The Grand Aurora Tour
- Details
Details
This holiday has so many highlights spanning across three countries, it's really no overstatement to call it grand! In its simple form, it is a fabulous experience but, we also give you plenty of chances to upgrade to some incredible optional extras and holiday extensions should you wish.
Arriving in Swedish Lapland, this tour starts in the coolest way possible, literally, as you visit the original ICEHOTEL®. There will be plenty of time to explore this world-famous hotel including its chapel and icebar before spending one night in a warm room and one night in an ice room, where you will be tucked up cosy in your Arctic-grade sleeping bag for a unique night's sleep. What a way to start! You can, however, choose to start your holiday the day before, in the south of Lapland, at the exceptional Treehotel, for a night in one of the unforgettable tree-rooms there.
On your third day, you will travel through the wilds of Swedish Lapland and transfer to one of our most popular winter destinations in Finnish Lapland.
Here you will meet the hotel's huskies and enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience as you travel into the wilderness pulled by a team of eager dogs. Furthermore, you'll enjoy a thrilling two hour snowmobile safari.
Of course, we also include two wonderful Northern Lights activities for you here, as you are in the very heart of the Aurora Zone.
After your Finnish adventures, you head even further above the Arctic Circle to the vibrant city of Tromsø, in Norways stunning North. This city is where many of the world's greatest adventurers set off on their expeditions and the heritage is wonderful. It is also a remarkably cosmopolitan place and there's a wealth of shops and some fabulous restaurants to enjoy.
You'll have time to explore but we have also included a dedicated Northern Lights hunt here, which leads you far from the city lights in search of an Aurora display.
Should you wish to extend your stay then we can arrange additional nights and activities in Tromsø or some of the surrounding islands. You may also like to take advantage of the fact that the Hurtigruten ferry runs from here, providing access to the whole Norwegian coast should you wish to continue your adventures.
Image credits: Antti Pietikainen, Asaf Kliger & ICEHOTEL®, Hanne Knudsen, Baard Loeken, Knut Hansvold and NordNorge
Itinerary
Your adventure begins as you are collected from Kiruna Airport. You will be transferred to the small village of Jukkasjärvi, home to the world-famous ICEHOTEL®.
At the ICEHOTEL® you relax in your warm room tonight and dine in one the restaurants (bookable and payable locally).The population of Jukkasjärvi is tiny so there is very minimal light pollution so just a short walk from the hotel you can find yourself in incredible Aurora viewing locations.
If you want to also enjoy the delights of the spectacular Treehotel in the Lulea region of Sweden, then we can arrange a wonderful pre-tour before you head to Kiruna, details can be found in the Extras section of the holiday page.
Included Meals: None
Today is free for you to enjoy all that is on offer at this famous hotel. You can tour the site and visit attractions such as the ice suites, ice bar and ice chapel and there is even the ice store and factory here which are quite fascinating. It is hard to believe that all of the main hotel building simply melts away in the spring when you see how much work has gone into making it!
There are also activities available for you to enjoy and the details of these can be found in the ‘personalise’ section of the holiday page.
Tonight, you will have the unforgettable experience of spending the night in one of the ice rooms at the hotel. Alternatively, we can arrange for you to upgrade to one of the Deluxe or Art Suites if you want to experience the ultimate in ice accommodation (subject to availability). The details of the options can be found in the accommodation section of the holiday page and our travel experts will happily provide you with a quote.
Please note: Due to availability, your first night might be in an ice room and your second night in a warm room.
A note regarding cold rooms: Between 10 am and 6 pm, the ICEHOTEL is open to the public; for day visitors and guests to enjoy the art. This means overnight guests get their rooms at 6 pm and the wake-up call is around 7:30 am when staying in a cold room.
Included Meals: Breakfast
We highly recommend a warming sauna this morning before enjoying a hot shower and some delicious breakfast – it really sets you up for the day ahead!
It is now time to wave farewell to Sweden as you are collected for the next section of your tour. Your driver will take you through the wilds of Sweden as you cover the distance between Sweden and Levi in Finland, your base for the next three nights (approximately 3-4 hours). Your journey will include a stop for lunch (not included). Upon arrival at Levi, you will check into your room and pick up your cold-weather clothing.
Your evening meal will be served in the hotel’s restaurant, then you will be met by an expert local guide who will take you on a heated sleigh ride in search of the Northern Lights. The guide will skillfully manoeuvre your sleigh through the wilderness as you sit in the warm interior and keep an eye on the sky for the Aurora.
Levi’s location and glass-roofed accommodation is ideally situated for Northern Lights viewing, so be sure to keep an eye on the sky when you are not out on your evening activities too.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Today’s activities will see you encounter two of Lapland’s most famous animals.
Firstly, you will hit the trail with a team of willing huskies leading the way.
You can feel the dogs’ excitement as soon as the mushers take the chosen dogs out of their kennels and begin to get them harnessed up to the sledge ready for your safari. You will be given full instruction and a safety briefing before heading out and will travel two people per sledge, with one person standing on the back driving and the other sitting in the sleigh (there will be the chance for you to swap drivers en route).
The safari will cover around 10km and led by the guide will explore the picture-perfect forest. The trail winds its way between the snow-covered trees and all that you can hear is the sound of the dogs’ paws on snow.
After lunch, you will be back in a sleigh for another expedition into the wilderness but this time, you will be pulled by reindeer for a true Lappish experience. The sleigh ride will last approximately 75 minutes.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Following breakfast, you will enjoy a thrilling snowmobile safari. After a full safety briefing and instructions, you will follow your guide into the wilderness, covering approximately 25-30 km. Following your adventure, you will head back to Levi through snow-clad forests. Two people will share a snowmobile during this activity, which will last for around two hours overall. Please note, you must be at least 18 years old and hold a full driving licence to drive a snowmobile.
This afternoon you will enjoy private use of the resort’s sauna and hot tub.
Your evening meal will be served in the hotel restaurant and following this, you will have a free evening. Why not head outside and await the magical Aurora, hoping that it will make an appearance tonight? Alternatively, additional Northern Lights activities may be available to book locally.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After a leisurely breakfast, you will check out of your hotel room ready for the next stage in your journey.
Today you will be driven from Finnish Lapland to the city of Tromsø in Northern Norway! The journey time is around five hours in total. You will enjoy some stunning scenery as you travel north and the landscape around you will be constantly changing. You will stop en-route, where you can get some lunch (payable locally), before heading over the mountains into Norway and down to the coast.
Upon arrival in Tromsø you can check in to central hotel and relax. We would then suggest heading out to enjoy the restaurants in Tromsø, it may be a bit of a shock compared to the wilderness of the last few days, but this city deserves its reputation.
Your time in this city has been left so it can be tailored to suit you and so there is plenty of time for independent exploration as well as additional activities in this remarkable place.
Tonight you may like to add in an additional Northern Lights hunt so please see the personalise section for details.
Included Meals: Breakfast
Following breakfast, you will have a free day to spend as you please. We have a large selection of optional activities which can be added in to your holiday so you can tailor your time here. They can all be found in the ‘Personalise’ section of the holiday page.
There are many incredible sights and attractions to visit here such as the Polar Museum, Polaria, the mountain top cable car and many more. The shops and cafes are also very much worth exploring.
Tonight you will leave the city lights behind and travel via minibus in the company of an expert local guide to search for the Northern Lights. Using the latest weather and solar forecasts, your route will be carefully selected to help provide the best possible chance to witness the Northern Lights. Snacks and hot drinks will be served around a campfire. You will be out for approximately 5-7 hours.
Included Meals: Breakfast
A taxi transfer to the airport will be arranged to meet your return flight home.
If you would like to extend your stay either using the world famous Hurtigruten coastal ferry service or by flying on to a range of other destinations please speak to our Travel Experts for a personalised quotation.
We can also arrange for you to extend your time in Tromsø in order to take in more of its rich Arctic heritage.
Included Meals: Breakfast
What's included?
- Flights are included from London to Kiruna via Stockholm and returning from Tromsø to London (via Oslo). Flight routes are subject to change
- Airport transfers from Kiruna/to Tromsø and destination transfers are included
- 1 night in a warm room and 1 night in an ice room at the ICEHOTEL®, 3 nights in a glass-roofed Aurora Cabin at the Northern Lights Village, Levi, 2 nights en-suite double/twin room at Clarion Hotel – The Edge, Tromsø
- 7 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 3 dinners (2 lunch stops are planned on the transfers from Kiruna to Levi and Levi to Tromsø, however these meals are not included
- 10km husky safari
- 2 hour snowmobile safari
- Aurora hunt by heated sleigh
- Reindeer sleigh ride
- Private sauna and hot tub session (1 hour)
- Northern Lights hunt by minibus in Tromsø
- Experienced guides and instructors for all activities
- Cold weather clothing for the duration of your stay in Levi
Accommodation
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The ICEHOTEL® at Jukkasjärvi has the impressive claim of being the world’s first ice hotel and was developed from a concept beginning in 1989. A local entrepreneur by the name of Yngve Bergqvist who ran a thriving tourism business in the summer decided to attract tourists in the winter by offering ice carving workshops and creating a small ice igloo as a gallery to showcase these designs. This igloo grew in scale each year until one night a group of guests, equipped with reindeer skins and sleeping bags asked to spend the night, creating the concept of the ice hotel in the process! Although Ice and snow hotels can be found across Lapland, the ICEHOTEL® remains the original. What’s more, 2018 saw the ICEHOTEL® become the first-ever Nordic Swan Ecolabel hotel made completely of ice and snow. The certification process looks at all areas, from energy and water consumption to waste management; understandably, this presented many challenges when measuring a hotel whose rooms melt away at the end of each winter season! The eco-label adds to a growing list of certifications for the ICEHOTEL® who is also certified a Sustainable Arctic Destination. Certification ensures guests are choosing environmentally conscious products and the ICEHOTEL® are – rightly so – very proud to receive such recognition. ICEHOTEL 365The hotel now boasts ICEHOTEL 365, a permanent structure, allowing it to be a year-round destination to visitors who travel the world to sleep in a room of ice and snow. Containing deluxe rooms, art suites, an ice bar and a sculpture hall, this environmentally sustainable building is a construct of glass, metal and concrete, but with the same incredible standard and visual design of snow and ice on the inside, with cooling tubes to keep it at a temperature of around -5 at all times. Alongside this is the classic ICEHOTEL® building, constructed purely of ice and snow and carefully crafted each December, utilising blocks from the nearby Torne River. Home to ice rooms, winter suites and a chapel the structure is a marvel to see and, come summer, simply melts back into the river from which it came. Each year, architects, designers and artists submit designs for the hotel’s features and a handful are chosen to go forward with their theme. The hotel consists of several buildings including the main ice building and ICEHOTEL 365. We cannot guarantee which area our guests will stay in. The rooms which are contained within the ice and snow building will not be available until after the 14th of December. Check-in time for the cold rooms is usually around 6 pm and for the warm rooms, it is approximately 3 pm. The ICEHOTEL® is open to members of the public for viewing between 10 am and 6 pm. You will check out after breakfast. Hotel facilities
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Located in the far north of Finland, 16km away from the centre of Levi and close to the ski resort (approx. 14km), the Northern Lights Village sits tucked away in its own piece of wilderness. With 40 Aurora Cabins, you’ll have the brilliant opportunity to view the Northern Lights right from your bed. Each cabin comes equipped with a half-glass roof with the twin or double beds situated underneath. This is one of the few places in the world where you’ll prefer a sleepless night! All cabins are in walking distance of the restaurant which serves local, Lappish delicacies. FacilitiesThe village restaurant takes inspiration from the traditional wooden Finnish tipis with Lappish décor. Using flavours from Lapland and the Barents Sea regions, the restaurant serves local food and special delicacies. Breakfast is a buffet of continental options and some hot dishes. Evening meals are a buffet with starters of soups and salad, and then a choice of local meat or fish will follow. Dietary requirements are all well-catered for as long as we are informed at the time of booking. All activities start from The Northern Lights Village (except the husky safaris and art gallery) to make your holiday as easy as possible. |
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Situated right in the centre of Tromsø, the Clarion Hotel The Edge puts you in a prime location to explore the ‘Paris of the North’ and is an excellent base to transfer to your memorable activities. Hotel Facilities
NB: The hotel is cash-free. They take payment by credit or debit card and accept all major international cards |
Personalise This Tour
This wildlife experience brings you closer to the wonderful natural surroundings as you ride an Icelandic horse directly through the mooses grazing land.
Your day starts with a transfer to the Ofelas Icelandic horse farm where you will help to prepare the animals for your ride.
Then you will set off to travel through the grazing land of the wild moose where hopefully, you will get to spot some of the animals. This area provides amazing views over Swedens highest mountain range, Kebnekaise and is a brilliant way to see more of the winter landscape in daylight.
After returning to the farm, you will help to unsaddle the horses before enjoying a three-course traditional lunch.
Duration: 6 hours in total (including transfers)
Suitable for: 12 years and older; max. weight 90kg
Dog sledding is a much-loved Arctic pastime but it is also one of the best ways to see more of the stunning landscape. During this trip, you will get to try your hand as a musher, driving your own team of dogs further into the winter wilderness. This mini-expedition starts with a transfer to the husky kennel, where the dogs will more than likely be barking with excitement to get on the trails.
After a full safety briefing and instructions, you will stand on your sled behind your team of dogs and set off with the guide leading the way into the wilds. You will drive your team back to the kennels where you can help unharness the loyal dogs and take some pictures with them.
Please note: you must be at least 15 years old. Passengers are not allowed to ride with other guests, only with a guide.
Duration: 4 hours in total
Have an extra special Aurora evening as you visit a husky camp and learn all about these working dogs, all while keeping an eye on the sky for the Northern Lights to make an appearance.
The camp is approximately 30 minutes away and upon arrival, you will receive a tour of the facilities and get to meet some of the famous residents. As you pet and play with the dogs, you will be on the lookout for the Northern Lights which could appear at any time.
You will warm by an open fire and enjoy a traditional dinner.
Duration: 4.5 hours
| Tour Loaction: | Jukkasjarvi,Sweden |
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| Tour Loaction: | Jukkasjarvi,Sweden |
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| Tour Loaction: | Jukkasjarvi,Sweden |
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| Tour Loaction: | Jukkasjarvi,Sweden |
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| Tour Loaction: | Jukkasjarvi,Sweden |
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| Tour Loaction: | Jukkasjarvi,Sweden |
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| Tour Loaction: | Jukkasjarvi,Sweden |
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| Tour Loaction: | Tromso,Norway |
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Tour Map
Key Facts
For your best chance to see the Northern Lights, contact the UK’s only Aurora specialists
