How do you get to the Kungsleden? By train, plane and bus to the starting point

Before you set off across Swedish Lapland with a pulk, you first need to get there, of course. The King’s Trail starts in Abisko, in the far north of Sweden. You can fly via Kiruna, take the night train from Stockholm or combine several modes of transport. Which option best suits your travel plans? Here are the possibilities!

For The King’s Trail , you’ll travel to Abisko Turiststation, the starting point for your winter trek with a pulk. Your trek ends in Nikkaluokta, so your outbound and return journeys won’t follow exactly the same route.

Abisko doesn’t have its own airport. If you fly, you’ll usually travel via Kiruna and continue from there to the trailhead. By train, you can travel directly to Abisko Turiststation. If you have some extra time, the journey north can become part of the adventure too.

Flying via Kiruna is the fastest way to reach northern Sweden. From Brussels or Amsterdam, you’ll usually fly to Kiruna Airport with a connection at Stockholm Arlanda. Abisko is about 100 kilometres from the airport.

From Kiruna, you have several options for continuing your journey:

• Shuttle or transfer: transfers run between the airport and Abisko. If you book one of the optional flights through The King’s Trail, the shuttle is included in the price.
• Train: from Kiruna station, the journey to Abisko Turiststation takes about an hour and 15 minutes. You’ll first need to get from the airport to the station.
• Taxi: this is the most expensive option, but it may be your only choice if your flight arrives at an inconvenient time. Book your taxi through www.taxikiruna.se.

Another option is to fly to Evenes, near Narvik in Norway, often with a connection in Oslo. From there, continue to Abisko by bus or rental car, crossing the Norwegian-Swedish border. Allow around one and a half to two hours for this journey, and check the connections in advance.

Prefer taking the train north? You can travel all the way to the trailhead by rail. Allow at least two full days for the journey. First, travel to Stockholm, then take the overnight train to Abisko.

The train usually leaves Stockholm Central in the late afternoon or early evening. This route north is often called the Arctic Circle Train. In around 16 to 18 hours, you’ll cross the Arctic Circle and arrive at Abisko Turiststation. Board in the city and step off in the snowy north. The change of scenery could hardly be greater.

You can book train tickets directly through SJ. Timetables and tickets are generally released around three months before departure. Check the latest connections and allow plenty of time for transfers on your way to Stockholm.

You don’t have to choose between flying all the way and travelling entirely by train. A great middle ground is a flight to Stockholm followed by the night train to Abisko.

You can fly directly to Stockholm Arlanda from Brussels or Amsterdam. Then head to Stockholm Central to board the night train. This cuts down your travel time to Stockholm while still letting you experience the long train journey across the Arctic Circle.

Make sure your flight and train times work together. The night train takes around 16 to 18 hours, so check not just your departure day, but also when you’ll arrive in Abisko.

After your trek, you’ll finish in Nikkaluokta, not Abisko. We’ll take a bus to Kiruna train station, which takes about an hour.

From Kiruna, you can take the night train to Stockholm. The journey takes around 16 hours. Check the Nikkaluokta Express bus timetable as soon as it’s available for your travel season. The service frequency and departure times will determine which train you can catch.

You can also travel north in your own car. From Brussels or Amsterdam, it’s about 2,800 to 3,000 kilometres one way. You can drive through Germany and cross the Danish and Swedish bridges, or take a ferry along the way.

For The King’s Trail, we recommend parking your car at Kiruna Airport and taking our shuttle from there to the starting point. At the end of the week, the shuttle will take you back to the airport. This is convenient because your trek finishes in a different place from where it starts.

Don’t underestimate the winter drive. Snow, ice and extreme cold call for suitable winter gear, good winter tyres and experience driving in these conditions. Having the freedom of your own car also means making the necessary preparations.