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The Aurora Grand Slam
Break available: December to End of March 6 Highlights Night Break
If you plan to go to Lapland once with the twin objectives of ● 5 nights in 2 cosy ' home away from home' lodges experiencing as much as you can along with maximising your ● 1 night in wilderness cabin with private hot tub and chef chances of seeing the northern lights then this break is for you! ● Night in exclusive art suite at the original ICEHOTEL We have packed in everything that is great about a break to ● 3 Nights of Aurora Hunting in Abisko, including Exclusive Lapland with aurora hunting in what is regarded as one of the best Photo Evening with Lights over Lapland & Night visit to the regions on earth for consistent sightings. Your chances of seeing Aurora Sky station the northern lights on a break of this length are in the region of ● BBQ evening at Máttaráhkká Northern Lights Lodge ● 90% and even if you are unlucky you will have truly experienced Fabulous Husky and snowmobile day time adventures ● Sami culture introduction including drive your own reindeer the Best of Lapland! Staying in 2 cosy lodges,the unique Arctic sled Gourmet Wilderness Cabins & the Original ICEHOTEL this break ● Day exploring Abisko National Park is often booked by Special Occasion Clients who plan to go to ● Train trip to the Norwegian Fjords Lapland once and pack in as much as possible into a week!
Day by Day Itinerary DAY 1Fly to Swedish Lapland. Relax and Dinner
page 1/10 Once you arrive in Kiruna and have collected your bags, you need to introduce yourself to the local guide Petri Tuominen or one of the team. He will then transport you along with any other clients arriving to Andreas Mikko’s Máttaráhkká Sami Northern Lights Lodge.
Used exclusively by our clients the lodge is situated on a slight elevation the views out across the arctic tundra to the Abisko alps. This small intimate lodge used to be a Sami handicraft centre until the owners had the idea to turn it into an exclusive retreat. With only 7 bedrooms, open plan lounge and dining room the emphasis is on relaxing in a cosy environment
You will be provided with your arctic clothing for the duration of your stay at the lodge.
This evening enjoy a relaxing dinner at the lodge. Spend the evening by the fire, enjoy a glass of wine or if you prefer put on some snow shoes and explore the surrounding area. With the lodge facing towards the Abisko mountains and the north there is always a good chance to see the Aurora Borealis.
Meals Included: Dinner
DAY 2Wilderness Snowmobile Safari with Ice Fishing on Secret Lake. Dinner and Hot Tub
After breakfast venture out for a special day in the wilderness. The Lodge is situated near trails that take you into pristine wilderness . Follow the river valleys and ride up the Fells to the guide’s secret lake where Arctic Char abound. Put your Reindeer skins on the ice, drill a hole and see what you can catch. We have been known to catch 3-4 kg Arctic Char up here!
Part of the beauty is purely being away from everything and feeling like you own this wilderness for a moment in time. The guide will also have snow shoes with him so that you can try your hand.
Lunch is taken in the wild and will be cooked on a fire in the great outdoors.
A wonderfully relaxing evening follows with more chances of seeing the Northern Lights at the lodge. After dinner enjoy a 1 hour private session in the roof-top hot tub from where you can relax and enjoy the star filled night sky and with a little luck even see the Northern Lights dancing above you. Although the temperature outside is below zero, you will be really warm in the hot tub. If the 35-40 degree Celsius water isn´t enough enjoy a warm sauna in the special relaxation zone.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
DAY 3Day Wilderness Sled Dog Adventure. Overnight in Arctic Gourmet Wilderness Cabin
page 2/10 After breakfast you will be collected for your Husky Safari.
Ylva Sievertsson is one of a select group of accomplished ‘lady’ kennel owners and husky guides, whose kennel is in Moose Valley about a 30 minute drive away. Ylva runs a very personal sled dog experience and she has a very unique relationship with her dogs making it always feel like a privilege to spend time with her.
Once you arrive at the kennels get acquainted with the dogs and receive detailed instructions about how to drive a team. Harness the dogs and feel their excitement as you attach the sled. Head out into the frozen river valley where you will have opportunities to take turns in driving the team whilst making stops to take photos. The location is outside the major tourist areas and we can almost promise that you will enjoy pristine arctic nature alone.
You will be out for around 2 hours before heading back to base for a warming lunch in the traditional ‘Kota’ adjacent to the family home. Mushing your own Husky Team
Ylva will then drop you off at Arctic Gourmet Wilderness cabins where you will be greeted by the owners, Johan and Marlin. Johan is a trained chef and his pride and joy is the ‘Chef’s table’ adjacent to the 2 cabins. This is the smallest restaurant in Sweden with just 2 tables with views over the river valley and a fitted kitchen where Johan will cook and serve your Gourmet evening meal!
You can sit outside afterwards around the camp fire and soak up the silence of the Arctic night or jump in the outdoor hot tub and relax with the prospect of a northern lights display flashing above you .
Overnight in your private cabin
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and dinner
DAY 4 Sami Culture Intro Day. Lappish Dinner & Northern Lights Photo Workshop in Abisko National Park
Transfer to the Sámi village of Rávttas, 45 minutes east of Abisko to experience the traditional lifestyle of the Sami people. Hakan Enoksson’s family have farmed this land for generations and have maintained the reindeer herding life despite massive changes to the surrounding region.
Your experience includes a freshly cooked lunch in a Sami Lavu and a ‘drive your own’ reindeer sled tour through the surrounding countryside.
Transfer to Abisko, one of the most celebrated locations on earth for seeing the northern lights to continue your holiday. Check into Abisko Mountain Lodge.
This evening enjoy the fine menu at Abisko Mountain Lodge prior to joining the “Lights Over Lapland” Team for their exclusive tour, designed for weekend a la carte’s guests providing you an opportunity to see and photograph the aurora borealis in the wilderness of Abisko National Park.
You will be supplied with cameras pre set for Aurora photography and spend the evening in Abisko National Park. The photographer is a great story teller and from your base in a Sami Tepee you will venture out in search of the famous lights. Whether you are a Pro or never taken a picture in your life you have a great chance of going home after your northern lights holiday with some beautiful aurora photographs and memories that will last a lifetime!
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner A la Carte Optional Extras
Upgrade to Abisko Mountain Lodge Superior Room
page 3/10 Abisko Mountain Lodge has 4 superior rooms. Housed in a separate annexe across the courtyard these rooms add additional comfort and space with luxurious en suite bathrooms and stylish furnishings. This is a highly recommended upgrade for the marginal increase in cost
Cost: £48 per person per night subject to availability
DAY 5Train Trip to Norwegian Fjords or Explore Beautiful Abisko National Park. Aurora Sky Station Experience
Enjoy the lodge breakfast before a day trip to Norway or a day exploring Abisko National Park!
Take the train from the station near the lodge and follow the famous iron ore railroad with beautiful mountain vistas, frozen waterfalls and stunning Arctic valleys. Once you cross into Norway enjoy the magnificent views and try to take photos before continuing up and over Björnfjell – a stunning Norwegian mountain dotted with small grass roofed cottages. Meander down the mountain, where small birch trees give way to large evergreens and dramatic mountains fall steeply down into the Norwegian Fjord.
Once in Narvik you will have time to explore town before the return trip. You have the opportunity to ascend to the observation deck of the Scandic Hotel and take coffee or lunch or visit the newly built Peace Museum. This state of the art facility offers a glimpse of what life looked like in these majestic Fjords during the second World War Nazi occupation.
This evening enjoy dinner at the lodge prior to transfer to the Abisko Sky Station. Take the 20 minute chairlift ride up to the observatory where your chances of seeing the aurora are excellent from this fantastic vantage point.
Abisko is right in the auroral belt and is blessed with the most cloud free sky in Northern Sweden. With minimal artificial light northern Lights sightings are normally quite spectacular. The stillness of the arctic night is awakened by the aurora flashes around you. Feel overwhelmed by the brilliance of nature.
At the end of the evening, head back down on the ski chair lift and return late to the lodge.
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
DAY 6Transfer to the original ICEHOTEL and overnight in a designer Art suite
page 4/10 After breakfast at the lodge transfer to Jukkasjarvi, the home of the original and world famous ICEHOTEL.
Check in and at leisure.
Take the residents tour of both the ICEHOTEL 365 and the original ice hotel. Admire the spectacular individual Art Suites designed by leading artists from around the world, take a cocktail in the unique ice glasses at the sculptured Ice Bar and peep into the ice Chapel to see if a wedding ceremony is taking place!
This evening we will book dinner for you at the ICEHOTEL restaurant – meal paid for locally.
Overnight in your art suite
Meals Included: Breakfast and Dinner A la Carte Optional Extras
Upgrade to Deluxe Suite at ICEHOTEL
The Deluxe Suites are individually designed and sculpted thematic suites. The artists, perhaps from Sweden, Germany, UK or the US have been picked from over two-hundred applicants and invited to make the suite you’ll be sleeping in. Each suite is unique and has never been created before.
The room holds a temperature of -5 to -8 degrees Celsius. The suites have the same standard of bed but the big feature is that you have your own private heated bathroom and relaxation directly connected to the bedroom. The relaxation area also provides storage for your belongings. The suite has doors with locks for your privacy.
Upgrade Cost: From £150 per person per night
DAY 7 Fly Home or Extend Your Holiday
Breakfast at the ICEHOTEL and at leisure prior to flight home.
Your driver will then take you to the airport for your flight home. Or alternatively why not extend your break to visit Stockholm Scandinavia’s capital city.
We have a dedicated web site with Northern Lights Holidays – take a look at our full range of Northern Lights Holidays
Meals Included: Breakfast A la Carte Optional Extras
Aurora Addicts Extension into Norway
page 5/10 This fantastic 4 night extension to your break enables you to extend your holiday into Norway and visit 3 dramatic sky station locations in search of the northern lights.
DAY 1
Morning at leisure before lunchtime transfer to Abisko, widely regarded as one of the best places one earth for aurora hunting. Settle into your room at Abisko Mountain lodge before enjoying their excellent cuisine at dinner. Afterwards transfer to the Aurora Sky Station for their nightly aurora hunt.
DAY 2
Catch the train from Abisko to Narvik traveling on an historic rail journey with great scenery. In Narvik check into the Grand Hotel. Visit the war museum this afternoon. Tonight enjoy dinner at the Hotel before pick up for a night of Northern Lights hunting. From Narvik town, you will be lifted up to the top of Narvik Fjellet by gondola to a stunning newly renovated lodge to search for Northern Lights alongside an expert Aurora guide. Amazing views over the Fjords and hopefully an aurora display await
DAY 3
Catch the bus via the Polar Park to Tromso. The Polar Park is home to many of the indigenous wildlife of the region. Wolves, bears, Moose and lynx are just a few. On arrival in Tromso check into your hotel the Scandic Ishavshotel your base for the next 2 nights. Tonight enjoy dinner at the hotel
DAY 4
Explore Tromso, ‘Paris of the North’. We include entrance to the Polar Musuem and a visit to the Arctic Cathedral. Tonight finish your holiday with a final northern lights hunt and dinner as you Experience Tromsø’s best view! The cable car runs from Solliveien up to the mountain ledge in just four minutes. From the viewing platform and restaurant at the upper station enjoy spectacular panoramic views of Tromsø, surrounding islands, mountains and fjords and hopefully the Northern Lights!
DAY 5
At Leisure until flybus transfer to the airport for your flight home.
Price: From £995 per person
Includes: 4 Nights accommodation with Breakfast, 4 dinners, trains, buses and transfers, 3 sky station experiences as described, entrance to Polar Park and museums in Narvik and Tromso.
Extension to See Stockholm Scandinavia's Capital City
page 6/10 Stockholm is one of the most beautiful cities in the world and always rates in the top 10 most desirable cities in the world to live in. It is also the perfect contrast to a break in the arctic.
The old town in Stockholm is very picturesque and compact and can be done in a full day. Your time will be spent exploring some fascinating landmarks. The VASA museum is world class, the Nobel museum of local interest and for ABBA fans; new in 2013 is the ABBA interactive museum.
Also in December Stockholm has many Christmas markets so a break can allow you to do some shopping and get into the Christmas spirit.
You will stay in the Rival Hotel owned by Benny Anderson of Abba fame. The hotel is an excellent 4* hotel in a quiet square but within walking distance of the old town.
Cost From:
£230 per person for Standard room (weekend rate).
£278 per person for Superior room (weekend rate)
£332 per person for Deluxe Room (weekend rate)
Includes: 2 nights in standard double room – bed and breakfast, private airport transfers to and from Arlanda airport
Where You'll Stay Mattarahkka Northern Lights Sami Lodge The lodge has a fabulous sauna and a very unusual northern lights hot tub on the roof where you can star gaze or hunt for the Aurora (this carries an extra charge).
Other benefits of a stay here mean that if you are doing husky and snowmobile adventures they are both on your doorstep! Evenings are focused on good food, relaxation and the Northern Lights so if you are looking for a 'home away from home' experience then look no further.
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Arctic Gourmet Wilderness Cabins The Arctic Gourmet Wilderness Cabins combine wilderness with creature comforts not normally associated with a wilderness experience.
Situated in a picturesque valley they are perfectly placed for guests to combine both a northern lights and arctic adventure. For those of you that appreciate good food, meals prepared and served in the smallest restaurant in Sweden are a delight.
There are two cosy double bedded cabins with large glass windows facing north towards the northern lights horizon. Modern styling includes satellite TV!
There is an adjacent toilet and shower block and an outdoor hot tub which guests are invited to use.
After dinner sit around the outdoor fire, gaze at the stars and hopefully the aurora, enjoy a hot drink or a whisky and appreciate how special it is to own a piece of Lapland for moment in time!
Being away from it all in your own private space with the auroras roaring overhead is simply breathtaking and the perfect special occasion retreat!
Abisko Mountain Lodge The 16 twin rooms in the low red 'Swedish style house' are all en-suite. Although basic in the Scandinavian style they are warm and cosy. There are no televisions in the rooms as time is spent meeting guests around the bar or in the wonderful lounge area.
Additionally there are 4 new double superior rooms added in early 2015. These four rooms are in a separate annex and are used exclusively by Weekend a la Carte.
Order a coffee or a glass of wine at the bar, read a magazine or spin a yarn about your arctic adventures and the magnificent aurora displays you have seen.
For those wanting to soothe the muscles there is a sauna.
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Original ICEHOTEL From 2015 The ICEHOTEL consists of 2 structures - the temporary hotel is rebuilt each year from blocks of ice harvested from the Torne river which runs adjacent to the IceHotel. These are stored for the summer in a huge warehouse and as the late Autumn temperature in Jukkasjärvi drops below zero ice artists arrive from the world over to build this magnificent creation. They build the 4 levels of rooms, the ice chapel and the ice bar. Their art is created with imagination and hard work, only to melt away under the unforgiving rays of the spring sun.
The new ICEHOTEL 365 is a permanent ICEHOTEL and a feat of engineering which offers visitors the chance of staying the whole year round. It is an all suite hotel and also houses the celebrated ICEBAR. On request we can ask for the luxury suites which have adjacent bathrooms. These carry a supplement.
You will leave your luggage in an adjacent service block where there are saunas and showers, whilst all you will take into the hotel is you and your thermal arctic sleeping bag!
Wake up to a hot Lingonberry juice served in your room prior to the very substantial ICEHOTEL breakfast served in the main restaurant.
Reviews & Feedback Everything ran so smooth. The activities were excellent especially the dog sledding. Ice hotel was outstanding and Abisko lodge superior rooms amazing. The food was sublime and seeing the aurora was the icing on the cake. We couldn’t have had a better time thank you. Tracey
Kevin, Jan and Shirley at a la Carte have expertise and a well oiled organisation which ensures the customer the best of service. Translated this meant an unbelievable and memorable experience in Abisko. Our hosts were marvelous; the location magnificent; the food standard was gourmet; the activities superb and well organised with great guides and the aurora mind blowing Peter
page 9/10 Price Per Person: From £2,598 (Inc UK Flights)
What's Included?
● Flights (From the UK) with one hold bag per person ● 6 nights Lodge / wilderness cabin Accommodation ● Wilderness cabin with gourmet dinner and Hot Tub ● Sami culture experience with reindeer sled ● Drive your own husky adventure in pristine river valley ● A Snowmobile safari with incredible views towards Sweden’s tallest mountains ● Evening at the famed Aurora Sky Station in Abisko ● Lights over Lapland Photo Workshop in Abisko ● Explore Abisko National Park or Train trip to Norwegian Fjords ● Loan of Arctic Clothing & Transfers. ● All meals
© 2018 Weekend a la Carte
For Expert Advice Call 01722 744 695
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