Arctic Holidays
The Arctic Region is increasingly popular for holidays due to the nature, possibilities for lots of action and activities and not least, fresh air. The Region also offers peace and tranquility due to the huge areas that are not very densely populated. The Arctic is used to describe this Polar Region located at the most northern parts of the Earth, namely Alaska ( an American state ), Canada, Greenland, Iceland, Finland, Denmark ( technically ), Norway, Sweden and Russia. These countries shares the Arctic Ocean. The countries within are mainly treeless tundra containing permafrost and have a varying degree of snow and ice cover for part of the year.
What does the Arctic mean? It comes from the Greek word "arktikos" and means "near the Bear, northern" and "arktos" meaning bear. The Arctic Circle ( 66 33N ) and is virtually and southern limit of the Midnight Sun and the Polar Night ( basically blue sky, stunning ). Others define the Arctic as the region where the average temperature for the warmest month of July is below 10Degrees Celcius ( or 50Fahrenheit ) and basically also equates to the treeline.
This Arctic Region is under a lot of scrunity these days as the ice is melting and charities like Greenpeace consistenly are following development in this Region to put at halt to, minimise or ideally stop this. For example are drillings in for example Canada under scrutiny to put a halt to these to not upset the ecosystem more than it is is - and there is some luck with this, at the times of writing this. So watch this space.
Destinations to visit in The Arctic
Norway
independent
travel
Type: Winter Holiday | Cruise | Northern Lights | Activity Holiday | Individual Tour | Christmas Holiday | Solo Traveller | Anniversary | Boys Trip | Girls Trip
7 days / 6 nights
from £2,695 pp
This tour provides an opportunity for a comprehensive Arctic holiday. Your tour starts in Tromso, a great place to see the Northern Lights. Your journey continues by Hurtigruten, the famous Norwegian coastal cruise line, to Kirkenes where you will stay overnight in the Snow Hotel. On the route you will also stop at the North Cape.
independent
travel
Type: Winter Holiday | Northern Lights | Individual Tour | Activity Holiday | Solo Traveller | Anniversary | Coastal Holiday | Boys Trip | Girls Trip
7 days / 6 nights
from £1,585 pp
We welcome you to experience and explore a unique area with attractions such as the Northern Lights, the Hurtigruten cruise, sea eagles and breathtaking beauty on this North Norway holiday. This tour starts in Tromsø, a city also referred to the Gateway to the Arctic, with the most Northern Lights in the world. Enjoy a variety of winter activities, surrounded by beautiful Arctic landscape while you travel south to the Lofoten Islands.
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Finland
group
tour
Type: Winter Holiday | New Year Break | Northern Lights | Solo Traveller | Anniversary | Boys Trip | Girls Trip | Skiing
7 days / 6 nights
from £1,665 pp
Spend an unforgettable New Year in Kuhmo, with its breathtaking scenery and beautiful landscape, cherished by Finns and international visitors alike. Here you will find many exciting winter activities to try such as snowshoeing, ice-fishing, husky, reindeer or snowmobile safaris, and of course skiing.
Selling
fast
Type: Winter Holiday | Northern Lights | Activity Holiday | Anniversary | Honeymoon | Boys Trip | Girls Trip | Skiing
5 days / 4 nights
from £ 1,675 pp
Enjoy an active getaway in the wilderness of Finnish Lapland, staying in a cosy cabin with private sauna. On your last night you will sleep in an Aurora Bubble, giving you the chance to see the Northern Lights dance across the night sky, right above your bed. You will enjoy Aurora Borealis snowshoeing and Husky Sledding. Nellim is the perfect location for scouting for the Northern Lights with a winter wonderland backdrop.
active
nature
holiday
Type: Activity Holiday | Individual Tour | Northern Lights | Wilderne | Autumn Holiday
4 days / 3 nights
from £ 1,315 pp
Venture to the far North of Finnish Lapland and enjoy this mid-season Northern Lights programme filled with the autumnal colours of nature. You will enjoy a guided hike, lunch made over an open fire and an overnight stay in the world famous Aurora Igloo. Spend time enjoying the quietness of the Lappish autumn filled wtih the excitement of scouting for the magical Aurora Borealis or Northern Lights.
View all packages in Finland
Sweden
active
nature
holiday
Type: Family Holiday | Northern Lights | Wilderne | Winter Holiday | Skiing
4 days / 3 nights
from £ 1,185 pp
Brandon Lodge is located on the coast of Swedish Lapland. The hotel cabins overlook the frozen sea and islands of the Luleå archipelago with a total of 1,300 islands and only 100 residents and is a unique wilderness environment where the sea around the island freezes up to a meter thick in winter. This is a truly unique location, offering authentic nature and culture expriences.
active
nature
holiday
Type: Activity Holiday | Anniversary | Honeymoon | Northern Lights | Wilderne | Winter Holiday | Skiing
4 days / 3 nights
from £ 1,390 pp
Brandon Lodge is located on the coast of Swedish Lapland. The hotel cabins overlook the frozen sea and islands of the Luleå archipelago. With a total of 1,300 islands and only 100 residents, this is a unique wilderness environment where the sea around the island freezes up to a metre thick in winter. The main building is a log cabin that includes a restaurant, a lounge and relaxation area.
group
tour
Type: Activity Holiday | December | New Year Break | Winter Holiday
5 days/4 nights
from 1,860 pp
Dreaming of a snowy New Year with winter activities: visiting Santa Claus; learning about Sami arts and culture, while staying at a small and cosy hotel in Sweden?
Our New Year's programme in Skelleftea opens up this gateway to Swedish Lapland with its five rivers, wild salmon, forests and a lengthy coastline, all topped with a Scandinavian hot tub, sauna and traditional Swedish New Year's dinner.
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Iceland
group
tour
Type: Northern Lights | Winter Holiday | Summer Holiday | Activity Holiday | Guided Tour | Country Holiday | Group Tour | Solo Traveller | Boys Trip | Girls Trip | Autumn Holiday | Spring Holiday
8 days / 7 nights
from £ 2,175 pp
Our fully escorted tour on the Circle of Iceland, is highly flexible with departures every single Friday all year round. Discover the stunning scenery and dramatic landscapes of the Land of Fire & Ice. Our local expert guide helps you explore the unspoiled Icelandic countryside with volcanoes, lava fields, hot springs, mountains, fjords, glaciers and waterfalls.
independent
travel
Type: Individual Tour | New Year Break | Northern Lights | Winter Holiday | Girls Trip
5 days / 4 nights
from £ 1,695 pp
Celebrate the arrival of the new year on our 5 day independent travel through West Iceland. Join us on the NYE cruise as we set off from the city centre by boat to watch the magnificent fireworks display from sea! Yur excellent guide will meet you on board our Visitor Centre, permanently docked in the Old Harbour. On board you will be handed a complimentary welcome drink to celebrate the New Year. During the cruise, there's an open bar with select drinks for you to enjoy!
View all packages in Iceland
Russia
Help
with VISA
incl.
Type: Guided Tour | Summer Holiday | Winter Holiday | Solo Traveller | Group Tour
8 days / 7 nights
from £1,290 pp
The Classical Russia Tour features Moscow and St. Petersburg, and gives you the opportunity to compare and contrast these two fascinating cities in a guided group tour with an English speaking guide.
group
tour
Type: New Year Break | Group Tour | Guided Tour | Unusual
8 days / 7 nights
from £1,595 pp
Always dreamed of celebrating New Year in St Petersburg and visiting Moscow for some leisurely days in the run up to the Russian Orthodox Christmas? Then this is the holiday you have been looking for! On this tour you will enjoy guided city tours of St Petersburg and Moscow, a guided Metro tour in Moscow and join the glamorous New Years Eve Galla at the Hotel Ambassador in St Petersburg on the 31st December.
group
tour
Type: Guided Tour | Summer Holiday | Solo Traveller | Country Holiday | Group Tour | Anniversary
10 days / 9 nights
from £ 1,595 pp
Explore the ancient history of the Russian capitals, Moscow and St. Petersburg, and explore the Golden ring towns, Vladimir, Suzdal and Bogolyubovo. This collection of small towns to the northeast of Moscow played a significant role in the formation of the Russian Orthodox Church, and have managed to preserve the memory of the most important and significant events in Russian history.
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Greenland
group
tour
Type: Group Tour | New Year Break | Northern Lights
7 days / 6 nights
from £ 2,755 pp
New Year’s Eve in Greenland is a unique experience. Not just because of the beautiful fireworks in the polar night, but also because you get to celebrate the New Year twice: At 20.00 for Denmark (and other CET countries) and at midnight for Greenland! In this 5-day trip to Ilulissat, you will experience fireworks, hopefully the Northern Lights, sled dogs, huge icebergs, and snow-covered rocks.
active
nature
holiday
Type: Northern Lights | Activity Holiday | Coastal Holiday | Autumn Holiday | Girls Trip | Walking/Trekking
10 days/9 nights
from £2,735 pp
Greenland is incredibly beautiful, no matter which season you choose to visit. The autumn is calm and peaceful after a short, hectic summer, so you will have it more or less to yourself – together with the locals of course. The autumn is also a time when nature likes to reveal all its different sides – from stunning sunny days dressing the mountains in shades of golden brown, a must-see, to violent autumn storms that mesmerize you with their harsh beauty.
group
tour
Type: Northern Lights | Winter Holiday | Activity Holiday | Country Holiday | Family Holiday | Honeymoon | Anniversary
7 days / 6 nights
from £ 1,365 pp
Enjoy and explore northern lights, dogsledding and the Ice Cap in Greenland! Grab a few extra days off and jump on the plane to Kangerlussuaq in Greenland - only a four-hour flight from Copenhagen Airport in Denmark. In the area around Kangerlussuaq, you will find a lot of amazing experiences: The puffy musk oxen, the world’s longest fjord, lots of sled dogs and the breath-taking mountains.
independent
travel
Type: Northern Lights | Winter Holiday | Coastal Holiday | Country Holiday
7 days / 6 nights
from £2,345 pp
Clear your schedule and recharge your batteries in a very special way during this journey of indulgence to Greenland. Do you prefer shorter yet more intense experiences? This journey allows you to experience a bite of the best Greenland has to offer in a relatively short time. We will fly you out to Ilulissat, the capital of icebergs, where big impressions and experiences await just outside the door.
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Svalbard
snowmobilie
expedition
Type: Activity Holiday | Winter Holiday | Guided Tour | Wilderne
5 days / 4 nights
from £3,650 pp
Our 3-day snowmobile expedition to Nordenskiöld Lodge and North Pole Camp This is an adventure north of normal, where you wil discover the arctic close-up. Follow the footprints of Polar Bears, sleep in a North Pole Camp like a modern explorer and fall asleep to the sound of glacier carving. Join us for a three-day trip to Basecamp Nordenskiöld - the northernmost cabin for commercial trips on Svalbard and, Basecamp North Pole camp, and expedition camp with comfort!
active
nature
holiday
Type: Northern Lights | Activity Holiday | Winter Holiday
5 days / 4 nights
from £1,560 pp
This Polar Night Adventure package offers you the unique opportunity to see the Aurora Borealis dance across the sky in the Northern-most permanent settlement in the World. With husky sledding and a glacier hike included in your itinerary, you are in for a fun and active holiday with our local and certified guides. If you are really lucky, you may even spot the King of the Arctic - the Polar Bear.
active
nature
holiday
Type: Guided Tour | Summer Holiday | Country Holiday | Activity Holiday
5 days / 4 nights
from £ 2,095 pp
This is a once in a lifetime Arctic adventure, far removed from civilization, in Svalbard. Hiking alongside the coastline, you will learn about the fauna and flora of Spitsbergen. You will see Arctic wildlife such as reindeer and Arctic foxes and if you are lucky, a glimpse of the King of the Arctic, the polar bear.
View all packages in Svalbard
Attractions & activities
in The Arctic
More about Arctic Holidays
People living in the Arctic are used to these "tougher" conditions in the cold and more extreme weather such as snowstorms, icicles, avalanches at times, frost up to 50degrees celcius or worse on rarer occasions, polarbears being around and tougher conditions to find food. With this the sea ice decline has happened due to the global warming we see. The organisms you can find in the Arctic includes ice, phytoplankton, fish and marine mammals, land animals, birds, plants, human societies, marine mammals. Around the Arctic land you find what is called subarctic.
The climate is what you call cold winters and cool summers and mostly snow coming instead of rain. You often have high winds and typically snowfall is less by the coasts due to some warmer temperatures from the Golf stream for example. Greenland is for example a good example of where the diminished ice sheet is causing melting ice, hence more rain from Arctic methane released into the atmosphere, - due to the permafrost melting. There are varying reports about how our future will look in for example 2050 - but hopefully due to the scientists working on this issue at high speed, we can soon see a reverse but it requires all of us to help to save our future generations.