Lofoten Islands & Aurora Lights

Breakfast at the hotel. Meet with local guide and depart by private coach for a 3-hour city sightseeing. The city of Stockholm is built on 14 islands and connected by 57 bridges. The city embraces the unique character of the 13th century Old Town and modern high-tech architecture. Stockholm’s islands are bordered by Lake Malaren in the west and the Baltic Sea in the east where the archipelago, with its 30.000 islands awaits exploration. The capital is a big city with a small town personality. Stockholm is proudly called “Beauty on Water” and a sightseeing tour, which includes a walk in the Old Town makes for a memorable morning tour. Discover a city of contrasts. Go back 750 years in time and feel the medieval atmosphere of the Old Town “Gamla Stan” as you wander through its narrow streets. The seven-hundred year old cathedral of Stockholm, Seat of the Archbishop, will be seen during your stroll through Old Town, where you will also get a chance to see Stortorget,where the Stockholm Blood Bath took place. The tour ends at Arlanda Airport where you will board a flight for Lulea (included). Upon arrival in Lulea transfer to your hotel for check-in. The evening is at leisure.

Breakfast at the hotel and enjoy a bit of free time to explore the city of Lulea, the largest city in Swedish Lapland located at the mouth of the Lule River. Meet in the hotel reception at 11:00 and board the private coach towards Kiruna. The scenic ride across the top of Sweden gives you time to relax while taking in the beauty of nature. We will stop for lunch (not included) along the way. Arrive in Kiruna, the northernmost town in Sweden, and check-in to your hotel, where you can enjoy an early evening meal (not included) prior to the extraordinary experience of the Aurora Sky Station in Abisko. Meet up at the hotel at 19:15 and board your private coach towards Abisko. From 21:00 – 01:00 the unique Aurora Sky Station offers the possibility to gaze at the Northern Lights and the stars from a large, outdoor terrace and lookout tower. Inside you find a Northern Lights exhibition with a comprehensive presentation of the Aurora Borealis and in the warm cozy café you may treat yourself to “fika” (coffee break) and cake or browse around for a souvenir.

Breakfast at the hotel and the morning at leisure. Meet up at the hotel reception at 11:00 to prepare for a day full of adventure. Your private coach takes you on an 18 km ride to Jukkasjarvi where you will enjoy a guided tour of the world’s most well-known Icehotel, the first in the world dating back to the late 80’s and learn the history of the impressive ice construction rising out of the snow and ice – every year in a new form. Following the visit to the ICEHOTEL our coach drives you 1 km down the road to the Jukkasjarvi Church with its striking interior. Right next door Nutti Sami Siida awaits you. Here you will have a chance to mingle with reindeer and a enjoy a traditional Sami lunch (included). At approximately 15:00 transfer back to the hotel. The story of ICEHOTEL begins in 1989, when it became the world’s first and largest hotel of ice and snow. It is also Sweden’s most unique and probably most comprehensive private art gallery. Every year, it is built up in a new shape, carefully designed and handmade by some 70 artists from all over the world. With the opening of ICEHOTEL 365 you can now experience ice art all year round. The tour starts outside.

A traditional sight awaits at the end of the dead-end Marknadsvagen: an old wooden Sami church, parts of which date from 1608, making it the oldest surviving church in Lapland. Check out the richly decorated altarpiece by Uppsala artist Bror Hjorth, depicting the revivalist preacher, Lars Levi Laestadius, along-side the woman who inspired him to rid Lapland of alcohol, Maria of Aasele. The triptych was given to the church in 1958 by the mining company, LKAB, then celebrating its 350th anniversary. Under the floor are the mummified remains of villagers who died here in the eighteenth century (not on display). The sandy ground and frost are thought to have been responsible for keeping the bodies, including that of a woman dressed in a white wedding dress and high-heeled shoes, so remarkably well preserved. The organ above the door is made from reindeer horn and birch wood; the artwork in the centre of the organ, suspended over the pipes, symbolises the sun rising over the Lapporten, the two U-shaped mountain-tops near Abisko which are one of Lapland’s most enduring images.

Markanbaiki is an easily accessible, vibrant meeting place in Jukkasjarvi for visitors from near and far who want to engage their senses to experience Sapmi. You will find grazing reindeer at the banks of mighty river Torne and outdoor exhibitions covering nomadic and modern Sami life. Stroll around on your own and explore the area. Enjoy a traditional Sami lunch at Café Sapmi (included) and warm up near the fire. Check out some local handicraft in the shop and have a chat with the staff . All this and more are found on the old market and assembly place that is origin for the village of Jukkasjarvi. At some point during the visit you will be allowed into the reindeer enclosure (together with a guide) for an up-close encounter with the friendly animals.

Breakfast at the hotel and meet up at the hotel reception to depart by private coach towards Kiruna train station. Board the Arc-tic Circle Train (09:29 – 12:54) with only your hand luggage as your other belongings are transported by coach. The next 3,5 hours all you need to do is sit back and enjoy the absolutely most beautiful train ride in the region. This train line, part of the Iron Ore Line, played a central role during WWII, supplying the Germans with iron critical for wartime production of steel. Disembark in Narvik and enjoy a casual lunch (not included) before continuing towards Svolvaer by private coach. Arrive in Svolvaer and check-in at your hotel. Enjoy an evening meal of your choice in town (not included). Your guide will be more than happy to help you find a restaurant to match your expectations. The town has an age-old history as a fishing village and the fishing tradition remains one of the most important economical foundations of the town. Asides from the proud fishing culture, Svolvaer offers magnificent nature, a culture scene with many galleries and the well-known Lofoten War Memorial Museum.

Optional excursion: Fishing Village Walk & Dinner at Borsen Spiseri. Svinoya is the oldest part of Svolvaer, and has been a thriving, vibrant fishing village since 1828. You will experience a living fishing village and learn about the culture. Your guide will tell stories of how the fishermen lived 100 years ago and what happened in the Trollfjord in 1890. Hear all the stories, ask all the questions and smell and taste the stockfish. Remember warm clothes, sensible footwear and your camera to be able to capture the memories. You finish your evening with a 3-course dinner at Borsen Spiseri – the most distinctive restaurant in the Lofoten Islands. The restaurant is housed in a venerable quayside warehouse dating back to 1828. The dishes you will be served are all made with unique, fresh, and local ingredients from Lofoten. Pre-booking essential.

Breakfast at the hotel. Depart from the ho-tel by private coach at 09:00. The first stop on our journey will be the Viking Lofotr Museum, where you can see the excavation of the largest known Viking house. Arrival at the museum around 10:00. Open all year this museum offers several permanent exhibitions with audio guides, the state of the art in museum technology. Upon arrival you will be taken on a guided tour of the museum. Following the visit to Lofotr the trip continues through the idyllic village of Leknes, before reaching Reine at approximately 13:30 for lunch at the local restaurant (included). After lunch we continue via Nusfjord and return to Svolvaer at the end of the afternoon (approximately 18:30). The rest of the day is at leisure.

Breakfast at the hotel. After breakfast we invite you to continue discovering the wonders of Lofoten. Departure by coach at 09:30 hours towards Henningsvaer. After an approximate 30 minutes journey, we arrive to one of the most famous fishing villages of Lofoten, inhabited by only 1300 people. Here we will leave you some free time to explore this beautiful town on your own and enjoy a lunch (not included). At 13:30 the coach continues towards Kabelvaag, another important fishing village, for a visit to the North Museum (Nord Museum) where the history of the local fishing industry is presented in one of the best preserved squire farms of Lofoten. On the site of the medieval city you will find the stately main building of 1815, authentic fishing huts and boathouses. The museum also offers exhibitions on Lofoten fishing history, ports, lighthouses and traditional crafts. Return to Svolvaer in the middle of the afternoon and enjoy some free time prior to this evening optional tour.

Optional excursion: Searching for the Northern Lights. Board your bus outside the hotel to take you on a search for the Northern Lights – the Aurora Boreal. The hunt for the northern lights will take you through frozen lakes, silent forests, beaches and small fishing villages. As it is impossible to predict when the Aurora will appear during the evening, your guide will keep a close eye on the sky for you looking for the Aurora. This is an evening tour for lovers of adventure, photography and knowledge. Pre-booking essential.

Breakfast at the hotel and meet up at the ho-tel reception at 09:00 to continue your journey. You will travel by private coach to your next destination Tromso; a distance of 400 km travelled in 10 hours. Along the way we will make a stop at the famous Polar Park – the world’s northernmost animal park.

Polar Park is home to the large carnivores of the Nordic countries as well as the Nordic deer. The adventure and animal park opened June 18, 1994 and is based upon the vision of presenting animals in their natural surroundings. The park prides itself with having the world’s largest area per animal. You will have the unique opportunity to meet the wolves, bears, deer, elk and reindeer. During the visit you may enjoy a delicious traditional Norwegian meal indoors in the cosy restaurant (not included). After the visit to the Polar Park the journey continues to Tromso. Check in at your hotel. Evening at leisure.

Optional excursion: Tromso Cable Car. A short transfer will take you from the hotel to the Cable Car Station. Board a gondola, and in just four minutes you will be transported 421 m above sea level to experience Tromso’s best view. Enjoy spectacular panoramic views of Tromso and the surrounding islands, mountains and fjords. With a bit of luck, the northern lights will show themselves to us and enhance this evening experience.

Breakfast at the hotel. This morning we depart by private coach for a 3-hour city sightseeing tour. This tour will be the perfect introduction to Tromso where you will visit the world’s most northern Botanical gardens. Here you can enjoy the views of the mountains to the east and south. Tromso enjoys a subarctic climate, its location corresponding to the northern coast of Alaska. Visit the Tromso University Museum where you will learn fascinating facts on nature and culture in northern Norway. Learn about the indigenous Sami people, their traditional culture and recent history. Following this, you will continue on a tour around the island, passing Lake Prestvatn where the Meteorological Institute is situated. Travel across the bridge to the Arctic Cathedral for a visit to this masterpiece by Jan Inge Hovig. Built in 1965, the cathedral reflects north Norwegian nature, culture, and faith with a monumental stained-glass window.

Afternoon at leisure or Optional Excursion: though the world’s largest dominoes have been knocked over. This arctic aquarium which opened in 1998, focuses on educating visitors about the exotic, freezing waters of the Nordic North. The museum portions of the aquarium feature display on the Svalbard region as well as simulated permafrost, while the aquarium proper contains rare specimens of cold-water fish and other arctic marine life from the area. The main attraction is a large pool that houses several large-bearded seals that visitors can get remarkably close to thanks to viewing bubbles in the tank wall. Maybe the most remarkable aspect of the aquarium is the building itself. It was designed to evoke massive ice flows that have pushed up against one another, breaking and stacking into a slanted fringe. In effect, the structure looks almost as though a series of building toppled into each other like a dominoes cascade. The Arctic University Museum of Tromso offers diverse and insightful exhibitions from northern culture, including everything from Norway’s oldest chewing gum to the northern lights and Vikings. Located in Tromsø, a city Nylund describes as The Port to the Arctic Ocean, the museum is a place for cutting-edge research in subjects ranging from mosquitos and Vikings to fossils, Polar exploration, and the indigenous Sami people. The museum offers three different attractions: Tromsø Museum, the Polar Museum and the Arctic-Alpine Botanic Garden.

Be ready for a pick-up right outside your hotel at 18:30 where you will be met by a representative from Tromso Villmarkssenter and taken on a 25-minute bus ride to the Aurora Camp. At the camp you will be equipped with thermal overalls and boots to keep you nice and warm all evening. 300 friendly Alaskan huskies are waiting to greet you and enjoy some cuddles, followed by an affectionate and playful visit to the puppy enclosure. Once you have filled up on puppy love, it is time to enjoy a traditional Norwegian dinner in our cosy Gamme-hut (turf home). You will be served Norwegian Bacalao, prepared with locally sourced cod and tomato sauce, and for dessert their savoury signature chocolate cake. As it is impossible to predict when the Aurora will appear during the evening, your guide will keep a close eye on the sky for you and the program will be adjusted accordingly. For those of you who wish to sit outside and wait for it to appear, a bonfire will set the mood and keep you toasty.

Breakfast and the rest of your day at leisure until your transfer by regular Flybussen to Tromso airport in good time for your departure flight.