Discover the river valleys, cross the Arctic Circle and speak with locals who have grown up bilingual. This is where the sun never sets in the summer and where the northern lights dance across the dark winter sky. This is where you can taste the forest and drink the sea. This is the beating heart of Swedish Lapland.
The temperature drops. The snow creaks under your feet and a billion tiny ice crystals make everything glisten. It is winter. The trees are heavy under the snow, creating beautiful postcard images. The cold stings your cheeks. Your breath comes out as smoke, and you dress in layers to keep the warmth at the winter adventures. The polar night arrives in December and the sun stays below the horizon. It is also called kaamos – a winter light that is exceptional to experience. Most people celebrate Christmas here, and the villages are draped in glowing lights. It is crackling from the fire inside the houses, the wool socks are on, and you can finally use your snowmobile again. January is usually the coldest month of the year. If you want to experience really cold days, this is the time to visit. The snow continues to grow yard thick. The light returns for real in February. Take the kick-sled around town, enjoy a warm beverage by the fire, and roll in the snow after the sauna.
This is winter in Heart of Lapland.
Our Arctic lifestyle with its traditions and culture is in many ways naturally sustainable. Many of us hunt, fish, pick berries and mushrooms, keep our own animals and grow our own vegetables. We want our time spent in nature to leave as few footprints as possible so the next person who visits the place can get the same positive experience.
Nature is often our living room and for many, nature is also a workplace to protect.
What and where
is Heart of Lapland?
– the eastern part of Swedish Lapland
Heart of Lapland is the Eastern part of Swedish Lapland and consists of the five muncipalities Haparanda, Kalix, Pajala, Överkalix and Övertorneå. The destination is made up of several river valleys where Torne Valley and Kalix River valley are the prominent ones. This is where minority languages like meänkieli and the Sámi languages are spoken alongside Swedish, Finnish and local river valley dialects. Heart of Lapland is still a hidden gem, with local family owned businesses and small-scale entrepreneurs – all surrounded by woodlands, lakes, rivers and Europe’s northernmost archipelago.
Find out more
Heart of Lapland in brief numbers
85000
salmon is running annually Torne and Kalix river every year
297
kilometers of border river between Sweden and Finland
16163
square kilometers is the size of Heart of Lapland
1444