This women-only hiking adventure will take us hut-to-hut through the Swedish highlands, all the way to Helags, which at 5,892 ft (1,797 m) is Sweden’s highest peak south of the Arctic Circle and home to the country’s southernmost glacier. Named one of National Geographic’s top 10 summit hikes in the world, Helags offers dramatic mountain views, quiet trails, and a good chance of spotting reindeer along the way.
Before we hit the trail, we’ll spend a day warming up with a scenic local hike and exploring the area’s Indigenous Sámi culture. At the Helags mountain station you’ll be rewarded with miles-wide views, hearty meals, sauna, and cold plunges beneath the glacier. This is a demanding trip for adventurous women who are ready to hike, unwind, and experience the raw beauty of the Scandinavian mountains – step by step.
All slots for the summer of 2026 are now sold out, but please contact me to get on the waitlist for 2027.
Women-only hiking trip
July 2-July 8 2027 (Preliminary)
Funäsfjällen, Sweden
$2,990
Pick-up from your accommodation in Östersund at 9:30, then we head to our basecamp in the picturesque village of Tännäs, about a 2.5-hour drive southwest of Östersund. Once in Tännäs, you’ll settle into the modern, cozy cabin where we’ll spend the first couple of nights and enjoy a welcome drink and tasty lunch made of seasonal, traditionally Swedish ingredients. After lunch you’ll get a tour of the Muskox Center, the only place in Sweden where you can encounter this pre-historic animal in their natural habitat. Dinner is at Härjebrygg, a local microbrewery with hearty pub fare and a friendly atmosphere.
After eating breakfast at the cabin in Tännäs, we go on a day trip to Funäsdalen, the biggest town of the Funäsfjällen region. We take the gondola to the top of Funäsdalsberget and warm up for our big glacier hike by going for a shorter summit hike (5 miles / 8 km, 2.5-3 hours) and visit Lopme Laante Sámi Park to learn about the Indigenous Sámi people and their reindeer husbandry. After eating lunch at Funäsdalens Toppstuga we explore Main Street and pick up some essentials, before returning to the cabin in Tännäs. At night, we enjoy a home-cooked dinner at the cabin and go for a night swim at Tännäskröket (weather permitting).
After eating breakfast at the cabin in Tännäs, we drive to Ramundberget and embark on the first leg of the hike to the Helags Glacier (10.5 miles / 17 km, 5-6 hours). The hike starts with a steep incline through alpine birch forest but then levels off, taking us mostly through dry moorland. We break for lunch at the Svaletjakke rest stop, before continuing to the remote Fältjägaren mountain hut, where we fetch water from a nearby stream and take a cold plunge. At night, we will cook our own dinner and sleep in a simple but comfortable dorm.
We have breakfast at Fältjägaren before continuing on to the Helags Glacier and the Helags fjällstation (8 miles / 13 km, 5-6 hours). On the way, we will enjoy mountain plateaus with panoramic views and hopefully spot some reindeer, since we are hiking through their summer vistas. We will eat a camping meal on the way and take our time getting to Helags. After checking into the cozy Gamla Östan wood-fired mountain cabin, we will enjoy a sauna and cold plunge in a nearby creek. At night, we will join other hikers for dinner and dessert at the Helags restaurant.
This is the day for our big summit, so we eat a sturdy breakfast and pack lunch to eat on the way. The hike to the Glacier Summit and back (6 miles / 10 km, 6-7 hours) is strenuous and there is some scrambling at the end, but on a clear day you will be treated with miles-wide views from the top. If the weather prevents us from summiting, or if you need a rest day, the Helags fjällstation offers an Arctic fox safari with guide. You can also do a solo hike in the area. After everyone is back, we gather for sauna and a cold plunge, then round off with dinner and dessert at the Helags restaurant.
After eating a buffet-style breakfast at Helags and packing lunch, we head out on the last leg of our hiking adventure, to Ljungdalen (8 miles / 12 km, 4-5 hours). This is an easy hike on a well-trodden trail through mostly dry moorland with majestic views. From Ljungdalen, we will take a taxi to our car in Ramundberget and then head back to the cabin for a home-cooked meal.
We all rise for an early breakfast at the cabin in Tännäs and then head to Östersund for drop-off at the airport and/or train station.
Our meeting point is Östersund. The Åre Östersund Airport serves flights from Stockholm daily. It is also possible to get to Östersund by train from Stockholm or Trondheim. The 2.5-hour transfer from Östersund to our base camp in Tännäs is included.
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No, but you need to be able to hike 10-12 miles (16-18 km) carrying a daypack weighing 20-25 lbs (9-11 kg). Most of the hiking goes through easy to moderate terrain, except for the hike to the summit of the Helags Glacier, which is more difficult at 6 miles (9.5 km) and an elevation gain of approximately 2,625 ft (800 m). However, it’s not a technically advanced summit hike and no equipment is needed. The pace will be adapted according to the group’s ability.
Regular hiking gear, a day pack and comfortable boots will take care of most of your needs. Rain gear and/or waterproof shell garments are recommended, since the weather can change quickly in the mountains. We will go over everything together well in advance of the trip and you will get a suggested packing list, so no need to worry.
There are several options for getting to Östersund.
• Option 1: Fly straight to Östersund
• Option 2: Fly to Stockholm, then take the train to Östersund (takes 5-6 hours)
• Option 3: Fly to Trondheim, Norway, then take the train to Östersund (takes approx. 4 hours)
To avoid stress and mitigate potential travel disruptions, it is highly recommend to arrive in Östersund a day early. You will be picked up at your hotel for the 2.5-hour drive to our base camp in Tännäs.
We operate rain or shine but respect the powers of nature and the sometimes-capricious weather conditions in the mountains. The safety of our guests is always the first priority and we reserve the right to change the itinerary in case of harsh weather.
Once your booking is confirmed, we ask for a 25% non-refundable down payment to hold your spot, with the remainder due 90 days prior to the trip.
Our insurance covers accidental injuries that occur during the trip, including compensation for permanent medical or financial disability. Please note that it does not cover search and rescue operations or helicopter evacuations. While it’s very unlikely that you’ll ever need either, hiking in remote mountain areas always comes with some inherent risk. We recommend that you have travel insurance that covers mountain search and rescue and emergency medical evacuation. If you don’t have this type of coverage, you’ll be joining the trip at your own risk and may be responsible for any rescue or evacuation costs.
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