Overview:
After enjoying an urban lifestyle in Stockholm continue 200 km north of the Arctic Circle to the world famous Icehotel, found in Swedish Lapland. Ten thousand years ago, glaciers carved a riverbed and the Torne River was born. Since then, the crystal-clear, pure water of the Torne River has flowed freely along its 600-kilometer path through Lapland out to the sea in the southeast. The entire ICEHOTEL is on loan from the mighty Torne River and is a place where time stands still. Enjoy the stillness of nature in Swedish Lapland while marvelling at the magical Northern Lights and staying overnight in an Ice Room.
Holiday price is from £1,595 per person, based on two people sharing a twin/double room. Single supplement upon request.
Departure Dates:
| Dates: |
Departure: |
| 12 Dec - 13 Apr |
Daily |
Tour Itinerary:
Day 01: Arrival in Stockholm
Arrival in Stockholm according to your own itinerary
Stockholm city has an abundance of charm, history and tradition! This urban and trendy city will impress you with its interesting museums and castles. The city keeps its’ warm atmosphere apparent in the old town. Take time to explore the small and winding alley ways - the perfect area to find a suitable restaurant for the evening. Our recommended hotel for this evening is the Clarion hotel Sign. The Clarion Sign hotel is close to all attractions allowing you to explore thos fabulous city with ease. .
Accommodation at the Clarion Hotel Sign or similar (2 nights)
Day 02: Stockholm
After breakfast the day is yours to continue exploring Stockholm. Our recommended top 10 includes the following: Gamla Stan – The Old Town, Vasamuseét – The Vasa Museum, Skansen Open Air Museum, Kungliga Slottet – The Royal Palace, Stadshuset – The City Hall, Drottningholms Slott – The Drottningholm Palace, Östermalmshallen – The Östermalm Food Court, Millesgården – Art Museum, Moderna Museét – Museum of Modern Art and Kungsträdgården – City Park. Enjoy!
Day 03: Stockholm to Kiruna by overnight train
Breakfast at the hotel and the rest of the day is yours to spend at leisure. In the late evening, depart by overnight train from Stockholm to Kiruna.
Overnight on-board the train in a private sleeping compartment
Day 04: Arrival in Kiruna
Transfer from the central railway station in Kiruna to the world famous Ice hotel located in the village of Jukkasjarvi. The rest of your day is at leisure in this unique and breathtaking area. Tonight you will experience an overnight in the Ice hotel. The Ice rooms are especially comfortable and spacious – you will get a good night’s sleep in minus 5 degrees. You sleep in thermal sleeping bags on a special bed built of snow and ice, on reindeer skins.
Accommodation in an Ice room
Day 05: Ice Hotel
This morning you are awakened with a cup of hot lingon-berry juice at your bedside. Breakfast buffet with morning sauna and towels included. Your day is at leisure to simply enjoy your surroundings or book an activity as per your preference – list on request.
Overnight in warm accommodation
Day 06: Departure from the Ice Hotel
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your return flight home.
Package Includes:
- Direct flight from London Gatwick to Stockholm and return flight from Kiruna to London via Stockholm (we can arrange flights from other aiports upon request)
- 1 piece of check-in luggage per traveler (up to 20 kg)
- 2 nights' accommodation at the Clarion Hotel Sign or similar
- Overnight train Stockholm - Kiruna with accommodation in a private sleeping compartment
- Transfer from Kiruna train station to the Ice Hotel
- 1 night's accommodation in an Ice Room at the Ice Hotel
- 1 night's accommodation in a Warm Room (Kaamos rooms) or similar at the Ice Hotel
- Transfer from the Ice Hotel to Kiruna Airport
- Breakfast daily
- 24-hour emergency service
- ATOL protection
- All taxes
Enquire now »
Itinerary
Day 01: Arrival in Stockholm
Arrival in Stockholm according to your own itinerary
Stockholm city has an abundance of charm, history and tradition! This urban and trendy city will impress you with its interesting museums and castles. The city keeps its’ warm atmosphere apparent in the old town. Take time to explore the small and winding alley ways - the perfect area to find a suitable restaurant for the evening. Our recommended hotel for this evening is the Clarion hotel Sign. The Clarion Sign hotel is close to all attractions allowing you to explore thos fabulous city with ease. .
Accommodation at the Clarion Hotel Sign or similar (2 nights)
Day 02: Stockholm
After breakfast the day is yours to continue exploring Stockholm. Our recommended top 10 includes the following: Gamla Stan – The Old Town, Vasamuseét – The Vasa Museum, Skansen Open Air Museum, Kungliga Slottet – The Royal Palace, Stadshuset – The City Hall, Drottningholms Slott – The Drottningholm Palace, Östermalmshallen – The Östermalm Food Court, Millesgården – Art Museum, Moderna Museét – Museum of Modern Art and Kungsträdgården – City Park. Enjoy!
Day 03: Stockholm to Kiruna by overnight train
Breakfast at the hotel and the rest of the day is yours to spend at leisure. In the late evening, depart by overnight train from Stockholm to Kiruna.
Overnight on-board the train in a private sleeping compartment
Day 04: Arrival in Kiruna
Transfer from the central railway station in Kiruna to the world famous Ice hotel located in the village of Jukkasjarvi. The rest of your day is at leisure in this unique and breathtaking area. Tonight you will experience an overnight in the Ice hotel. The Ice rooms are especially comfortable and spacious – you will get a good night’s sleep in minus 5 degrees. You sleep in thermal sleeping bags on a special bed built of snow and ice, on reindeer skins.
Accommodation in an Ice room
Day 05: Ice Hotel
This morning you are awakened with a cup of hot lingon-berry juice at your bedside. Breakfast buffet with morning sauna and towels included. Your day is at leisure to simply enjoy your surroundings or book an activity as per your preference – list on request.
Overnight in warm accommodation
Day 06: Departure from the Ice Hotel
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your return flight home.
This map uses Google Maps, so you can zoom and interact with it as we hope it is familiar to you.
For a larger version of this map which opens in a new window, click here
The lines shown give you an indication of our destinations and are not the exact route used.
You'll see...
Will I see the Northern Lights?
Please scroll down to see the specifics for the country you wish to visit:
Iceland:
The Northern Lights are in the Northern sky from September through April but are only visible when the sky is clear and free of clouds. Like many of natures wonders, it’s ephemeral – they may be visible, they may appear for a bit and then be gone. But it’s worth it to be patient. Because they’re a winter event, you need to be prepared to wait outside, while looking for them. It’s best to dress very warmly, in layers, with good footwear, gloves, hats and whatever else will make you comfortable while you await this truly amazing event. The Northern Lights can be pretty spectacular, and for the best photos we recommend using a tripod. Much of Iceland offers a very a good chance to see the Northern Lights when conditions are right. Remember – the Northern Lights are natural phenomena, not guaranteed, but appreciated all the more for their elusive qualities.
Norway:
Northern Norway is one of the world's best places to experience the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis). In Northern Norway, Northern Lights occur in up to 90% of every clear night in the period from late September to late March. Most Northern Lights occur in the time span from 6pm to slightly after midnight, with an absolute peak at around 10-11pm.
In Norway, the area north of the Arctic Circle is prime aurora territory. The various destinations in the High North have a distinct personality, and are well worth exploring. Major places in Northern Norway are Tromsø, Kirkenes, Alta, Bodø, Lofoten and Vesterålen Islands and Svalbard.
Finland:
The best place to see the Northern Lights in Finland is in the Northern Lapland region, which is almost entirely located within the realm of the Arctic Circle. During the dark winter months here, when the sun rarely peaks its head over the horizon, you can expect to see the Finland Northern Lights with regularity, and other peak seasons include February through March and September through October. The most common colours of the Northern Lights are greenish-yellow and red.
The Finnish term for the Northern Lights, Revontulet, meaning fox fire, comes from an old tale where the fox was believed to swish its bushy tail on the snowy fell landscapes, throwing sparks into the air.
As mentioned, Lapland is the best place to see the Finland Aurora Borealis, with the Kilpisjarvi area offering the most abundant opportunities. The best time of the day to see the Finland Northern Lights is between 9 pm and 11:30 pm, though they are certainly not restricted to this time frame.
Sweden:
In Northern Sweden, the Northern Lights usually occur during the winter months through late March or early April, but they can be spotted as early as September in the Northernmost parts. Your best chance of catching a glimpse of the Northern Lights is on cold winter nights when the sky is clear and cloudless. You need to be away from city lights, which dilute the effects of these natural phenomena, so head out into the countryside. On clear nights, the Northern Lights can be visible from most locations in Swedish Lapland, occurring between 6 pm to and 2 am, with the strongest shows happening between 10 pm and 11 pm. For those willing to brave the cold on winter nights, here are some of the best locations in Swedish Lapland for viewing these phenomena:
Abisko National Park
Abisko National Park, a couple of kilometers north of Kiruna, is a prime location for viewing the Northen Lights. The scientifically proven “blue hole” — a patch of sky over the Torneträsk lake that usually remains clear despite overcast weather in surrounding areas — gives Abisko its own micro-climate, which is suitable for catching the lights.
Jukkasjärvi and the Torne Valley
Not only does the village of Jukkasjärvi (population roughly 541) boast the world’s first ice hotel (rebuilt ever year from Torne River ice), it’s also one of the best regions to view the Northern Lights. ICEHOTEL organizes guided tours for guests which takes the to the Esrange Space Center located 30 minutes from Kiruna. You can dine at a wilderness camp and get the chance to scan the Arctic winter sky for aurora borealis.
Other regions in Swedish Lapland
As mentioned earlier, if weather conditions are just right (clear, dark, cold, and cloudless), you might catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights from any location within subarctic and arctic Sweden — even close to larger towns such as Luleå, Jokkmokk, Arvidsjaur, and Gällivare.
Greenland:
The northern lights - or Aurora Borealis as it is officially known - actually occur all year round, but cannot be seen during the summer months in Greenland due to the midnight sun. The phenomenon is often seen around midnight and is best experienced on a dark, clear night in the period from September to the beginning of April. If you are travelling during this period, you can see the Northern Lights from anywhere in the country, whilst in South Greenland the northern lights can be seen from as early as the end of August.
Car Rental
You can rent a car, as long as you have a valid EU or international driver's license. Most cars will have manual transmission.
Transportation
Railway mostly serves domestic routes and is used as an easy and quick way to get from the capital to major cities of the country. There are some international routes, like to Moscow and St. Petersburg, but time spent on the way will be quite long.
Buses are one of the most convenient ways to travel between the Baltic States. Eurolines will get you between Riga, Vilnius and Tallinn. One way tickets will cost £ 15 - £ 20 and approximate travel time is 5 hours between the cities. Ticket reservations in advance are recommended.
Taxis are the quickest and most convenient way of travelling round the city. You'll find them located close to the main hotels. Usually it's quite easy to catch a taxi on the street, however, it's much better and safer to order one by phone. Taxi costs in all of the Baltic countries and Poland are approximately the same and a ride in the centre of the city will cost you approx £ 5 - £ 7. Taxis in Finland and Russia are considerably more expensive. It is always a good idea to get your hotel to book a taxi for you and ask approximately how much the trip will cost before you get in.
We would not recommend you to take public transportation within the city, as it's usually crowded and it may cause you unnecessary anxiety about where to stop.