Getting there
- Flights to Målselv (BDU) 80 km from the start
- Flights to Kiruna (KRN) 85 km from the start
Treks / Sweden
Kungsleden: Abisko to Nikkaluokta
Sweden · Nearest city: Stockholm (also Kiruna)
TypeMulti-day trek
Days6–7
Distance≈ 110 km
Climbingvaries
Highest point1,150 m
The northern section of Sweden's King's Trail, through Arctic valleys and past Kebnekaise, Sweden's highest mountain.
Fitness
Demanding
Best seasonLate June to September
High pointTjäktja pass
Watch out: Mosquitoes in July, and huts can be far apart. Carry cash or a card for the hut shops.
Why people choose it
It's Sweden's great wilderness walk in Lapland, with the midnight sun, reindeer and Sweden's highest mountain.
What makes it different
- Midnight sun in summer
- Sami culture and reindeer
- Right to roam lets you camp almost anywhere
Day by day
The northern Kungsleden from Abisko to Nikkaluokta, staying at the Swedish Tourist Association's mountain huts. You leave the Kungsleden at Singi to finish at Nikkaluokta.
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Day1
Abisko → Abiskojaure
An easy start through birch forest beside the Abiskojåkka river canyon.
Sleep: Abiskojaure mountain hut
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Day2
Abiskojaure → Alesjaure
Above the treeline into open fells, past a Sami summer settlement. A boat can shorten the day.
Sleep: Alesjaure mountain hut
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Day3
Alesjaure → Tjäktja
A wide, wild valley with reindeer grazing.
Sleep: Tjäktja mountain hut
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Day4
Tjäktja → SälkaBest views
The high point of the trail and the long view down Tjäktjavagge.
Sleep: Sälka mountain hut
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Day5
Sälka → Singi
A gentle valley walk between big mountains.
Sleep: Singi mountain hut
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Day6
Singi → Kebnekaise Fjällstation
You leave the Kungsleden and head east under Sweden's highest mountain.
Sleep: Kebnekaise Fjällstation
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Day7
Kebnekaise Fjällstation → Nikkaluokta
Downhill through birch forest. A boat across Ladtjojaure saves about 6 km.
Sleep: Bus to Kiruna
Where the best view is
Day 4, crossing the Tjäktja pass at about 1,150 m, the highest point of the trail, with the long Tjäktjavagge valley stretching south below you.
Where to take a rest day
Kebnekaise Fjällstation, after day 6, is the place to stop: a full day to climb Kebnekaise, Sweden's highest mountain, or simply to rest.
Before you go
Some of these are affiliate links: if you book through them we may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. We only list services that fit this trek.
Phone and data
Phone plans from the EU and EEA roam here at home prices. Coming from the US, UK or elsewhere? A Europe data eSIM is usually far cheaper than roaming.
Expect long stretches with no signal on the trail. Download offline maps and our GPX before you start.
Insurance that covers this trek
Most travel insurance includes hiking at this height. Check that hiking is listed and that medical evacuation is covered.
Rescue is not the same as evacuation. Travel insurance usually pays to fly you to hospital, but not always for the search and rescue itself. Read the policy's "search and rescue" section.
True Traveller sells only to UK and EEA residents. Always check the altitude limit and your country of residence in the policy wording. Our trekking insurance guide explains what to look for.
Camping and where to sleep
Under Sweden's Right of Public Access you can camp for a night or two almost anywhere, away from huts and homes. Campers can pay a small fee to use hut facilities.
Rules change and differ between parks. Check with the local park or tourist office before you pitch a tent.
Route map
Map layers load on the live site. Use the overview below meanwhile.
Straight lines between stops One colour per day (dashed: straight line, not the exact path) Start / finish Stop on the way Nearest city
Switch between Topo, Satellite and Street layers with the layer button, and turn on the marked hiking trails overlay. We don't have the exact trail for this route yet, so stops are joined with straight lines. Always carry a proper hiking map on the trail.
Stops: Abisko → Kebnekaise → Nikkaluokta
Simple overview map
Step by step
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Months before
Plan and book
- Book huts or accommodation as soon as reservations open, starting with the busiest nights.
- Best time to go: Late June to September.
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6–12 weeks before
Train and test your gear
- Take the readiness quiz to see how many weeks of training you need.
- Break in your boots and train with the pack you'll carry.
- Tick off the packing list to see what you still need.
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Getting there
Travel to the start
- Most people start from Stockholm.
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On the trail
Walk it
- Start early each day, so you arrive before the afternoon weather and the rush for beds.
- In huts, boots stay in the boot room, dinner is served at a set time and lights go out around 10 pm.
- You can carry a tent and camp where it's allowed, which saves money and gives more flexibility.
- See the day-by-day plan below for distances, high points and where to sleep.
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The finish
Get home
- It's a one-way route, so plan your transport back from the finish in advance.
How the season changes things
Best time: Late June to September
Late June to mid-July
Early summer
Midnight sun or very long days, snow patches on high ground and fast-flowing snowmelt rivers. Mosquitoes peak.
Bring
- Mosquito head net and repellent
- Eye mask for the light nights
- Gaiters for snow
Late July to August
High summer
Warmest and most stable weather, fewer mosquitoes later in August, but busiest huts.
Bring
- Rain jacket
- Warm layer
- Book popular huts and boats
September
Autumn
Stunning autumn colours and the first northern lights, but cold nights, first snow on the tops and some huts closing.
Bring
- Down jacket and hat
- Headlamp
- Check hut opening dates
Be ready for
Mosquitoes
Mosquitoes can be intense in early summer. Bring a head net, repellent and long sleeves.
River crossings
You'll ford rivers without bridges. Cross early in the day when levels are lower, unclip your hip belt, and use poles. Bring sandals or light shoes for crossing.
What you'll see
8 photos taken on and around the route by Wikimedia Commons photographers. Tap one to see it bigger.
Gear for the Kungsleden: Abisko to Nikkaluokta
Photo credits: Kungsleden trail by Shyguy24x7, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Lapporten by Lapplaender, CC BY-SA 2.0 de, via Wikimedia Commons; Abisko overview by Ojan, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons; Crevasse at Storglaciären by Leonhard Lenz, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons; Storglaciären with Kebnekaise behind by Leonhard Lenz, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons; Dag Hammarskjöldsleden in Ladtjovagge by Leonhard Lenz, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons; Dag Hammarskjöldsleden in Ladtjovagge by Leonhard Lenz, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons; Valley between Tarfala and Ladtjovagge by Leonhard Lenz, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons. Photos resized for the web. Figures are approximate and vary with the variant you choose.
