Crossing the Kungsleden on snowshoes and pulka, in the heart of Lapland

After waking up in Kiruna, we finalize our preparations and take the train to Abisko. This is where our adventure begins, under the famous archway of the royal road.

We hike about fifteen kilometers on snowshoes, between open birch forests and the banks of the Abiskojokk River. Along the way, we enter the territory of moose and reindeer; perhaps we will be lucky enough to see some.

We reach the Abiskojaure mountain hut (487 m), simple but comfortable, equipped with a sauna, a wood-burning stove, a kitchen, and cozy beds. Before evening, we need to cut the ice to fetch water and prepare dinner. And to end the day, nothing beats a traditional Swedish sauna.

We leave the birch trees of the first day behind and enter wide valleys bordered by mountains. With each step, the terrain draws closer, more imposing, almost dizzying.

We travel along the frozen shores of Lake Alesjaure and pass near a Saami village, a testament to the ancestral culture of the Far North.

At the refuge, everyone resumes their small evening tasks before enjoying a hot meal and a comforting sauna.

We continue along the main valley to rejoin the Kungsleden trail. This stage is shorter and more accessible, ideal after the previous days. Only the final climb to the Tjäktja mountain hut requires sustained effort.

The vast plains give way to a narrower landscape, dominated by steep mountains. We have a picnic at the Tjäktja cabin, where we also spend the night.

The afternoon is free: well-deserved rest or exploration of the surroundings, the choice is yours.

Today we reach the Tjäktja pass (1150 m), the highest point of the Kungsleden. The gradual ascent marks a symbolic stage in our crossing.

We then descend into a vast valley, then cross an immense plain which, in summer, transforms into the largest Sami encampment in the country. In winter, silence and solitude reign there.

In the distance, the Sälka chalets come into view. After settling in, everyone is free to relax at the refuge or take a walk in the wild Nilla valley.

We advance through the majestic Tjäktjavagge valley, dominated by the highest peaks in Sweden, including Kebnekaise and Drakryggen.

After crossing an isolated pass, we descend into the reindeer valley to Singi, a Lappish village deserted in winter but full of history.

The stage is relatively short, leaving time to enjoy the simple and welcoming refuge.

For this final stage, you follow the wooded valley of the Láddjujohka river , between false flats and gradual descent .

As you turn around, you will see the peaks of Kebnekaise one last time, like a final look before departure.

You then reach Nikkaluokta , an ancient trading post linked to reindeer herding and Sami culture .

A shuttle takes you back to Kiruna , where this Lapland adventure ends.