Fly Fishing and Wild Foods in the Land of the Midnight Sun

Mountains around Kvikkjokk, Sweden

  • Duration

    July 16-24, 2019
    9 days, 8 nights

  • Location

    Mountains around Kvikkjokk, Sweden

  • Maximum participants

    10

  • Price

    $ 500 (reservation deposit)
    $ 3950 (second payment)
    Save $500 if you book before June 1, 2018

Join Saveur the Journey for a Fly Fishing and Wild Food adventure in the Land of the Midnight Sun.  Sweden north of the Arctic circle is a unique place because of its natural beauty, remoteness, excellent fishing (view this short video from the Kristensson brothers), and access to wild foods such as reindeer, moose, Arctic char, Kalix caviar,  Arctic grayling, brown trout, pike, perch, whitefish, sorrel, angelica, lingonberry, cloudberry, blueberry, crowberry, birch, fir, and pine.

Here we will have the opportunity to pursue the three main Salmonidae species of the Arctic, the brown trout, the striking Arctic char, and the beautiful Arctic grayling. Local guides will show us the best places to fish in small streams, lakes, and rivers.

Book now!

Professional Guides

Professional guides will help everyone catch fish.

Meet Local People

Meet local people who will show us the upper limits for coffee consumption how to take a real Swedish Sauna.

Small Groups

Small groups allow tailored experiences and high level of service.

We will travel by boat up a delta, then hike overland to our guide Vidar’s remote private wilderness fishing cabin situated on the Tsielekjåhkkå river that will become our base-camp. We will fish several sections of the Tsielekjåhkkå river for brown trout and Arctic grayling.  We will also day hike to a mountain with a magnificent view and fish a small lake for Trout and Arctic Char.  For a change we will take a boat out on the Lake Peuraure and fish for the huge Norhern pike, delicious perch, and big trout.

We will eat remarkable food prepared by Sami Chef Kristoffer Åstrom of Hotel Akerlunds, whose approach to traditional wild foods with a blend of ancient and modern techniques sets him apart as one of the best chefs of Northern Sweden.  Eva Gunnare, food creator and owner of “Essence of Lapland” will collaborate with Helena Lantta of “Sapmi Ren och Vilt” for a unique meal that takes us through the seasons of the Arctic with an emphasis on Eva’s amazing foraged delicacies.  Årrenjahka mountain lodge is known for their local cuisine served in a beautiful setting in the Swedish Fjäll (mountains).

The Indigenous people, the Sami, have lived here for thousands of years by fishing, herding reindeer, hunting, gathering, and growing crops (it is warmer than similar latitudes thanks to a warm gulf stream current).  It remains a wild and remote area, Jokkmokk “kommun” (municipality) is roughly the size of New Jersey with a population of 5000 people.  During the winter several weeks pass without the sun breaking the horizon, making for a cold clear winter filled with twilight, northern lights, and blanketed with a thick layer of pure white snow.  During the summer the reverse happens and the sun remains continually in the sky providing 24 hours of daylight.  This result is rapid growth from flora and fauna. The Fjäll (Swedish mountains) burst into a carpet of edible berries, reindeer calves grow quickly, and the fish bite all the time as they hurry to fortify themselves before the cold of winter returns.

Here we can drink the cold pure water straight from the streams.  We can tie knots in fly-line at midnight without a flashlight, watch reindeer browse lichens, and eat fish fresh from the river.  Vidar’s wilderness fishing cabin has a traditional Swedish Sauna on the river where we can enjoy the heat of the wood stove and the cold of a beer after a day of fishing.  We will dine on the abundance of wild foods that can be found all around us: Souvas (the Sami delicacy of salted and smoked reindeer meat), moose burgers and steaks, whole roasted trout, Arctic char, or grayling, firm filets of perch with parsley and butter, or “quenelles de brochet.”

Cloudberries (found only in the far north), as well as lingon and blueberry will garnish our breakfasts and desserts.  Locally made sausages, cheeses, and bread will form our lunches and there will be plenty of time to comfortably sit around a crackling fire looking over the Swedish mountains and drink kokkaffe (Swedish boiled coffee) or enjoy a glass of wine or beer with friends back at the cabin.

Participants on this Swedish Fly Fishing Adventure receive 25% off and free shipping for all your fly fishing needs at Madison River Fly Fishing Outfitters, our retail partner.

 

Day 1 - Sunday July 15

Arrive at Lulea airport by 1pm.
Lunch at Hemmagastronomi in Lulea.
Transfer from Lulea to Jokkmokk by Van (2hours).
Check into Hotel Akerlunds. Relax, visit Jokkmokk.
Welcome and introduction to Lappland by “Essence of Lappland’s” Eva Gunare.
Dinner “Eating Lappland through the seasons” hosted by Eva Gunare.

Day 2 - Monday July 16

Breakfast at Hotel Akerlunds featuring local cheeses, sausages, jams, and berries.
Meet with Fly fishing guide Vidar for outfitting. Talvatis fly fishing lessons and practice.
Café Vidernas Arctic Food lunch.
Transfer by Van to Kvikkjokk (1.5 hours).
Check into Arrenjarka mountain lodge.
Dinner at Arrenjarka restaurant.

Day 3 - Tuesday July 17

Breakfast at Arrenjarka mountain lodge.
Pack lunch and take boat across lake with day packs.
Helicopter transport of luggage, supplies, and anyone who can’t make the hike.
12km hike to wilderness cabin with picnic lunch along the way.
5km boat transfer up delta to Vidar’s wilderness fishing cabin.
Set up camp, swim, welcome wood fired sauna.
Rest and relax with drinks and appetizers or go fishing.
Dinner-Souvas (salted and smoked reindeer meat, almond potatoes, lingonberries, wild sorrel panna cotta).

Day 4 - Wednesday July 18

Breakfast
Pack Lunch
Fly fishing with Swedish guides in the rivers around the cabin for arctic grayling.
Appetizers, drinks.
Dinner-Roasted grayling
Sauna
Optional midnight sun hike.

Day 5 - Thursday July 19

Breakfast
Hike to small lakes and fly fish for arctic char and brown trout.
Grill-korv lunch (locally made sausages roasted over open fire).
Relax, Sauna, appetizers, drinks
Dinner

Day 6 - Friday July 20

Breakfast
Take boat with Vidar to fish for Northern Pike, Perch, and big brown trout in the lake.
Picnic Lunch.
Appetizers, drinks.
Dinner-Perch filets “meuniere” new potatoes

Day 7 - Saturday July 21

Breakfast
Pack Lunch
Follow river upstream fishing for arctic grayling and trout with Swedish guides.
Return to cabin
Dinner

Day 8 - Sunday July 22

Breakfast
Pack up and clean cabin.
Boat transfer to 12km hike to boat across lake to Arrenjarka.
Transport by Van to Jokkmokk (1.5hours).
Check into hotel Akerlunds
Farewell Dinner at Hotel Akerlunds prepared by Sami Chef Kristoffer Åstrom.

Day 9 - Monday, July 23

Breakfast at Hotel Akerlunds
Transfer by van to Lulea airport for afternoon flights (2 hours)

What’s included?

  • All accommodations (double occupancy)
  • Fly fishing lessons and guides (~1:4 ratio)
  • All fishing licenses and fly-fishing gear
  • All meals (some including wine or beer pairings)
  • All transportation during the trip by private van
  • All tours and tastings
  • English translations

What’s NOT included?

  • Airfare (Luleå, Sweden is the closest airport)
  • Travel insurance (highly recommended). Try World Nomads
  • Additional alcohol purchased at bars/restaurants
  • Gratuities
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FAQ Swedish Fly Fishing Trip

We can cater to all levels of fly fishing experience. Complete beginners are welcome as are seasoned veterans. Our skilled guides will provide all the gear and instruction to help you land your first fish on fly or help experienced fly fishers stalk a big trout, char, or grayling.

Yes! Everyone will catch fish provided that you are fishing (you have to play in order to win). There are definitely large trout, grayling and arctic char, though the large one’s are often difficult to catch. Hopefully we will be able to catch some big fish and there are large pike that can be caught with spinning gear from a boat in the nearby lake.

The max group size is 10 and there will be two professional guides plus myself who can help with teaching fly fishing. This is not a “fully guided” trip (1 guide for 2 people). It is a “semi-guided” trip meaning there will be opportunities for 1 on 1 time with a guide, as well as group lessons, and time on your own to put the lessons into practice. Our goal is to give you the skills you need to catch fish here in Sweden as well as when you return home to your local waters.

No while the latitude of Jokkmokk is 66.6 degrees north (Ankorage, Alaska is 61.2) it benefits from a warm gulf stream that makes for a much less harsh environment. We will be inland so there are no seals or icebergs (and there aren’t any in the sea either, though it does freeze). There are no polar bears or and even the Swedish brown bears are extremely secretive are rarely seen. While occasionally one sees igloos during the winter they are usually as part of tourist activity. The native people, called the Sami, traditionally lived in an earthen and birch building called a Kåta. This area of Sweden has trees (birch, spruce, pine, fir, juniper, etc) and is quite lush in the summer. Temps can soar to the 80s in the summer but do occasionally hit -40F (or C) in the winter. Much of the landscape looks like parts of Minnesota, with lots of small clear lakes and lush evergreen forests. In the Swedish mountains there are less trees and the hillsides are a beautiful palette of colors. Reindeer and moose graze freely, lemmings scurry around, and even eagles can be seen.

Of all the European countries that have English as their native language I think the Swedes are the best English speakers. Virtually everyone speaks English and most people are fluent.

While some of the food on the trip will be taken from the landscape during the trip (such as some of the fish, and wild edibles) much of it will come from small reindeer herding and foraging operations (UtsiRen and Essence of Lappland for example).

Yes there are mosquitoes during the Swedish summer and they can be bad at times. Luckily we will be in the mountains where there is often a breeze to blow them away. Bringing clothes that are mosquito proof is a great idea and because the weather isn’t sweltering and hot wearing long pants and longs sleeves is not uncomfortable. We will provide mosquito head nets as well in the event that they are bad. On the upside lots of mosquitoes can mean lots of rising fish. The mosquitoes are not the size of birds, they are smaller.

Vidar’s wilderness fishing cabin is rustic, very remote, (which is one reason why the fishing is good) and has no electricity (but it doesn’t get dark out). It has a composting toilet, no cell service but does have an internet modem. There is a traditional wood-fired Swedish Sauna right on the river where we can stay clean by taking hot bucket showers. There is a solar system for charging batteries. No espresso machine but Swedes rank number 6 in the world for the most coffee consumed per capita (the US is number 26th) so there will be no lack of coffee. The cabin has a big dining table for up to 14 people and has 9 beds in 5 different rooms.

Most people who live in the far north become used to the constant daylight and have no problem sleeping at 3pm or 3am but it can be disorienting and difficult to sleep for some people. I recommend bringing a face-mask that will block out light. Earplugs are also good in case the sounds of nature are keeping you awake.

If you have your own gear that you like I would bring it with me. I always find it enjoyable to use my own equipment as I know exactly how it works. If you don’t particularly like your gear or don’t want to have to travel with it then leave it at home and use the gear the guides will provide.

Due to the remoteness of the wilderness fishing cabin hiking will be our main form of transportation. There is a 12km relatively easy hike into the cabin (though we will also have a helicopter that can transport a few people). You should be in good physical shape, able to hike 3 hours while carrying a day-pack on variable terrain. This trip is for active people who enjoy hiking.

Gratuities for guides are not included in the price of you trip and are much appreciated. Tipping is at your discretion. Normally average tips for excellent service are around 10%-20% of the trip cost. Tips are pooled together and shared equally among the guides.

More questions?

Contact us

What’s included?

  • All accommodations (double occupancy)
  • All tours and tastings
  • Most meals (8 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 6 dinners)
  • All transportation during the trip by private van
  • English translations

What’s NOT included?

  • Airfare (Geneva Switzerland is the closest airport)
  • Travel insurance (highly recommended). Try World Nomads
  • Alcohol
  • Gratuities