Family activity holiday in Swedish Lapland
| country: | Sweden |
| location: | Swedish Lapland |
| departures: | 2008: 19 Feb |
| price: | From £1210 - £1240 (6 days) per adult and from £1015 - £1045 per child (10 - 11 yrs) and from £885 - £915 per child (9 yrs and under), including flights from UK. This trip can also be booked without flights. Minimum age: anyone who believes in Santa |
read 4 travellers reviews
the amazing things you'll be doing
Believe it or not, Gallivare (pronounced “yellow-vor-ray”) in Swedish Lapland played host to the Santa Games in November 2005.
Santas from as far afield as Scandinavia, Iceland, Norway, Spain, England, France, Estonia and Russia competed in events as diverse as chimney climbing, present wrapping and reindeer driving.
As well as dinner with Father Christmas, we also visit the world famous ICEHOTEL® and try a host of activities including dog sledding, snowmobiling and ice fishing.
The 4-star Grand Hotel Lapland is situated in Gallivare, a small town in the heart of Swedish Lapland. Despite being a significant outdoor activity centre, the town remains largely untouched by tourism so a genuine Lapland experience awaits. The hotel overlooks Lake Vasarajarvi from where we start most of our activities.
The bedrooms offer both comfort and convenience with tasteful furnishings and extremely comfortable beds. All rooms have cable-TV, telephone, bath/shower, minibar, trouser press, hairdryer, safe-deposit box and a wireless Internet connection. Naturally all rooms are non-smoking and fulfil today’s demands of allergy adjusted materials.
Relaxing after a day in the fresh Lapland air is rarely a problem. The mountain view sauna is free of charge to all guests. The Vassara Pub provides a further opportunity to wind down (we can not be held responsible for any after effects resulting in the consumption of the Fisherman’s Friend Schnapps!!) before dinner in the hotel restaurant. For the very energetic, there is also a basement nightclub but please note that our allocated bedrooms are located far from any noise.
Santas from as far afield as Scandinavia, Iceland, Norway, Spain, England, France, Estonia and Russia competed in events as diverse as chimney climbing, present wrapping and reindeer driving.
As well as dinner with Father Christmas, we also visit the world famous ICEHOTEL® and try a host of activities including dog sledding, snowmobiling and ice fishing.
accommodation
The 4-star Grand Hotel Lapland is situated in Gallivare, a small town in the heart of Swedish Lapland. Despite being a significant outdoor activity centre, the town remains largely untouched by tourism so a genuine Lapland experience awaits. The hotel overlooks Lake Vasarajarvi from where we start most of our activities. The bedrooms offer both comfort and convenience with tasteful furnishings and extremely comfortable beds. All rooms have cable-TV, telephone, bath/shower, minibar, trouser press, hairdryer, safe-deposit box and a wireless Internet connection. Naturally all rooms are non-smoking and fulfil today’s demands of allergy adjusted materials.
Relaxing after a day in the fresh Lapland air is rarely a problem. The mountain view sauna is free of charge to all guests. The Vassara Pub provides a further opportunity to wind down (we can not be held responsible for any after effects resulting in the consumption of the Fisherman’s Friend Schnapps!!) before dinner in the hotel restaurant. For the very energetic, there is also a basement nightclub but please note that our allocated bedrooms are located far from any noise.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Flights, Arrival and Introduction. You will be met on arrival at Gallivare Airport for the five minute transfer to the Grand Hotel Lapland. After a drink and introduction you will be equipped with your cold weather clothing before dinner. |
| Day 2: | Sami, Reindeer & Winter Games. You visit a reindeer farm and meet the native Sami people to learn about their culture, history and legends. Everybody tries out a variety of activities in the snow including some Sami survival training such as building a fire on ice and throwing a lasso. These are skills you need out here in the cold. Lunch is included around an open fire inside a Sami tent. Approximately 4 to 5 hours. |
| Day 3: | Husky Safari. Firstly you meet the dogs and receive instruction on how to drive your sled. Each family rides in one sled pulled by a team of huskies. There will also be opportunities to try some snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. Approximately 3 to 4 hours. |
| Day 4: | The ICEHOTEL®. This morning you will be driven to the world famous ICEHOTEL® at Jukkasjarvi. There will be plenty of time to explore the rooms, the chapel and the ABSOLUT ICEBAR ® as well as marvel at magnificent sculptures all created entirely from snow and ice. This is a visit you will long remember. Lunch included. Approximately 4 to 5 hours. |
| Day 5: | Snowmobiles and Santa. Gallivare is a snowmobile hotspot with over 800km of prepared tracks cutting through the snowy tundra and taiga. Your 25km circuit takes you along a frozen river, deep into the forest and across iced-over lakes. Watch out for moose and reindeer! Children up to 16 years ride in a sleigh pulled by a guide’s snowmobile. Approximately 2 hours. After lunch at the hotel you have time to relax during the afternoon or why not spend time on the lake trying the snowshoes, cross-country skis, sledges and kick sleds which are provided free of charge by the hotel. Your farewell meal is rather special. You take a short horse-pulled sleigh ride into the forest and with no light pollution, the chances of seeing a spectacular Northern Lights display are very good. After a while the path is lit by candles and you arrive at a forest camp where Santa is waiting to welcome you. After grilling sausages over an open fire, you enter his winter home for a farewell dinner in a quite magical setting. |
| Day 6: | Airport Transfers and Flights. Return airport transfers and flights home. |
travellers' tales
The husky safari. It was exhilerating, unnerving and superb -all rolled into one (more)
how this holiday makes a difference
 Gallivare in Swedish Lapland is a small town of around 10000 residents. Much of the employment is in the large mineral mines which are dotted around this vast wilderness area. However, an increasing reliance on mechanization and foreign expertise means that Tourism is an ever-growing part of the regional economic development strategy. The importance of carefully managed tourism in this region can not be overstated as it provides employment and, with growth, creates additional employment opportunities. As with all our holidays, we use locally owned accommodation, transport providers and activity suppliers hence generating incomes in areas other than the traditional mining and forestry. As with any rural area, diversification is key to the long term development and stability of small communities and we feel that our holidays in Gallivare play a significant role in that diversification. |
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