Detailed program description of the///Muddus-hike in autumn

The journey starts in Stockholm taking the night-train to Boden in the sleeping car (departure approx. 8:30pm). This „Northern Arrow” as the train is called is one of the most modern night trains in Europe.

1st day:

Around 10:30am the train arrives at Boden, you change to the regional train to Kiruna/Narvik to go to Nattavaara (2nd station after Boden). Arrival is around 12:45pm. If you prefer to arrive at other times please contact the local guide.

In Nattavaara you will be picked up by car and small buses and only 23km later after a ride on gravel roads you will arrive in Solberget. The staff will welcome you and show you around in the homestead and you get to know all the animals. Feeding the reindeer will help you and them to get used to each other as they will be our companions for the next few days.

After a salmon-bread snack rooms will be distributed and you can move in. The sauna needs also to be prepared: drawing water from a well, chopping wood and starting the fire. After having dinner together either in the guest house or in the lumberjacks-house you can spend the evening relaxing an the Solberget-sauna.

2nd day:

Getting to know an ancient culture – trained draught and pack animals in Solberget
Long before horses were used in the far north the reindeer was commonly used to transport goods. Today this practice is lost. Since we would like to offer our guests the opportunity to get to know besides unspoilt nature also the history and culture of northern Sweden and the nearly lost culture of the Sami. Therefore we started to train wild reindeer and use them as draught and pack animals so our guests could relive parts of the ancient culture of the locals.

You will have the opportunity to help feeding the animals and get into close contact with the animals. Of course there will be an introduction to how to handle the reindeer and you will have the opportunity to do it yourself.

In the afternoon we will go on a small hike in the closer vicinity of Solberget. We will hike to the Solberg (the mountain that gave Solberget its name) and a round-view from the fire-guard tower and so on.

Later In the evening last preparations are made for the tour and you can spend a last relaxing evening in the sauna.

3th day – 6th day:

Autumn-hike with reindeer in the Muddus National Park
After breakfast and loading of the cars or small buses you will be transported 60km to the starting point of our hike.

The next four days you will strive through the Muddus national-park.

Information about the Muddus National Park: The national-park has about 50 000 ha whereas half of it are pine tree forests, 20 000 ha are moor, the rest is distributed as mixed forest, birch-forest, bushes and water. Especially beautiful is the primeval forest with moor, big pine trees, gorges with northern special flora and fauna. The Muddus waterfall is about 40m high. Glacier-water and frost formed the two major gorges in the area: the Moskoskorsu and Muddusjokk-valley.

The lakes Muddusjaure and Muddusluobbal are located in the center of the national park, around wide areas of marshes and moors spattered with islands with primeval forest. Many rare plant and animal species find a save place here. The national park is especially recognised for its uniqueness by the European Union with the “European diploma for nature conservation”.

Additional information on the hike:

We prefer not to give a detailed outline of each day here because we would like to be able to take wishes of our guests and the weather-conditions into account. You will hike with reindeer through the southern part of the Muddus national-park. Each day will be around 8 to 12km. Usually you will either have small trails or in moors wooden planks to walk on.

You will pass many of the interesting places of the national park, for example the Muddus water-fall, the Moskoskorsu-gorge or the bird-watch tower. Depending on the place we will either stay in very basic huts or tents. At some places it is possible to stay in modern mountaineering-huts. Cooking will be mostly on the open fire. Guests are expected to participate in preparation of the meals as in all other work necessary – that should go without saying.

In the afternoon of day 6 you will return to Solberget.

After dinner you will spend the rest of the evening in the sauna.

7th day:

After breakfast we will go to the well-known polar circle portal and have coffee and Kanelbullar (a sweet Swedisch speciality) and get to know this special place. The rest of the day you will prepare salmon in birch bark after a stone-age recipe: a very special experience.

8th day:

The morning is for your own disposal, if you like a small hike within the vicinity may be organized. There will be enough time to say good-bye to the reindeer and the other inhabitants of Solberget. After a lunch snack you will leave around 2pm by bus/car for the train station in Nattavaara.

Around 3:30pm the train leaves from the local train station in direction Lulea. In Boden you will have to change to the night-train with sleeping-car in direction of Stockholm where you arrive at around 7am the next morning. From here you will head home again.

Climate:

Early September days may still be quite warm in northern Sweden but summer is almost over. This means that the nights may be quite cold, it is likely that the nights will be below 0°C. Your sleeping bag should be able to cope with these temperatures or you may borrow one (€20, please let us know when booking). But the mosquitoes are nearly gone so that you should bring mosquito-repellent just in case. Usually it does not rain in autumn although you should bring rain protection gear. For the hike we recommend hiking boots covering the ankle.

Characteristics of the journey and demands:

Please note that the standard is very basic although our guests enjoy the high individuality and uniqueness of the homestead with the reindeer which is hardly comparable to a holiday-resort. There is no electricity but paraffin lamps, candle light and wooden fired stoves. Water has to be collected from a well or from a spring in the forest. But you can experience nature in all its unspoilt beauty –far away from any civilization. Sleeping will be on the hike on hiking mattresses or basic beds.

You will be served typical local food. This may be game specialities, for example reindeer, elk and fish. Vegetarian meals are possible (although limited due to cooking capacity), please note when booking. Usually a rich breakfast and dinner are served that is supplemented with a light meal in between.

For the hike you should be averagely fit and feel confident when walking on the narrow wooden planks over the moor. We expect team spirit and helping with the work that needs to be done like getting water, chopping wood…. Bad weather conditions may make a change of the program necessary. On the hike usually two guests are responsible for one reindeer. Therefore each guest has the opportunity to take care of the animal for a while, e.g. leading, feeding and giving it water in the evening.

Unfortunately we are not able to describe what it really means to spend a few days out in the national-park with reindeer. You just have to experience it yourself in Solberget.

The tour 22.08.-29.08.2012 is a special tour for families! Please ask us for more information and detaild programm.

Included in this package:

· Pick-up at the train-station in Nattavaara
· Bikes for adults
· Guided tour of the village (1 pm)
· Reindeer feeding
· Sauna-usage
· Full board with local and typical specialities (partially organic food)
· 4 nights of accommodation in unique rooms (usually shared rooms with two adults per room, single rooms are additionally 30 Euro/night)
· 3 nights in basic forest cabins or tent in during the hike in Muddus national park.
· Training for reindeer handling
· Trip to the polar circle
· Trip to a traditional reindeer sorting if possible (petrol charges apply)
· 4 day hike with reindeer in Muddus national park.
· Stone age style cooking.

Additional services:

· Trip to the Sami museum in Jokkmokk, 25€/person for car rental (100 km single way) plus about 6 Euro entrance fee.
You may book this once you are here. You may borrow a car from us and drive yourselves. Please do not forget bringing your drivers license. You may also do this if you stay longer after your initial trip.
· Massages from 22 Euro
· Staying additional days is possible from 60 Euro/night, please talk to us in advance.

Participants:

4-7 persons