Ski Like a Swede
Tourism has a long history and tradition in the region ever since the first hunters and gatherers made their way into the area and later pilgrims traveling through to get to St Olof´s grave in Trondheim, Norway. Most activities in Jämtland Härjedalen are related to outdoor life and nature. In winter, skiing is the most popular activity, but there is a whole range of other things to do when you want to ski like a Swede!
Winter fun activities, besides alpine skiing, are cross-country skiing, ice skating, snowmobile safaris, dog sledding, ice fishing, riding, ice climbing, reindeer sleigh rides, paragliding besides of course shopping for local outdoor gear and handicraft. And, the region is full of culinary innovators: awarded breweries, active shielings, tasty farm dairies, bakeries and truly charming restaurants. No wonder the region around Östersund is one of the worlds Creative Cities of Gastronomy (awarded by UNESCO).
A part of Sapmi
The region of Jämtland Härjedalen is in the actual middle of Sweden. The population is 130,000 people, of these some 60,000 live in the one city of the region, Östersund. The region has a unique flora and fauna and is often referred to as “the lungs of Europe”. In addition to the clean air, it is well known for its accessible wilderness, superb homemade foods, the contrasts of the midnight sun and the winter darkness and its five clearly defined seasons. The Sámi culture, with its own history and traditions, has had a major influence on the region. Jämtland Härjedalen has a total of 12 Sámi villages and around 44,000 reindeer.
Swedish After Ski
After a day of open-air activities it’s wonderful to pull on a hat and jump into a steaming hot tub in the middle of a winter wonderland. Most ski resorts offer steaming outdoor baths in wooden tubs and saunas with windows overlooking the mountains, all come with the opportunity to take a refreshing dip in the snow afterwards!
After Ski in Sweden is also the opportunity to dance in your ski boots to live music together with others coming directly from the slopes. Count on loud music and a wide variety of dance styles!
Ski Resorts of Mid Sweden
The largest ski resorts of the region are Åre, Vemdalen, Funäsfjällen and Lofsdalen. The slopes are often open for skiing from the middle of December til the end of April. Some even open in November thanks to early snow. The feeling of having the slope all to yourself may not always occur in the larger resorts, so if that´s what you are looking for, go for the smaller: Bydalsfjällen, Storlien, Trillevallen or Edsåsdalen. And if you prefer a winter vacation with all the benefits of being in a city, Östersund is the perfect choice with around 90 km of prepared illuminated tracks for XC skiing, three ski lifts with slopes, ice skating on a prepared 10 km long track on lake Storsjön and all the rest of the service within the city: adventure swimming, Multichallenge activity center, restaurants, shops, cafés and the regional interactive museum Jamtli.
The slopes include everything from children’s/beginner’s areas to black slopes and Dream Parks. All the ski resorts are within 1-3.5 hours of Åre Östersund airport and have accommodation in a range of styles, comfort and prices.
