A train trip up to the Artic Circle can be an experience of a lifetime. It is not the cheapest train trip around in the world but for the type of experience it offers, I say that it is relatively affordable. Read about my experience with a Syrian refugee on my previous post here. I chose to travel the Swedish Lapland by SJ, their world class train system. My trip Stockholm-Bjorkliden-Copenhagen came up to a total of SEK1793 (about USD218) and total traveling time on train was almost 2 days, implying that I was paying USD4.54 per hour of train ride.
Stockholm Central Station
This overnight train went on to Lulea after I got off at Boden for my transfer.
Looking out can be addictive
I woke up at 6am to witness the changed landscape, a start contrast to Stockholm.
I bumped into two guys from Hong Kong and they offered me their place in Abisko. It was totally unexpected and very kind of them. I declined because I already got my ski lodge booked in Bjorkliden.
Kanken bags are popular all around the world, definitely in its home ground Sweden.
My day transfer train stopped by Kiruna, the famous spot for the Ice Hotel.
After a day of traveling, I was finally deep in the Artic Circle – Swedish small town of Bjorkliden.
Thankfully for this ride, I didn’t have to walk more than 1km upslope in the slippery ice.
I was greeted by a lovely sunset as I walked to my lodge.
My eyes caught a faint glow of the Northern Lights. I wasn’t sure about it so I used my camera to capture it.
My lodge for the night, the price for a single room was affordable by Swedish standard at about USD60 per night.
I got up the next morning to witness this ridiculously beautiful sunrise.
The winter lapland is beautiful. The scene was straight out of National Geographic.
It was breathing -10 degree celsius outside.
It was snowing heavily when the train arrived at the platform.
Your eyes are your wonders to the world. Shortly right after this shot, the train broke down. It turned out that the train was going to be delayed because of a problem with the electrical box. I waited for two hours, glazing into the enchanting landscape ever few moments. Then an announcement came and it mentioned that they needed eight hours to repair the problem.
They sent a bus and a taxi to ferry us from the breakdown point to Kiruna, followed by a taxi ride that cost in excess of USD1500 from Kiruna to Boden.
The following four hours of taxi ride was a total privilege because I got to experience what it felt like to be driving in the Swedish Lapland. We reached Boden just in time to catch the last overnight train to Stockolm.
Stockholm Central Station, on the platform waiting for the train to Copenhagen.
I was put on the bistro car because I missed my previous connection. I was offered a USD15 food voucher and couldn’t feel happier about it. Furthermore, I got a full refund of SEK1118 as compensation for the delayed part of the journey.
Truly fantastic experience