EXPLORER

Expedition is our most popular adventure and the classic way to experience the High Coast in winter. It combines spectacular winter hiking with the unique feeling of sleeping outdoors in a tent – without having to carry the heaviest gear along the way.

We hike together to our shared basecamp, where we spend two nights surrounded by the winter landscape. Your tent and sleeping bag are transported to the basecamp and back to FriluftsByn, allowing you to hike with a much lighter pack and save more energy for the nature, the views and the experience itself.

During the hike, you carry what you need for the day – usually water, lunch, a camping stove, extra clothing and personal gear. We hike around 10 - 14 kilometres per day through hilly winter terrain, with climbs, descents and snow adding just the right amount of physical challenge.

You don’t need previous experience of winter hiking or winter camping. For many people, Expedition is their first bigger winter adventure. What matters most is that you have a reasonable level of fitness, enjoy being outdoors and feel comfortable hiking for around 6 - 8 hours in hilly terrain.

You do, however, need to test your gear and get familiar with it before you arrive. You should know how to pitch your tent, how to use your camping stove and have tried out the equipment you’re bringing. Our guides are close at hand throughout the adventure to offer advice and help if anything doesn’t go quite as planned.

Once the day’s hike is over, a completely different part of the experience begins. At basecamp, we pitch our tents, prepare our food and gather around the campfires in the middle of the winter landscape. This is where hiking meets winter camping – with good company, peaceful surroundings and, hopefully, a clear starry sky above.

Expedition is for you if you:

• want to experience our classic and most popular winter adventure

• want to hike with a lighter pack while still sleeping outdoors in a tent

• are curious about winter hiking and winter camping

• want to combine spectacular nature, good company and just the right amount of challenge

Expedition is simply the big winter adventure – spectacular hiking by day and the unique feeling of camping right in the heart of the winter landscape by night.

Expedition Raw is for experienced hikers who want to experience the High Coast in winter in the most independent and traditional way: by carrying all your own gear to and from our basecamp. This means hiking with a full pack on days one and three, while day two is done with a lighter daypack. This is our most challenging option – but also the one that brings the greatest sense of freedom, adventure and achievement.

During the High Coast Winter Hike – Expedition Raw, you carry your own tent, sleeping bag, sleeping mat, camping stove, food, water and clothing. A complete winter pack usually weighs between 16 and 20 kilos, depending on your gear and how you pack. This means you need to prepare physically and get your body used to carrying a heavy backpack over longer distances.

You should feel comfortable using your tent and camping stove. Being able to pitch your tent in the wind, get your stove going in falling snow and keep your gear organised when it’s cold are all part of the experience. However, you don’t need previous experience of winter hiking or winter camping – most participants have never camped in winter before.

The stages are planned to give you a good balance between hiking and recovery. As long as your body is used to carrying a backpack, you’ll have time to rest, eat and enjoy the wide-open views along the way. You hike at your own pace, together with the other Expedition participants.

Each hiking day ends at our basecamp with campfires, good company, peaceful surroundings and starry skies – and a unique sense of connection with both nature and the group. Guides are always nearby to answer questions or help if something doesn’t go quite as planned, but with Expedition Raw, you truly carry your own adventure.

Expedition Raw is for you if you:

• want to challenge both body and mind

• are comfortable carrying a heavy pack

• enjoy independence and being close to nature

• want the satisfaction of completing something many people never even attempt

It’s the rawest and most authentic winter adventure we offer – and for many, it becomes an experience they carry with them for the rest of their lives.

Discovery is for those who want to experience the High Coast in winter through proper day hikes, spectacular views and varied terrain, while hiking with a light pack and returning to a warm cabin in FriluftsByn each evening.

During the day, you only carry what you need for the hike – usually water, lunch and extra layers. This gives you more freedom on the trail and more energy to enjoy the mountains, the views and the winter landscape.

You should have a reasonable level of fitness and enjoy being active for a full day. We hike both up and down steep sections and sometimes make our way through snow and uneven terrain. You don’t need any previous winter hiking experience – our guides are with you throughout the adventure.

One of the great things about Discovery is that the day hikes can be adapted to how you’re feeling and how much you want to challenge yourself. Each day, there’s the option to choose a longer route or add another summit if you still have energy in the tank. If you prefer to take it a little easier, stick to the main route and you’ll still get a full day of incredible outdoor experiences.

This makes Discovery an adventure where you can challenge yourself at your own level. Some come for the big winter experience and the good company, while others take the opportunity to add a few more kilometres and metres of climbing.

After each day’s adventure, we return to FriluftsByn, where a warm cabin, dinner and good company await. The next morning, we wake up rested and ready to explore a new part of the High Coast.

Discovery is for you if you want an active winter adventure with plenty of flexibility – where you can simply enjoy the experience or push yourself a little further when your legs and energy say yes.

Absolutely. We know that energy levels can vary, especially when spending several days out in the winter landscape, so there are options to adapt the hike along the way.

If you’re having a more tired day or feeling an old injury, our guides can help you find a shorter route to the overnight camp on Expedition and Expedition Raw.

With Discovery, you can also do the opposite. If you’re feeling strong and want more of a challenge, you can choose a longer route or add another summit each day. This means you can adapt the experience to both your energy level and how much you want to challenge yourself.

If you need to stop hiking completely, there are points along the routes where we can arrange a pick-up. Depending on where you are, however, you may still need to hike some distance to reach the nearest pick-up point.

We have guides at both the front and back of the groups, and you’ll also meet guides along the trail.

Explorer brings together a wide mix of hikers – from complete beginners with a reasonable level of fitness to more experienced outdoor enthusiasts looking to share an exciting winter adventure. It’s perfect for those who want to try sleeping outdoors in winter while hiking with a lighter pack, enjoy the company of the group and like taking the time to stop and soak up the views.** **

Expedition Raw attracts participants with some previous hiking experience, although for many it’s their first time using snowshoes or camping in proper winter conditions. They come for the challenge, the independence of carrying all their own gear and the growing sense of achievement that comes with every step through the winter landscape.

Explorer Lodge attracts curious adventurers who want to experience winter hiking without heavy packs or nights in a tent. Some are completely new to outdoor life, while others are experienced hikers who simply appreciate returning to a warm cabin each evening. It’s the perfect option for anyone looking for beautiful day hikes, good company and a more relaxed introduction to winter conditions.

Most participants come on their own, and it rarely takes long before new friendships start to form along the way. Others choose to bring friends or family and enjoy sharing the adventure with someone they know.

Around half of the participants come from Sweden, while the other half are adventurous hikers from different parts of Europe – creating a great mix of languages, experiences and perspectives.

Some join because they enjoy heading out together as a group. Others come for a little time to themselves and choose to hike certain sections at their own pace. There’s room for both, and perhaps it’s exactly that freedom that creates the relaxed and warm, welcoming atmosphere the Winter Hike has become known for.

We head out together in our respective groups. Quite often, you’ll naturally team up with a few other hikers who move at a similar pace, but you’re free to hike at your own speed all the way to the overnight camp.

There are guides at both the front and back of each group, and you’ll also meet guides along the trail.

For most people, it becomes a nice mix – hiking with others for a while, enjoying some time on your own, and then meeting new people along the way. Or you might simply find a few people you click with and stick together.

You get the idea. It’s going to be fun.

Throughout the hike, we follow marked trails. However, trails in the High Coast aren’t specifically adapted for winter, which means the trail markers are often hidden by snow. That’s why our guides head out ahead of the group to make sure there are tracks to follow, making it easy to find your way.

Even so, it’s always a good idea to keep track of where you are. When you check in for the adventure, you’ll receive a map that we’ll go through together before heading out. Key locations on the map are clearly marked along the route, making it easy to keep track of your progress.

Each group tends to spread out quite a bit along the trail, and there may be times when you can’t see any other participants. Guides are positioned at both the front and back of each group, and you’ll also meet guides along the way who can answer questions or help if there’s anything you’re unsure about.

At check-in, you’ll also receive a phone number to call if anything happens. There is mobile coverage along the majority of the route.

Meals are included from Thursday lunch through to Saturday lunch.
As we hike at our own pace and want to give you the freedom to eat when you’re hungry or when you find a beautiful spot to stop, most meals are high-quality freeze-dried meals.
We offer a wide variety, and you choose and collect your freeze-dried meals when you check in. You’ll receive two breakfasts and four main meals. Of course, we also have options for special dietary requirements. Simply let us know about any dietary requirements when you register for the adventure.

The following meals are included in Expedition and Expedition Raw:

Thursday:
Lunch: Freeze-dried meal (1)
Dinner: Freeze-dried meal (2)

Friday:
Breakfast: Freeze-dried breakfast (3)
Lunch: Freeze-dried meal (4)
Dinner: Cooked dinner at basecamp.

Saturday:
Breakfast: Freeze-dried breakfast (5)
Lunch: Freeze-dried meal (6)

The following meals are included in Explorer Lodge:

Thursday:
Breakfast: Breakfast in FriluftsByn
Lunch: Freeze-dried meal (1)
Dinner: Freeze-dried meal (2)

Friday:
Breakfast: Breakfast in FriluftsByn (3)
Lunch: Freeze-dried meal (4)
Dinner: Cooked dinner in Kälsviken, Skuleskogen.

Saturday:
Breakfast: Breakfast in FriluftsByn
Lunch: Freeze-dried meal (5)
Dinner: Dinner at the After-Hike

Sunday:
Breakfast: Breakfast in FriluftsByn
You bring your own snacks, sweets, nuts, coffee, tea and any other drinks you might want. We also recommend bringing electrolyte tablets or powder. During the adventure, you get drinking water by melting and boiling snow during breaks. Don’t forget to bring a thermos.
At other times, breakfast and dinner are available to purchase in FriluftsByn. We’ve kept some meals outside the registration package for Expedition and Explorer, as some participants may be staying with friends or somewhere other than FriluftsByn before and after the adventure.

You’ll find more information about meals here:
Travel, Accommodation, and Food >>

On Expedition and Expedition Raw, we camp together at our shared basecamp. There are campfire areas and outdoor toilets. Most participants have never camped in winter before, and many describe it as an experience they’ll remember for a long time. There’s something reassuring about being out there together, and the atmosphere is always warm and welcoming.

We’ve put together a few tips on how to make your nights at camp even more comfortable here: Create a Cozy Night Camp >>

For your safety, you need to check out before heading off on each day’s hike and check back in when you return.

For Expedition and Expedition Raw, check-in and check-out take place at the overnight camps. For Discovery participants, check-in and check-out take place at the buses.

Guides also hike at both the front and back of each group every day. So if everything goes according to plan – which it usually does – we know that everyone has reached camp once the guides at the back arrive.

By checking in and out as well, we have an extra way of making sure that everyone has headed out and returned safely. It’s a simple system that adds an extra layer of safety.

In Expedition, you hand in your tent and sleeping bag before taking the bus to the start. Your gear is then transported to a point just a few hundred metres from basecamp.

In Expedition Raw, you bring all your gear with you on the bus to the start and carry everything yourself on the first and third days. On day two, you hike with a lighter daypack.

The adventure finishes at the top of Skuleberget. Those who have handed in gear for transport on the final day will find it waiting for them after hiking back down to FriluftsByn at the foot of Skuleberget. This is also where we host the After-Hike.

Discovery doesn’t require any gear transport, as participants stay in cabins in FriluftsByn.