Arctic Survival 15-22 March 2020

Day 1

London to Sweden

We fly from London to Stockholm and take a connecting flight to Östersund. On arrival, we’ll be met by our Swedish guides and travel one hour to our base, a cosy log cabin set on the edge of a lake at Raftälven. The cabin is wonderfully rustic with no electricity – just an open fire, cooker and beds!

Day 2

Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing

After breakfast and a briefing on the local area, we’ll spend the day acclimatising to the environment. We’ll have the chance to try out either snowshoes or cross-country skis as we trek to a remote beaver dam.

Day 3

Husky driving

The third day is husky sledding day! We’ll be able to experience both riding and actually driving the husky dog teams around the frozen Sandviksjön Lake – an unforgettable experience! A delicious lunch will be provided on the island of Storön, before we ski back to our cabin in the afternoon.

Day 4

Snowmobiles

After a one-hour drive, we’ll each get behind the controls of our own snowmobile or ride as a passenger. We’ll travel in them across frozen lakes and up into the mountains.

After a brief lunch stop, with food cooked on an open fire, we’ll get back on our snowmobiles and continue. The safari lasts around six hours and we’ll ride through stunning scenery until we reach the plateau (2,500ft above sea level). The views here are spectacular!

We’ll then return to the cabin and prepare for the survival phase. This involves setting out after dark to spend our first night out in the open, in a large tent with a wood burner.

Days 5 and 6

Survival phase

We’ll be extremely well-briefed for the survival phase, with demonstrations. After this, we’ll get the chance to put what we learn to the test. We’ll spend the day constructing shelters from natural resources and spend the night in them. The next night’s sleep (day 6) will be in a snug snow hole that we’ll have built ourselves.

Other skills we’ll have the opportunity to learn include making and setting traps from natural resources, trying our luck at ice fishing through holes bored in the frozen lakes, lighting fires and water purification.

The survival phase ends after our last campfire breakfast and we’ll head back to the cabin.

Days 7 and 8

Relaxation 

Following the rewards and challenges of the previous 48 hours, we’ll have the chance to treat ourselves to some well-deserved pampering! We’ll enjoy a sauna and hot tub to soak away those aches and pains, under the clear blue sky, on the shore of our lake.

While relaxing in the most beautiful surroundings, we’ll have the opportunity to take in the magnificent views, looking back at what we’ve achieved over the last few days. In the evening, we’ll have a celebratory meal in our cabin, while sharing stories of our experience.

On day 8 after breakfast, we’ll pack up and make our way back to the airport for a flight back to London.