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 (1,796 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.
JULY 10-16, 2026: CONFIRMED, 1 SPOT LEFT
JULY 24-30, 2026: SOLD OUT
Women-only hiking trip
Summer 2026
Funäsfjällen, Sweden
$2,690
Pick-up from your accommodation in Östersund around lunchtime. After eating lunch at a local restaurant, we head to our basecamp in the picturesque village of Tännäs, about a 2.5-hour drive southwest of Östersund. At night, we enjoy dinner and a welcome drink at the cabin in Tännäs and explore some nearby lookout points.
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 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 BBQ dinner at Arran Restaurant 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. At night, we will cook our own dinner over a wood-fired stove and then 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, 4-5 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 (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. After everyone is back, we gather for sauna and cold plunge and 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, 3-4 hours). This is an easy hike on a well-trodden trail through dry moorland and mountain birch forests, through the Kesu valley. From Ljungdalen, we will take a taxi to our car in Ramundberget and then head to Funäsdalen to get take-out for dinner.
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% down payment to hold your spot, with the remainder due by the end of the year. The down payment is non-refundable, but the remaining 75% is refundable until 90 days prior to the trip.
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