Sweden
Kebnekaise haute route  |
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| Course
overview |
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We
are delighted to offer this trip to
ski in the Kebnekaise area of Lapland.
The region is very Alpine in character,
and this ski tour offers many itineraries
of different levels, in absolute wilderness.
You will be guided by an IFMGA mountain
and ski guide. |
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The
Kebnekaise area is in northern Sweden,
very close to the border with Norway.
For flights to the region, the local
airport is called Kiruna, which is well
served from flights from Stockholm and
UK. |
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During
the week you ski tour across many glaciers
and high passes, taking in many of the
key summits of the region. A key ascent
is of Kebnekaise 2111m itself, which
is the highest mountain in Sweden. The
best time of year for skiing the Kebnekaise
is in April. |
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Previous
touring experience
is required, but this is of a similar
level to the Silvretta ski tour, and
in the bigger lodges a good sauna (bastu) is there to help you relax
after a great day of touring in Lapland. |
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Any
mountaineering skills or knowledge of
ropes are an advantage, but not essential
as all necessary techniques are taught.
As with all arctic travel, it is important
for the guide to keep the itinerary
very flexible to take account of the
weather and avalanche conditions. |
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The
accommodation in the mountains is in
local lodges / huts. These are different
from in the Alps, in that cooking duties
are shared, and the lodges are warmed
with wood stoves. Blankets are provided
in the lodges, but a sleeping bag liner
is recommended for comfort. |
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Dates: these
are listed in the column on the right,
and they show the live availability
from our secure online booking system.
When you book online, you receive immediate
confirmation, your Alpine Information
Booklet, course specific kit list and
invoice. |
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Map
of the Kebnekaise
Below is a beautiful hand drawn map of the Kebnekaise
region of Lapland, with some of the best touring
routes marked on it in red. Don't worry, more modern
maps do exist! We thought you'd like this map, as
it really gets the point across that this is exploratory
ski touring in genuine wilderness. The variety of
where to ski is fairly limitless, and so the week
can really be tailored to your previous experience,
the snow conditions, and fitness levels.
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Brief
Course Itinerary
The itineraries are for guidance, but should give
an idea of what you can achieve during the week.
Each week this course runs slightly differently
to cater for your preferences, the conditions, and
where the best weather and snow is to be found.
This flexibility allows you to have the course tailored
to your needs. This trip is normally lead by Pascal,
who is an IFMGA mountain and ski guide. He has worked
with Icicle for over a decade, and spends most of
the year in the Alps, though lives in Sweden for
a few months each spring. Pascal is a keen telemark
skier, so this ski tour will appeal to those either
on classic touring kit, or on telemark ski touring
equipment.
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Saturday - Flight to Kiruna, with the night spent in
a hotel / lodge in Kiruna. |
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| Sunday - Transfer to Nikkaluokta, then to the Kebnekaise
Fjallstation lodge. Ski tour to get your ski
legs back, and avalanche training. Night in
the lodge. |
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| Monday - Ski tour up the Kittelbacken to ascend Tuolpagoni
1660m, called the volcano of Lapland, due
to its steep crater. Night spent in Tarfalla
lodge. |
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| Tuesday - Ski tour up Drakryggen 1680m before skiing
into the long linear Gaskkasjohka valley.
The night is spent in the Salka refuge at
810m. |
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| Wednesday - Ski tour up to take in the summit of Salka
Sealgga 1865m, before skiing onwards to reach
the Singi Lapland lodge camp at 640m. |
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| Thursday - Today is the main ascent of Kebnekaise 2111m,
via the Sinnivaggi valley. This is the highest
point in Sweden. Ski down the Kebnekaise lodge. |
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| Friday - On the final day of skiing, to reach the
Tarfala glacier, before making a loop to the
refuge, followed by a transfer to Nikkaluokta,
with night in a lodge. |
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Saturday - Breakfast, then transfer
back to Kiruna for the return flights home.
ITINERARY NOTES: Where possible we follow
itineraries. Mountain adventures are weather
and conditions dependant, so occasionaly we
are forced to alter the plans. If this is
the case, suitable alternatives are offered.
Please use this outline itinerary as a guide
to the types of route / activity that you
will attempt. |
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| Course
Prices |
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Standard
course |
6 full days IFMGA guiding, 1:6 max ratio
8 days holiday in total, Saturday-Saturday |
£1799 |
Live
availability |
Click
on the planner logo to the right to
see the real time live course availability
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Secure
online booking system |
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| Standard
Course Inclusions: 1) IFMGA Mountain
Guides for six days of ski touring, 2) Pre course
information booklet, 3) Equipment discount voucher
for UK shops, 4) Seven nights accommodation in Sweden
in hotels / lodges / huts on a full board basis,
from the evening meal on the Saturday you arrive,
to breakfast on the Saturday that you depart, 5)
Free 36 page technical Course Instruction Booklet,
6) Transfers in Sweden from Kiruna to and from the
Kebnekaise where you start and end your ski tour. |
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| Exclusions:
1) Travel to and from Kiruna, 2) Ski hire, 3) Personal
laundry, telephone calls, lunches, & any extra
purchases in mountain huts / hotels / restaurants,
4) Activities insurance, excess baggage charges. |
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| Group
sizes: 3 - 6 people per
IFMGA mountain guide. For group sizes of over 6
people, there are multiple guides, and the teams
travel independently of each other. |
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Current
course availability
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| Testimonials |
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| Press
& media |
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| Films
& videos |
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| Photo
gallery |
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| Location
data for this trip |
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| The
trips all start Kiruna airport in Sweden, where
you will meet the guide. |
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Time
Difference
GMT +1hr |
Local
Currency
Krone |
Travel
from UK
1hr flight |
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| Suitable
for split-boarders |
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| The
majority of our ski tours are only suitable for
those on skis, due to the nature of the terrain.
However, this region is also suitable for those
touring on split boards, as it is more rolling Nordic
style, without many steeper icy traverses, where
it is easier on skis. We accept mixed groups on
this tour, so the scheduled dates are open to either
ski tourers or split board tourers. Ensure that
you take a rusksack that can carry either your skis
or board. |
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| Skis
& equipment advice |
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| Because
we know it is so important to you to have the most
suitable equipment and clothing for off piste skiing
and touring, we have devoted a page especially to
it, which you can access by clicking on the image,
or by clicking
here. This page outlines the key equipment
you should bring, and gives examples of skis that
are suitable for the course. If you have any queries,
please do not hesitate to get in touch with us. |
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| Suggested
reading and kit |
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View
full course equipment list,
with examples of kit, click
here |
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| So
why choose us? |
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We
are true specialists in ski touring. See our
blog, by clicking on the logo (on the right). |
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Itinerary
flexibility to allow you to take full advantage
of the weather and conditions each day, so
that you maximise the amount of time spent
skiiing each day. |
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Our
prices are fixed in £ pounds sterling,
to protect you from euro currency fluctuations,
so that you can budget accurately. |
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We
have a team of over 30 IFMGA guides, and a
Alpine resort support team, who all want you
to have the best skiing possible! For more
details on the guiding team and qualifications,
please click
here. |
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| Any
further questions? |
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A
key part of choosing a company is being able to
come and talk about your plans with an experienced
course advisor face to face. In an increasingly
virtual world, we know our clients value speaking
to real people, getting open and honest advice.
The vast majority of our clients are British, and
our office and outdoor store is based in Windermere
in the English Lake District.
 
Get
in contact to arrange a meeting, and come in for
a coffee to discuss your course in person with a trip
advisor. |
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