The Best of Swedish Lapland

Transcription

1 For Expert Advice Call for Swedish and Norwegian Lapland for Iceland and Greenland A unique occasion deserves a unique experience. The Best of Swedish Lapland Break available: December to end March exc. Christmas and New Year 7 Night Break Our expertise in Swedish Lapland enables us to create journeys that combine the very best this magnificent region has to offer. If you are looking to go to Swedish Lapland once in your life and wish to experience the very best of what is available this 7 night journey will amaze, overwhelm and create memories that will last a lifetime! This is the Rolls Royce of Swedish Lapland Breaks. Quite simply it includes all the key things that make this destination so special. Stay in the Iconic ICEHOTEL and Tree Hotels plus spend 3 nights in Abisko the Northern Lights Capital of Sweden. Highlights 1 Night in an Art Suite at the Original ICEHOTEL. 2 Night in Sweden's Latest icon - the TREE HOTEL. 3 Nights in Abisko - Widely regarded as the best place on earth for consistent sightings of the Northern Lights. Daytime Snowmobile adventure in pristine arctic wilderness with breath-taking views. Drive your own Husky team Safari in a remote river valley where moose are plentiful. Sami Culture Day with Lars Eriksson on his reindeer farm. Night Visit at the Aurora Sky Station in Abisko. Aurora Photo Workshop in Abisko National Park. Train trip to Majestic Norwegian Fjords and historic Narvik. Day by Day Itinerary DAY 1: Fly to Swedish Lapland. Dinner and Tree Hotel Fly to Lulea in Swedish Lapland, where you will be met and transferred to the Tree Hotel in Harads, a small hamlet an hour away. The Tree hotel comprises 7 unique themed Tree Rooms, created by 6 separate architects. These are the Mirrorcube, Bird s Nest, Cabin, Blue Cone, Dragonfly, 7th Room and the UFO. After settling in enjoy a relaxing private sauna in the forest sauna prior to dinner. After dinner escape to your house in the trees and overnight! Meals Included: Dinner page 1/11

2 DAY 2: Sami Introduction Day. Dinner on Ice & Overnight at Tree Hotel Shortly after breakfast a guide will pick you up this morning and take you on a guided tour to Flakaberg, a village about 80 km from Harads. Here visit Lars Eriksson s family farm. Lars will show his reindeer, talk about the Sami culture, and at the scenic Lake Gorgim, will cook and serve a typical Sami lunch around a campfire in a tepee-like kåta. Lars authentic and warm hospitality will give you memories for life. If you ever saw the Hairy bikers tour of Scandinavia he featured in their programme on the food of Lapland! Your guide will drop you back at the Tree Hotel where tonight you are in for a real treat, the unique experience of a the Dinner on Ice! Have a private waited 3 course dinner in your Sami Lavu (Tepee) complete with candelabra. There can hardly be a more unique way to celebrate a special occasion! Why not try another of the Tree Hotel rooms we can arrange for you to spend a night in two different ones! Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner DAY 3: Train across Lapland to the ICEHOTEL After breakfast transfer to the station to catch the train that will take you to Kiruna in Swedish Lapland. This 4 hour journey crosses the arctic circle and gives you a great chance to see one of the last expanses of wilderness in Europe. On arrival one of the guides will transfer you to the ICEHOTEL for check in to your warm cabin. Evening at Leisure we can make a restaurant reservation for you in one of the Ice Hotel s 2 restaurants. Meals Included: Breakfast DAY 4: Day Wilderness Snowmobile Adventure. Overnight in Art Suite page 2/11

3 Enjoy the excellent IceHotel breakfast prior to pick up for your snowmobile adventure in the arctic wilderness. After your briefing set off following your own private trail into the wilderness. The scenery ranges from forest to frozen lakes, where the chances of seeing reindeer, moose and unique birds: ptarmigans in their natural habitat are high. From your vantage point near Mount Eatnamvárri gaze out over fantastic scenery miles and miles of untouched wilderness. Back at the lodge enjoy a traditional Sami lunch before drop back at the ICEHOTEL. This evening switch to an Art Suite, one of the individually designed rooms created by an international Ice Artist, for the night. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch A la Carte Optional Extras Upgrade to a Deluxe Art Suite at the ICEHOTEL The Deluxe Suites are individually designed and sculpted thematic suites. The artists, perhaps from Sweden, Germany, UK or the US have been picked from over two-hundred applicants and invited to make the suite you ll be sleeping in. Each suite is unique and has never been created before. The room holds a temperature of -5 to -8 degrees Celsius. The suites have the same standard of bed but the big feature is that you have your own private heated bathroom and relaxation directly connected to the bedroom. The relaxation area also provides storage for your belongings. The suite has doors with locks for your privacy. Upgrade Cost: From 150 per person per night DAY 5: Drive a Husky Team for the Day. Welcome Lappish Menu page 3/11

4 After breakfast check out of the Ice Hotel and pick up for what is for many people the flagship experience of a trip to Lapland- driving a husky sled dog team! Ylva Sievertsson is one of a select group of accomplished lady husky guides, whose kennel is a little deeper into the valley from where she runs very personal sled dog experiences. She has a very unique relationship with her dogs we always feel it is a privilege to spend time with her. Once you arrive at the kennels get acquainted with the dogs and receive detailed instructions about how to drive a team. Harness the dogs and feel their excitement as you attach the sled. Head out into the frozen river valley where you will have opportunities to take turns in driving the team whilst making stops to take photos. The location is outside the major tourist areas and we can almost promise that you will enjoy pristine arctic nature alone. You will be about for around 2 hours before heading back to base for a warming lunch in the traditional Kota adjacent to the family home. Mid afternoon journey to Abisko (around 1 hour) widely regarded as one of the best locations on earth for consistent sightings of the aurora. (See our Information guides as to why it is such a good viewing location). On arrival check into Abisko Mountain Lodge be kitted out with Arctic Clothing. This evening enjoy the traditional Lappish Meal at the lodge which includes Reindeer, Arctic Char and Cloudberries 3 of the unique ingredients to the area. 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 Upgrade to Abisko Mountain Lodge Superior Room 2015 saw the addition of 4 superior rooms at the Lodge. Housed in a separate annexe across the courtyard these rooms add additional comfort and space. All are en suite and are for exclusive use by our clients. This is a highly recommended upgrade for the marginal increase in cost Cost: 48 per person per night subject to availability DAY 6: Explore Abisko National Park. Aurora Hunt at Sky Station in Abisko page 4/11

5 Abisko National Park is sandwiched between picturesque mountains and Lake Tornetrask, one of Sweden s largest, which freezes during winter. The team at Abisko Mountain Lodge will provide information on trails you can explore. Alternatively from Mid Feb Mid March you can take the chairlift up mount Nujola to view the spectacular landscapes from 300 meters up! Have lunch at the lodge or the Tourist Station. This evening,after dinner, enjoy a visit to the aurora sky station in Abisko, widely regarded as the best place in the world for consistent sightings of the Northern Lights. Take the chairlift up Mount Nuolja to the observatory which offers visitors a panoramic view over Lapporten, the Abisko Alps and frozen Lake 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. Return to lodge around mid night and overnight Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner A la Carte Optional Extras Upgrade to Dinner at the Aurora Sky Station in Abisko 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 7: Visit Historic Narvik in Norwegian Fjords. Northern Lights Photo workshop page 5/11

6 Enjoy the lodge breakfast before a day trip to Norway!The Lodge will provide a picnic lunch for you to take and enjoy on the trip. 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. In Narvik, where you have around 3 hours, you have the opportunity to ascend to the observation deck of the Scandic Hotel and take coffee or lunch ( not included), doe 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. Train back to Abisko This evening provides a great opportunity to see and photograph the aurora borealis in the wilderness of Abisko National Park. Abisko is situated in a low precipitation zone and has the lowest levels of rain and snow in Lapland. What this means is lots of perfect nights for aurora watching! The Lights over Lapland team will provide you with a high quality camera pre set for optimal aurora photography and teach you how to photograph the magical aurora borealis. Even if you have never used a camera before you have an extremely high chance of going home with some beautiful Northern Lights photographs and memories that will last a lifetime! Small groups ensure a very personal and genuine experience. Overnight at Abisko Mountain Lodge. Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch and Dinner DAY 8: Fly Home or Extend Break to visit Scandinavia's Stockholm After breakfast at leisure until the transfer from Abisko to Kiruna to catch the flight home at the end of your Best of Lapland Northern Lights Holiday. Alternatively why not extend you break to see Scandinavia s capital city Stockholm. This is a trip that should be on everyone s bucket list! Meals included: Breakfast A la Carte Optional Extras Aurora Addicts Extension into Norway page 6/11

7 This fantastic 3 night extension to your break enables you to extend your holiday into Norway and visit 2 more dramatic sky station locations. We will manage this bolt on to your itinerary so that it logistically ties in with what you are doing in Abisko. DAY 1 Catch the train from Abisko to Narvik traveling on an historic rail journey with great scenery. In Narvik check into the Grand Hotel. Visit the war museum this afternoon. Tonight enjoy dinner at the Hotel before pick up for a night of Northern Lights hunting. From Narvik town, you will be lifted up to the top of Narvik Fjellet by gondola to a stunning newly renovated lodge to search for Northern Lights alongside an expert Aurora guide. Amazing views over the Fjords and hopefully an aurora display await DAY 2 Catch the bus via the Polar Park to Tromso. The Polar Park is home to many of the indigenous wildlife of the region. Wolves, bears, Moose and lynx are just a few. On arrival in Tromso check into your hotel the Scandic Ishavshotel your base for the next 2 nights. Tonight enjoy dinner at the hotel DAY 3 Explore Tromso, Paris of the North. We include entrance to the Polar Musuem and a visit to the Arctic Cathedral. Tonight finish your holiday with a final northern lights hunt and dinner as you Experience Tromsø s best view! The cable car runs from Solliveien up to the mountain ledge in just four minutes. From the viewing platform and restaurant at the upper station enjoy spectacular panoramic views of Tromsø, surrounding islands, mountains and fjords and hopefully the Northern Lights! DAY 4 At Leisure until flybus transfer to the airport for your flight home. Price: From 795 per person Includes: 3 Nights accommodation with Breakfast, 3 dinners, trains, buses and transfers, 2 sky station experiences as described, entrance to Polar Park and museums in Narvik and Tromso. Extension to See Stockholm Scandinavia's Capital City page 7/11

8 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 Per Person ( Weekend vs Week Day ) Includes 2 nights in standard double room bed and breakfast, private airport transfers to and from Arlanda airport Where You'll Stay The Treehotel The rooms are set between 4-6 meters from the ground in pine trees and rooms are accessed by either a ramp or sturdy stairs. They can house between 2 and 4 people and the larger rooms, The Dragon Fly and the 7th Room have separate bedrooms Every Tree Room has its own living and sleeping area and is equipped with a state of the art eco-friendly incineration toilet and water efficient hand basin, which means there is no artificial plumbing. The emphasis is on running the hotel consistent with values of low impact on the surrounding forest and every aspect of the operation compliments this aim. page 8/11

9 Original ICEHOTEL warm accommodation Nordic Chalets - these apartments have two bedrooms, a kitchenette and a simple lounge area, ideal for family or friends sharing. The décor is calm and classic Scandinavian, with white-washed wooden panel walls, birch wood details, heated tiled floors and shades of natural shades of grey, white and brown. The apartment is spacious with two bedrooms, one with a double bed and one with a bunk bed, and sleeps four. There is also a small lounge and kitchenette and heated tiled flooring in the hallway, lounge and bedrooms. Our Arctic Chalets are traditionally Scandinavian with natural materials and colors. Rustic, simple and comfortable, this two bedroom apartment is decorated in natural materials and organic shades of dark blue, white and brown. Arctic Chalets have a rustic character, with pine wood paneled walls, tiled floors and birchwood details complemented by shades of dark blue, grey and white. New is that the master bedroom is furnished with a comfortable Carpe Diem Bed (160 x 200 cm). There is also one single bedroom, a small lounge, kitchenette and a bathroom with shower. The Original ICEHOTEL - Swedish Lapland From 2015 The ICEHOTEL consists of 2 structures - the temporary hotel is rebuilt each year from blocks of ice harvested from the Torne river which runs adjacent to the IceHotel. These are stored for the summer in a huge warehouse and as the late Autumn 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 the ice bar. Their art is created with imagination and hard work, only to melt away under the unforgiving rays of the spring sun. The new ICEHOTEL 365 is a permanent ICEHOTEL and a feat of engineering which offers visitors the chance of staying the whole year round. It is an all suite hotel and also house the celebrated ICEBAR. On request we can ask for the luxury suites which have adjacent bathrooms. These carry a supplement. You will leave your luggage in an adjacent service block where there are saunas and showers, whilst all you will take into the hotel is you and your thermal arctic sleeping bag! Wake up to a hot Lingonberry juice served in your room prior to the very substantial ICEHOTEL breakfast served in the main restaurant. page 9/11

10 Abisko Mountain Lodge Abisko Mountain Lodge offers genuine accommodation in an old-fashioned mountain hotel setting. The service is personal and the cuisine is centred on raw ingredients. It is accredited by the Sapmi Slow Food movement, an award that took 4 years to achieve. Chefs are dedicated slow-food addicts and produce wonderful nightly meals! The 16 standard rooms in the low red 'Swedish style house' are all en-suite. Although basic 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 superior rooms added in early These four rooms are in a separate annexe and are used exclusively by Aurora nights. 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. It was an amazing trip, and I was looked after so well. Every activity was handled so beautifully, and each guide gave you to believe you were the only tourists they had seen in months - they were kind, helpful, enthusiatic,interesting and really informative." Nicola "Well... WOW, WOW, WOW!!!! What an incredible trip! This was a trip of a lifetime. If anyone ever has any doubts about spending the little extra, then all I can say is spend it with Weekend a la Carte -You won t be disappointed, it s worth every single penny of your hard earned pounds. Kevin, can t thank you enough for putting together this experience" Bob Price: From 3,295 per person page 10/11

11 What's Included? Flights (from the UK) with one hold bag per person and trains 7 nights Accommodation with breakfast Meals as indicated Activities as per itinerary Guides and transfers Arctic clothing loan Break Available: December to end March exc. Christmas and New Year Departure Airports: Heathrow Gatwick Manchester Stockholm Weekend a la Carte For Expert Advice Call for Lapland for Iceland page 11/11