Winter Adventure – Into the Arctic

Winter Adventure – Into the Arctic

DAY 1 ARRIVE STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN: Welcome to Sweden! After clearing customs, enter the arrivals area where you will meet your transfer driver. Depart from the airport and make your way to your hotel. The remainder of your day is at leisure in Stockholm.

DAY 2 STOCKHOLM: Breakfast at the hotel. Sweden’s magnificent capital Stockholm is a city renowned for its characteristic structure, built on 14 islands magnificently bathed by the waters of lake Mälaren. Your tour will introduce you to the most characteristic locations and the most architecturally significant buildings, the first of which is the imposing City Hall, the city’s political center and the location for the annual celebrations that follow the presentation of the Nobel Prizes. Having admired its imposing exterior that is surrounded by water and topped with three golden crowns, the symbol of the kingdom of Sweden, you will visit the sumptuous Golden Hall whose walls are entirely covered with precious golden mosaics composed of over 19 million tiles. Continuing on your itinerary takes you towards the island of Djurgården with its numerous historic buildings, monuments, museums, galleries, an exciting theme park and a magnificent open-air museum. While on the island, visit the museum of the Swedish warship ‘Vasa’, once considered one of the world’s largest and the pride of Sweden’s mighty navy. The present Vasa Museum is built around the 17th century warship which sank in Stockholm’s inner harbor on her maiden voyage in 1628. Its discovery in 1956 and subsequent salvage in 1961 is one of the most important events in marine archaeology. Painstakingly restored to much of its original magnificence, ‘Vasa’ represents an authentic piece of living history. Stockholm’s Old Town (Gamla Stan) is located on a small island in the very heart of the city. Within its bounds are a multitude of historical sights, including the Royal Palace, the Parliament, the House of Nobilities, as well as the world’s longest established bank, the Bank of Sweden that was founded in 1656. Overnight in Stockholm. (B)

DAY 3 STOCKHOLM / LULEA: Enjoy breakfast in your hotel followed by your morning at leisure in Stockholm. In the afternoon, transfer to the airport and flight to Luleå. Arrival in Luleå and transfer to your hotel. Dinner and overnight. (B/D)

DAY 4 ICE BREAKING EXPEDITION!: After breakfast, depart and make your way to the little town of Haparanda, at the border between Sweden and Finland. Here you will board an Icebreaker which will navigate for  approximately  3 hours in the frozen water of Bothnian sea in Lapland. During the 3 hours you will witness the massive ice breaking power of the vessel. You will also have a guided tour all the way down to the engine rooms and all way up to Captain’s bridge. You can relax in the cozy saloon, enjoying warm juice or go for walk on the frozen sea ice during the stop. The icebreaker makes a pool free of ice and every visitor can take a swim in the dark icy water in flotation survival suit. The captain will present Cruise & Swim Certificate to everyone as a memorable gift. Return to Luleå in the afternoon where the remainder of your day is free. (B)

DAY  5 GAMMELSTAD CHURCH TOWN: After breakfast, you will visit Gammelstad Church Town, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site just outside Luleå. It is the best preserved example of a type of town that was once widespread throughout northern Scandinavia. The town is located about 10 kilometres upstream the Lule River. At its center is the 15th-century Nederluleå Church surrounded by 424 wood-built houses. The houses were only used on Sundays and during religious festivals to accommodate worshipers from the surrounding countryside who could not return home the same day because of the distance and difficult traveling conditions. Because the buildings are built from timber, regular maintenance is required to prevent rot; surveys have been carried out to document the extent of existing rotting, and snow is cleared regularly during the winter. Return to Luleå in the afternoon. In the evening get ready for a special dinner experience. A candlelight dinner enjoyed by the crackling fire in the large Teepee tent, on a table with a white tablecloth, candelabra and warm plates. You are sitting on reindeer pelts and are served good wines, first and main course and desert. There is also that bench closer to the fire, where you can sit as the coffee is served. The dinner is situated on the frozen sea, with the sea-ice and snow as the restaurant-floor and the stars and possibly the Aurora dancing over the sky. Exhilarate your senses with a unique, heart- warming experience on the frozen sea in Swedish Lapland. (B/D)

DAY 6 LULEA / KIRUNA: Enjoy breakfast in your hotel. Afterwards, depart by train and make your way towards Kiruna. On arrival in Kiruna, visit the famous Ice Hotel in Jukkasjärvi. It the world’s first and largest hotel built out of snow and ice. The Ice Hotel has been reincarnated in a new rendition every winter for the last three decades, every year with brand new art to experience. During an intense period in Jukkasjärvi during November and early December every year, the empty space on the riverbank turns into a magnificent hotel made of ice and snow. The beauty of the sculptures is something not to be missed at all. Afterwards, transfer to Kiruna and your hotel, Camp Ripan, for dinner and overnight. (B/D)

DAY 7 KIRUNA / NARVIK: After breakfast, spend some time meeting with the Sámi people and learn more about their history and their way of life. For thousands of years, the Sámi people have lived in harmony with nature and their reindeer, constantly moving in search of food for the herd. You encounter the Sámi culture at Nutti Sámi Siida, founded by the Sámi Nils Nutti. Here you get to meet and feed the curious reindeer and learn more about the Sámi lifestyle and the indigenous people of the region. Try driving a reindeer sled around a fenced 200-meter track, a wooden sled, pulled by a reindeer – a real adrenaline-kick. You then gather around the fire in a traditional Sámi tent where you are served coffee and get to taste the Sámi signature dish ‘suovas’. Afterwards, continue to Narvik for dinner and overnight. (B/D)

DAY 8 NARVIK: Enjoy breakfast. This morning, visit the War Museum. With the entire 1600 square meters spread over three floors, it is not just the battle of Narvik in focus, but a comprehensive presentation of the history of warfare in northern Norway. The exhibitions are based on the German attack on Narvik and Norway in 1940 and the following five years of war and occupation. The exhibitions also have a section that deals with universal issues related to war, conflict and human rights. A number of genuine historic items from WWII are exhibited. The museum uses design, photos, film, sound and technology to enhance the experience of the exhibition. After the visit, departure to the Polar Park in Bardu. It is the northernmost animal park in the world. You will be able to meet wolves, brown bears, lynx, arctic foxes, elks, reindeer and other animals from the polar fauna. The Polar Park puts welfare as the highest priority for the animals, and ensure they have the space they require and setting resembling their natural habitat. Within the enclosures there is a natural environmental enrichment that keeps the animals stimulated and active. Return to Narvik in the afternoon. In the evening, transfer to the cable car which will take you to 659 m in just 7 minutes, where you enter the eventful world of the Norwegian Arctic. Your lodge for the evening is just a few footsteps away. Here we serve you a dinner and drinks at our pleasant mountain restaurant with a panoramic view. The restaurant will be open exclusively for you. With some luck you will be able to experience the Northern Lights from the top of Narvikfjellet. Here the serenity of the mountains, the fjords, and mountains rising from the ocean, are contrasted with the city lights of Narvik. Return to the hotel around midnight. (B/D)

DAY 9 NARVIK / OSLO: Breakfast at the hotel. Private transfer to Evenes Airport where you board a flight to Oslo. On arrival in Oslo, you are  to your hotel. Your evening is free. (B)

DAY 10 OSLO: After breakfast, depart on a city tour of Oslo. See all of the main sights and highlights, including the Royal Palace and the Nobel Institute. View the City Hall, inaugurated in 1950 at Oslo’s 900-year jubilee. Akershus Fortress, sitting boldly on the waterfront is today partly a museum and a military area. Pass the Parliament Building before entering Karl Johan Street, named after the Swedish-Norwegian king in the early part of the 19th century. The oldest part of Oslo University, dating back to 1813, lines this street. It is famous for its interior decoration by the painter Edvard Munch. You will also pass through attractive villa areas on the way to Vigeland Park. This enormous open-space was laid out in the first half of the 20th century by Norwegian sculptor Gustav Vigeland. Over a period of 30 years, he created his own world of human beings and animals from stone, iron and bronze. There are about 200 statue groups in all, which describe the course of human life from birth to death. The monolith, a 56-foot high granite block carved with 121 figures stands as the unequivocal centerpiece of this well-planned park. On the Bygdøy Peninsula you will visit the Viking Ship Museum. It houses three authentic longboats dating from the Viking Age, around AD 900-1000, which were excavated from the mud banks along Oslo fjord. The museum also holds a large collection of items found on board the ships, such as household goods, tools, jewelry and clothing. Overnight in Oslo. (B)

DAY 11 RETURN TO THE USA: After breakfast, transfer to Lisbon airport. After a wonderful time in Portugal, you will head back home to the USA! (B)

Customize to Suit

The above suggested itinerary can be customized to suit; more or less meals, different cities and/or sightseeing based on your clients’ interests.  You name it, our expert group specialist professionals will put it together for you. Please call 1-855-220-6450, or simply complete the group request form, and we’ll get back to you with your proposal.

Inclusions

• 10 nights 4-Star hotels 
• Breakfast daily, except day of arrival
• 5 Dinners
• Services of an English-speaking local travel expert
• Private luxury mini-coach for transfers and sightseeing as outlined in the itinerary
• Flight from Stockholm to Luleå
• Train from Luleå to Kiruna
• Flight from Narvik to Oslo
• Sightseeing, special features and scenic highlights as indicated in the itinerary, including admission charges
• Hotel porterage of one suitcase per person
• Portfolio of travel documents
• 24-hour local customer service while traveling in Europe

Specially customized for private small groups of 6 to 16 guests. Ideal for families. 

Private Departures