Sweden - Goodtrippers

Sleep in an igloo on brand new Arctic adventure holiday

Fancy building (and sleeping) in your own igloo under the Northern Lights? This new adventure offers an Arctic experience like no other…

The brand new Arctic Ice Adventure trip, led by Sweden’s best Arctic adventure guides, promises a host of magical, snowy experiences this winter. Ever wanted to sleep in your own igloo? A pre-built snowy home will be your base for this holiday – and if you’re really keen, you can also learn the skill and art of making your own igloo and contribute to an ongoing igloo building project.

Away from your igloo base, you’ll be whisked away by snowmobile sled into the Arctic wilderness to explore spectacular ice formations, ice caves and awe-inspiring views. Visitors can also listen to ancient local stories, drink from ice glasses, learn to ice fish, and go Aurora hunting.

And what’s extra special about this trip, is that it’s family-friendly. Activities and excursions have been designed to be suitable for both adults and their children, allowing for some truly special, adventurous experiences in a magical environment.

Jonny Cooper, Northern Lights and Arctic travel expert from Off the Map Travel, tour operators for the Arctic Ice Adventure, said; “Ice, snow, igloos and Northern Lights are iconic to the Arctic region, with films and TV series regularly bringing them to our TV and cinema screens in recent times. The Arctic Ice Adventure has been designed to bring this to life for both parents and children to enjoy together.”

Available from 11^th to the 26^th February 2017, this new experience can be included a part of any tailor-made tour to the region, however is recommended as part of the Half Term Aurora itinerary.

Travelling with Off the Map Travel (www.offthemaptravel.co.uk) the Half Term Aurora adventure to Swedish Lapland costs from £1,299 per person, based on two adults and two children staying on a half board basis, excluding flights. Included in this are all transfers and activities including a Lights over Lapland photography tour with extra marshmallows to toast over the fire in the tepee; a dogsledding adventure into the Arctic wilderness; an Aurora spotting evening at Låktatjåkko Mountain Lodge in the giant snowcat along with warm waffles and hot chocolate; and an Arctic Ice Adventure at a local igloo on the frozen lake exploring ice formations and caves, a lesson in igloo building, delicious Swedish fika, local Sami stories and an Aurora hunt.

For more information about the Arctic Ice Adventure, Half Term Aurora adventure and other Arctic excursions visit www.offthemaptravel.co.uk or www.ilovenorthernlights.com or call +44 (0) 800 566 8901.

Experience the Northern Lights by moonlight – new for 2016

Many experts believe the Northern Lights is best viewed during a full-moon. This new trip is geared towards seeing the Aurora Borealis in the Arctic moonlight…

Aurora with the moon (Off the Map Travel)

The Moonlight Aurora experience, created by Arctic travel specialists Off The Map Travel and Aurora experts, gives guests an alternative experience in hunting the Northern Lights in January 2016. Contrary to popular belief, many Aurora experts, from leading guides to world class photographers, believe that the full-moon enhances the Northern Lights rather than detracting from it.

Jonny Cooper, Director of Off the Map Travel and Northern Lights travel expert said; “In our experience, a full-moon only affects really weak Aurora, and then only when the moon is directly behind it. For me, a good full-moon can add a different dimension to experiencing and photographing the Aurora. I love it and am more likely to spend the night looking skyward under the glow of a full-moon.”

Aurora Sky Station (Chad Blakley, Lights Over Lapland) — Aurora Sky Station (Chad Blakely, Lights Over Lapland)

Rather than the moon, the thing that can most spoilt a good Aurora display is thick cloud cover. Therefore, the Moonlight Aurora experience takes place in Bjorkliden and Abisko, Northern Sweden, which, due to its surrounding mountains, has special weather patterns that deliver more clear nights than other areas across the region.

Off the Map Travel’s Jonny Cooper continues; “The Arctic moon is a spectacular sight in its own right and gives guests a superb focal point when hunting for the Northern Lights to enjoy the Arctic by moonlight.”

Many photographers say that they prefer to capture the Aurora when there’s a full-moon. Chad Blakely, world class Aurora photographer and owner of Lights over Lapland, added; “I love photographing Aurora in moonlight as it gives pictures a completely different feel by lightening the foreground, and instead of the pitch black background, the moonlight gives the sky a rich blue colour which compliments the green of the Aurora. Moonlit Aurora are spectacular – I love them.”

Alone with the lights (Chad Blakley, Lights Over Lapland) — Alone with the lights (Chad Blakely, Lights Over Lapland)

The Moonlight Aurora experience will be held during the full moon from the 22nd of January 2016 and will give guests the chance to enjoy a range of the Arctic winter activities under the full-moon and, hopefully, under spectacular Northern Lights displays.

A four night Moonlight Aurora adventure to Bjorkliden and Abisko in Northern Sweden with Off the Map Travel costs from £1749 per person, excluding flights, based on two sharing. This includes:

transfers
four nights in a spectacular 4* hotel on a full board basis
a private specialist guide
a visit to the ICEHOTEL
private Lights over Lapland moonlight photography tour
dog sledding as the moon rises
visit to the Aurora Sky Station
snowmobile tour
guided moonlit snowshoe walk
Norway fjord trip
Ice-fishing and cooking under the moon

For more information about Moonlight Aurora adventure or Northern Lights holidays visit www.offthemaptravel.co.uk, call +44 (0) 800 566 8901 or email info@offthemaptravel.co.uk

Nest in Sweden’s Treehotel this winter

You’ve heard of the Ice Hotel – now experience the Treehotel. Enjoy a bird’s-eye view from this winter wonderland in Sweden.

In the tiny Swedish village of Harads sits the Treehotel – a stunning complex of architecturally designed ‘treerooms’. The Swedes certainly know how to harness the restorative nature of the great outdoors, and the whole complex is designed to offer you peaceful and rejuvinating stay in this pine forest glade with river valley views.

[gdl_gallery title=”Treehotel” width=”115″ height=”110″ ]

Winter may be dark but nothing compares to the experience of waking up among the snow-capped treetops, before embarking on a day of dog sledging, snowmobiling, snowshoe walking, ice fishing and Northern Lights spotting!

Responsible tour operator Go Barefoot are offering discounted rates for December and January bookings (see below).

Accommodation

There are currently six tree rooms available, all with a unique and exceptional design: The Mirrorcube, The Cabin, The UFO, The Bird’s Nest, The Blue Cone, Dragonfly. The rooms are built 4-6 metres above the ground and are accessible by ramp, bridge or electric stairs. Lighting, furniture and interiors are all custom made. They vary in size from 15 to 30 square metres – the largest accommodates up to four people.

All have been built to be environmentally-friendly with minimum impact on nature and come with water efficient sinks and conbustion toilets.

Facilities

For the full Scandinavian experience, guests can make use of The Tree Sauna which accommodates up to eight people. Britta’s Restaurant on the Treehotel site prides itself on serving fresh, wild, local, Norrland produce with a daily buffet and three-course meals available on request.

Activities

Plenty of snow-based fun to be had here – just take your pick from an exhaustive list of Arctic activities including dog sledging, reindeer sleigh rides, snowmobiling, snowshoe walking, ice fishing, ice dining, moose safari, and horse riding. You can also join a Northern Lights tour, visit the local Sami people, or finish the day relaxing in a forest spa.

Responsible tourism operator Go Barefoot, who specialise in trips that support sustainable development, cultural preservation and environmental protection, are offering special discounted rates for all Treehotel bookings for December 2014 and January 2015. Visit www.gobarefoot.travel or call +44 (0)20 3290 9591 for more information.