Sarek national park
Sarek national park is a dramatic mountain area with deep valleys and high mountain peaks. Magnificent river deltas wind through the valleys, and the snow-covered mountains contain over 100 glaciers. Sarek is one of Sweden's most inaccessible national parks, with no marked trails or overnight cabins.
Experience Sarek
Sarek national park is one of Sweden’s oldest national parks and one of our largest high-alpine areas. Of Sweden’s 13 peaks over 2,000 meters, six are located in Sarek national park. The area is home to over 100 glaciers, and in the valleys, you can follow magnificent river deltas. The valleys are popular grazing grounds for moose and reindeer, while the steep cliffs are home to rough-legged buzzards and other large birds of prey. Here, you can experience dramatic nature in its wildest form.
The Skierfe cliff, a dramatic rock face rising nearly 700 meters from the valley, is the most famous destination in Sarek. It is located at the mouth of the Rapadalen valley and offers an incredible view of the winding delta landscape. The easiest way to reach the Skierfe cliff is via STF Aktse Mountain cabin.
Sarek is part of the Laponia world heritage site, along with the national parks Padjelanta, Stora Sjöfallet, and Muddus, as well as the nature reserves Sjávnja/Sjaunja and Stubbá/Stubba, and the areas Sulidälbmá, Tjuoldavuobme, and Ráhpaäno suorgudahka.
Hiking in Sarek
Sarek is known as one of Sweden’s most inaccessible national parks. There are no marked trails or overnight accommodations, which means you must have strong navigation skills using a map and compass and experience with extended camping trips. Additionally, hiking here involves many challenging river crossings that require caution. Trekking through Sarek is demanding but offers an incredibly thrilling experience in a truly unique mountain landscape.
To hike through Sarek, you should be used to carrying a heavy pack in unmarked terrain, as you will need to bring a tent, sleeping gear, and provisions for your entire stay. You can restock supplies at the mountain cabins in Ritsem and Aktse or at STF Saltoluokta Mountain Station, which are also potential start and end points outside the national park.
Read more about the trail Ritsem-Aktse here.
Learn more about how to avoid disturbing the reindeer.
Accommodation in Sarek
There are no accommodations within Sarek national park, so you must carry your own tent and gear for overnight stays. However, Kungsleden runs just outside the park, offering several options for overnight stays in mountain cabins and stations. You can choose to make day trips into the national park and use the accommodations as a base or use them as start/end points for a camping tour.
There are many ways to plan a trip to Sarek, but the park’s valleys are the natural starting and ending points for most hikes.
Accommodations near Sarek
The following accommodations are excellent starting points for accessing Sarek. They can be used as a base for day trips or as the first/last overnight stay before a camping tour.
Different starting points for Sarek
From the north, STF Saltoluokta Mountain Station is one of the more popular starting points for visiting Sarek. From here, after 1–2 days of hiking or skiing, you can reach the well-known valleys of Pastavagge and the Piela Plain—often referred to as “the heart of Sarek.”
Another popular starting point from the north is Suorva. There is a bus stop here, and from this point you can cross Lake Akkajaure on foot and reach the central parts of Sarek after a hike of similar length as from Saltoluokta.
A further option is to start your journey from STF Ritsem. You can get here either by car and park next to the accommodation or by bus.
The first step towards Sarek after arriving in Ritsem is to take a boat across Lake Akkajaure, which will drop you off near STF Akka Mountain Cabin. From there, it’s another 1–2 days of hiking before you reach Sarek.
A top tip is to book a night at Ritsem and enjoy the stunning views over Lake Akkajaure and the Akka massif, which has the greatest vertical drop in Sweden.
From the east, STF Aktse Mountain Cabin is the best starting point. It is also the cabin located closest to the national park boundary and near some of the most well-known sites, such as Skierfe cliff and Rapadalen valley.
From the south, STF Kvikkjokk Mountain Station is the natural starting point. From here, you begin your journey towards Sarek by following the King’s Trail (Kungsleden) north to STF Pårte Mountain Cabin and then on to STF Aktse Mountain Cabin. The final stretch requires a boat crossing over the lake.
Sarek in winter
Sarek is incredibly beautiful in winter. The area forms a labyrinth of narrow, wide and deep valleys surrounded by steep mountain massifs and glaciers. However, venturing into Sarek is not without risk even in summer—so visiting in winter places even greater demands on you. Additional challenges include cold, snow and darkness. Being in Sarek therefore requires thorough preparation, the right equipment and solid experience of winter camping.
You also need to be prepared for rapid weather changes and shorter daylight hours. When planning a winter trip in Sarek, remember to include extra days for bad weather. A pulka (sled) is essential for carrying all your gear, including food supplies for the entire trip.
There are no accommodation options or marked trails in Sarek, and the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency does not provide avalanche forecasts for the area – placing even greater responsibility on those travelling here.
For those who do venture into Sarek in winter, total solitude and a strong sense of freedom await. On crisp winter nights, there is also a good chance of experiencing the northern lights.
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