Sweden | 2–8 August 2026

A small-group expedition for women travelling inside the Arctic Circle during the height of the northern summer.
Long daylight. Remote landscapes. A carefully designed week of skill, culture, and movement led by elite survivalist Skye Selene

An introduction to basic survival skills.
An introduction to northern Sweden’s landscapes and culture.
Saunas, lakes, and time outdoors.
And a reminder of the joy of sisterhood.

Wild Women Inside

the Arctic Circle

Designed for women travelling inside the Arctic Circle for the first time, Wild Women Inside the Arctic Circle offers a carefully paced introduction to northern Sweden during the height of the Arctic summer.

Based in remote landscapes above the Arctic Circle, the expedition unfolds under extended daylight, allowing for long days outdoors and unhurried evenings shaped by weather, land, and light. Participants move through forest, river, and open northern terrain while engaging with Sámi culture, working landscapes, and the rhythms of life in the far north.

The week combines practical wilderness skills, cultural context, and restorative experiences. Instruction is led by professional survival instructor Skye Selene, whose approach is calm, adaptive, and accessible. Skills are introduced progressively and woven into daily movement rather than taught as a formal course.

Alongside skill-building, the expedition includes time with reindeer and husky teams, traditional crafts, fishing and food preparation, sauna and lake immersion, and extended periods outdoors. The result is a balanced Arctic experience — grounded, well held, and designed for women who value competence, substance, and time spent in real places.

Expedition Overview

Travel and stay inside the Arctic Circle during peak summer, with extended daylight and accessible northern terrain. Local partnerships built up over 15 years.
Learn foundational wilderness skills — fire, shelter, water, food, and awareness — taught lightly and adaptively by Skye Selene
Engage with Sámi culture, including traditional knowledge, crafts, and contemporary Arctic life
Spend time in the land of herding reindeer and Arctic husky teams, understanding their role in northern landscapes
Experience saunas in Jokkmokk.
Explore traditional skills such as knots, weaving, carving, and cordage
Travel in a small, women-only group, with professional logistics and experienced guides
Emotional support and group oversight are available as an optional add-on for participants who value having an additional layer of care throughout the week.

Skye Selene is a professional survival instructor and one of the most respected female survivalists working today.

Many people recognize her from Discovery’s Naked and Afraid. What truly sets Skye apart is how she teaches: calmly, intelligently, and without pressure. Her approach is light, adaptive, and responsive to the group — meeting women exactly where they are.

During this week, Skye offers an accessible introduction to basic survival, woven seamlessly into the flow of the expedition. Nothing is rigid. Nothing is forced. Skills are introduced naturally, in real environments, at a pace that feels supportive and empowering.

You’ll be guided through the foundations of survival

Indicative Expedition Itinerary

Day 1 — Arrival in Northern Sweden

Luleå → Swedish Lapland
Participants arrive in Luleå and travel together into northern Sweden. The transition from urban arrival to Arctic landscape is gradual, allowing time to settle into place and light.
The afternoon focuses on orientation and preparation for the week ahead, including safety considerations, logistics, and an overview of how the expedition will unfold. Accommodation is arranged to support comfort, privacy, and proximity to the land.
The first evening is spent outdoors where possible, taking advantage of extended summer daylight.
Day 2 — Wilderness Skills & Survival Foundations

Fire, Shelter, Water, Food
A full day in nature focused on the foundations of survival, led by Skye Selene, Lead Survival Instructor.
Participants are introduced to:
Fire fundamentals and ignition
Shelter principles and site awareness
Water sourcing and safety
Food systems and situational decision-making
Skills are taught in real conditions, adapted to the group, and paced for confidence and enjoyment. No prior experience is required. The emphasis is practical capability rather than physical challenge.
Day 3 — Dog Sledding & Husky Immersion

Leadership, Trust & Movement
Time is spent at a working husky kennel, learning directly from mushers who live and work alongside the dogs year-round.
Participants:
Meet and work with Arctic huskies
Learn how mushers communicate with and lead a dog team
Observe pack dynamics, care, and lineage
Walk established trails with the dogs
This day offers a grounded, embodied experience of leadership, trust, and direction — central skills for Arctic life.
Day 4 — Arctic Circle Crossing & Sámi Cultural Immersion

Jokkmokk and the Far North
The group travels further north and physically crosses into the Arctic Circle.
The day is spent in Jokkmokk engaging with Sámi culture through:
Museum visits
Storytelling and history
Cultural crafting
Traditional food when available
This is a respectful, informative encounter with resilience, identity, and ancestral continuity, offering context for life in the far north.
Day 5 — Reindeer Day & Traditional Practices

Stewardship, Craft & Survival Cycles
Participants engage with reindeer herding culture, learning how reindeer shape Arctic life, movement, and survival.
Depending on conditions, experiences may include:
Reindeer sorting or lasso demonstrations
Reindeer-based crafting
Traditional food connected to reindeer life
This day grounds participants in cycles of care, stewardship, and survival that have sustained Arctic cultures for generations.
Day 6 — Water, Fishing & Arctic Light

Restoration and Integration
Time is spent in nature focused on water, fishing, and practical skills that foster confidence and self-trust.
Depending on conditions, the day may include:
Fishing and food preparation
Simple tool making
Waterfall exploration and grounding practices
Sauna and lake time
In early August, the Arctic offers 15–20 hours of daylight, with long golden evenings and twilight-style nights. This extended light subtly shifts rhythm and perception — a defining experience of life this far north.
Day 7 — Return to Luleå

Completion and Departure
The final morning is unstructured, allowing time for walking, conversation, or rest. The group then travels together back toward Luleå.
Arrival in Luleå is planned for early afternoon, allowing participants to continue onward travel.

Meet the rest of the Team

Skye Selene

Skye Selene serves as the Lead Survival Instructor for Wild Women Inside the Arctic Circle, bringing a level of experience and composure that is rarely accessible in small-group expeditions.

Those who know Skye know her as a resilient and grounded woman who leads with both competence and heart. She uses nature not as a test, but as a scaffold — a way to teach practical skills while also deepening connection to land, awareness, and self.

Access to Skye at this level is uncommon. Her professional background and real-world field experience mean participants are learning directly from someone who understands both the technical demands of survival and the human experience of learning outdoors. This brings depth, credibility, and assurance to every part of the week — from fire and shelter to food, awareness, and decision-making in unfamiliar environments.

Sarah Joan Randerson

Sarah is available to offer emotional support. She is a counsellor who works closely with individuals and families, with a strong ability to recognise generational patterns and support moments of transition with clarity and care.

Tabitha Gish

Tabitha brings deep, lived experience of off-grid life in the New England woods, where she lives in close relationship with land, seasons, and materials. She guides hands-on craft and making using natural materials, offering a practical, grounding way to develop focus, presence, and connection through doing rather than instruction.

Angel Winchester

Angel is a local Swede who brings regional knowledge, cultural context, and practical care to the expedition. She supports the group through locally rooted meals, logistics, and thoughtful hospitality, helping ground the experience in place, comfort, and the rhythms of daily life in northern Sweden.

Inquire to Participant

Under the Midnight Sun is a one-time offering for 2026, taking place from 2–8 August, and is limited to a maximum of twelve women. Price US$4500 reduced to US$3995 for first cohort 2 August 2026

Participation is by application only. This allows us to protect the quality of the group and ensure the experience is well matched, cohesive, and thoughtfully held. All applications are reviewed personally.

Once your application is accepted, a 20% deposit is required to secure your place.

Once the experience is confirmed, the deposit becomes non-refundable.

Payment is made via a 20% deposit on acceptance, followed by two installments due on 1 April and 1 June.

If you have questions before applying, or would prefer a brief personal conversation, private enquiries are welcome.

This expedition is a Maine Primitive offering, founded by Michael Douglas, with programme design and oversight shaped by decades of wilderness instruction and expedition leadership.

Local expertise and operational support are provided by Toby Cowern, who works behind the scenes on logistics, safety coordination, and regional knowledge. His role ensures the expedition runs smoothly, responsibly, and in alignment with local conditions — allowing the instructional team and participants to focus fully on the experience itself.

FAQ

Can I attend on my own?
Yes. Many women arrive independently. This experience is designed for individual women within a small, private group, with both personal space and shared moments that develop naturally.

Is this experience suitable for children or families?
No. This is a women-only experience designed as uninterrupted time away from daily responsibilities. Participants attend without children so the group can remain focused, quiet, and cohesive.

Do I need to be physically fit?
You do not need to be athletic, but you should be comfortable spending time outdoors and walking at a relaxed pace. Activities are unhurried and adaptable.

How many women will be in the group?
The group is intentionally small, with a maximum of 12 women, allowing for privacy, individual attention, and a calm, well-held environment.

Who holds the experience?
The experience is guided by a carefully selected, all-women team with expertise in nature immersion, emotional support, craft, nourishment, and logistics.

What does regenerative mean in this context?
Regenerative means the experience supports both the women attending and the place itself, through partnerships with local tradespeople, independent businesses, and cultural partners in Laponia.

What are the accommodations and meals like?
Accommodations are comfortable, quiet, and appropriate to the region. Meals are nourishing, locally sourced where possible, and prepared with care. Dietary needs can be accommodated with advance notice.

Do I need to take part in every activity?
No. This is not a performance-based experience. You are encouraged to listen to your body, rest when needed, and engage in a way that feels supportive.

Will there be time offline?
Yes. Limited phone and social media use is encouraged, allowing space for rest, presence, and deeper connection throughout the week.

How do I book?
This experience is offered once this year, from 2–8 August. Participation is by application only to protect group cohesion. Payment plans and installments are available.

Can I combine this experience with time in Stockholm?
Yes. Many women choose to spend time in Stockholm before or after the experience. Some travel with a partner or friend to Stockholm and then continue on alone to Laponia.