Iron Trail - Swedish Lapland
Experience the magic of the Iron Trail and the history of the old iron ore trade route. Travel between Pine Bay Lodge and the Aurora Safari Camp along this historic route. Read about this holiday in the Independent.
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Experience the magic of the Iron Trail and the history of the old iron ore trade route. Travel between Pine Bay Lodge and the Aurora Safari Camp along this historic route. Read about this holiday in the Independent.
Welcome to 2 little gems in Swedish Lapland.
Pine Bay Lodge (Furufjärden in Swedish) is the perfect location to start this short break under the northern lights corridor in Swedish Lapland. Enjoy your first 2 nights in comfortable homely hotel rooms with carefully selected activities and mouth-watering food on the edge of the frozen Luleå Archipelago.
Experience the magic of the Iron Trail (Malmens Väg) and learn the history of the old iron-ore trade route when you travel 60km by snowmobile between Pine Bay Lodge to the Aurora Safari Camp along this scenic river valley with an abundance of local wildlife accompanied by an experienced local guide.
During the four-hour snowmobile expedition to Aurora Safari Camp you will experience the hugely varied landscapes of Swedish Lapland – from the Bothnia coastline to the dense Boreal Forest, where sightings of wildlife such as moose and reindeer, are commonplace. Black grouse, sea eagles and beaver are also possible. The natural light is also something to be admired.
The extraction of iron ore has been a key industry in the north of Sweden since 1741. Traditionally iron ore was transported along the ancient Råne River Valley by ‘ackja’ (reindeer sled) in ‘renrajd’ (reindeer trains) by the indigenous Sami population of Swedish Lapland to a smelting facility in Strömsund at the mouth of the Råne River, one of the few free flowing rivers remaining in Swedish Lapland. Hydro-electric dams have been built along many of the others.
These Sami trains consisted of 8 to 12 reindeer tied together each pulling an ‘ackja’ weighing up to 170kg laden with iron ore. This difficult 210km journey took 5 days to complete and many small villages that originated from this period now stand on the shores of the Råne River.
With industrialisation and the increased global demand for iron ore the first trains rolled out of Gällivare along a re-rerouted Iron Trail in 1888. The original Iron Trail followed by the Sami has been recreated, is currently maintained by a small team of volunteers and was formerly opened by King Carl Gustav XVI in 1995.
Aurora Safari Camp gives you the perfect opportunity to experience the silence of Swedish Lapland. Away from artificial light which means you will experience the full effect of the northern lights in the star glittered sky. These cosy tents offer a luxury wilderness experience deep inside the Boreal Forest. With warm clothing, thick sleeping bags and a log burning stove you are sure to sleep well with temperatures in the tents around 15C.
The Simply Sweden experience
The homely atmosphere at Pine Bay Lodge, the wilderness experience at the Aurora Safari Camp and the scenic snowmobile expedition along the Iron Trail.
Friday
Fly from UK to Luleå in Lapland
Meet and greet transfer to Pine Bay Lodge (40 mins)
Warm welcome at Pine Bay Lodge
Check in to your accommodation
Issue of warm outer clothing
Time to settle in and explore this magical winter wonderland
3 course evening meal
Saturday
Breakfast
Nordic Winter Skills course including lunch
Afternoon with the indegenious Sami.
3 course evening meal
Sunday
Breakfast
Start the snowmobile tour along the Iron Trail to the Aurora Safari Camp
Lunch served around an open fire on the excursion
1500 approx. arrival time at the Aurora Safari Camp
Tour of the Aurora Safari Camp
1hr snow shoe excursion
Evening meal served at the Aurora Safari Camp
Monday
Relaxing breakfast
Snowmobiles along the Iron Trail
Lunch served around an open fire
Early afternoon arrival at Pine Bay Lodge
Transfer to the airport
Flights back to the UK (via Stockholm)
WOW! What a place to visit. If you appreciate the outdoors, enjoy nature and want to simply relax in a beautiful part of our world, this is for you!
Aurora Safari Camp is under the northern lights corridor and deep inside the magical snow covered forests of Swedish Lapland. Fredrik Broman, founder of Aurora Safari Camp, has travelled the world as a professional photographer and has drawn inspiration for his Aurora Safari Camp from Africa and the indigenous Sami.
During your stay you will be provided with warm outer clothing (hat, snowmobile suit, mittens and boots). The camp can accommodate up to 10 people in warm laavus with comfortable beds and arctic sleeping bags. The tents are heated so no matter what the temperature is outside it will be a comfortable +15C inside and even warmer in your thick sleeping bag! Meals are served in the larger communal laavu and the bathroom facilities (with modern eco-toilet) are just 30m from the tents.
Accommodation
- Warm laavus (tents) with arctic sleeping bags
- Full board from evening meal on day of arrival to breakfast on day of departure
- 1 night stay includes snowshoe excursion
- 2 night stay includes snowshoe excursion and 1hr30 husky tour
Click on the image for more photos.
Pine Bay Lodge (Furufjärden in Swedish) is a small homely lodge, in a traditional red-cottage style, on the shores of the Luleå archipelago, just 30 mins from Luleå city. The archipelago is made up on 1300 islands and just 100 permanent residents. During the winter months the sea ice can be up to 1m thick, and ice roads are ploughed into the ice, making the archipelago more accessible during the winter than in the summer.
The focus of the lodge is the open plan lounge and dining room with a large open fire – a place to relax and enjoy conversation following a day in the snow. There are just 8 newly renovated ensuite bedrooms and for those who can’t quite escape wireless internet is available.
Click on the image for more photos.
These excursions are included in your holiday
Northern Lights excursions - every night
You are directly under the northern lights activity corridor. At Pine Bay Lodge artificial light is at a minimum. You simply have to step outside and with any luck you will see the Northern Lights dancing above your head in the starry night sky.
Nordic Winter Skills - Saturday morning
Winter-life is Swedish Lapland is made comfortable by learning how to dress and behave in the cold sub-arctic climate. Your guide will lead you through an adventurous and educational excursion. Learn how use the snowshoes, make a fire in the snow, how to make tea and coffee over your open fire and also learn about the forest and wildlife of Swedish Lapland. At lunchtime you will take a break in a traditional Sami tent, where together you will make a typical outdoor wilderness lunch. It is important in Swedish Lapland to relax, discuss, enjoy and appreciate our special environment. This is a perfect introduction to your Swedish Lapland adventure. Duration: 3 hours.
Sami Experience - Saturday afternoon
This holiday is all about the history of the Iron Trail and the ancient route taken by the Sami and their reindeer. Feed the reindeer, learn about modern day Sami life and their rich culture and traditions. Duration: 2hr
Snowmobile along the Iron Trail - Sunday and Monday
On this 4hr (one-way) snowmobile excursion to and from Aurora Safari Camp you will travel through the magical forests of Swedish Lapland and along the old trade route for iron ore. The scenery is stunning as you weave between snow covered trees and over frozen lakes and rivers. You may even see moose and reindeer as these are the winter herding grounds for these impressive animals. Experience the contrast between the coastal environment at Pine Bay Lodge and the forest environment at Aurora Safari Camp. Close to the Baltic coastline the forests are not as dense and the snow not quite so deep. Heading inland you will notice the denser forests and the deeper snow. A wonderful tour along a route of historical importance and a great night in heated tents at Aurora Safari Camp.
Snow Shoe Excursion - Sunday
When you arrive at the Aurora Safari Camp there is no better way to discover your snow-covered surroundings than with snow shoes. They allow you to explore the virgin snow almost floating on top of it. This is a short tour of approximately 1hr to show you around this magical area of Swedish Lapland.
Friday arrival at Pine Bay Lodge between January and March.
Prices from £1995 per person
Includes
Flights from UK to Luleå, transfers to Pine Bay Lodge
Warm outer clothing (hat, jacket, trousers, mittens and boots)
2 nights at Pine Bay Lodge
1 night at Aurora Safari Camp
Full board (3 x breakfast, 3 x lunch, 3 x evening meal)
Activities as stated are included
Transfer to airport
Flights back to UK
Welcome to 2 little gems in Swedish Lapland.
Pine Bay Lodge (Furufjärden in Swedish) is the perfect location to start this short break under the northern lights corridor in Swedish Lapland. Enjoy your first 2 nights in comfortable homely hotel rooms with carefully selected activities and mouth-watering food on the edge of the frozen Luleå Archipelago.
Experience the magic of the Iron Trail (Malmens Väg) and learn the history of the old iron-ore trade route when you travel 60km by snowmobile between Pine Bay Lodge to the Aurora Safari Camp along this scenic river valley with an abundance of local wildlife accompanied by an experienced local guide.
During the four-hour snowmobile expedition to Aurora Safari Camp you will experience the hugely varied landscapes of Swedish Lapland – from the Bothnia coastline to the dense Boreal Forest, where sightings of wildlife such as moose and reindeer, are commonplace. Black grouse, sea eagles and beaver are also possible. The natural light is also something to be admired.
The extraction of iron ore has been a key industry in the north of Sweden since 1741. Traditionally iron ore was transported along the ancient Råne River Valley by ‘ackja’ (reindeer sled) in ‘renrajd’ (reindeer trains) by the indigenous Sami population of Swedish Lapland to a smelting facility in Strömsund at the mouth of the Råne River, one of the few free flowing rivers remaining in Swedish Lapland. Hydro-electric dams have been built along many of the others.
These Sami trains consisted of 8 to 12 reindeer tied together each pulling an ‘ackja’ weighing up to 170kg laden with iron ore. This difficult 210km journey took 5 days to complete and many small villages that originated from this period now stand on the shores of the Råne River.
With industrialisation and the increased global demand for iron ore the first trains rolled out of Gällivare along a re-rerouted Iron Trail in 1888. The original Iron Trail followed by the Sami has been recreated, is currently maintained by a small team of volunteers and was formerly opened by King Carl Gustav XVI in 1995.
Aurora Safari Camp gives you the perfect opportunity to experience the silence of Swedish Lapland. Away from artificial light which means you will experience the full effect of the northern lights in the star glittered sky. These cosy tents offer a luxury wilderness experience deep inside the Boreal Forest. With warm clothing, thick sleeping bags and a log burning stove you are sure to sleep well with temperatures in the tents around 15C.
The Simply Sweden experience
The homely atmosphere at Pine Bay Lodge, the wilderness experience at the Aurora Safari Camp and the scenic snowmobile expedition along the Iron Trail.
Friday
Fly from UK to Luleå in Lapland
Meet and greet transfer to Pine Bay Lodge (40 mins)
Warm welcome at Pine Bay Lodge
Check in to your accommodation
Issue of warm outer clothing
Time to settle in and explore this magical winter wonderland
3 course evening meal
Saturday
Breakfast
Nordic Winter Skills course including lunch
Afternoon with the indegenious Sami.
3 course evening meal
Sunday
Breakfast
Start the snowmobile tour along the Iron Trail to the Aurora Safari Camp
Lunch served around an open fire on the excursion
1500 approx. arrival time at the Aurora Safari Camp
Tour of the Aurora Safari Camp
1hr snow shoe excursion
Evening meal served at the Aurora Safari Camp
Monday
Relaxing breakfast
Snowmobiles along the Iron Trail
Lunch served around an open fire
Early afternoon arrival at Pine Bay Lodge
Transfer to the airport
Flights back to the UK (via Stockholm)
WOW! What a place to visit. If you appreciate the outdoors, enjoy nature and want to simply relax in a beautiful part of our world, this is for you!
Aurora Safari Camp is under the northern lights corridor and deep inside the magical snow covered forests of Swedish Lapland. Fredrik Broman, founder of Aurora Safari Camp, has travelled the world as a professional photographer and has drawn inspiration for his Aurora Safari Camp from Africa and the indigenous Sami.
During your stay you will be provided with warm outer clothing (hat, snowmobile suit, mittens and boots). The camp can accommodate up to 10 people in warm laavus with comfortable beds and arctic sleeping bags. The tents are heated so no matter what the temperature is outside it will be a comfortable +15C inside and even warmer in your thick sleeping bag! Meals are served in the larger communal laavu and the bathroom facilities (with modern eco-toilet) are just 30m from the tents.
Accommodation
- Warm laavus (tents) with arctic sleeping bags
- Full board from evening meal on day of arrival to breakfast on day of departure
- 1 night stay includes snowshoe excursion
- 2 night stay includes snowshoe excursion and 1hr30 husky tour
Click on the image for more photos.
Pine Bay Lodge (Furufjärden in Swedish) is a small homely lodge, in a traditional red-cottage style, on the shores of the Luleå archipelago, just 30 mins from Luleå city. The archipelago is made up on 1300 islands and just 100 permanent residents. During the winter months the sea ice can be up to 1m thick, and ice roads are ploughed into the ice, making the archipelago more accessible during the winter than in the summer.
The focus of the lodge is the open plan lounge and dining room with a large open fire – a place to relax and enjoy conversation following a day in the snow. There are just 8 newly renovated ensuite bedrooms and for those who can’t quite escape wireless internet is available.
Click on the image for more photos.
These excursions are included in your holiday
Northern Lights excursions - every night
You are directly under the northern lights activity corridor. At Pine Bay Lodge artificial light is at a minimum. You simply have to step outside and with any luck you will see the Northern Lights dancing above your head in the starry night sky.
Nordic Winter Skills - Saturday morning
Winter-life is Swedish Lapland is made comfortable by learning how to dress and behave in the cold sub-arctic climate. Your guide will lead you through an adventurous and educational excursion. Learn how use the snowshoes, make a fire in the snow, how to make tea and coffee over your open fire and also learn about the forest and wildlife of Swedish Lapland. At lunchtime you will take a break in a traditional Sami tent, where together you will make a typical outdoor wilderness lunch. It is important in Swedish Lapland to relax, discuss, enjoy and appreciate our special environment. This is a perfect introduction to your Swedish Lapland adventure. Duration: 3 hours.
Sami Experience - Saturday afternoon
This holiday is all about the history of the Iron Trail and the ancient route taken by the Sami and their reindeer. Feed the reindeer, learn about modern day Sami life and their rich culture and traditions. Duration: 2hr
Snowmobile along the Iron Trail - Sunday and Monday
On this 4hr (one-way) snowmobile excursion to and from Aurora Safari Camp you will travel through the magical forests of Swedish Lapland and along the old trade route for iron ore. The scenery is stunning as you weave between snow covered trees and over frozen lakes and rivers. You may even see moose and reindeer as these are the winter herding grounds for these impressive animals. Experience the contrast between the coastal environment at Pine Bay Lodge and the forest environment at Aurora Safari Camp. Close to the Baltic coastline the forests are not as dense and the snow not quite so deep. Heading inland you will notice the denser forests and the deeper snow. A wonderful tour along a route of historical importance and a great night in heated tents at Aurora Safari Camp.
Snow Shoe Excursion - Sunday
When you arrive at the Aurora Safari Camp there is no better way to discover your snow-covered surroundings than with snow shoes. They allow you to explore the virgin snow almost floating on top of it. This is a short tour of approximately 1hr to show you around this magical area of Swedish Lapland.
Friday arrival at Pine Bay Lodge between January and March.
Prices from £1995 per person
Includes
Flights from UK to Luleå, transfers to Pine Bay Lodge
Warm outer clothing (hat, jacket, trousers, mittens and boots)
2 nights at Pine Bay Lodge
1 night at Aurora Safari Camp
Full board (3 x breakfast, 3 x lunch, 3 x evening meal)
Activities as stated are included
Transfer to airport
Flights back to UK
