Riksgransen is world famous for being the most northerly ski resort in the world, 250kms north of the Arctic Circle. This means that for a couple of months a year midnight skiing is available as the sun refuses to go down.

Being so far north makes this resort rather isolated and its small nature gives it a subdued and calm air. There is one well serviced hotel at the resort with 500 beds for visitors, while après-ski comes in the form of one bar at the hotel itself and two restaurants, one of which is also part of the hotel.

Twenty pistes make up 21kms of varied slopes with the majority of runs (74 per cent) suitable for intermediate level. The beginner gets 21 per cent of slopes, while the expert gets five per cent. There are some great cross-country tracks, totalling an additional 30kms of skiing, plus excellent off-piste terrain, perfect for boarders and expert skiers looking for something a little more thrilling. The resort is serviced by six lifts with a capacity for 7,400 skiers per hour. The highest lift ascends to 910m while the lowest descends to 500m, with a total vertical drop of 410m.

There are a number of non-ski activities on offer at Riksgransen with some appealing options. Take a guided ski trip, snowmobile trip or fjord cruise, or alternatively go helicopter skiing; ice-fishing; mountaineering; dog-sledding; and backpack country skiing. Aside from the outdoor pastimes on offer, there is a subdued but worthy après-ski with weekly promotion nights at the bar and a more than convivial atmosphere.

The ski season here runs from December to late June, with best conditions later in the season due to colder conditions earlier in the season.

The resort is located 1,500kms from Stockholm and 130kms from Kiruna's domestic airport. Flights are available from the UK to Kiruna via Stockholm, with air bus or air taxi transfers available from there. Alternatively, catch an 18-hour overnight train straight to the resort from Stockholm.