Ski-joering in Swedish Lapland — The Skimate Guide
Published on 1 June 2026
By Kristell · Skimate · June 2026*
Read more →ShareLilla Arvidsträsk · Swedish Lapland
Explore the Wild with Your Dog
The Stuga, by the lake, at the 65th parallel. Your dog, or one of ours. And the season passing through.
A simple life, time with a pack, open air and silence — in a restored wooden cabin turned refuge, far from everyday life.
Included: evening meal on arrival · access to facilities and sauna · guidance on activities if desired · map with routes and visit suggestions.
Options: airport transfer on request · partner mushing services on request.
Activities by season
At 65°N, each season has its own pace
Our Philoso-ski
“Look your dog in the eyes and you cannot claim it has no soul”
— Victor Hugo —
Dogs first!
The dog — yours or one of ours, it is essential to the stay. Its well-being, its pace, its joy — this is our compass.
Quality, not quantity
2 guests at launch, 6 eventually — not one more. No performance dashboard. A campfire, grilled sausages, and the silence of the boreal forest.
Time as a value
The only time that matters here is the time spent outside with your dog, under the arctic sky.
The setting
Lilla Arvidsträsk, Älvsbyn — Swedish Lapland
Our base camp is located at 65°N in Swedish Lapland, one hour's drive (70 km) from Luleå airport and 15 minutes from Älvsbyn (15 km), a quiet town known as "the pearl of Norrbotten".
We live in the main house with our 5 Nordic dogs and we host you in the small neighbouring stuga, a small cabin of 20 square metres. This cabin is equipped with basic comfort as in a mountain lodge: wood stove, refrigerator, cooker and beds for two people.
In winter, water is used independently (basin and jerrycan) in a simple way of life.
The traditional sauna replaces the bathroom and allows you to wash in a warm atmosphere.
The dry toilets, located behind the stuga, complete this experience in the heart of nature.
Your four-legged companions benefit from a rest area and an insulated kennel but they can sleep with you if you wish.
Group outings are done with a harness for humans, harness for the dog and elastic line. Man and dog are connected to share the effort together and with their fellow participants.
We cannot accommodate more than 2 dogs per person. We have chosen to have a small pack and to be able to welcome teams of identical sizes.
- —Private cottage with fireplace and kitchen — 2 guests
- —Traditional Sami tent — 4 spots, opening mid-season
- —Traditional wood-fired sauna
- —Dedicated spaces for your dog's comfort
Who are we?
Gilles
The charmer
"The man of solutions. With him there is no problem. His favorite proverb: we will rest when we are dead. His priority: the well-being of his loved ones and therefore of his four-legged companions. Gilles scouts the different ski routes, prepares them and catalogs them for your comfort."
Kristell
K2
"Enthusiasm and joy embodied. Her favourite saying: life is like riding a bicycle, you must keep moving forward to maintain your balance (Albert Einstein). Her priority: pleasure with the dogs and safety. Kristell welcomes, organises, informs and accompanies you on your outings if you wish."
The pack
Nanga, Hunza, Kira, Api and Aikhal — and Summa, forever in our hearts.
Read bio
Nanga
The Sun King
Read bio
Hunza
The Fairy
Read bio
Kira
Wheel dog
Read bio
Api
The Gremlin
Read bio
Aikhal
The Knitter
Read bio
Lynx
Trail blazer
In our hearts
Read bio
Summa
Forever in the pack
18/12/2021 — 17/04/2026
Moments from the wild
1 / 16
2 / 16
3 / 16
← swipe →
Latest news
Canicross hiking in Swedish Lapland — The Skimate guide
Published on 31 May 2026
There is something we try to pass on to every guest who leaves here: what we do in canicross hiking is less an activity than a way of being together. With your dog, with the…
Read more →ShareThe Genesis
Published on 31 May 2026
The genesis of the SKIMATE project is told in the "History" page (https://www.skimate.eu/en/history).
Read more →ShareJanuary, from above.
Published on 31 May 2026
We take off, we fly over, we come back. 3 minutes to see where we live, at 65°N in Swedish Lapland.
Read more →ShareBeautiful Ophir
Published on 31 May 2026
We told you about Ophir a few weeks ago, the lovely Alaskan husky that Gilles completely fell for two years ago. Well, the news came through on Friday — Ophir is expecting…
Read more →ShareWe're looking forward to the new winter season!
Published on 30 May 2026
Winter. A time of stillness in our landscape here. Calm and fullness. Our base camp, on the lakeshore, is the starting point for endless walks. The frozen lake offers real…
Read more →ShareCurrent conditions · Lilla Arvidsträsk