Discover Tärnaby: skiing, mountain trails and Sámi culture
Accommodation in Tärnaby
Tärnaby brings together a range of travel interests: off-piste skiing is possible on Laxfjället, and hiking trails lead into alpine landscapes. There is also Aejlies, a contemporary Sámi cultural institution, and Tärna Church, with its own history. When planning a trip, you can consider whether to focus on mountain activities, changing landscapes or culture. The specific places offer different ways to explore these interests, without requiring skiing, hiking and culture to be combined into a single outing.
File:Camping area cabin interior in Tärnaby, Lapland, Sweden.jpg
Photo: JIP via Wikimedia Commons, CC-BY-SA-3.0
Skiing and mountain trails
Off-piste skiing is possible on Laxfjället. The summit of Laxfjället is also a hiking destination: it lies 829 metres above sea level and can be reached via trails from several directions. From the summit, there are 360-degree panoramic views. This highlights two distinct ways to experience the same mountain: off-piste skiing and trails leading up to the summit and its views.
Another hiking route leads from Tärnaby to Geavhtavaartoe/Gäutafjället; its starting point is within walking distance of the village. The landscape changes along the way: the trail first passes through coniferous forest, then mountain birch forest, and finally alpine terrain. This change is a tangible part of the route and gives it a different character from the summit destination of Laxfjället. Trail conditions vary by season and should be taken into account when planning.
When choosing between these mountain destinations, it helps to keep the experiences described for each one distinct: Laxfjället offers both off-piste skiing and summit trails, while the route to Geavhtavaartoe/Gäutafjället passes through a sequence of different landscape zones.
Sámi culture and Tärna Church
Aejlies is a contemporary Sámi cultural institution in Tärnaby that organises public programmes. The institution offers a different cultural focus from the historical details of Tärna Church. If you are interested in Sámi culture, you can include Aejlies as a point of reference in your travel plans and check in advance for relevant programme information.
The present-day Tärna Church was inaugurated on 19 July 1908 by Bishop Olof Bergqvist. Its distinctive features include the old altar structure, made from wood and soapstone by local craftspeople. The combination of these materials and local craftsmanship gives the altar ensemble a specific history rooted in the place. The church is in Tärnaby and offers views of Lake Gäutan and Ryfjället. A visit thus brings local history, craftsmanship and landscape together in a distinctive cultural setting.
The Ingemartrofén and when to travel
Tärnaby and Tärna IK Fjällvinden have been responsible for the Ingemartrofén, an international alpine youth competition, for many years. A report dated 24 October 2024 describes the event as annual and says it brings 200 to 300 young people to Tärnaby. The competition is therefore another time-specific point of interest alongside the mountain and cultural themes. If you would like to plan your trip around it, check the event dates separately for your chosen year.
Choosing where to stay starts with the experiences that matter to your trip.
Discover more destinations: Storuman, Grannäs, Gunnarn, Åskilje, Slussfors, Hemavan.
Back to the main travel guide: Storuman.
