The Polar Express to Lapland

This wonderful holiday begins in Sweden's lovely capital city, Stockholm, with plenty of time to explore Gamla Stan ('old town') and the city's more modern shopping centre - both packed with cafes, bars and restaurants. The tour then continues by overnight rail journey crossing the Arctic Circle into Swedish Lapland and the small town of Kiruna.

During your stay in Kiruna you will spend a day exploring the wilderness by snowmobile before switching to the more traditional means of transportation - dog sled - for a further day's exploration. Meals are either served outdoors or cooked in your cabin for you. Accommodation for two nights is in a luxury wilderness cabin with private sauna (wonderful after an active day in the snow) and the remainder of the nights spent in good quality hotel accommodation.

You will also have the opportunity, following a visit, to spend one night in the famous Ice Hotel in a Snow Room (supplement applicable) waking to a hot mug of lingonberry juice followed by a hot sauna and breakfast.

The quality of hotel and wilderness accommodation featured throughout this tour is of a very high standard and is particularly suited to those who want to spoil themselves whilst enjoying the great Arctic outdoors!

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Day 1

Arrive Stockholm Arlanda Airport. Transfer by Arlanda Express train to Stockholm centre then short walk to your hotel. Remainder of day free to explore the city.

1 night STOCKHOLM - Clarion Hotel Sign (BB)

Day 2

Almost a full day in Stockholm to explore before departing early evening by overnight train across the Arctic Circle into Swedish Lapland. 2 berth sleeper compartment reserved.

1 night ONBOARD TRAIN (RO)

Day 3

Met on arrival at the train station in Kiruna. During an introductory information meeting regarding your stay in Lapland you will be provided with warm thermal outer clothes for your stay in Lapland. After lunch we set out by snowmobile into the wilderness of the Torne River Valley where we follow our own small tracks and seek out the finest spots near the river. In the evening the guide cooks dinner for you in your own private cabin with shower, WC and sauna. Evening free to relax around the open fireplace in your cabin before turning in for the night.

1 night KURRAVAARA - Aurora Eco Lodge (FB)

Day 4

After breakfast we will set out again by snowmobile for a daylight tour stopping at a wood hut in the nature for lunch. In the afternoon we head back to our wilderness cabins for a relaxing evening around the fire again after a hot sauna.

1 night KURRAVAARA - Aurora Eco Lodge (FB)

Day 5

Return our snowmobiles to the 'garage' and then transfer to the dogsled kennel before setting out into the wilderness once again, this time for a tour with huskies. Lunch will be served out in the wilderness before returning to the kennels. Transfer by mini-bus to Jukkasjärvi and the Ice Hotel. You now have the option to either spend the night in the Ice Hotel in your own Snow or Ice Room or transfer to Kiruna Centre and stay in 'warm accommodation'.

1 night JUKKASJÄRVI or KIRUNA - Scandic Hotel Ferrum (BB) or Ice Hotel (HB)

Day 6

Those staying in the Ice Hotel will be transferred to Kiruna Airport for return flights to the UK. Those staying in Kiruna will be transferred to the airport from Kiruna.

Departure Days:  Daily according to flight schedules
Departure Dates:  Mid-December 2010 through to the end of March 2011
Duration:  5 nights

NB. Departures also possible from the following airports, subject to flight schedules and availability:
Manchester (via Stockholm) - reduction of £23 per person

Clarion Hotel Sign ****

Stockholm's largest hotel is located in the heart of Stockholm city adjacent to the Central Station and Arlanda Express facing the Norra Bantorget Square. The hotel is brand new, built in 2008, and is a spectacular building dominated by granite and glass, leaning over the square reflecting the green park. The hotel has a wonderful Aquavit Grill & Raw Bar, contributed by Marcus Samuelsson of New York’s Aquavit restaurant. The eighth floor of the hotel holds Selma CitySpa+ where you can indulge yourself in the sauna, gym, spa with a spa treatment and/or in the heated outdoor pool, all with a fantastic view of Stockholm. All rooms are non-smoking and have TV, telephone, hair dryer, Internet access and some of the most comfortable beds we have ever slept in in the whole of Scandinavia! Lift to all floors.

Aurora Eco Lodge

Aurora Eco Lodge is situated in Kurravaara in Swedish Lapland, close to Kiruna.  The accommodation is made up of several buildings, all built in traditional style.  There is a main building, where dinner and breakfast are prepared, cooked and served, a relax building with sauna and outdoor hot-tub, a wood hut for gathering and two Wilderness Suites (cabins) and one Wedding Wilderness Suite (on request). All the Wilderness Suites have private shower, WC and sauna, a seating area and stove fire. A lovely, small development. 

Icehotel, Jukkasjärvi

The Ice Hotel at Jukkasjärvi was the first hotel of its kind and is therefore perhaps the most extensive of all ice hotel projects. The hotel is built of ice and snow with designs inspired by the local nature i.e. Jukkasjärvi, the River Torne, the cold Arctic climate and The Northern Lights. The Ice Hotel has several different 'room' categories; a snow room which is simple but spacious accommodation where you sleep in thermal sleeping bags on reindeer skins on a bed built of snow and ice or an Ice Room With additional furniture made from ice and unique artwork decorating the room. Those not on a buget may also choose to stay in an Art Suite with ice art in the shape of fantastic design and wonderful sculptures. Standard, of course, is the Ice Bar and lounge where you can mingle with other guests sipping colourful cocktails from glasses made of ice, however you may also choose the warmer option i.e. to sit in the warm building connected to the Ice Hotel around a crackling fire until it is time for bed. A hot drink, breakfast and sauna are included the following morning.

Scandic Hotel Ferrum ****

Situated in the centre of Kiruna just 60 kms from Mount Kebnekaise and 1.5 kms from Kiruna's ski slopes. The hotel has 171 rooms all equipped with shower and WC, cable TV, telephone and wireless Internet access. Restaurant Reenstierna is a scenic spot to sip cocktails against a stunning mountain backdrop and Grapes Restaurant, where breakfast is served, also offers an excellent buffet lunch. The hotel's cosy Kiruna bar is a popular nightspot for the locals due to its weekly live music nights. The hotel also has a health and fitness suite which features a gym and sauna.