'Best of Both' Twin Centre Aurora Adventure

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1 For Expert Advice Call A unique occasion deserves a unique experience. 'Best of Both' Twin Centre Aurora Adventure Break available: December - March 5 Night Break Weekend a la Carte pioneered Northern Lights viewing in Abisko, widely regarded as one of the best places on earth for consistent sightings of the Auroras. We offer a very personal experience not a group tour and with guides and partners we have worked with for 10 years or more. This 5 night trip is designed to optimise your chances of seeing the northern lights by spending longer in one of the best regions on earth for seeing them and combining this with a selection of great arctic experiences including Husky sleds, snowmobiling and Sami Culture. Based in 2 small ' home away from home' Lodges this break is a very special introduction to this picturesque corner of Swedish Lapland and the Northern Lights. Highlights 5 Nights in 2 small lodges offering ' home away from home' hospitality. Evening 'lights over Lapland' photo tour in Abisko. Night visit to world famous Aurora Sky Station. Daytime Snowmobile tour in pristine wilderness with commanding views. Drive your own Husky Adventure. Sami Northern Lights & Legends Evening. Train trip to Norwegian Fjords. Day by Day Itinerary Day 1 Fly to Kiruna. Relaxing afternoon and Evening Dinner page 1/9

2 Fly to Swedish Lapland where on arrival you will be met and transferred to the exclusive Máttaráhkká Northern Lights Lodge, a fantastic base for the first part of your northern lights holiday. This wonderful lodge is situated with far reaching views towards the Abisko Alps and with only 7 rooms it has a home away from home feel and has excellent activities right from the doorstep. Mikko and Sofia who run it are excellent hosts and go out of their way to make you feel comfortable. One of the team will subsequently run through your itinerary and kit you out with your complimentary arctic clothing. Depending on your arrival time lunch will be waiting for you. You then have a couple of hours to either relax or try your hand at cross country skiing or snow shoe walking on the picturesque trails behind the lodge. This evening at the Lodge enjoy a relaxing dinner. Spend the evening by the fire, enjoy a glass of wine or if you prefer put on some snow shoes and explore the surrounding area. With the lodge facing towards the Abisko mountains there is always a good chance to see the aurora. You can book a private session in the aurora roof top hot tub and enjoy this and a traditional Swedish Sauna afterwards. see optional extras below Meals Included: Lunch ( depending on arrival time) and Dinner A la Carte Optional Extras Dinner, Hot Tub and Northern Lights A wonderfully relaxing evening hopefully seeing the Northern Lights at Mattarahkka Sami Lodge. After an excellent 3-course Lappish dinner spend time in the roof-top hot tub from where you can relax and enjoy the star filled night sky and with a little luck even see the Northern Lights dancing above you. Although the temperature outside is below zero, you will be really warm in the hot tub. If the degree Celsius water isn t enough enjoy a warm sauna in the special relaxation zone. You get a 1 hour private use of the hot tub. Price per person: 95 includes: sauna, hot tub, towel, robe and slippers Day 2Drive your own Husky Adventure. Sami Northern Lights & Legends page 2/9

3 After breakfast transfer to the kennel located in a picturesque river valley between Kiruna and Nikkaluokta. Ylva Sievertsson whose kennel backs onto this pristine wilderness runs very personal sled dog trips. As you will discover she has a very special relationship with her dogs and it is a thrill to visit her kennel and spend time with her dogs. Once you arrive at the kennels get acquainted with the dogs and receive detailed instructions about how to drive them. Help harness them before heading out into a location outside the major tourist areas and where we can almost promise that you will enjoy pristine arctic nature alone. You will be out for around 2 hours taking turns with your partner driving the team before heading back to base for a warming lunch in the traditional Kota adjacent to the family home. This evening spend some time with Ida Maria Svonni who is a descendant from a local Sami Family. The Sami people, Indigenous to Lapland, are still reliant on their centuries old reindeer herding. Visit the Sámi Museum for your first step into Sámi culture. See the traditional Sámi clothes and listen to the story of a nomadic people s lifestyle before moving on to Ida Maria s Tepee where you will hear the fascinating story of Sami Life and how the annual calendar is geared around the 8 seasons dedicated to managing the Reindeer herd. Before dinner visit the reindeer Corral and feed them with lichen before having a traditional dinner cooked and served in the Tepee using local ingredients that is served with your own baked traditional Sámi flatbread and coffee. To end the evening walk down to the Mystical Torne River, the source for the Ice that is used to build the ICEHOTEL and gaze up into the north sky for hopefully a northern lights display in the Arctic Sky before heading back to your lodge. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Day 3Daytime Snowmobile Adventure. Transfer to Abisko. Lappish Dinner After breakfast your snowmobiles will be waiting right outside the door of the lodge. After a briefing follow the lodge trails through the woods and then up to Mount Eatnamvárri a real vantage point from where you have spectacular views in front of you. Miles and miles of untouched wilderness stretch out before you towards Kebnakaise, Sweden s tallest peak. Stop for a hot drink and photo break. Keep climbing to the tallest vantage point with a 360 degree panoramic view before taking the trail home. Wildlife including Moose and Reindeer are often spotted. Enjoy a hot lunch back at the lodge. This afternoon transfer to Abisko around 1 hour journey. Check into Abisko Mountain Lodge and be issued with your Arctic clothing for the rest of your Northern Lights Holiday. This evening enjoy the fantastic cuisine at Abisko Mountain Lodge as you partake in their traditional Lappish menu which includes Reindeer, Arctic Char and Cloudberries 3 of the unique ingredients to the area.( Vegetarian options are available) The only thing that can interrupt your evening is the Aurora Call. Abisko Mountain Lodge is in a fantastic location for northern lights viewing so if they are out you may be tempted to step out the door and gaze skywards! Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner A la Carte Optional Extras page 3/9

4 Upgrade to Abisko Mountain Lodge Superior Room Abisko Mountain Lodge has 4 superior rooms. Housed in a separate annexe across the courtyard these rooms add additional comfort and space with luxurious en suite bathrooms and stylish furnishings. This is a highly recommended upgrade for the marginal increase in cost Cost: 48 per person per night subject to availability Day 4Train Trip to Norwegian Fjords & Aurora Photo Evening in the National Park Enjoy the lodge breakfast before a day trip to Norway! Take the train from the station near the lodge and follow the famous iron ore railroad with beautiful mountain vistas, frozen waterfalls and stunning Arctic valleys. Once you cross into Norway enjoy the magnificent views and to take photos before continuing up and over Björnfjell a stunning Norwegian mountain dotted with small grass roofed cottages. Meander down the mountain, where small birch trees give way to large evergreens and dramatic mountains fall steeply down into the Norwegian Fjord. Once in Narvik you will have around 3 hours to explore town before the return trip. You have the opportunity to ascend to the observation deck of the Scandic Hotel and take coffee or lunch ( not included), do some souvenir shopping or visit the newly built Peace Museum. This state of the art facility offers a glimpse of what life looked like in these majestic Fjords during the second World War Nazi occupation. This evening enjoy the fine menu at Abisko Mountain Lodge prior to joining the Lights Over Lapland team for their exclusive northern lights photo tour designed for weekend a la carte. This gives you fantastic opportunities to see and photograph the aurora borealis in the wilderness of Abisko National Park. Walk right out the lodge front door and a snowmobile transfer will take you to our exclusive location with commanding views over the mountains and the lake, both of which provide wonderful backdrops for aurora photos! You will have 2 guides, one to instruct you and the other to look after you and make drinks etc. We have a yurt set up with a fire so you can warm up if necessary. You will be supplied with cameras preset for Aurora photography and spend the evening in Abisko National Park. The photographer is a great story teller and from your base in a Sami Tepee you will venture out in search of the famous lights. Whether you are a Pro or never taken a picture in your life you have a great chance of going home after your northern lights holiday with some beautiful aurora photographs and memories that will last a lifetime! Meals Included: Breakfast, picnic lunch and Dinner page 4/9

5 Day 5Explore Abisko National Park. Evening at Aurora Sky Station in Abisko After breakfast the team at Abisko Mountain Lodge will suggest a couple of walking programmes you can enjoy by yourselves in the National Park. Abisko is sandwiched between mountains and lakes and a day exploring on foot with a lunch stop at the tourist centre is a good way of discovering these beautiful arctic landscapes. The chairlift to the sky station is open from mid Feb onwards for day visits. This evening after dinner in the lodge, transfer to Abisko Sky Station, widely regarded as the best place in the world to see the Northern Lights. Located approx 100km north of Kiruna. Take the chairlift up Mount Nuolja to the observatory which offers visitors a panoramic view over Lapporten, the Abisko Alps and Tornetrask. During the winter nights when it is dark, depending on the correct weather conditions, it is possible to see the Northern Lights dancing in the sky around you from this fantastic vantage point. The Aurora Sky Station has an exhibition about the Aurora Borealis, created by IRF, the Institute of Space Physics in Kiruna. Here you will learn more about the phenomenon before going out on the viewing deck to begin your night sky gazing. Journey down at around mid night and overnight at lodge Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner A la Carte Optional Extras Upgrade to Exclusive Dinner at the Aurora Sky Station This evening rather than having dinner at the Lodge experience the gourmet dinner at the iconic Aurora Sky Station, allowing you an extra 3 hours in the Sky Station. Take the chairlift up Mount Nuolja to the observatory which offers visitors a panoramic view over Lapporten, the Abisko Alps and Tornetrask. Enjoy a delicious three course meal at the sky station prepared using the best local ingredients. Your chances of seeing the aurora are good. Abisko is blessed with many long, dark nights. In addition, there is minimal artificial light. Abisko is situated 250km north of the Arctic Circle and has the most cloud-free sky in Sweden. Price Per Person: 125 per person Timing: 6pm Midnight Includes: Transfers, chairlift pass & exclusive 3 course dinner Day 6Visit Original Ice Hotel and Fly Home page 5/9

6 After Breakfast at leisure until visit the world famous Ice Hotel. Visit both the ICEHOTEL 365 and the original ice hotel. Admire the spectacular individual Art Suites designed by leading artists from around the world, take a cocktail in the unique ice glasses at the sculptured Ice Bar and peep into the ice Chapel to see if a wedding ceremony is taking place! This is the original IceHotel and in our mind still the best! Your driver will then take you to the airport for your flight home or alternatively why not break your stay in Stockholm and see the capital of Scandinavia. We have a super 2 night break staying at the Rival Hotel owned by Benny Anderson from ABBA and always voted in the top hotels to stay in the city Meals Included: Breakfast A la Carte Optional Extras Extension to See Stockholm Scandinavia's Capital City Stockholm is one of the most beautiful cities in the world and always rates in the top 10 most desirable cities in the world to live in. It is also the perfect contrast to a break in the arctic. The old town in Stockholm is very picturesque and compact and can be done in a full day. Your time will be spent exploring some fascinating landmarks. The VASA museum is world class, the Nobel museum of local interest and for ABBA fans; new in 2013 is the ABBA interactive museum. Also in December Stockholm has many Christmas markets so a break can allow you to do some shopping and get into the Christmas spirit. You will stay in the Rival Hotel owned by Benny Anderson of Abba fame. The hotel is an excellent 4* hotel in a quiet square but within walking distance of the old town. Cost From: 230 per person for Standard room (weekend rate). 278 per person for Superior room (weekend rate) 332 per person for Deluxe Room (weekend rate) Includes: 2 nights in standard double room bed and breakfast, private airport transfers to and from Arlanda airport Night in World Famous Ice Hotel page 6/9

7 Swedish Lapland is home to the original and most dramatic ICEHOTEL. The hotel has two editions: Permanent ICEHOTEL 365. (open all year) This revolutionary design has allowed visitors from around the world to experience the ICEHOTEL all year round. Through a unique cooling system the designers have built all the features of the original icehotel into this amazing structure. Art suites and deluxe art suites are housed in 365 Temporary ICEHOTEL (open Mid December End March) This hotel is rebuilt from blocks of ice harvested from the Torne river. As the temperature in Jukkasjärvi drops below zero Ice Artists arrive from the world over to build this magnificent creation. They build the 4 levels of rooms, the ice chapel and ice bar. Their art is created with imagination and hard work, only to melt away under the unforgiving rays of the sun come spring. We offer all categories of room from cabins to Art Suites and the new en suite deluxe art suites in ICEHOTEL 365. We will make a reservation in the restaurant for you so you can experience some of the region s best cuisine (a la carte menu paid for locally) From 120 per person bed and breakfast (cabin) 480 per person (deluxe art suite) depending on room choice including arctic clothing in winter and transfers to the airport at the end of your stay. Where You'll Stay Mattarahkka Northern Lights Sami Lodge The lodge has a fabulous sauna and a very unusual northern lights hot tub on the roof where you can star gaze or hunt for the Aurora (this carries an extra charge). Other benefits of a stay here mean that if you are doing husky and snowmobile adventures they are both on your doorstep! Evenings are focused on good food, relaxation and the Northern Lights so if you are looking for a 'home away from home' experience then look no further. page 7/9

8 Abisko Mountain Lodge The 16 twin rooms in the low red 'Swedish style house' are all en-suite. Although basic in the Scandinavian style they are warm and cosy. There are no televisions in the rooms as time is spent meeting guests around the bar or in the wonderful lounge area. Additionally there are 4 new double superior rooms added in early These four rooms are in a separate annex and are used exclusively by Weekend a la Carte. Order a coffee or a glass of wine at the bar, read a magazine or spin a yarn about your arctic adventures and the magnificent aurora displays you have seen. For those wanting to soothe the muscles there is a sauna. Reviews & Feedback "We had the most FANTASTIC holiday, perhaps the best holiday I have ever had. We were looked after impeccably by your representatives over there who were both charming and efficient. It was a brilliantly thought out and planned trip and the level of service we received from everyone over there was just amazing. We felt like kings and queens." Alan & Viki Many, many thanks for arranging the most wonderful trip for us. Everything was perfect - the organisation went like clockwork, the people so friendly, accommodation great and the Arctic and the Northern Lights everything we had imagined and more.. Maureen and Maurice Price: From 1,995 Per Person What's Included? page 8/9

9 Flights (From the UK) with one hold bag per person 5 nights in cosy Lodge accommodation Lights over Lapland Aurora Photo Workshop Train trip to the Norwegian Fjords Wilderness Snowmobile safari Drive your own Husky sled adventure Northern Lights Sami Legends evening Evening in the Aurora Sky Station in Abisko Transfers and guides All meals Arctic Clothing loan. Break Available December March Departure Airports Heathrow Gatwick Manchester ( limited) Stockholm. For clients wishing to travel from the USA, Australia and Asia we can advise of best options. If you have booked your own flights we can organise ground plans only Weekend a la Carte For Expert Advice Call page 9/9