LAPLAND (NORWAY-SWEDEN-FINLAND).
The Arctic Trail or Nordkalottruta (Nor), Nordkalottleden (Swe), Kalottireitti (Fin).
From Abisko to Kilpisjärvi.
27/Aug/2026 to 10/Sep/2026.
From Abisko to Kilpisjärvi.
27/Aug/2026 to 10/Sep/2026.
The Arctic Trail is a long-distance hiking trail in the above the polar circle. It has a total length of 800 km and lies along the border of Norway, Sweden and Finland. The trail crosses international borders 15 times.
Although the trail is not extreme, it traverses Arctic wilderness and should be treated with caution.
The route moves through a wide range of northern terrain, shifting from high alpine passes and occasional glacier tongues to broad tundra plateaus and forested river valleys. Long sections run above the treeline.
Late August to September the nights get dark enough for the Northern Lights to show up, spectacular autumn colors covers the landscape, and the mosquitoes die off.
We hike this year from Abisko to Kilpisjärvi, about190km.
Thursday 27/Aug/2026.
Home to Norway journey.
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| First leg of the journey, flight from Brussels to Oslo. |
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| Second leg of the journey, flight from Oslo to Narvik (Norway). |
Transportation:
---- SAS flight SK4744 from Brussels (BRU) to Oslo-Gardermoen (OSL), 11:20-13:15, 1h55, 171.54€/p incl next flight.
---- Transit 1h45.
---- SAS flight SK4094 from Oslo-Gardermoen (OSL) to Harstad-Narvik (EVE), 15:00-16:40, 1h40.
---- Flybussen FB82 airport shuttle for Narvik, hourly, 0h50.
|---| Hotel Wivel, Narvik, 1755NOK/2p (73€/p) incl breakfast.
Friday 28/Aug/2026.
Narvik to Abisko journey.
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| Leaving the excellent-breakfast hotel. |
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| Narvik. |
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| Taking the bus for Björkliden. |
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| Norway - Sweden border. Swedish flag half mast: King Harald died this morning. |
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| Dropped at Björkliden station, start of hike. |
HIKE zero.
From Björkliden station to 1.1km before the Njuoraeatnu hangbridge, 8.9km.
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| Resting place and small shelter. |
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| Crossing the Báktájávri lake outlet. |
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| Sunset. |
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| First night with Northern lights (Aurora Borealis). |
Transportation:
---- SJ bus from Narvik station to Björkliden-Abisko, 12:39-14:15, 1h36, 142SEK/2p (6.40€/p).
|---| Tent setup, 1.1km before the Njuoraeatnu hangbridge, 68.457040N 18.601513E.
|---| Tent setup, above Lappjordhytta, 68.5304985N 18.7432980E.
Sunday 30/Aug/2026.
Monday 31/Aug/2026.
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Tuesday 01/Sep/2026.
Wednesday 02/Sep/2026.
Thursday 03/Sep/2026.
Friday 04/Sep/2026.
|---| Daertahytta, hut, 250NOK/p (~23€).
Saturday 05/Sep/2026.
Sunday 06/Sep/2026.
Monday 07/Sep/2026.
|---| Hotel Rakka, room, Kilpisjarvi, 179€/2p incl breakfast.
Tuesday 08/Sep/2026.
Wednesday 09/Sep/2026.
|---| Amalie Apartment Hotel, apartment, Tromsø, 136€/2p incl breakfast.
Thursday 10/Sep/2026.
Journey to Home.
Transportation:
|---| Home.
Saturday 29/Aug/2026.
HIKE 1.
From the tent setup before the hangbridge to the tent setup above Lappjordhytta, 13.6km.
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| Tent setup of last night. |
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| Pälnostugan, a Swedish hut. |
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| Border marker. |
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| Lappjordhytta, a Norwegian hut. |
Sunday 30/Aug/2026.
HIKE 2.
From the tent setup above Lappjordhytta to Altevasshytte, 18.4km.
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| Tent setup of last windy and rainy night. |
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| Sávzajohka river crossing. |
|---| Altevasshytte, hut.
Monday 31/Aug/2026.
HIKE 3.
From Altevasshytte to Gaskashytta, 12.6km.
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| Leaving the Altevasshytte. |
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| Koievasselva river. |
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| Luotnajohka river. |
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| Gaskashytta. |
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| Collecting drinking water for the hut from the Fiskløyselva river. |
|---| Gaskashytta, hut.
Tuesday 01/Sep/2026.
HIKE 4.
From Gaskashytta to Vuomahytta, 17.5km.
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| Leaving the Gaskashytta. |
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| Fiskløyselva river. |
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| Reaching the Vuomahytta. |
|---| Vuomahytta, hut.
Wednesday 02/Sep/2026.
HIKE 5.
Vuomahytta to hangbridge over Divinely river, 15.1km.
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| Vuomajohka river. |
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| A saw left at a potential tent spot. |
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| Vuomajohka merge with Anjavasselva. |
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| Anjavasselva rapids. |
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| Anjavasselva canyon. |
|---| Tent setup at Divielva river hangbridge, 68.687982N 19.771940E.
Thursday 03/Sep/2026.
HIKE 6.
From Divielva hangbridge to Dividalshytta and Skaterjonka wade, 12.5km.
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| Tent setup, in the morning. |
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| Dividalshytta. |
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| Closing the Dividalshytta. |
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| The 150m wide Skaterjonka river ford. |
|---| Tent setup next to Skaterjonka, 68.722223N 19.945010E.
Friday 04/Sep/2026.
HIKE 7.
From Skaterjonka river ford to Daertahytta, 14.9km.
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| Tent setup, in the morning. |
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| Arrival at the Daertahytta. |
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| Daertahytta. |
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| Daertahytta. |
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| Reindeers observed through the windows. |
|---| Daertahytta, hut, 250NOK/p (~23€).
Saturday 05/Sep/2026.
HIKE 8.
Daertahytta to Rostahytta, 16.7km.
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| A well. |
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| Hangbridge over the Rostaelva river. |
|---| Rostahytta, hut.
Sunday 06/Sep/2026.
HIKE 9.
From Rostahytta to Pältsa Fjalstuga, 12.6km.
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| Leaving the Rostahytta. |
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| Hangbridge over the Iselva river. |
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| Reaching the Swedish hut. |
|---| Pältsa Fjalstuga, hut, 140SEK/2p (~102€).
Monday 07/Sep/2026.
HIKE 10.
From Pältsa Fjalstuga to Koltaluoka boat landing, 14.8km.
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| Leaving the Swedish hut. |
Kilpisjarvi.
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| Reindeer dinner at Kilpis restaurant. |
Transportation:
---- Boat ride across the Kilpisjarvi lake, Koltaluoka to Kilpisjärven, 17:30 Finland time, 45€/p.
---- Hitchhike ride from Kilpisjärven to Kilpisjarvi, 5km.
|---| Hotel Rakka, room, Kilpisjarvi, 179€/2p incl breakfast.
Tuesday 08/Sep/2026.
A zero-day at Kilpisjarvi.
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| The hotel of these to days in Kilpisjarvi. |
|---| Hotel Rakka, cabin, 226€/2p incl breakfast.
Wednesday 09/Sep/2026.
Kilpisjarvi and Kilpisjarvi to Tromsø journey.
Journey to Tromso.
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| A roundabout in a tunnel. |
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| The hotel for the next two nights. |
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| View from the hotel room. |
Transportation:
---- Best Arctic bus from Kilpisjärvi to Tromsø, 17:45(local time)-19:30, 2h45, 1290NOK/2p (58€/p).
Thursday 10/Sep/2026.
Tromsø.
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| Returning the key for the Norwegian huts. |
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| The Polar museum. |
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| Roald Amundsens mural. |
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| Art museum. |
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| A complimentary waffle at the hotel. |
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| Tromso hosts the Northernmost McDonald's. |
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| "Raketten Bar", an institution famous for the reindeer hot-dog. |
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| The reindeer hot-dog. |
|---| Amalie Apartment Hotel, apartment, Tromsø, 99€/2p incl breakfast.
Friday 11/Sep/2026.
Tromsø and Tromso to Brussels journey.
Journey to Home.
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| First leg of the journey, Oslo to Copenhagen. |
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| 2nd Leg, Copenhagen to Brussels. |
Transportation:
---- SAS flight SK4453 from Tromsø (TOS) to Copenhagen-Kastrup (KPH), 15:00-17:35, 2h35, 147.49€/p incl next flight.
---- Transit 0h45
---- SAS flight SK597 from Copenhagen (KPH) to Brussels (BRU), 18:20-19:50, 1h30.
|---| Home.
