Reindeer Packing & Sea Kayaking Expedition Itinerary,
Arctic Scandinavia
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Dates: August 11-24, 2008
Starting Place: Gällivare, Sweden Arrival Airport: Lappland, Gällivare
Ending Place: Narvik, Norway Departure Airport: Evenes or Narvik
Days: 5 trekking & 5 paddling
Price: $3,700.00 per person
Latitude: Narvik 68°27’N
Style: For hundreds of years the nomadic Saami (pronounced: saw-me) people have been traveling across the Scandinavian mountains and tundra, using domestic reindeer to carry their equipment. On this expedition we will carry a relatively light pack with our own clothing, sleeping bag and pad. Our packs usually weigh between 25-35 pounds. The reindeer will carry group equipment such as the tents, the food, kitchen gear etc. On the sea kayaking section our kayaks will carry all our gear.
Day 1: Welcome to Gällivare and Arctic Sweden! We meet at Gällivare Train Station at 10:00am. There are few cabs in Gällivare so if you miss "the one" at the airport just ask them to send out another one. We will pick you up at the Train Station and take you to our staging area.
After introductions and a snack we will make sure that everyone has the necessary equipment for a successful trip in the mountains. Your leaders will show you their personal equipment and how they pack it. Please read the Personal Equipment List for recommended clothing and hiking boots. Call us if you have questions: 1-800-572-8747. All extra gear (such as duffelbags, travel clothing and any sea kayaking related gear you brought) will be stored in Gällivare while we are trekking.
After personal packing is done we will hoist our backpacks and take a short walk, making sure the packs feel OK. This is our last chance to purchase quality equipment or make adjustments.
After lunch we travel to Ritsemjokk (jokk means creek in the saami language). On our way to Ritsem and lake Akkajaure (jaure means lake) we will drive through parts of Laponia UNESCO World Heritage Park. This drive is approximately 3 hours.
Somewhere along the road in the mountains the reindeer will be waiting for us. Here we will get acquainted with the reindeer and learn how to handle them! Reindeer are very calm animals but they all have different personalities! Lojan likes to cuddle, Naggar likes to be scratched and Nasti Gallo is a rascal! We will also practice how to raise the Lavu, which will be our “main lodge” during the trip.
From this point on our meals will be cooked on our camping stoves or fires and our nights will be spent sleeping in tents. For folks with no previous camping experience we will talk about how to stay warm and comfortable in the mountains. Our staff are there to help you have the best experience ever!
Day 2-6: After breakfast each morning we will break camp and help the Saami saddle the reindeer. Then we take off on our trek. This area is remarkably unspoiled even though people have lived here from time immemorial. Only light feet have trod here side by side with the animals. The flora is surprisingly rich considering our latitude far north of the Arctic Circle. If we are really lucky we might see wolverines, bears, lynx, mountain fox, moose and an array of bird life.
We will hike through wild mountains within and between several of the largest national parks in Sweden known for their unspoiled nature: Sarek NP, Stora Sjöfallets NP and Padjelanta NP. Our exact route wont be decided by the Saami until just prior to our deprature date.
Our pace is mellow, each member may take as many breaks as they’d like to view the mountains, breathe the fresh air or drink from the cold gushing streams. We will have 6-7 reindeer along helping us carry our tents, the food and other group equipment. There might be days when you are leading a reindeer for a few hours and other days when you are hiking ahead of the group without a reindeer.
On our trek we will pass numerous streams and smaller lakes. We hope to trek to Sårkåjaure lake which is where our Saami guides have a summer camp. Here we will spend two or three nights in the same camp in order to hike up a peak or try our luck fishing. Arctic char and trout are the native species. There is also a plentiful supply of blueberries and the infamous cloudberries which only grow in the far north and are locally known as “Arctic Gold”.
A big part of this adventure is to experience the mountains with the native Saami people. Our guides have spent their entire lives in this region fishing and herding reindeer. It will be a privilege to live and camp with them.
Day 7: Today we will return to the mountain road for our pick-up. In the afternoon we will be back in Gällivare where a bed and a well deserved shower and dinner are waiting. Tonight you will receive your extra luggage back. If needed you can do a quick wash of clothing in the sink.
Day 8: After breakfast we will travel to Narvik in Norway and then on to the beach where our fleet of sea kayaks will be waiting. The journey across the Swedish mountains and down to the fjord by Narvik is absolutely spectacular. We hope to allow you a couple of hours to cruise Narvik before we move on.
In the late afternoon we will reach the beach and our kayaks. This afternoon we make sure that everyone has the right gear for the kayaking section. Tonight we will sleep in tents and our food will be cooked on stoves or open fire again.
Day 9-12: We don’t require previous paddling experience on this trip and today we will help you become familiar with the kayaks and our equipment. Our staff will cover the basics of comfortable and fun sea kayaking. This includes kayak anatomy, getting in and out, basic paddling strokes, wet-exits, basic rescue techniques, injury prevention etc.
After lunch we will load our kayaks, and before we head out we'll double check all food, camping and sea kayaking equipment. We'll take a final look at the nautical charts prior to leaving and confirm our destination for the day. The weather and the group’s paddling ability will help us to determine our speed of travel. The weather in this region can be warm and sunny, but rain and wind are not uncommon. We should expect the best yet be prepared for the worst.
With the Coastal Range as our backdrop and the Lofoten Islands lining the western horizon we’re literally inside a 360 degree panorama of glacially sculpted granite peaks. White sand beaches and island clusters beckon to be explored. Clear azul waters, reminiscent of the Caribbean, allow you to view migrating fish and other sea life at depth right from your kayak.
During this expedition we encourage your input while making decisions on where to camp, how far to paddle and what areas to explore. This is what makes a Crossing Latitudes expedition unique, active participation and making new friends. We may choose to paddle on the protected side of the larger islands or venture out along the more exposed coast. We can expect areas with extremely rocky cliffs offering few landings, but also some stretches with sandy beaches.
The fishing is also excellent in this region. There are trout in the mountain lakes and cod, haddock, saithe and redfish in the ocean. Crossing Latitudes provides hand-lines for fishing from the kayaks.
Day 13: If the weather and sea-conditions are in our favor we hope to paddle to the village of Skutvik After loading the kayaks on our trailer and cleaning up our gear we will return to Narvik and check into Breidablikk Guesthouse. Here all your extra luggage will meet up with you again. Tonight we'll celebrate with a well deserved dinner in a local restaurant. Tonight's dinner and lodging are included in the price.
Day 14: In the morning we will enjoy a buffet breakfast at the Breidablikk Guest house. A final group photo will mark the official ending of our wild expedition. Please do not plan to depart until this morning. Early morning flights are OK.
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 coastal weather of Arctic Norway can bring strong winds and rain. Count on clouds and drizzle for at least half the time. Sunny days will be a welcome exception. Here the average temperatures range between the low 50's to 70’s. The coastal weather of Sweden is usually warmer and sunnier than Norway, but be prepared for some strong winds or heavy rain. Summer temperatures in Sweden can reach into the 80's. At times, the elements can prohibit us from paddling or hiking but not from enjoying these spectacular places. Good rain gear and footwear will also enable us to explore the mountains, forests, coast and villages by foot. The weather in the mountains is variable like in most mountains. One day can be warm and sunny with the next being windy and drizzly, it’s even possible to see some snowfall.
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!
Crossing Latitudes, Inc.
420 West Koch Street
Bozeman MT 59715, USA
USA:1-800-572-8747
Europe: +46-70-670 1153
www.crossinglatitudes.com
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