Experience the adventure of the Far North with your dog at Skimate
Fancy an adventure in Swedish Lapland with your dog? At Skimate, Kristell and Gilles welcome you in small groups to their camp, by a lake, for a nature stay, accompanied and designed for human-dog duos, summer and winter!
My dog's name is Musher. Needless to say, the Far North, dogs, snow, and wide open spaces resonate with me quite a bit…
I've always had a deep fascination for these landscapes. For me, the Far North is adventure with a capital A. Freedom. Purity. White everywhere. Silence. That feeling of being tiny in the face of the elements, and that necessary humility before a nature far more powerful than ourselves. Some flee the cold. I find it mesmerizing, almost captivating, when it forces us to slow down, to listen, to pay attention, to move forward differently.
So naturally, when I discovered Skimate and chatted with Kristell at length, I was instantly captivated. Because what she and Gilles are creating in Swedish Lapland isn't just a simple "dog-friendly" holiday. It's exactly the kind of adventure I'd love to experience if I were to travel alone with Musher to the Far North: a genuine, simple, wild immersion, but with a safety net. The kind of trip where you get far, far away from everyday life, without being completely on your own.
At Skimate, you come to experience Sweden, the snow, the boreal forest, camp life, and Nordic activities with your dog. Not to become a professional musher. Not to train a pack. But to share a powerful adventure with your companion, accompanied by Kristell, Gilles, and their dogs, at their camp in Swedish Lapland.
Shall I tell you about their stays?
Summary
In one look
Where? Swedish Lapland, on the shores of a lake
For whom? 1 to 2 travelers with their dog(s)
Spirit: adventure, dog first, small group
Price: from €1100 / person / week
🐾 The dog first
The stay is adapted to the dog's profile, shape and desires, not the other way around.
❄️ The Far North
A stuga, a lake, woods, silence, dogs and Swedish nature all around.
🧭 Safe adventure
Kristell and Gilles are on site to guide, reassure, translate and open the right doors.
Skimate: an adventure to experience with your dog in Sweden
What I loved about the Skimate concept is precisely that it's unlike the "dog sledding" trips traditionally offered in Nordic countries. Here, you don't come to drive a team of dogs you don't know. You don't come to train to become a musher. Nor do you come with your own pack to chase performance, rack up kilometers, and return with a record time in mind.
At Skimate, the starting point is quite different: your dog.
The idea is to come and experience a Nordic adventure with him, at your own pace, from a camp set up on the shores of a lake in Swedish Lapland. You come with your dog to share something powerful, outdoors, in an incredible environment, without any pressure to perform.
❄️ Winter
Ski-joering, snowshoeing, snow walks, bluish light, frozen lake and maybe northern lights.
☀️ Summer
Dog hiking, canoeing on the lake, midnight sun, boreal forests and long days outdoors.
🌸🍁 Mid-seasons
Gentleer outings, changing lights, autumn colours and a contemplative atmosphere.
But most importantly, there's no set program. Kristell and Gilles will build the week with you, according to your preferences, your skill level, the weather, the snow conditions, the season, and especially your dog's personality. A highly motivated Nordic dog, a sporty sheepdog, a dog more sensitive to the cold, a senior dog, or a pair completely new to dog-pulling won't all experience the same week. And that's perfectly fine.
At Skimate, we adapt. We observe. We respect. We don't force an activity just because it was planned on paper.
We come here to discover dog-powered sports, yes, but without any pressure. If your dog loves them, all the better: ski-joering, pulka sledding, cani-hiking, snowshoeing... You'll have a blast. And if, like Nanga (Kristell and Gilles' first dog, the one who started it all), dog-powered sports aren't necessarily your dog's thing, it's not a problem. You'll do something else. A walk, a snowshoeing excursion, a gentler cani-hike, some time at the camp, an experience with the Skimate dogs, depending on availability. The stay adapts to the dog, not the other way around.
This is what makes the experience so appealing for solo travelers or couples who dream of the Far North but might not dare to go alone with their dog. You get the adventure, the wide-open spaces, the cold, the unknown, and that little thrill of "wow, I'm really here." But you also have Kristell and Gilles on hand to explain things, guide you, accompany you if needed, and help you enjoy this experience in the best possible conditions.
A very useful bonus: Kristell and Gilles are French 🇫🇷
So you're not heading off to the depths of Swedish Lapland wondering how you're going to communicate with the locals. Because let's be honest: we French speak English like goats. Here, you have two passionate locals who speak your language, know the unwritten rules, can act as interpreters when needed, and, most importantly, guide you towards experiences that let you taste the real Swedish culture. Not the one you see in typical tourist guides. The one you experience firsthand, with the right advice, the best places to go, the right instincts… and the dogs right in the middle of it all.
Skimate is the adventure of the Great North with your dog, but with someone to guide you, translate a couple of things along the way, and help you to truly immerse yourself.
Kristell, Gilles and their pack: Sweden for a different way of life
Behind Skimate, there is first and foremost a story of dogs, travel and lifestyle choices.
Kristell and Gilles are French. Before settling in Swedish Lapland, they traveled through Scandinavia with their dogs. Norway, Sweden, wide open spaces, snow, nature accessible everywhere… Little by little, something resonated with them. This lifestyle, this connection to the outdoors, this place given to dogs—it all felt deeply personal.
Their story begins with Nanga, their Siberian Husky. A magnificent dog, very "northern" at heart, but not necessarily suited to the traditional mushing scene, with its large packs, sporting objectives, and sometimes performance-oriented approach. Kristell told me that they had looked for places to go with their dogs during their travels, but couldn't find what they were looking for. Many facilities were designed for mushers, for dog sledding teams, for highly trained dogs. Not for travelers who simply want to discover, learn, share, and experience dog sledding with their own dog.
So they ended up creating what they couldn't find.
If you enjoy stories of reinvention, dogs changing the course of a life, and slightly crazy departures, I highly recommend reading their story in detail on the Skimate website. It gives a better understanding of how Nanga, their travels in Scandinavia, their immersion in the world of mushing, and their desire to live closer to nature gradually led them to Swedish Lapland.
Skimate was born from this desire: to offer a place for dog lovers and those who love the Far North, but without the competitive aspect. A place for the "gentle dreamers," as they might be called. Those who love to walk, glide, breathe, push their limits a little, but above all, share a genuine experience with their dog.
Today, Kristell and Gilles live on-site with their pack. Nanga, Hunza, Kira, Api, Aikhal, and three new pups should soon be joining this lovely family. Here, the dogs aren't just decoration. They're central to the project. They live alongside them, they structure their days, they guide their decisions…
And perhaps that's what I liked most about their approach. Skimate isn't a tourist product built around a clever marketing concept. It's an extension of their lives. Kristell welcomes, organizes, explains, and reassures. Gilles prepares, tinkers, scouts, secures, and finds solutions. Together, they've created a very intimate experience, far removed from mass tourism, allowing just a few travelers to experience what they experience every day: Sweden, the cold, dogs, nature, and that incredible feeling of being outdoors, truly outdoors, and free.
What people come to Skimate for is not just an activity with their dog. It's an encounter. With a place. With a pack. With two passionate people who have chosen to reorganize everything around their dogs and their love of the Far North.
The stuga, the lake, the sauna: THE spot in Swedish Lapland
The Skimate camp is located in Lilla Arvidsträsk, Swedish Lapland, on the shores of a lake, about an hour from Luleå airport. That alone sets the scene.
This isn't a hotel. It's a camp. The main house belongs to Kristell, Gilles, and their pack. Next door is your future holiday stuga: a small, well-insulated, simple, and cozy cabin, renovated to accommodate two people and a maximum of two dogs throughout the seasons.
The stuga is an important part of the experience. It has a wood-burning stove, a kitchen, a refrigerator, electricity, beds, a terrace, and a view of the lake. But it deliberately maintains a refuge-like atmosphere. Water doesn't come from a tap like at home; it's collected in jerrycans. The toilet is a composting toilet located outside the stuga. The sauna is also used for traditional bathing. You heat it up, you plan ahead, you take your time.
And frankly, I think that's exactly what gives meaning to this kind of adventure.
Because you don't go to Swedish Lapland to return to your daily routine with a snowy landscape outside the window. You go there to change your pace. To make a fire. To layer up before heading out. To hear the silence. To watch your dog discover the snow, the smells, the trails, the lake, the dogs at the camp. To come home with rosy cheeks and realize that a sauna after a day outdoors isn't just a comfort, it's pure bliss.
Things to know before you give in to temptation
This simple, rustic, almost refuge-like atmosphere may not appeal to everyone. Skimate is aimed at travelers who appreciate authenticity, crave nature, and are willing to step outside their comfort zone. You don't need to be an extreme adventurer. But you do need to be willing to embrace the experience.
The real strength of this place is that it offers this immersive experience without leaving you alone to face the unknown. Kristell and Gilles are on-site. They speak French. They know the area, the trails, the weather, the cold, the dogs, the potential difficulties, and the best solutions. They can accompany you on outings, let you explore independently with advice, help you with shopping if you arrive by plane and haven't rented a car to get around, lend you some equipment if needed, explain cabin life, and guide you through this new way of living for a few days at the pace of the North.
Skimate is therefore a place to experience adventure, but not to put yourself in difficulty. A cabin, a lake, dogs, snow, a sauna, silence, and hosts who are there to help you dare.
And if I had to sum it up in one sentence: it's exactly the kind of place I would want to arrive at with Musher, a little awestruck, very excited, and ready to experience something I would remember for a long time.
Are you starting to plan ahead? I have gathered the practical information just below: which dog, which seasons, what is included or not in the stay, the budget to plan for and the formalities for coming to Sweden with your companion.
Practical FAQ: Preparing your stay at Skimate with your dog
This trip is perfect for a single person with their dog who dreams of the Far North, but doesn't feel comfortable organizing everything alone in a cold and unknown country.
It's also suitable for two friends, a couple, a parent-child duo, or two close friends who want to experience a powerful adventure with their dog(s). The format is intentionally intimate to ensure genuine support and a highly personalized experience.
Skimate currently accommodates two people per stay, with a maximum of two dogs depending on the individual's profile. The idea is not to create a traditional group trip, but to offer a more intimate, immersive experience.
This trip is designed for travelers who come with one or two family dogs to experience a Nordic adventure with them. Skimate is not intended to accommodate entire packs of dogs or mushers traveling with their dog teams.
The dog must be well-adjusted, healthy, and able to thrive in an environment where other dogs are present. It must also be suited to the chosen season. A Nordic or sporting dog will naturally be more comfortable in winter, but other breeds can enjoy the stay if the activities are appropriate.
If you have any doubts, it's best to talk to Kristell and Gilles before booking.
No, the goal isn't performance. Outings are tailored to the human-dog duo. If skijoring isn't possible, there are other options: walking, snowshoeing, cani-hiking, gentler outings, or activities with Skimate's dogs, depending on the season and availability.
Yes, it's possible. Skimate is primarily designed for travelers who come with their dog, but it is also possible to discover certain activities with one of the dogs in the pack, depending on the season, the dogs' fitness, and availability.
It all depends on the season. In winter, you can discover ski-joering, snowshoeing, snow walks, and, with a bit of luck, admire the Northern Lights. In summer, it's time for dog sledding, canoeing on the lake, walks, and the midnight sun. In spring and autumn, the atmosphere is gentler or more contemplative, with outings adapted to the current conditions.
Standard stays are offered by the week, with prices starting from €1100 per person. The format is intentionally intimate: two people per stay, with a maximum of two dogs depending on their profiles.
For travellers who want to go further, Skimate also offers longer itineraries, including two-week trips, with a more immersive approach.
The stay includes accommodation in the stuga, access to the sauna, dry toilets, dinner on arrival, access to a fully equipped kitchen, guided outings upon request, a harness for the person if needed for traction sports, as well as a map of the routes and advice. Oh, and I almost forgot: firewood is also included in the weekly price; that can be useful in winter :p
Travel to Luleå, meals other than the arrival dinner, airport transfers, and dog sledding equipment such as harnesses or bungee cords are not included. Assistance may be available on-site in certain situations, but it is best to bring your own equipment suitable for your dog.
Stays are offered by the week, subject to availability as indicated on the Skimate website. Winter is the peak season for snow, skijoring and the Northern Lights, but spring, summer and autumn also offer the opportunity to experience another side of Swedish Lapland: dog hiking, canoeing, midnight sun or autumn colours.
To travel to Sweden with your dog from the European Union, you will need, among other things, a valid European passport, a readable microchip, and up-to-date rabies vaccination. If you are transiting through Norway or Finland, additional rules may apply, particularly regarding echinococcal treatment. Be sure to check the requirements before booking your trip.
The easiest way is to check availability on the Skimate website, then contact Kristell and Gilles. This allows you to ensure the stay matches your profile, your preferences, and your dog.
