To navigate the snowy wilderness of Sápmi (Lapland) in northern Sweden, the indigenous Saami people have long relied on sleds pulled by reindeer or dogs. Travelers with Mountain Travel Sobek will learn from locals how to steer a reindeer sled and drive their own team of huskies about 75 miles from the Saami village of Övre Soppero to Jukkasjärvi. The trip ends with a stay at the Ice Hotel, made entirely from ice and snow.
WHAT YOU’LL DO: Lasso a reindeer for your sled; harness and command a team of four sled dogs; spend time with the Saami people, who share meals of Arctic char and reindeer.
HIGHLIGHTS: View the northern lights. Warm in the sauna after sledding. Spend one night in a traditional Saami laavu (tent) and another in the Ice Hotel, sleeping on reindeer pelts in a suite decorated with ice sculptures.
Mountain Travel Sobek, (888) 831-7526, 10-day trips for $4,995 plus internal airfare (about $500), including lodging and meals. This appeared in the July/August 2010 issue.
