Name: JULY 31 – AUG 6 – THE KUNGSLEDEN (KING’S TRAIL) – SWEDISH LAPLAND
Start: 2024-07-31T13:55:00.000Z
End: 2024-08-06T15:00:00.000Z
Location: Kiruna

**Backabush is going to Orkney for some Scottish island hopping in the far north!**

Cost - £659. Group size - 18. Accommodation - Hostel with twin rooms.

Orkney is an archipelago off the north coast of Scotland, famous for its tall sandstone cliffs, neolithic sites, wildlife, and seemingly endless daylight at midsummer. Come island hopping with us to a place with it's own unique Scottish character. The relatively low level walking on Orkney is in complete contrast to so many of the Scottish hiking trips that we have run in the past, Orkney's rolling hills, meadows, miles of coastline and archaeological sites provide hikers with so much to explore.

Our plan is to drive from Inverness on Saturday May 25th and catch the ferry across to St Margaret's Hope on South Ronaldsay, Orkney. From there our road hops across a few little islands all connected by narrow causeways before reaching Mainland, which is the largest of the islands. We will stay for 6 nights on Mainland in the town of Kirkwall, Orkney's largest settlement, comparatively busy with restaurants, shops, picturesque harbourfront and historic Norse centre.

For our 5 hiking days we will have the chance to explore Mainland Orkney as well as some of the neighbouring isles accessible by short ferry rides. Some of Orkneys walking highlights include:

* Skara Brea & the Western Coastline, one of the best preserved stone age villages in Europe.
* The island of Hoy, with its craggy coast and sea-stack 'The Old Man of Hoy.'
* The island of Westray, 'Queen O' the Isles', RSPB reserve and broad bays of Tuquoy and Mae Sands.
* South Ronaldsay, the Tomb of the Eagles and Windwick Bay.
* Deerness, the eastern tip of Mainland, a beautifully rugged Orkney classic.

**ACCOMODATION**
We have hostel accommodation with a difference in Orkney. There are shared twin and private room options, bathrooms are shared.

Shared twin room £659

**TRAVEL TO SCOTLAND**
The meeting point will be in Inverness town centre at 10:45am on Saturday 25th May. We will meet in the car park outside the Morrisons Supermarket, which is just next to the train station.

We must depart Inverness no later than 11am in order to catch our ferry to Orkney. For this reason we would recommend travelling to Scotland the day before on Friday 24th and staying overnight in Inverness or nearby. There are plenty of hotel, b&b and hostel accommodation options to choose from in Inverness.

We will drop you off back in Inverness on Friday 31st at around 16.30pm so please consider that when planning onward travel. There will be a town centre and train station drop off as well as a stop at the airport.

**DIFFICULTY**
Although ascent on this trip will be minimal (Orkney's highest summit is 481m high) this is a wild and remote area with rough trails and some steep routes winding up and down the island coastal cliffs, surefootedness is necessary. On this trip we will need to be fit enough to walk 10 miles a day.

**WHAT IS INCLUDED:**

* 6 nights quality, hostel accommodation (we will sleep in twin share rooms booked exclusively for our group)
* All transport in Scotland and Airport transfers from Inverness.
* Guided hikes. Our leaders are Mountain Leader trained and qualified first-aiders.
* Financial protection in accordance with the Package Travel Law 1992

**WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED:**

* Meals - Our accommodation will have self catering facilities and there are many local pubs and restaurant nearby
* Travel to Scotland
* Travel Insurance

**HOW TO BOOK A PLACE ON THIS TRIP:**

To confirm your place on this trip use internet banking **your RSVP is not enough to reserve a space on this trip**. Please use **ORKNEYMAY** as your payment reference. The account details are:

Account Name: BACKABUSH XPLORERS
Sort Code: 090127
Account Number: 22440622

Only payment secures your place. Please email backabushxplorers@yahoo.com as soon as you send payment so that we can confirm everything with you. Thanks. :)

BACKABUSH ADVENTURES - Travel & Outdoor Activity Group!

Geoff

Nathan

Mo Gray

MAY 25 - 31 (SPRING BANK HOLIDAY) - ORKNEY

Inverness

Join Backabush to trek into the Arctic along Sweden's premier long-distance trek, the famous Kungsleden.

Cost - £579. Group size – 16. Accommodation - mountain huts and hostel

Lying within the Arctic Circle, the King's Trail runs through Sweden's most beautiful mountain scenery, traversing the land of the Samí people and the midnight sun. Listed as one of the "World's Best Hikes" by National Geographic, the trail passes through a magnificent and ever-changing panorama of snowy mountains, deep glacial valleys, open fell, expansive lakes and alpine forests.

Our six-day hut to hut route is about 105 kilometres long and will take us from Nikkaluokta to Abisko, passing by the rugged Laponia mountains and traversing the Tjäktjavagge, a 30km glacial valley with magnificent views along its entire length. The terrain is beautifully stark and remote, however benefits from a network of scenically located ‘fjällstugor’, Swedish manned mountain huts.

We have secured bookings for our group in one of these charming mountain refuges each night. All provide comfortable dorm rooms with beds and bedding (you will need to bring your own sleeping bag liner), toilets and self-catering facilities. Some also provide a ‘bastu’ (sauna) and shop with limited food supplies. We will need to carry most of our food with us on the trail, usually in the form of dehydrated expedition meals.

Sweden benefits from a much milder climate than most other regions that lie so far north due to the moderating influence of the Gulf Stream. In summer we can expect predominantly high-pressure weather systems bringing stable weather.

Swedish Lapland is often referred to as Europe’s last great wilderness and is home to a remarkable group of wild animals including brown bear, wolferine, arctic fox, moose and many others. This is also Sápmi, home of the Samí people whose close relationship with the reindeer has underpinned their existence sine the last ice age.

**ITINERARY:**

**Wed 31 Jul** – Arrival in Kiruna, overnight in a Kiruna-based hostel

**Thu 1 Aug** – Bus to Nikkaluokta (1.5hr), start of the trek - Nikkaluota to Kebnekaise (17.9km)

**Fri 2 Aug** –Kebnekaise to Sälka (24.4km)

**Sat 3 Aug** \- Sälka to Tjäktja \(12\.5km\) \(short additional hike to peak with amazing views possible from hut\)

**Sun 4 Aug** \- Tjäktja to Alesjaure \(13\.1km\)

**Mon 5 Aug** – Alesjaure to Abiskojaure (20.3km)

**Tue 6 Aug** \- Abiskojaure to Abisko \(13\.3km\)\. The trek finishes in Abisko and you will need to organise either onward travel or accommodation from here

**DIFFICULTY:**

The trek does not involve technical mountaineering and elevation profiles are moderate however some days will be demanding due to their length. You will need to have a good level of hiking fitness, capable of walking 15 miles (24.4km) with up to 500m ascent/descent, carrying your own supplies.

**WHAT'S INCLUDED:**

* 1 night hostel accommodation (breakfast incl) in Kiruna at the start of the trip
* 5 nights Swedish mountain hut accommodation
* Self catering kitchen facilities
* Cooking gas
* Two trip organisers
* Logistical planning and support (advice on flights, trains, buses, food supplies, equipment etc)
* An itinerary of hikes with route descriptions and GPX files provided
* Financial protection in accordance with the Package Travel Law 1992

**WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED:**

* Flights & airport transfers
* Bus transport to the trailhead from Kiruna to Nikkaluokta (around £16)
* Food (lightweight dehydrated meals are best)
* [Swedish Tourist Association](https://www.swedishtouristassociation.com/join-stf/) membership (about £25)
* Local mountain guide (we are a self guided group)
* Sleeping bag liner
* Travel insurance

**TRAVEL:**

Recommended connecting flights with Scandinavian Airlines (Operated by SAS Connect) to Kiruna:

Outbound - Wed 31 July:

SK 1530 London Heathrow LHR 06:40 – Stockholm Arlanda ARN 10:05
SK 1042 Stockholm Arlanda ARN 13:20 – Kiruna KRN 14:55

Inbound - Wed 7 Aug:

SK 1045 Kiruna KRN 15:25 – Stockholm Arlanda ARN 17:00
SK 533 Stockholm Arlanda ARN 18:15 – London Heathrow LHR 19:55

You will need to arrive in Kiruna on Wed 31 July. On Tue 6 August we will finish our hike in Abisko, a 1hr20min train journey from Kiruna. You will be provided with detailed advice on flights and transfers.

**HOW TO BOOK A PLACE ON THIS TRIP:**

To confirm your place on this trip use online banking. Your RSVP is not enough to reserve a space on this trip. Please use **KUNGSLEDEN** as your payment reference. The account details are:

Account Name: BACKABUSH XPLORERS
Sort Code: 090127
Account Number: 22440622

Only payment secures your place. Please email ingridhansen1@gmail.com as soon as you send payment so that we can confirm everything with you. Thanks! :)

BACKABUSH XPLORERS - Hiking & Outdoor Adventure Meetup Group

Ingrid

Andy Lawrence

JULY 31 – AUG 6 – THE KUNGSLEDEN  (KING’S TRAIL) – SWEDISH LAPLAND

Kiruna

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