Foraging, Feasting and Northern Lights: Swedish Lapland to Stockholm

Your journey begins at Luleå Airport, where a private car takes you north towards Gunnarsbyn and the forests of Swedish Lapland. Over the next hour, the roads become quieter, the pine and birch grow thicker and the landscape begins to feel increasingly remote.

Arrive at Arctic Retreat, a small collection of handcrafted log cabins beside the Råne River. Your Sun Cabin is set in its own peaceful corner of the retreat, with river and forest views, a loft bedroom, large windows, a wood burning fireplace and a private outdoor hot tub. There is time to settle in, unpack and enjoy the quiet before dinner.

Food is a central part of your stay here. The kitchen works closely with ingredients from the surrounding landscape and local communities, from river fish and game to mushrooms, berries and wild herbs. Dinner is prepared from scratch and draws on Swedish and Sámi traditions, giving you an immediate sense of where you are through the flavours on the plate.

As darkness falls, head out with your guide for your first opportunity to see the Northern Lights. September marks the return of properly dark skies in Swedish Lapland and the area around Arctic Retreat has very little light pollution. Your guide will choose a suitable viewing spot, taking you away from artificial light and towards open views of the sky.

There can never be a guarantee of an Aurora display, but that sense of anticipation is part of the experience. Settle in with Swedish fika, strong coffee and something sweet while you wait, watch and take in the silence of the forest around you.

If the sky stays clear, the evening may end with the Northern Lights moving above the trees before you return to the warmth of your hot tub.

Wake beside the Råne River and start the day with breakfast at Arctic Retreat, with the forest and flowing water setting the pace for a day focused on flavour, craft and the traditions of the north.

Your first experience is with Sámi food inspiration guide Eva Gunnare, who introduces you to the edible landscape of Swedish Lapland. Head into the surrounding nature on a flavour walk, learning how to recognise wild plants, herbs and berries, as well as some of the traditional remedies that have been used here for generations. The experience is about far more than identifying ingredients. Eva shares the stories behind them, how they have been gathered and used, and why responsible foraging matters.

Along the way, taste natural flavours directly from the landscape before returning to Eva’s cabin for a feast built around foraged ingredients. It is a chance to understand Swedish Lapland through food, tradition and conversation, with joiking adding another memorable connection to Sámi culture. After cooking with Eva, you will head out to a local market to gather cheese, meat, local breads and yogurt.

Afterwards, gather around the fire for traditional Swedish fika, with homemade treats, warm drinks and time to talk with your hosts about life in the Arctic.

Return to Arctic Retreat for the evening. Your private hot tub and sauna offer an easy way to slow down after a full day, while dinner continues the retreat’s focus on seasonal ingredients and local flavours.

If skies are clear, keep an eye upwards for another Autumn Aurora.

After breakfast overlooking the river, spend another day getting closer to the landscape around Arctic Retreat, this time through fishing, outdoor cooking and a very personal evening in the kitchen.

Join a local guide on the clear waters of the Råne River for a fishing experience surrounded by forest. Whether you already fish or are trying it for the first time, the focus is as much on the setting and the traditions of the area as it is on the catch. Learn about local fishing techniques and the importance of fishing in Sweden while taking time to enjoy the quiet rhythm of the river.

Around midday, pause for lunch outdoors. Gather around an open fire and eat surrounded by the sounds of the forest and water, with no need to rush on. It is one of those simple experiences that works because of where you are.

This evening brings one of the most individual parts of the trip. Back at Arctic Retreat, our resident chef will cook the signature dish created by Gareth Baty, Masterchef Professional Winner 2026, from his trip here in September 2026.

Gareth’s recipe is now part of his legacy at Arctic Retreat, this dish was inspired by his stay in Sweden, gathering the food from local markets and surrounding forests, with a personal connection to the land and the people he met out foraging.

Later this evening, enjoy the quiet of your cabin beside the river.

You can upgrade your stay at Arctic Retreat, and have Gareth Baty cook for you for the duration of your stay.
Contact us for more information.

Enjoy a final breakfast at Arctic Retreat and take in the river and forest one more time before leaving Gunnarsbyn. After several days shaped by food, local knowledge and the landscape, the morning gives you a little space to reflect on what you have experienced.

Your private transfer then takes you back to Luleå Airport through the forests of Swedish Lapland. From here, continue south to Stockholm. (flights not included).

On arrival in Stockholm, a private driver meets you for the transfer to Hotel Skeppsholmen. Set on a quiet island in the centre of the city, the hotel combines contemporary Scandinavian design with the character of a historic building dating back to 1699. Check into your Deluxe Sea or Garden View Room and take some time to settle in.

This evening, dine in the hotel restaurant, where seasonal Swedish ingredients are at the heart of the menu. Afterwards, head out for a gentle walk beside the water or simply enjoy the calm setting of Skeppsholmen before tomorrow’s culinary experience.

With central Stockholm close by, you have the contrast of city life on your doorstep while returning to an island setting that feels noticeably quieter.

Wake in Stockholm with views across the water and begin the day with a leisurely breakfast at Hotel Skeppsholmen. The morning is deliberately unhurried, giving you time to explore at your own pace before the main culinary experience begins later in the day.

You might walk into Gamla Stan, browse one of Stockholm’s museums or simply spend a little time around Skeppsholmen and the waterfront. The hotel’s island location makes it easy to enjoy the capital while still returning to a quieter setting.

Head Chef, Alexander can be found picking vegetables in the hotel garden, you can explore what is growing on site as he hand selects seasonal produce for the evening ahead. Chef Alexander shares his approach to Nordic cooking, sustainability and the importance of allowing good ingredients to remain at the centre of each dish.

Chef Alexander and his team will cook for you tonight, with carefully selected wine pairings to accompany the food, using the vegetables picked from the garden that afternoon.

After dinner, the evening is yours. Head into Stockholm for a final look at the city after dark or return to the calm of Hotel Skeppsholmen and unwind ahead of your departure the following day.

It is a fitting final chapter, bringing the journey back to food while showing how Swedish ingredients, creativity and a strong sense of place connect forest and capital.

Enjoy one last leisurely breakfast at Hotel Skeppsholmen before making the most of your final hours in Stockholm. With a later flight, there is no need for an early start, giving you time to enjoy the city at a relaxed pace.

After breakfast, check out and leave your luggage safely with the hotel. From Skeppsholmen, much of central Stockholm is easily accessible on foot, so you could spend the morning wandering beside the waterfront, return to the cobbled streets of Gamla Stan or simply enjoy the peaceful surroundings of the island.

Stop for coffee and something sweet at a local café, browse a few independent shops or take one final walk along the water before finding somewhere for an early lunch. After several days centred around the flavours of Sweden, it is a relaxed way to finish the trip without trying to squeeze too much into your final morning.

Return to Hotel Skeppsholmen to collect your luggage before beginning your journey to the airport.

Your time in Sweden comes to an end after a journey that has taken you from the forests and rivers of Swedish Lapland to the heart of Stockholm, connected throughout by food, local people and experiences rooted firmly in their surroundings.