This appealing self-contained resort with a variety of accommodation options is approximately 200km north of the Arctic Circle. It has a relatively late start as far as the ski season is concerned, early February – not due to the lack of snow just the lack of daylight. However when spring rolls on into early summer, with the sun not sinking below the horizon for weeks on end, people are drawn here to make the most of the powder, the depth and endless variation attracting serious skiers and snowboarders alike. Sweden’s first-ever ski school was set up here and today, the instructors are some of the best and most knowledgeable in the country – so novices are welcome too!
The scenery is as you would expect in the vast expanse of the Lapland wilderness, simply breathtaking. The ski slopes of Riksgransen offer fantastic views of the surrounding mountains and on a clear day the vistas are never-ending. At only a two hour drive from Kiruna, the magnificent mountains rise to a 1,500m (5,000ft) backdrop and offer 34 ski and off-piste runs for varying abilities, the highest of the 6 lifts at 910m.
As you can imagine, the off-piste opportunities are first-rate with pretty much guaranteed, kneedeep light powder on around 60 peaks over 1200m. Riksgransen offers off-piste guiding to explore the skiing area and expert guides cover classic routes as well as tours to Nordalsfjall. A short trek up to the peak means superb skiing back down to the lifts and when the weather conditions are right, the views across the Norwegian side are magnificent.
One of the most exciting activities available in Riksgransen is heliskiing. From around the end of March until the close of the season, combine the ultimate thrill of a helicopter flight over stunning scenery with the chance to ski on virgin snow, on perhaps several different mountains in a single trip. Accompanied by a certified mountain guide on all trips, a popular choice is the Marma massif where fearless participants ski down a thrilling drop of over 1,200m. If you’d simply like to ride in a helicopter, you can fly to a normally inaccessible mountain peak, enjoy a short walk through untouched snow, breath in the incredibly clean air and spend time with your camera.
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Iceland
