Accessible Swedish Lapland Apartments in Lapland

Please note: This property comprises two apartments (sleeping 4 and 5 guests respectively) which can be booked separately or together:

• The smaller apartment sleeps 4 guests in 2 double bedrooms (1 double bed and 2 single beds)

• The larger apartment sleeps 5 guests in 2 double bedrooms (1 double, 2 single beds and 1 double sofa bed)

Experience the magic of Lapland with a stay at this high-quality adapted self-catering accommodation overlooking the beautiful countryside of northern Sweden.

Comprising a pair of welcoming two-bedroom apartments, the accessible accommodation benefits from a lovely riverside setting close to the Sweden-Finland border and serves as the perfect location for an unforgettable holiday.

The owners have made it their mission to share this wonderful area and its many exciting activities with people with disabilities or health conditions and their family and friends, offering a home-from-home holiday experience with accessible transport and English-speaking guidance throughout your stay, plus a tailored programme of activities.

These include a disabled-friendly husky sled ride across frozen lakes, a visit to an arctic moose farm, meeting a herd of friendly reindeer, ice fishing, a snowmobile tour through the forest in search of the Northern Lights – and much more.

Both apartments are on the ground floor and include numerous adaptations, including electric adjustable beds and wheelchair-friendly wet rooms. On the same floor you’ll also find the lounge with wood-burner for resting, reading, relaxing, piano playing, playing games etc. Please note that the lounge is shared between guests staying in both apartments.

During the peak season of December to April, there is also the option of a holiday package filled with fantastic activities included in the price:

Holiday Package

The one-week holiday package offers loads of added extras tailored to your needs for an amazing stay. Available in the peak season from December to April, the package is for seven nights for between two to five people in a self-catering apartment. The apartments feature a fully equipped kitchen, accessible wet room, two bedrooms, kitchen with dining area plus access to a shared cosy lounge with a woodburning stove for reading, relaxing, playing games etc.

The holiday package includes:

• Accommodation (heating, water, utilities, bedding & towels)
• Airport transfers in a wheelchair-adapted minibus
• Husky sled ride (meet the dogs, find out all about them, followed by a 30-minute sled ride)
• Visit to the Arctic Moose Farm
• 3-hour ice fishing session
• Visit to the local church
• Meet a herd of reindeer
• 2 x Northern Lights/sightseeing drives/hikes
• Transport to all activities, shops, restaurant etc.
• Welcome pack: Tea, coffee, juice, milk, sugar, jams, homemade shortbread
• Complimentary shopping service
• Option for snowmobile trips (additional charge applies)

Additional activities that can be booked and paid for separately include:

• Snowmobile tour
• Cross-country skiing
• Downhill skiing/snowboarding
• Sami traditional dinner and talk
• Hiking/snowshoeing 
• Various craft workshops

Security deposit - A £200 security deposit is required. This will be returned to you after your stay, provided there are no damages or additional cleaning required.

Accessibility Information

• Adapted airport pick-ups (minibus with space for two wheelchairs plus 6 additional passengers)
• Complimentary transport during guests’ stays
• Electric adjustable single beds
• Accessible wet rooms, grab rails
• Please note there are no rails around the toilet however there is drop down arms - see photos
• Extra-wide/stable sleds for husky rides across the frozen lakes
• Winter activities and experiences adapted to your needs wherever possible; e.g., tobogganing, winter walks etc.
• Toilet seat Height - 48cm
• Emergency pull cord - linked for fellow residents in the apartment to be alerted.

Please note: In the smaller apartment, the wet room is smaller. We feel it is much better suited to guests who are able to walk a little way and are able to approach the WC from the front/diagonal or guests who can leave wheelchair outside and make their own way into the wet room.

The plot of the property is level and there is a slope leading back up to the main road. In winter time, the permanent snow cover will make wheelchair access up the small road into town challenging. To overcome these challenges, accessible minibus transport is provided as part of the holiday package. The property owners can also provide a set of “wheelblades” (mini skis that attach to front wheels) which make wheelchair movement across snow a little easier, but this is dependent on type/depth of snow.

Please note: In the larger apartment, all door widths are in excess of 812mm. In the smaller apartment, the door widths are slightly smaller, with the most narrow doorway (into wet room) measuring 740mm.

Kitchen:

• Hob/Oven
• Microwave
• Toaster
• Fridge/Freezer
• Utensils
• Kettle
• Sink with lever taps
• Swing top / sensor bin

Each apartment has an adjustable perching stool with a back. The larger apartment has a dishwasher. The smaller apartment does not. Ovens are standard height and below 850mm. Toaster/microwave/kettles are on counters.

Other: 

• WiFi
• No TVs
• Towels provided
• Bed linen provided, beds made up on arrival
• BBQ/fire pit area
• Travel cot available
• No highchair
• No air conditioning
• Central heating plus a woodburner in the shared Cosy room

Distance to shops/town: The main street in Övertorneå is approximately ½ a mile away. Here you will find a pharmacy, supermarket, banks, cashpoint, pizza restaurant, burger/fast food outlet, DIY shop, coffee shop. All the shops/businesses have wheelchair ramps, where required, and are accessible.

Keeping warm: The owners have a range of blankets, boot socks, extreme sleeping bag etc. available to help keep anyone with a disability warm, but guests will still need to bear in mind the following:

It can be extremely cold (minus 20ºC or colder is not uncommon), and if doing a moving activity; e.g., husky ride, the wind-chill can be extreme. It is generally a dry cold so is perhaps more manageable than you might think, but do not underestimate it!

The secret is to layer up and protect head, feet and hands and something to cover your face is important too. The owners will always look to find the best way for each individual guest with additional needs.

Some sort of wicking underclothes (not cotton) as a base layer, then warm, fleecy-type layers and then wind protecting type outer shell. A neck gaiter (snood) can also be useful. Good gloves or mittens are essential and it’s also very good to have silk gloves that go under your thicker gloves/mittens. Good warm boots with space for extra socks are important (avoid tight boots).

A lot of the above will vary from each individual and the range of activities they are doing. E.g., those spending a long time outdoors doing lots of activities will need more protection than someone spending less time outside, staying wrapped up etc.

Airport transfer times

• Kemi, Finland: 1 hour 20 minutes
• Rovaniemi, Finland: 1 hour 40 minutes
• Lulea, Sweden: 1 hour 55 minutes