What is the Arctic Challenge?
Join us on an adventure to the heart of Arctic Lapland, a land of vast wilderness and home to the extraordinary Aurora Borealis, herds of reindeer and endless forest.
The Arctic Challenge is a wilderness endurance challenge held over a long weekend, incorporating a dog sled race, hike, ice fishing, orienteering and woodland fire lighting. Participants need have no previous experience of any activity, as all instruction will be provided by your guides.
The Arctic Challenge is open for up to five teams of four people, each event being scored to encourage healthy competition! The Challenge concludes with a visit to the Ice Hotel at Jukkasjårvi, a well-earned finish to your efforts spent in this unique and unspoiled landscape, followed by a dinner and prize giving to the winning team.
Key challenge event information
When is it?: 16 to 19 January 2026
How long is it?: 4 days
Where is it?: Kiruna, Sweden
Registration fee: £300 per person (does not include flights)
Fundraising target: £2,000 per person
Before you go to the Arctic
You will receive dedicated fundraising support from our friendly Events team in the lead up to the challenge, ensuring that you have the resources you need to reach your fundraising target. We'll also arrange meet ups for everyone who's going on the challenge, either in person or online, to bolster your team spirit and ensure that all of your questions are answered before you travel to the Arctic.
Why support the National Literacy Trust?
If you can read this, you have a superpower! You probably don't realise how essential your literacy skills are in your everyday life, whether for reading street signs, applying for a job or even booking a doctor's appointment.
Children who grow up experiencing disadvantage start school with literacy skills that are 19 months behind their more privileged peers and struggle to catch up at every point. They are therefore:
- Five times more likely to fail to meet the expected standards in English at age 11
- Four times more likely to struggle to read as adults
- Twice as likely to be unemployed aged 34
- Three times more likely to have mental health problems as adults.
By signing up to the Arctic Challenge and raising £2000, you can help us break the cycle of poverty and low literacy and ensure that every child growing up in the UK has an equal chance to succeed.
Get a sneak peek of the itinerary for the Arctic Challenge!
Curious to see what you'd be up to if you were to sign up to the Arctic Challenge? You can take a look at our trip itinerary below!
Check out Gaby's account of her Arctic adventure
We were lucky enough to have Gaby Huddart, journalist and presenter, join us for this year's Arctic Challenge alongside two friends. They had a fantastic time and Gaby has written an article for Best Magazine about her experiences - check it out now to find out what 2026 might have in store for YOU if you sign up to the Arctic Challenge.
