Sweden
Day One: Touch down in Lapland
Welcome to Lapland! Upon arrival, your driver will take you to the original (world’s first) Ice Hotel, in the Swedish village of Jukkajärvi. Your first night will be spent in one of the hotel’s Cold Rooms – six incredible suites fashioned out of ice and adorned with ice sculptures. Even the beds are made of ice (don’t worry, you’ll be given a thermal sleeping bag). Before you settle in for the night, there’s the option to take a Northern Lights photography safari at extra cost. Head out far away from any light pollution with your photography guide, who’ll help you capture the Aurora Borealis and the wintry landscape by night, then warm up with a hot drink before heading back to the hotel. (For related costs of this excursion, please see Extras.)
Overnight at Ice Hotel (Cold Room)
Meals included: None
Day Two: Animal magic and light shows
Day two: Animal Magic and Light Shows
You’ll transfer to a warm room today after your icy night: but first, get set for a magical animal adventure. After breakfast, you’ll explore the snowy landscape on a 90-minute tour by dog sled. See incredible vistas from the passenger seat, to a soundtrack of dog howls punctuating snowy silence. You’ll stop off for coffee and cake served by a roaring fire in the middle of the wilderness. Afterwards, the afternoon is yours to explore independently before a once-in-a-lifetime evening excursion. However, we can offer an optional trip to meet the Sámi people and their reindeer. Living here for thousands of years in complete harmony with nature, these people are constantly on the move as they search for food for their herd. Over the course of the afternoon, you’ll meet Nils Nutti, a Sámi who will help you hand feed reindeer calves, try your hand at driving a reindeer-pulled sleigh, and get a glimpse into the traditional culture as you snack on souvas (salted and smoked reindeer) around the flickering fire of a traditional tent. (For related costs, see Extras.) Later in the evening, it’s time to search for the Northern Lights – by snowmobile. Whizzing around on these vehicles far away from hustle and bustle is the best way to find the elusive spectacle. As you head out into the untouched wilderness, your guide will recount facts and fairy tales about the spectacular Aurora Borealis before taking you enjoy a sumptuous three course dinner in a wilderness cabin.
Overnight at Ice Hotel (Warm Room)
Meals included: Breakfast, dinner
Day Three: Icy days and night by horseback
Embrace the icy environment this morning, with a lesson in ice sculpture using crystal-clear ice from the nearby Torne River. Over the course of three hours, you’ll learn about the techniques and tools before being given your own block of ice from which to create a masterpiece! Later, you’ll head out into the landscape on a five-hour horseback tour in search of native moose and perhaps see a final glimpse of the Northern Lights. Riding an Icelandic horse (known for their sure-footedness), you’ll head through starlit forest, spotting wild moose and searching the sky for incredible illuminations as you travel. Afterwards, you’ll enjoy dinner in a traditional Sámi hut.
Overnight at Ice Hotel (Warm Room)
Meals included: Breakfast, dinner
Day Four: Home time
After breakfast, your driver will take you to the airport for your flight home.
Meals included: Breakfast
Overall meals included: 3 Breakfasts; 2 Dinners
What's included:
- Private bilingual or English-speaking guides unless stated otherwise
- Private transfers unless stated otherwise
- Meals as listed
- Mandatory taxes and service fees
- Entrance tickets and permits unless stated otherwise
What's not included:
- International flights to/from the start/end point of our experiences
- Tips for guides, drivers, porters, hotel and restaurant staff
- Any visa, customs, airport taxes or similar charges before or after the tour
- We cannot guarantee the included hotel breakfast for early departures
- Drinks during meals unless stated otherwise
- Personal expenses, such as laundry
For Home Office travel advice to this country, read more here
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Accommodation
Premium ★★★★
Premium hotels are typically upper mid range (usually four star), with more amenities than our classic choices. They all have comfortable rooms with private facilities and have received good client feedback.
When booking an experience, please remember that the hotel category you select is for the whole tour. Please note that the actual hotel selection will be driven by availability at time of booking.
Cancellation Policy for this experience
Free cancellation is possible more than 45 working days prior to arrival.
GETTING THERE
Typical return Economy flights from London cost around £200 per person and take approximately 4 hours via Stockholm
Experience start point: Kiruna (KRN). Arrive by 1pm.
End point: Kiruna (KRN).
All tour departures up to 30th June 2019 are part of our Pioneers' Club promotion. Click here for more information.