Our Wilderness Heli Fishing expedition offers travelling rods the chance to experience world-class fly fishing above the Arctic Circle in northern Sweden. Kiruna and the surrounding area, where our tour is based, covers over a quarter of the country and is home to six thousand lakes, six major rivers and countless smaller streams, offering almost endless angling opportunities. This fully guided trip utilises four different helipads, covering a total of over twelve thousand square kilometres, with new spots chosen daily depending on the weather conditions and target species, of which there are many. The waterways in this beautiful part of the country are home to a diverse array of species, giving anglers the chance to wet a fly for Brown Trout, Arctic Char, Grayling and Pike.
The summer season in Kiruna begins in June and lasts until the end of August. During this time, in the land of the ‘midnight sun’, the sun doesn’t fall beneath the horizon for about 50 days, giving hardcore rods the rare opportunity to fish around the clock under sunlight.
If you yearn for a true off-the-grid, fly-fishing adventure, then this trip will most certainly tick all the boxes; in this wilderness, it’s possible not to meet another soul, besides your fishing buddies, for days, or even weeks.
Kiruna, located two hundred kilometres above the Arctic Circle in northern Sweden, is a vast municipality and, to a large degree, untouched by civilisation. Half the size of the Netherlands, with just over twenty thousand inhabitants, this mining town couldn’t be described as picturesque (especially during its current relocation process); however, the magnificent Arctic scenery is always present in the background.
It’s home to Taiga Forests, high and low-altitude Tundra with mountain birch, Alpine areas, and countless different waterways, with rivers flowing from the high glaciers of the snow-capped Scandinavian mountains (the Scandes) in the west into the wetlands and lakes, which offer more potential fishing adventures than can be explored in a lifetime.
It’s northern Europe’s largest wilderness area without road access and can only viably be fished and accessed using a boat or helicopter. The fishing areas are located over one kilometre above sea level and consist of seven unregulated rivers, more than six thousand lakes and a limitless number of creeks.
To learn more about Kiruna and the fantastic wild fly fishing opportunities available in Sweden, visit our YouTube channel.
As a fly fishing destination, Kiruna stands out in terms of the diversity it offers. During the summer months, the destination is renowned for its Brown Trout, Arctic Char, Grayling, and Pike, with the latter becoming a popular target. Fishing for big, strong, and often aggressive Arctic Pike is an intense, adrenaline-pumping experience.
The primary Brown Trout season runs from June to August, and it’s possible to wet a fly for fish to around 4lb, depending on the waterway you are fishing. The favourite spots are the flowing water amongst the mountain birch Tundra.
Kiruna is a fantastic place to target Char, with fish up to 4lb a possible target. Once again, like with the Trout, the peak summer season for these fish is between June to August. The Glacial water just above the tree line in the Tundra and the flowing water in the mountain birch Tundra are two of the most popular areas.
Grayling can be caught all along the rivers, with the lower Tundra a particularly good area. Their season typically runs between June and September, and it’s possible to wet a fly for specimens pushing 3lb.
The Pike are the largest species on offer in Kiruna, with fish over 20lb a possibility. Their season runs between June and September, and some of the best areas for these toothy predators are on the lower Tundra.
Different helipads, of which there are four, and destinations are carefully chosen on each day of the trip – this is dependent on the local weather conditions and the specific species you wish to target.
These once-in-a-lifetime trips are an expedition into the untouched wilderness, where the harmony of nature and the excitement of fishing converge to create an unforgettable adventure. Throughout the journey, our partner’s expert guides will accompany you, providing invaluable insights and ensuring a memorable fishing experience, taking care of everything you can imagine and more. All the guides are experts in their field, with extensive knowledge of all the Arctic fish species.
A typical day:
7.30am – Breakfast
9.00am – Fly out via helicopter to your fishing location
9.30am – Fish a morning session
12.00pm – Stop for lunch, a pack-up enjoyed on the river
13.00pm – Fish an afternoon session
17.00pm – Fly back via helicopter to the helipad
18.00pm – Arrival at the camp, sauna and shower
19.00pm – Dinner with arctic cuisine
This heli fishing programme offers a unique blend of comfort and adventure. Travelling rods stay at a cosy lodge for the duration of their stay, departing daily on helicopter trips to various helipads located throughout the wilderness. However, during the week, there is an opportunity for some wild camping, where you will be flown out to one of the prime fishing marks and stay for one or two days at a base camp on the banks of the river, sleeping in heated tents and immersing yourself in the joys of the Arctic. During this period, under the midnight sun, it allows for round-the-clock fishing.
Note: As an optional add-on, it’s possible to book a professional photographer to join you and your group throughout the duration of your trip, creating lasting memories of your fishing experience.
Our Heli fishing package utilises two different accommodations: one is a cosy lodge that serves as the main base for a week of fishing, and the other is the tents used for wilderness camping, typically for one or two nights during the trip.
The lodge hideaway in Kiruna acts as your base for the week. Located in the middle of a beautiful and secluded forest, it’s built to a high standard with many of the luxuries you would expect at home, yet it oozes that cosy, warm feeling you only get from old-style forest cabins.
Hidden away in a small clearing among the trees, it features two double or twin bedrooms, one double/family room for up to four people, two bathrooms with showers, a kitchen, and an open lounge/dining area. It also offers free wifi.
On-site, a separate sauna cabin is located next to a creek that runs through the property. In the summertime, you can freshen up from the hot sauna by jumping into this natural pool of water.
The camping tents are traditionally used for one or two nights of the trip. These are set up next to one of the prime fishing spots and will include a tent for you to sleep in, as well as a communal ‘base camp’ tent that can be used for socialising, cooking, and relaxing. All the tents are of high quality, spacious, heated and include camping beds.
All meals are included throughout the trip, and the guides will prepare them for you. Tea, coffee and soft drinks are included, but alcohol isn’t. However, you’re more than welcome to pick up a bottle of your favourite from duty-free at the airport or the local liquor store.
Dining during your adventure is an integral part of the experience, and in line with the commitment to authenticity, all provided meals feature delectable Arctic cuisine unique to the region. Our friends and partners ensure you savour the flavours of the Arctic as you recharge for your daily expeditions.
Safety is the top priority. When in the wilderness, satellite devices are carried at all times, should there be the need to call for assistance.
Although the fishing days are fixed, the below itinerary is still flexible should you require additional free days to explore at the beginning or end of your holiday; we can tailor this itinerary to suit you personally. Feel free to talk to our travel consultants who can explain all options available.
Please note that depending on what international airport you depart from, travel to this destination may involve an overnight flight and/or an overnight hotel.
Once flights are available, your itinerary will be finalised.
Depart Any international Airport (See Details)
Arrive Stockholm Depart Stockholm
Arrive Kirunna
On arrival and once you have collected your bags you will be picked up by a representative from our partners and transferred to the lodge. The journey time is around fifteen minutes.
Once you have arrived at the lodge you’re free to unpack, relax and get prepared for your week of wilderness fly fishing.
Overnight Accommodation: Kiruna Lodge in a single room on a full board basis
On your first two fishing days, you will get to experience the world-class freshwater fly fishing on offer in Kiruna, Sweden. On the morning of each day, you will fly out by helicopter to one of the many different helipads located in this vast wilderness area. The spots are wild and remote and will be chosen based on the weather and the species of fish you’d like to target.
However, in some cases, for example, if you want to catch the biggest Grayling, some of the best spots are located just a short drive and boat journey away from the lodge – so those are the methods of transport for the day.
The itinerary and fishing are flexible, so please let your guides know exactly what you’d like to do, and they will do their best to accommodate your requests.
Overnight Accommodation: Kiruna Lodge in a single room on a full board basis
In the middle part of the week, you will fly out to one of the prime fishing marks and stay for two days at a base camp on the banks of the river, sleeping in heated tents and immersing yourself in the joys of the Arctic. During this period, under the midnight sun, it allows for round-the-clock fishing.
This wilderness experience usually happens during the middle part of your fishing week, but can be subject to change on the account of the weather conditions.
Overnight Accommodation: Wild Camping in a twin tent on a full board basis
On your last two fishing days, you’ll return to the comfort of the lodge but still enjoy the same fantastic fly-out wilderness experience. If there’s a species of fish on your list that you haven’t caught, please let your guides know, and they will do their best to make it happen.
All the guides are experts in their field, with extensive knowledge of all Arctic fish species, and will look after you throughout your fishing week, ensuring you have a fishing trip to remember. As well as guiding you fishing, they will also cook and look after you at the lodge.
Overnight Accommodation: Kiruna Lodge in a single room on a full board basis
On departure day, once you’ve packed your bags and had breakfast a representative from our partners will transfer you back to Kiruna airport. The journey time is around fifteen minutes.
Depart Kirunna Arrive Stockholm
Depart Stockholm
Arrive Home
Please note that depending on what international airport you wish to return to, travel from this destination may involve an overnight flight and/or an overnight hotel. Once flights are available, your itinerary will be finalised.
The season runs from June to August.
Season: June to August
Peak: July
Weight: 1lb to 4lb
Season: June to August
Peak: July
Weight: 1lb to 4lb
Season: June to September
Peak: July
Weight: 1lb to 3lb
Season: June to September
Peak: July
Weight: 2lb to 20lb
Remember that Sportquest Holidays' services are completely FREE! When you book a trip with Sportquest Holidays, you never pay more than when you book directly with the lodge and flights independently.
| From | To | Duration | Price | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23/06/2025 | 31/08/2025 | 8 | £5,216 | Enquire Now |
| 23/06/2026 | 31/08/2026 | 8 | £5,450 | Enquire Now |
Prices are based on four anglers sharing, transfers, fishing and accommodation (unless otherwise stated) and are correct at the time of going to press. Subject to time of year or date and currency fluctuations, these prices may fluctuate slightly due to flight price increases or fuel surcharges.
Please note: If your group size is smaller than four, please contact us and we can discuss a variety of different options.
Extremely professional, we had meetings and briefings prior to trip to discuss and plan itinerary, clothing and pricing. Our guides were very knowledgeable about the area, predicted the weather and environment well, very hospitable and the trip was amazing! They were funny too!
The Blanda River in Iceland is widely considered one of the country's top Salmon fisheries, famed for its incredible number of multi-wintered fish, which have a reputation for being some of the most powerful travelling rods will encounter. The fishing covers over 37 kilometres and offers a vast array of water to suit all anglers’ needs.
Exclusive to Sportquest Holidays, Howenh Lodge, based on the incredible Rio Grande, offers travelling rods the opportunity to wet a fly across over 30 kilometres of water. With just four to six rods per week, it provides some of the best Sea Trout fishing in the world, both in terms of the number of fish and excellent average size.
Bella Sofia Lodge is new for 2023, offering anglers single rooms and world-class Sea Trout fishing on the Rio Gallegos and the Rio Gallegos Chico Rivers. Based on only six rods per week, it offers guests more than 10 kilometres of water each to wet a fly, making it the most exclusive fishery in all of South America.
Las Buitreras Lodge on the Rio Gallegos in Argentina offers an unparalleled Sea Trout fishing program. Catch statistics for size and numbers on the Rio Gallegos and the Rio Grande are similar, however, many anglers remain loyal to the Rio Gallegos River for it’s a dream to fish with its low gradient, technical characteristics, exclusivity, outstanding guides and the vast number of pools you get to fish each day always providing well-rested water.
If you are looking for a Fishing Lodge that puts you and the fishing first, then look no further. Goodnews River Lodge is the ONLY full-service lodge on the entire river system. Experience the solitude and peaceful beauty of Alaska; it’s just you and the fish. No crowds, no flying to the “best” river. It’s all here on the Goodnews River.
