Embrace winter with a magical holiday in the snow
Looking ahead to winter doesn't have to be complaining about disappearing sunshine and the premature mince pie invasion of the supermarket! At responsibletravel.com winter means sunny shoeing across snowy lushness, wilderness husky sledding, rubbing noses with the reindeers and longer nights for Northern Lights. And if you’ve been watching the celebs battling it out in ITV’s new snowy reality show, 71 Degrees North, don’t worry our holidays are all about fun activities, good food, cosy family-run accommodation, staying warm and travelling responsibly. Here’s our selection of magical winter snow getaways to get your cheeks glowing: Family Christmas Holiday in Lapland (brand new for 2010)
No nation knows how to do a traditional Christmas like the Finns! Immerse yourself in a Yuletide steeped in folklore, myth, magic, reindeers and huskies. This holiday is what Father Christmas trips should be all about - genuine, intimate, unhurried and not a charter flight in sight. And with your visit providing a vital source of employment in a region which otherwise may well be affected by rural to urban migration, your family are helping to preserve the culture of the people who inhabit this unique region. Departs 22 December for 7 days.
Breath-taking scenery, virgin snow and perfect blue skies this is responsible skiing at it’s best. With no reliance on snow cannons, graded pistes and ski lifts, cross-country skiing has significantly less environmental impact than alpine skiing holidays. The accommodation on this trip occupies a unique setting overlooking a frozen lake with magnificent Mount Gausta, the highest mountain in southern Norway, as the backdrop. Departs 19 and 26 December for 8 days.
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. It is also around 100kms from the Ice Hotel so we've added a night there for good measure! The lodge where you’ll stay has a strict policy regarding responsible travel. Mina and Dick Johansson set up the business principally through Dick's love 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. Regular departures throughout January and February 2011 for 4 days.
Utsjoki is the only municipality in Finland where the Sami people form the majority of the population. The Sami culture and tradition is evident everywhere in the brightly coloured clothes, the handicrafts, the Joiku singing and over 10,000 reindeer. This is a region steeped in myth and legend with three “Ailigas” or Holy Fells as the main landmarks in a vast and untamed landscape. And then there’s the night sky, vast and seemingly endless. This holiday features activities that are traditional to the region and does not include snowmobile safaris. A leave no trace policy is implemented throughout the tour and waste is kept to an absolute minimum due to the isolated nature of the destination. Regular departures throughout January, February and March 2011 for 8 days. Learn Lapland survival skills in Finland (brand new for 2010)
Savukoski is Finland’s most sparsely populated municipality with 1,300 people living in an area covering 6,470km². That equates to 1/5th of a person per square km. Survival skills are important here! This holiday is all about learning the skills and sampling the lifestyle in Finland’s least populated municipality. Local wilderness guides will show you the basic skills required to survive in such remote terrain and you will stay at “Base Camp” which enjoys a lovely location on the banks of the Kemijoki River. Regular departures throughout January, February and March 2011 for 5 days. See more of our winter activity holidays - Ends -
About responsibletravel.com: responsibletravel.com is the world's leading travel agent for responsible holidays. The site offers over 3,500 richer, deeper and more locally distinctive travel experiences that are better for destinations and local communities. Whether you're after an action-packed adventure, a relaxing beach escape or a charming countryside getaway closer to home, there's something to suit all tastes and budgets. Co-founder, Justin Francis had the original idea for the website on his travels through Africa having completed his MSc in Responsible Tourism. He launched the site with backing from Dame Anita Roddick in 2001 and since then has been included in Courvoisier’s The Future 500, Thames and Hudson’s 60 Innovators Shaping Our Creative Future and taken his place on the Advisory Board of The International Centre for Responsible Tourism at Leeds Metropolitan University. Based in Brighton, England responsibletravel.com also campaigns for positive change in the travel and tourism industry. www.iknowagreatplace.com is responsibletravel.com's online travel community website. The site offers local travel secrets to travellers throughout the world. Post questions in our new Q & A, swap your tips and ideas, upload photos and blogs from your travels and look for companions for your next trip. Contact: Krissy Roe krissy@responsibletravel.com 01273 648 519
