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Intrepid Travel · Escorted tour

Northern Sweden by Rail

Nine-day rail journey from Tromso to Stockholm through Swedish Arctic

Illustration of Northern Sweden by Rail

Intrepid Travel's Northern Sweden by Rail is a 9-day escorted journey from Tromso, Norway to Stockholm that combines two of Europe's most scenic train routes with Arctic wilderness and Sami cultural immersion. The tour departs from Tromso, a city 350 kilometres north of the Arctic Circle, and travels south through Swedish Lapland and into central Sweden. Days begin with the Ofoten Railway's fjord crossing to Abisko National Park, where you hike the famous Kungsleden trail through alpine meadows and birch forests. The Inlandsbanan's retro carriages carry you southward past the Arctic Circle, dense pine forests and traditional villages. In Vilhelmina you visit a Sami open-air museum with two traditionally dressed guides and share a lunch of deer meat and traditional bread. The tour continues to the lakeside city of Ostersund, designated a UNESCO City of Gastronomy, before ending in Stockholm. A local leader accompanies the group throughout, and the summer season (June to August) offers the Midnight Sun with up to 24 hours of daylight.

What to know before you look closer

  • Most dinners are not included; only breakfasts and one Sami lunch are provided. Budget for additional meals in Tromso, Gallivare, Vilhelmina, Ostersund and Stockholm.
  • Accommodation on nights 2 and 3 in Abisko is a dorm-style historic mountain lodge with 4-bed rooms, not a private hotel room.
  • Day 5 involves approximately 9 hours of train travel; Day 8 is a long travel day to Stockholm with multiple connections, approximately 6 hours.
  • Single supplement available but excludes nights 2 and 3 (the Abisko lodge stays).

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Tromso

    Tromso

    Welcome to Norway. Your adventure begins in Tromso – a city just off the coast of Northern Norway, around 350 km north of the Arctic Circle. If you arrive early, perhaps dive into the region's history at Tromso Museum, check out the many art galleries or take a boat ride in the surrounding waters. You'll have a welcome meeting at 6 pm at your hotel to meet your local leader and group. After, maybe head out for dinner to try some Norwegian cuisine.

  2. Day 2railovernight: Abisko National Park

    Tromso / Narvik / Abisko National Park

    Take a bus to Narvik this morning where you'll board a connecting train to Abisko on the Ofoten Railway – a 42-kilometre route connecting Norway with the Swedish rail system, offering incredible views of fjords, mountains and waterfalls. Your accommodation tonight is a historic mountain lodge in the heart of the national park. Total travel time approximately 6 hours. Accommodation is dorm-style with 4-bed rooms and shared bathrooms; it is not possible to pay for an individual room at this lodge.

    Meals: Breakfast

  3. Day 3overnight: Abisko National Park

    Abisko National Park

    Hike a section of the famous Kungsleden trail (approximately 9 km). Walk past mossy walls in Abisko Canyon, stop at Marmorbrottet – a historic quarry – before taking a breather at Lake Njakajaure. Return along mountain heaths blooming with Lapland rhododendrons and orchids. After lunch, optional additional hike available. Midnight Sun means no need to worry about sunset.

    Meals: Breakfast

  4. Day 4railovernight: Gallivare

    Abisko National Park / Gallivare

    Enjoy a leisurely morning at the lodge, or do an optional hike on the loop trail along Abiskojokk and the Coast of Torneträsk. In the afternoon, take a train to Gallivare – a small town in Sapmi, the ancestral land of the Sami people. After checking in, optionally visit the Gallivare Museum to learn about Sami culture. Total travel time approximately 3 hours.

    Meals: Breakfast

  5. Day 5railovernight: Vilhelmina

    Inlandsbanan / Arctic Circle / Vilhelmina

    Take the Inlandsbanan (Inland) train – known for its retro carriages and relaxed vibe – to Vilhelmina. Several stops along the way including the Arctic Circle landmark. Pass changing scenery of dense pine forests, open wetlands, rivers and traditional Swedish villages. Arrive in Vilhelmina and explore the town. Total travel time approximately 9 hours.

    Meals: Breakfast

  6. Day 6railovernight: Ostersund

    Vilhelmina / Ostersund

    Visit the Vilhelmina Sami Association for a cultural tour with two traditionally dressed guides at an open-air museum featuring traditional huts, homes and artefacts. Finish with a traditional lunch of deer meat, vegetables and bread. Then board the Inlandsbanan train to Ostersund with a stop in Sorsele. Arrive in Ostersund late tonight. Total travel time approximately 4 hours.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

  7. Day 7overnight: Ostersund

    Ostersund

    Free day to explore Ostersund – a laidback city on the shores of Lake Storsjon. Options include the Jamtli Museum with multi-sensory exhibitions and living reenactments, swimming in Lake Storsjon, or exploring cafes, restaurants and artisan shops in this UNESCO City of Gastronomy.

    Meals: Breakfast

  8. Day 8railovernight: Stockholm

    Stockholm

    Take a train to Stockholm (long day of travel with multiple connections, approximately 6 hours). After arriving, go on an orientation walk with your leader and enjoy free time for the rest of the evening. Stockholm features the UNESCO-listed Old Town (Gamla Stan), museums, parks, a bustling waterfront and easy ferry access to the surrounding archipelago of over 30,000 islands. Optional farewell dinner with the group.

    Meals: Breakfast

  9. Day 9

    Stockholm

    No activities planned. Your adventure comes to an end after breakfast and you're free to leave any time after check out. Option to extend your stay in Stockholm.

    Meals: Breakfast

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2Board the Ofoten Railway from Narvik to Abisko, a 42-kilometre scenic route crossing fjords, mountains and waterfalls along Norway's coast.
  • Day 3Hike approximately 9 kilometres on the Kungsleden trail through Abisko Canyon, past a historic quarry, and across mountain heaths blooming with alpine flowers.
  • Day 5Travel the Inlandsbanan (Inland Railway) with retro carriages through Swedish Lapland, crossing the Arctic Circle and passing pine forests, wetlands and traditional villages.
  • Day 6Visit the Vilhelmina Sami Association open-air museum with two traditionally dressed Sami guides, then share a traditional lunch of deer meat and vegetables.

Included

  • 8 breakfasts
  • 1 lunch (Sami-style lunch in Vilhelmina)
  • Hotel accommodation (6 nights)
  • 4-share cabin accommodation (2 nights)
  • Narvik – Ofotbanen Railway journey
  • Abisko National Park wilderness hike
  • Inlandsbanan Railway Gallivare to Vilhelmina
  • Inlandsbanan Railway Vilhelmina to Ostersund
  • Visit to Vilhelmina Sami Association & Sami local lunch
  • Local leader throughout

Not included

  • International flights
  • Visas
  • Travel insurance
  • Optional activities
  • Dinners (except where noted)
  • Single supplement (available at extra cost, excludes nights 2 and 3)

Questions travellers ask

Which trains are included?
The Ofoten Railway (Narvik to Abisko), the Inlandsbanan from Gallivare to Vilhelmina, and the Inlandsbanan from Vilhelmina to Ostersund via Sorsele. A train journey from Ostersund to Stockholm is also included. The tour runs in one direction, from Tromso to Stockholm.
Is this an escorted tour?
Yes. Intrepid Travel provides a local leader throughout the 9 days, including a welcome meeting on Day 1 and an orientation walk in Stockholm on Day 8.
What meals are included?
Eight breakfasts and one traditional Sami lunch (deer meat, vegetables and bread) at Vilhelmina on Day 6. Dinners are not included except for an optional farewell dinner in Stockholm.
What is the physical demand?
Day 3 includes a mandatory 9-kilometre hike on the Kungsleden trail with an optional additional hike. Other days involve city walks and optional museum visits. The pace is moderate but includes time in high-latitude wilderness.
When does this tour run?
Departures are scheduled from June to August in 2026, 2027 and 2028, to experience the Midnight Sun season with up to 24 hours of daylight.
What accommodation will I have?
Six nights in hotels in Tromso, Gallivare, Vilhelmina, Ostersund and Stockholm (one night each) plus two nights in a historic dorm-style mountain lodge at Abisko National Park with 4-bed rooms.

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