Northern Lights and the Icehotel holiday, Sweden
| country: | Sweden |
| location: | Swedish Lapland, Northern Lights |
| departures: | 2010: 10 Apr |
| price: | From £1365 (5 days) including flights from the UK. Price based on 2 people sharing, single supplement - £275 |
| more info: | Price includes: flights from London Heathrow to Kiruna, return airport transfers, 3 nights mountain lodge, 1 night IceHotel warm room, 4 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 3 dinners, activities, cold weather clothing, fully qualified wilderness and interpretive guides |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
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introduction to Northern Lights and the Icehotel holiday, Sweden
Abisko has been scientifically designated as one of the best places in the world to see the Northern Lights. It is situated smack in the middle of the Auroral Zone and due to its topography there are very rarely cloudy skies. Coupled with spectacular mountains and lakes, Abisko truly is a special destination. It is also around 100kms from the magnificent ICEHOTEL®, so we've added a night there for good measure!
The original and best known of all the snow and ice structures to be found in Scandinavia. The ICEHOTEL® is constructed every year from the thick ice of the Torne River and combines fine art with ice engineering. Everything from the reception desk to the bedrooms and bars is carved from this crystal clear ice.
Only the very best ice and snow artisans create the bedrooms, bars, sculptures, beds, tables and the ever popular wedding chapel. Each year the designs are completely different yet equally spectacular. Choose from either Cold or Warm Rooms, or the famous art suites!
Abisko Mountain Lodge
Designed to take full advantage of the Abisko area, it's towering mountains, high alpine environment and Lake Torneträsk, there is passion in every aspect of the lodge as well as the activities. They actively encourage all of their guests to get out amidst it all and experience the landscape up close, at whatever level suites you. The lodge's hotel rooms are cleanly furnished, comfortable and airy. The two itineraries we have put together are designed for those who want an incredible opportunity to witness the Aurora Borealis whilst trying out some fantastic activities.
The lodge's hotel rooms are cleanly furnished and comfortable. Each has an en suite shower room, and the whole house has wireless broadband.
accommodation
ICEHOTEL® The original and best known of all the snow and ice structures to be found in Scandinavia. The ICEHOTEL® is constructed every year from the thick ice of the Torne River and combines fine art with ice engineering. Everything from the reception desk to the bedrooms and bars is carved from this crystal clear ice.
Only the very best ice and snow artisans create the bedrooms, bars, sculptures, beds, tables and the ever popular wedding chapel. Each year the designs are completely different yet equally spectacular. Choose from either Cold or Warm Rooms, or the famous art suites!
Abisko Mountain Lodge
Designed to take full advantage of the Abisko area, it's towering mountains, high alpine environment and Lake Torneträsk, there is passion in every aspect of the lodge as well as the activities. They actively encourage all of their guests to get out amidst it all and experience the landscape up close, at whatever level suites you. The lodge's hotel rooms are cleanly furnished, comfortable and airy. The two itineraries we have put together are designed for those who want an incredible opportunity to witness the Aurora Borealis whilst trying out some fantastic activities. The lodge's hotel rooms are cleanly furnished and comfortable. Each has an en suite shower room, and the whole house has wireless broadband.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Flights, arrivals and transfers. You will be greeted at Kiruna airport and transferred to your mountain lodge accommodation in Abisko. A welcome dinner will be served in the evening. |
| Day 2: | Ice fishing and Aurora snowshoe trek. You will head out onto the frozen surface of beautiful Lake Tornetrask just a short distance from the lodge. You will drill a hole in the thick ice, sit on a warm reindeer skin and wait for the fish to bite. Arctic char, grayling and trout can all be found in these cool waters. Lunch will be served in the great outdoors, perhaps you will even catch it! This evening you will head off with your guides on a leisurely snowshoe hike. You walk to Stornabben where the skies are clear of any man made light. Your guide will tell you about the Northern Lights and hopefully you will be able to see them first hand, shimmering and dancing across the skies. |
| Day 3: | Husking safari. After breakfast you will get to experience the king of all Arctic activities, dog sledding. You will be given full instruction and a safety briefing before you take control of your team of huskies. The dogs love to run and you will head out on the trail for two hours, the ideal introduction to this fabulous form of transport! This evening is free for you to relax. As this will be your last night in Abisko you will be treated to the full Lappish menu serving many delicacies. After dinner it may also be possible to arrange a visit to the Aurora Sky Station (depending on time of year and weather conditions). You take a ski lift to the top of a near by fell, at the top you visit a Northern Lights exhibition and may get the chance to witness the Aurora Borealis from an awesome viewing point. |
| Day 4: | Sami Culture and the ICEHOTEL®This morning it is time to wave good bye to Abisko and head back towards the town of Kiruna. En route however you stop at the home of Nils-Anders Kuhmunen and his family. They will take you through the lives of the Sámi reindeer herders and explain the importance of reindeer in the culture of the region. You will get to see the everyday work at the homestead and also see reindeer up close. The journey then continues to Jukkasjarvi, home of the world famous ICEHOTEL®. You will arrive in the afternoon and be given a full guided tour of the site, the ice suites and the ice factory. You can have inner at one of the warm restaurants (not included)?and will spend the night in the cosy warm accommodation. If you would like to stay in the cold accommodation (see page xx) then we can arrange this for you, please contact us for a quotation. |
| Day 5: | Departures. After breakfast you will be referred back to Kiruna airport for your return flights. If you would however like to extend your stay please talk to our reservations staff about the options available for further adventures in Swdeish Lapland. |
traveller reviews for Northern Lights and the Icehotel holiday, Sweden
Superb (more)
how this holiday makes a difference
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Abisko is set amidst spectacular countryside and has grown up around the rail link to Kiruna. It is spectacularly remote and surrounded by vast, pristine landscapes. The small number of tourist establishments in this village provide a vital lifeline for many of the local people through providing employment and economic benefits to local businesses. This all helps to reduce the amount of rural-urban movement which damages many of these areas.
The Abisko Mountain lodge has a strict policy regarding responsible travel. Mina and Dick Johansson set up the business principally through Dick's absolute adoration of the environment. As a mountain guide he fully appreciates the fragility of the environment but also how to get the best from it without leaving any trace. From the moment you arrive you are encouraged to immerse yourself in the region and consider your surroundings. The hotel promotes local produce throughout its meals and gives a real insight into the region as well as supporting local producers as much as possible. Abisko allows us to spread the benefits of tourism away from some of the tourist hot spots and out into the remoter areas of Swedish Lapland |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |
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