Living with alaskan malamutes in the heart of Swedish lapland, Niskanpää, Sweden

Infos

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  Description

  We’re Tina & Olivier, and we traded city life for something quieter and more self-sufficient up in Swedish Lapland. We live on a property in the middle of the forest, within walking distance of the Torne River that marks the border between Sweden and Finland.
  
  Our small village is called Niskanpää. Apart from two neighbours – both reindeer herders – and an award-winning restaurant right by the river (they’re often looking for paid seasonal help!), there’s not much else around. No city noise, no crowds – just nature.
  
  We live here with our Alaskan Malamutes, and a big part of our everyday life revolves around them. At the same time, we’re slowly building up the place – old house, land, forest, garden, everything really. It’s a bit of a “figure it out as we go” kind of project, and there’s always something that needs doing.
  
  The lifestyle here is very seasonal. Winter is all about snow, cold, and the dogs. Summer is long, bright days and lots of time outside working on the land. In between… a bit of both.
  
  
  We’re not running a guesthouse or anything like that, we also don’t run a dogsledding business. This is just our home and our life, in a remote place, with all its beauty and all its imperfections. In return, you’ll experience life in the Arctic, learn about working with sled dogs, and be part of creating something from the ground up.
  
  At the same time, this can be a really nice base if you want to explore Lapland. There’s a lot to see in the area, and we’re happy to point you in the right direction – whether that’s nature, small local spots, or just good places to get out for a while.
  
  If you’re dreaming of fresh air, meaningful routines, and a break from screens and noise – you’ll probably feel at home here. If you’ve ever romanticized “starting over in the middle of nowhere”… this might be your chance to test that idea 😉

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  Types d'aide et opportunités d'apprendre

  Pratique d’une langue

  Jardinage

  Bricolage et construction

  S’occuper des animaux

  Aide à la maison

  Entretien général
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  Centres d’intérêt

  

  Sports d’hiver

  

  Sports d'aventure

  

  Dev. personnel

  

  Animaux de compagnie

  

  Ferme

  

  Jardinage

  

  Dessin et peinture

  

  Animaux

  

  Camping

  

  Nature

  

  Yoga / bien-être

  

  Activités en plein air

  

  Randonnée
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  Echange culturel et opportunités d'apprendre

  We speak English, German, French, and Swedish, so communication is usually easy.
  
  We’ve been living in Lapland for about 8 years, so we know the area quite well and can help you get an understanding of local life here – both the everyday side and the more “touristy” highlights if you want to explore a bit further.
  
  A big part of what we can share is life with sled dogs. You can learn how we work with and care for a larger group of Alaskan Malamutes, including the daily routines and responsibilities that come with it, as well as with breeding and mushing.
  
  More generally, you’ll get a realistic glimpse into what life in a remote place like this actually looks like – especially through the changing seasons.

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  Projets impliquant des enfants

  Ce projet peut impliquer des enfants. Pour en savoir plus, consultez nos directives et conseils ici.

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  Aide

  We’re mainly looking for help with our everyday routine and whatever projects are ongoing at the time. This can vary quite a bit depending on the season, but typically includes:
  
  – Feeding the dogs, cleaning kennels, and spending time with them
  (– If desired: training the dogs on a sled, wagon, or scooter)
  – General help around the property (tidying, organizing, small maintenance tasks)
  – Gardening (planting, weeding, watering, harvesting – depending on the season)
  – Outdoor tasks like chopping wood, clearing areas, or basic setup projects
  (– Depending on your skills and interest: help with small indoor projects)
  
  If you come here, you’d just be part of our normal routine. Depending on the time of year, that could mean:
  – helping with the dogs (feeding, cleaning, spending time with them)
  – if desired: training them on the sled, wagon, or scooter
  – small projects around the house and barn
  – forest tasks (maintaining, clearing, preparing firewood for winter)
  – garden tasks (planting, weeding, harvesting)
  – general everyday tasks
  
  Nothing fancy – just whatever needs doing that day. There’s always plenty to do, so you can pick what suits you. No green thumb? No problem. Not into firewood? That’s fine too. Even just spending time with the dogs is already a big help to us!
  
  You don’t need experience with everything – most things we can show you. What matters more is that you’re willing to help, reasonably fit, and comfortable being outside in different weather conditions.
  
  Olivier’s two boys (8 and 11) are here every second weekend. Childcare is not part of the expectations, but they’re curious and sociable, so it’s very normal to have some interaction with them while they’re around.

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  Langues

  Langues parlées
  Allemand: Courant
  Anglais: Courant
  Français: Courant
  Espagnol: Intermédiaire
  Swedish: Intermédiaire
  Japonais: Débutant

  Cet hôte propose un échange linguistique
  Cet hôte a indiqué qu’il souhaitait faire partager sa propre langue ou en apprendre une nouvelle.
  Contactez-le pour en savoir plus.
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  Hébergement

  You’ll have your own private room in the main house. Bathroom and kitchen are shared with us, as well as the rest of the living spaces. WiFi is available.
  
  Food and accommodation are included, and since we will be usually working alongside each other, it would be nice if we'd end up sharing meals too. That said, we also value personal space and me-time, so whenever you feel like having some time on your own, that’s completely fine and totally respected.
  
  We can host one person, and depending on timing and duration (basically when the kids are not here), two people.
  
  It’s also possible to arrive with a campervan or caravan if you prefer your own space.

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  Autres infos...

  If you’re looking to earn some extra money during your stay, there may be an opportunity to work at the nearby restaurant as kitchen help or in service. I (Tina) work there myself, so I can check what’s possible depending on the season and their staffing needs, but it can’t be guaranteed in advance.

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  Informations complémentaires

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    Accès Internet

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    Accès Internet limité

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    Nous avons des animaux

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    Nous sommes fumeurs

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    Familles bienvenues

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  Possibilité d’accueillir les digital nomads

  We’re both working as digital freelancers ourselves, so there are also times where we need to focus on our own work alongside the physical tasks around the property. Because of that, we’d actually welcome a bit of a shared “co-working” vibe during the day - people working on their own projects in the same space, while things are happening around them.

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  Espace pour garer des vans

  Electricity is available for campervans or motorhomes. We can find a suitable spot on the property depending on the season and conditions.

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  Possibilité d'accueillir les animaux

  We have a house cat, so any indoor pets would need to be compatible with that. We also have a separate outdoor pen available. Depending on the breed, temperament, and season, we can discuss what might be possible in a way that works for everyone involved.

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  Combien de volontaires pouvez-vous accueillir ?

  Deux

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  Mes animaux

  

  Zafira

  House cat in winter, vicious outside-grass-chewer in summer.

  Elfi

  Benno

  Joy

  Chicco

  Fluke

  Jinx

  Fury

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