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sweden

anniversaries in sweden

Aurora and the ICEHOTEL® Level 1
Coolest Places To Stay Cross Country Skiing Ice Fishing Northern Lights Snowmobile Snowshoeing
prices from £1,495.00

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In a nutshell...
•Duration: 4 nights
•Group size: approximately 2 - 16 people
•Flights from London Heathrow to Kiruna (via Stockholm)
•Return airport transfers
•3 nights mountain lodge, 1 night ICEHOTEL® in a snow room
•4 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 3 dinners
•Ice fishing, Aurora snowshoe trek, husky safari, Sámi culture, guided tour of the ICEHOTEL® (The order of activities is subject to change)
•Cold weather clothing for the duration of your stay
•Fully qualified wilderness guides and interpretive guides

Departure dates from: 6 December 2012 to 28 March 2013

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!

 

Day 1: Flights, arrival and transfers
You will be greeted at Kiruna Airport from where the transfer to Abisko takes you along the one of the most scenic drives in Northern Scandinavia. On arrival at the lodge you’ll be warmly welcomed and have some time to settle in before dinner. Always remember to keep your coat handy though as the Aurora has interrupted numerous meals at Abisko!
 
Day 2: Ice fishing and Aurora snowshoe trek
This morning you will head out onto the frozen surface of beautiful Lake Tornetrask with your guide to try one of the most popular Scandinavian activities, ice fishing. You’ll drill a hole in the thick ice, sit on a warm reindeer skin and wait for the fish to bite. Whilst you wait for the line to twitch you will have time to admire the wild and wonderful mountain scenery that surrounds you.

You will have a picnic lunch (weather permitting) and if you land a decent sized catch you may be able to supplement this with a fish course.

After dinner at the lodge you will head off in search of the Northern Lights on snowshoes.

Your local and experienced guide will lead you to one of his favourite view points, a place where the views of the night sky are exceptional. Hopefully you will see the unforgettable Aurora dancing across the Arctic skies.
 
Day 3: Husky safari
The terrain around Abisko is rather rugged and wild and to allow you to fully appreciate your surroundings, your guide will drive the team while you ride in the sled allowing you to enjoy the spectacular views.

If you would prefer to drive your own team (two people per sled) then this can be arranged in advance. Please note however, that dog sledding here is fairly strenuous and you should be should be in reasonable physical condition as it can be hard work.

As this is designed as a gentle programme, the afternoon is free for you to relax. If you feel the need for a little more excitement we can arrange a snowmobile safari. This is an excellent way to explore and see as much as possible of the Abisko hinterland. Snowmobiling is a popular activity so we recommend arranging this in advance (please see price box for details).

As this will be your last night in Abisko you will be treated to the full Lappish menu which includes local delicacies but remember to keep one eye on the night sky at all times.
 
Day 4: Sámi culture and the ICEHOTEL®
This morning it is time to wave goodbye to Abisko and head towards the town of Jukkasjarvi, and the ICEHOTEL®. En route you’ll visit at a traditional Sámi homestead where you learn about the lives of the Sámi reindeer herders and the importance of reindeer in the culture of the region. A light lunch will be served around a fire.

The journey then continues to the world famous ICEHOTEL®. You will arrive in the afternoon and be given a guided tour of the site, the ice suites and the ice factory. You can have dinner at one of the warm restaurants (not included in the holiday price), perhaps take advantage of the ice bar and will spend the night in a snow room. If you would like to upgrade your cold accommodation and stay in an ice room or suite then we can arrange this for you. The suites and Northern Lights rooms are spectacular so you may want to treat yourself.

We also understand that spending the night in a cold room is not everyone’s cup of tea so we can arrange a stay in the warm accommodation on the ICEHOTEL® site (see price box for details).
 
Day 5: Departure
After breakfast you will be transferred to Kiruna Airport for your homeward flights.
 

ICEHOTEL - The Cold Rooms!
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 ABSOLUT ICEBAR® 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.
 
A night in a snow room can be best compared to igloos, they are simple and contain your ice bed (covered in a mattress and reindeer skins to keep you snug as a bug).  There are also family snow rooms available on request. The next step up is an ice room.  These rooms feature ice furniture as well as your cosy bed.  They are decorated with artwork carved into the walls.
 
The crème de la crème of ICEHOTEL® accommodation are the art suites.  These are the marvels of the building and the rooms that are the centre piece of the guided tours (don't worry though - after 7pm they are private to guests only).  They are spacious and each suite is individually designed by an award winning artist.  Rooms may feature large sculptures, unique beds, sculpture, art works and spectacular lighting - they are magnificent.  If you are visiting this world famous destination for a special occasion then we can certainly recommend splashing out.  No matter which accommodation you sleep in, you wake to a warm cup of berry juice by your bedside before you take a morning sauna and head for a hearty buffet breakfast. 
 
ICEHOTEL - The Warm Rooms!
The options for your nights in warm accommodation are delightful.  To come back after a day of activity and curl up in a cosy room under a bug duvet is quite a lovely thing to do.
 
The Kaamos Hotel rooms are bright and spacious.  They are decorated in a contemporary Scandinavian style and are well equipped with en suite shower room, kettle, TV and telephone.  Most rooms are double but some can be converted into twins.
 
The Nordic chalets are wood built and have two separate bedrooms, one with a double bed that can be converted into twin beds and one with bunk beds.  There is a living room with refrigerator, kettle, TV and phone and a bathroom with shower.
 
The Northern Light Hotel chalet has two separate bedrooms one with a single bed and one with a double bed.  The rooms have a ceiling skylight to enable you to see the Northern Lights from bed should they appear.  These are extremely popular and should be booked early.
 
There is a living room with refrigerator, kettle, TV and telephone and a bathroom with shower.

Abisko Mountain Lodge
The lodge is a real gem in Sweden and is the brain child of Mina and Dick Johansson. Two people with an unsurpassable passion for their surroundings. To be honest, who can blame them? They have designed their lodge to take full advantage of the Abisko area, its towering mountains, high alpine environment and Lake Torneträsk.

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. Each has an en suite shower and toilet room. There are plenty of clothes hooks in the rooms but you will have access to the drying room regardless. The whole house has wireless broadband so you can keep in touch with the outside world (however we recommend just forgetting about it). There are no televisions in the rooms. Your hosts want guests to spend time in the comfy lounge, to relax and chat with a coffee or glass of wine from the bar. The lodge restaurant provides a fabulous range of locally sourced produce; arctic char, smoked venison, elk, to name only a few typical ingredients.

There is passion in every aspect of the lodge as well as the activities. Dick Johansson is one of the most well known mountain guides in Europe let alone Sweden and so you are in ideal hands. 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.


in our opinion...

"When I visited Abisko, I returned slightly in awe. This place is wild and it is spectacular. I had visited many parts of Lapland (I am a lucky girl!) but none had left such an impression on me. There isn't really anything surrounding the accommodation here, no shops, no bars…. there in lies its beauty. Abisko also has a reputation for being one of the best places in the world to see the Northern Lights and has views of Lapporten (Sami Gate) a very important symbol of Lapland both of which add to the atmosphere."