a couple of hours ice fishing and we hope to learn at least a few of the one hundred words the Saami have for different kinds of snow.
Our meals will be cooked on camp stoves and fires and we will sleep either on reindeer skin in a kåta or on the floor in a reindeer herders cabin. Expect to see an amazing display of the Northern Lights across the winter sky!
Day 6: Today is our last day of work. In the afternoon we will say goodbye to the reindeer and our Saami friends and travel back to Dundrets Fritidsby in Gällivare. Here we will check into modern cabins and you will receive the gear you left behind. There is also a well deserved hot sauna and shower waiting for you!
Tonight we will celebrate this very unique winter experience with dinner at Dundrets Fritidsby.
Day 7: Breakfast and a final group photo marks the official ending of this expedition. Please do not plan to depart until this morning.
General Information:
Travel Insurance: We recommend that you protect yourself from unforeseen circumstances while traveling. The Travel Guard "Protect Assist" insurance plan protects you in the event that you have to cancel your trip for a variety of reasons. It covers you for everything from your cancellation to Trip Interruption, Travel Delay, Lost, Stolen or Damaged Luggage, Baggage Delay, Medical Expenses, Emergency Medical Transportation and more. This plan is ideally suited for adventure travel.
Pre- and post-trip accommodations: We recommend EDMONDS TRAVEL outside Seattle. They specialize in travel to Scandinavia. ?KJ? is our primary contact person, she will help you book tickets. Call: 1-800-261-3868. Email: kj@edmondstravel.com
Weather: The weather of Arctic Scandinavia wintertime can be anything from mild to freezing cold. Sometimes the temperatures can be above 32 degrees Fahrenheit but more often they will range between low 30's and into the 20's. If the wind is blowing the actual temperature will be even lower on our skin. We can expect cold and clear days with not a cloud in the sky but also windy and blustery days with possible heavy snowfall.
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Currency: Each Scandinavian country has its own currency. Exchanges can be made at banks, airports, train stations and most hotels. Scandinavian currency is not interchangeable between countries as each has a different exchange rate value. Major credit cards are widely accepted throughout Scandinavia. Sweden and Denmark are part of the European Union but have chosen not to use the Euro. Norway is not part of the EU. Travel checks are not used in Scandinavia. The banks will charge a stiff fee if you want travel checks cashed.
Language: English is Scandinavia's second language and is almost spoken fluently throughout. We encourage you to take advantage of the opportunity to speak the native tongue. Phrase books and dictionaries are a great help. All our staff are bilingual and speak English as well as Norwegian or Swedish.
Last minute assistance: If you need assistance shortly before departure or while traveling to Scandinavia, you may call the following number for Crossing Latitudes in Sweden: 070-670 11 53 (within Sweden) or 46-70-670 11 53 (from outside Sweden). Please leave your name, a message and a number where we can reach you.
We are looking forward to our adventure together!
Tim & Lena Conlan - Crossing Latitudes
