2

I plan to do trekking with my boyfriend in September. We will start by crossing the Lofoten Islands in Norway and then we will go into Northern Sweden to do a part of the Kungsleden.

We don't want to carry all the food for these 2 treks in our bags, so we would like to send a package to Abisko (Sweden) or to Moskenes (Lofoten Islands) or to Narvik (North of Norway), that we can pick up at the end of our 1st trek (that's to say when we will start the Kungsleden).

I think this is called "Poste Restante". Nonetheless, I don't find any lists of cities or business centers that handles "Poste Restante" in Norway so I don't know if this service is handled in Narvik or Moskenes.
Do you know where I can find such list? Or do you know if it is even possible to send a package by Poste Restante to Narvik or Moskenes?

Improve this question
5
  • The Norwegian post office handles poste restante packages. Wikipedia says they'll hold a package for three weeks, then return it to the sender.
    – DavidRecallsMonica
    Commented Jul 25, 2018 at 14:41
  • 2
    Please check also if sending food is allowed.
    – user40521
    Commented Jul 25, 2018 at 14:44
  • 2
    (I can't yet comment, so I had to create this answer) Why would you even send food by post in the first place? Why not buying it at local shops? Not only will it cost less, it will also be fresh.
    – NicolasB
    Commented Jul 25, 2018 at 14:47
  • 1
    With long-distance trekking, the OP is probably considering much lighter freeze-dried and other processed foods, not fresh.
    – DavidRecallsMonica
    Commented Jul 25, 2018 at 14:52
  • 1
    You can buy processed outdoor foods in Abisko. I would recommend contacting STF in Abisko for advice as plenty of hikers may have the same question.
    – gerrit
    Commented Jul 25, 2018 at 16:23

2 Answers 2

Reset to default
6

You can send a package to Abisko as long as you notify them well in advance. You will have to pick it up at Godisfabriken Supermarket in Abisko Östra, a bit east of the tourist centre. From STF Abisko page:

Ja, du kan skicka både brev och paket hit mot en mindre avgift men du måste, i god tid innan, kontakta receptionen. Brev kan hämtas ut i receptionen medans paket hämtas på Godisfabriken Supermarket i Abisko Östra.

Which means:

Yes, you can send both letters or parcels here for a small fee, but you must contact the reception well in advance. Letters can be picked up at the reception whereas parcels are picked up at Godisfabriken Supermarket in Abisko Östra.

Note that there's also plenty of processed outdoor food for sale in Abisko (much cheaper than Norway), as it's a major hiking centre where many people start Kungsleden hikes. If you do your hike before mid-September, expect it to be very busy (~200 people per day).

Some unrequested advice:

  • Lofoten is mostly not suitable for trekking but only for day hikes, unless you are happy with long sections of roadwalking. The trails mostly connect the road to mountain summits, you can't really walk along the chain anywhere west of Hinnøya. You will get most out of Lofoten if you stay in one place and rent a car to get to shorter or longer hikes. It's beautiful, but also busy, if you don't like crowds consider Senja as an alternative.
  • If you have some experience and if you value solitude, consider some alternative routes in the area. I'm not sure how much time you have, but assuming you're bringing a tent, a lonely alternative is to start from Gratangseidet via Gussajávrrit, then south to Katterjåkk-Sjangeli-Unna Allakas and Nordkalottruta south from there. You can start further west than Gratangseidet as well, but I've found the trail from Tjeldsundbrua to Gratangseidet impossible to find and only locally spectacular. I've hiked a lot in the area, and I've found the terrain between Skjomen and Hellemobotn some of the most spectacular and lonely. From Gratangseidet all the way to Hellemobotn may be too far, though.

photo with context
Between Baugevatnet and Sijdasjávrre, near Narvik, Norway, ~68.1°N, 1 October 2012. Probably less than 50 hikers per year pass here, we saw nobody for the 4 days from Hellemobotn to Skjomen.

Improve this answer
0

You can use Poste Restante in Sweden.

PostNord (the nordics joint-venture postal organization) has an info page about this. Find the best Poste Restante post office and just send the message there with your name on it.

I've used it a few times and it's almost always working.

Improve this answer

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .