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Trekking the Kungsleden

The King's Trail through Northern Sweden

ISBN

9781852849825

Availability

Published

15 May 2019

Reprinted

16 Jan 2023

Edition

First

Pages

272

Size

17.20 x 11.60 x 1.50cm

Weight

320g

Delivery & Returns

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Guide to the Kungsleden (King's Trail), Sweden's premier long-distance trek. Lying mostly within the Arctic Circle, the 460km route across Lappland is presented in 28 stages but can be walked in shorter sections if preferred. Includes an optional ascent of Kebnekaise, Sweden's highest peak, plus notes on huts and wild camping.

Seasons

Best walked between late June and early September.

Centres

Abisko, Kebnekaise Fjällstation, Nikkaluokta, Saltoluokta, Kvikkjokk, Jäkkvik, Adolfsström, Bäverholmen, Ammarnäs, Hemavan

Difficulty

The five trail sections are non-challenging and suitable for all able walkers; a thru-hike is more demanding in terms of time, commitment and planning. Many opt to make use of the huts found on three of the trail's sections to minimise weight. Some sections are suitable for family groups.

Must See

Abisko, Nikkaluokta, Lapone Mountains, Arjeplog Fells, Aktse, Syterskalet and Tjäktjavagge glacial valleys, five national parks including Sarek, Kebnekaise (Sweden's highest peak at 2098m), Hemavan

ISBN

9781852849825

Availability

Published

15 May 2019

Reprinted

16 Jan 2023

Edition

First

Pages

272

Size

17.20 x 11.60 x 1.50cm

Weight

320g

Delivery & Returns

Overview

A guidebook to walking the Kungsleden trail (King’s Trail) between Abisko and Hemavan. Covering 460km (286 miles), this long-distance trail through the sub-artic landscape of Swedish Lappland takes 4 weeks and is suitable for any reasonably fit, experienced walker.

The route is described from north to south in 28 stages, each between 7 and 22km (4–14 miles) in length. An additional itinerary is included for the Kebnekaise summit, Sweden’s highest peak.

1:100,000 maps included for each stage
GPX files available to download
Detailed information on accommodation, facilities and public transport
The popular Abisko-Nikkaluokta portion of the route can be completed in 1 week
Advice on planning and preparation

Table of Contents

CONTENTS

Map key

Overview map

Route summary table

Introduction

The subarctic environment

Plants and animals

Regional history

When to go

Planning your walk

Transport

Boat crossings

Accommodation

Hut life and facilities

The truth about sauna

Trail marking and access

What to take

Mapping and GPS

Communications and electronics

Resupply

Safety and wellbeing

Using this guide

Section 1 – Abisko to Saltoluokta

Stage 1 Abisko to Abiskojaure

Stage 2 Abiskojaure to Alesjaure

Stage 3 Alesjaure to Tjäktja

Stage 4 Tjäktja to Sälka

Stage 5 Sälka to Singi

Stage 6 Singi to Kaitumjaure

Stage 7 Kaitumjaure to Teusajaure

Stage 8 Teusajaure to Saltoluokta via Vakkotavare

Additional itineraries

Additional itinerary 1 Singi to Nikkaluokta (alternative finish to Section 1)

Additional itinerary 2 Kebnekaise summit

Section 2 – Saltoluokta to Kvikkjokk

Stage 9 Saltoluokta to Sitojaure

Stage 10 Sitojaure to Aktse

Stage 11 Aktse to Pårte

Stage 12 Pårte to Kvikkjokk

Section 3 – Kvikkjokk to Jäkkvik

Stage 13 Kvikkjokk to Tsielekjåkkå

Stage 14 Tsielekjåkkå to Gistojávrátj

Stage 15 Gistojávrátj to Gásakláhko

Stage 16 Gásakláhko to Vuonatjviken

Stage 17 Vuonatjviken to Jäkkvik

Section 4 – Jäkkvik to Ammarnäs

Stage 18 Jäkkvik to Luvtávrre

Stage 19 Luvtávrre to Bäverholmen

Stage 20 Bäverholmen to Tjiegnatisjávrrie

Stage 21 Tjiegnatisjávrrie to Rävfalls

Stage 22 Rävfalls to Ammarnäs

Section 5 – Ammarnäs to Hemavan

Stage 23 Ammarnäs to Aigert

Stage 24 Aigert to Serve

Stage 25 Serve to Tärnasjö

Stage 26 Tärnasjö to Syter

Stage 27 Syter to Viterskals

Stage 28 Viterskals to Hemavan

Appendix A Summary of facilities

Appendix B Useful contacts

Appendix C Summary of boat crossings

Appendix D Language

Updates

August 2021

Updates

Stage 8: earliest boat crossing at 9am and not at 7am anymore

Stage 10: no STF rowing boats available anymore, boat crossing only possible with Lars and Anna Blind (9am and 5pm, 300 SEK/person). However, they do additional trips for an extra 100 SEK/person (if hiking from the South, there is cell reception after the treeline coming up from Aktse if you want to call Lars and Anna)

Stage 12: camping was not permitted at Kvikkjokk fjällstation and also not the payable communal cooking and washing areas

September 2020

2020 updates

Stage 16 A sign has now been erected to mark the location of the Arctic Circle

Stage 22 An emergency shelter can be found approx 3km south of Stuorajåbba containing benches, a table and a wood stove. The shelter is marked on the map on page 128.

Stage 22 It is no longer possible to camp at the Ammarnäs Guide Centre

Stage 26 Syter STF fjällstuga no longer has a store on site

September 2019

Updates

The opening hours of the Handlar’n store at Jakkvik (p187) have been reduced. They are now: Mon-Wed 1000-1800; Thu 1000-1900; Fri 1000-2000; Sat 1000-1800; Sun 1200-1900.

July 2019

Page 30 - Transport

Swedish regional airline Direktflyg is now serving Hemavan and Lycksele with daily flights (less Saturdays) from and to Stockholm, sometimes twice daily. With Nordica serving Arvidsjaur and Gällivare, all destinations previously left without service when Next Jet ceased operating are now being served once again. Bookings for Hemavan and Lycksele can be made via www.direktflyg.com taking care as some of the website is in Swedish only. Direktflyg’s summer schedule currently runs till mid-October.

Downloads

Trekking the Kungsleden - GPX File

By Mike Laing

Mike Laing is a freelance mountaineering instructor based in Snowdonia, North Wales. He has worked, travelled, climbed, cycled, rowed and trekked extensively in Greenland, South America, west and east Africa, Cuba, Europe and the Himalaya. Mike is a full member of the Association of Mountaineering Instructors (AMI) and operates his own business, Snowdonia Climbing.

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