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Kungsleden: Abisko to Nikkaluokta

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Kungsleden: Abisko to Nikkaluokta

The King's Trail through Swedish Lapland — 105 km, seven huts, no roads.

Duration
9 days
Group size
Max 10
Difficulty
Sleeps
STF mountain huts + hostels
Season
Early July to mid September
Start / end
Abisko → Kiruna
Per day
€105£91

Overview

What this trip is

The northern section of the Kungsleden is Scandinavia's classic long walk: broad glacial valleys, reindeer, the 1,150 m Tjäktja pass, and a finish under Kebnekaise, Sweden's highest mountain.

The Swedish Tourist Association huts make it thrifty by design. No electricity, no staff cooking for you — you fetch water, chop wood, cook on gas in a shared kitchen and restock at the little hut shops. Most have a wood-fired sauna by the river, which is the best bit.

The walking is never steep for long, but it's seven days in a row with everything on your back, across boardwalks, boulders and the odd bog.

Highlights

  • Walking out of Abisko through the Lapporten valley landscape
  • Sauna-and-river evenings at Alesjaure and Sälka
  • Crossing Tjäktja pass into the long Tjäktjavagge valley
  • Kebnekaise mountain station and the final day out to Nikkaluokta

Day by day

Itinerary

Day 1Arrive Abisko

Arrive by train from Kiruna or Narvik. Evening briefing and pack check at the hostel beside the trailhead.

Day 2Abisko to Abiskojaure15 km · ↑ 150 m · ↓ 50 m

Through birch forest along the Abiskojåkka canyon to the lakeside hut. A gentle start.

Day 3Abiskojaure to Alesjaure20 km · ↑ 400 m · ↓ 100 m

Up onto the open fell and along the chain of Alesjaure lakes. Big day, big sauna.

Day 4Alesjaure to Tjäktja13 km · ↑ 300 m · ↓ 50 m

A steady climb up the widening valley to the small, high Tjäktja hut at 1,000 m.

Day 5Over the pass to Sälka12 km · ↑ 150 m · ↓ 350 m

Over Tjäktja pass (1,150 m), the high point of the whole Kungsleden, and down into the vast Tjäktjavagge.

Day 6Sälka to Singi12 km · ↑ 50 m · ↓ 150 m

Easy valley walking between 1,800 m peaks. Reindeer country.

Day 7Singi to Kebnekaise14 km · ↑ 150 m · ↓ 200 m

Leave the Kungsleden and turn east through the narrow Láddjuvággi to Kebnekaise mountain station. Showers. A restaurant. A bar.

Day 8Out to Nikkaluokta19 km · ↑ 100 m · ↓ 300 m

The last 19 km to the road (or 13 km with the optional lake boat), then the afternoon bus to Kiruna for a final night.

Day 9Depart Kiruna

Trip ends after breakfast. Kiruna has flights and the night train south.

The deal

What’s included, and what isn’t

Included

  • Trekking guide throughout
  • 6 nights STF huts, 1 night Abisko hostel, 1 night Kiruna hostel (all dorm)
  • STF membership for the hut discount
  • Breakfasts and dinners on the trail, cooked together
  • Nikkaluokta–Kiruna bus

Not included

  • Travel to Abisko and from Kiruna
  • Trail lunches and snacks (bring or buy at hut shops)
  • Optional Láddjujávri boat (about SEK 450)
  • Meals at Kebnekaise station and in Kiruna
  • Sleeping bag liner, travel insurance (both required)

The honest box

What’s basic about this trip

  • You carry everything except a tent: expect 10–13 kg.
  • Huts are bunkrooms with no showers, no electricity and outdoor dry toilets. Everyone does chores — that's the system.
  • Mosquitoes in July are a genuine feature. Late August and September are bug-free and golden.

Nothing hidden

Where your money goes

  • Guides 33%
  • Beds 37%
  • Food 13%
  • Transport 4%
  • Us 13%

Indicative split for this trip. "Us" covers planning, insurance, this website and keeping the lights on.

When

Dates and availability

DatesAvailabilityFromBook
10 Jul 2027 – 18 Jul 2027Places available€945£815Enquire
7 Aug 2027 – 15 Aug 2027Places available€945£815Enquire
28 Aug 2027 – 5 Sep 2027Filling up€945£815Enquire
4 Sep 2027 – 12 Sep 2027Places available€945£815Enquire

Pack

Kit list highlights

  • Waterproof boots
  • 50–60 L pack with rain cover
  • Full waterproofs
  • Sleeping bag liner
  • Hut shoes or sandals
  • Head net and repellent (July)
  • Trekking poles

Good to know

Trip FAQs

Do I need to be very fit?

You need stamina more than speed: 12–20 km a day for seven days with a loaded pack. If you can do back-to-back 6-hour hill days at home, you're ready.

Can we climb Kebnekaise?

Not on this itinerary — it needs a spare day and a 10–12 hour round trip. Ask us about adding a night at the mountain station.

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Questions about this trip?

Ask about fitness, kit, the huts, the dogs, the weather. We’d rather you asked than guessed.