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5 days - Stay in an Igloo Hotel for the Norwegian festive season

This festive season tour combines the best of Norwegian winter adventures and hospitality. Spend three nights in the new Arctic Wilderness lodge by the Alta river then dress warming for one night inside an intricately carved Igloo room. Included in this tour is a range of sought-after wilderness experiences in Arctic Norway; hunting the Northern Lights, snowmobiling across the wide-open Finnmark plateau, husky sledding, and reindeer and Sami experiences.

For those travelling during the New Year, enjoy fireworks and a special dinner celebration. Christmas includes a celebratory meal on Christmas Eve and a visit with presents from Santa around the Christmas tree.

Day 1
Arrive Alta and private transfer to the Arctic Wilderness Lodge
Day 2
Husky Sledding Experience Along The Alta River
Day 3
Sami Culture Experience With Reindeer Sledding then Northern Lights Search
Day 4
Snowmobile along the Alta River before moving into the Iceroom at the Igloo Hotel
Day 5
Departure Day
Start/End Place
Alta, Norway tours
Country Visited
Norway tours
Duration
5 Days
Suitability
Easy Christmas tour - suits families with children of all ages.
Code
50DN1050

Details

Transportation

Private transfers from Alta

Included
  • One night inside the Sorrisniva Snowhotel
  • Three nights in river lodge accommodation
  • Husky Sledding Experience Along The Alta River 3 hrs
  • Sami Culture Experience With Reindeer Sledding 1.5 hrs including snowsuit rental
  • Arctic Light Snowmobile Experience 2.5 hrs
  • Hunting The Northern Lights 3 hrs
  • Private transfers to your hotel from the airport
  • All breakfasts, 3 x 1 course-lunches and 4 x 3-course dinners
  • New Year's Eve program included for 29 Dec departure
  • Christmas program included for those travelling over the 24 Dec: Traditional Christmas dinner, presents and Visit from Santa

Activities can change days, depending on the weather and schedule.

Not Included

International flight tickets, meals other than described, alcoholic beverages and soft drinks, travel insurance, visas, gratitudes and any items of personal nature.

Optional activities that can be added: Hottub and sauna booking, longer dogsledding tour (5 hours), King Crab Safari and Snowshoeing.

Itinerary

Day 1 - Arrive Alta and private transfer to the Arctic Wilderness Lodge

Arrive at the Alta airport and private transfer to the Arctic Wilderness Lodge and Sorrisniva. This new wilderness lodge is built on the bank of the internationally renowned Alta River in Norway’s high Arctic. All of the rooms have panoramic windows extending from the floor into the ceiling, maximizing the views of the adjacent river and Arctic wilderness as well as enabling viewing of Northern lights. Settle into your room and enjoy a drink in the new panoramic lounge before heading outside for some snow fun and then your included evening meal.

Meals
1 Dinner
Accommodation
Arctic Wilderness Lodge

Day 2 - Husky Sledding Experience Along The Alta River

After breakfast, get ready to mush a team of huskies through the Arctic Wilderness. Meet the local huskies and learn the skill of mushing most effectively for your three hour sled through the Norwegian mountains. You will enjoy interacting with the eager and excited huskies who love to be active and run in front of the sleds. You will have your own sled and team of huskies and travel in pairs, swapping drivers half way.

Return for lunch and an optional sauna and jacuzzi before dinner.

Meals
1 Breakfast
1 Lunch
1 Dinner
Accommodation
Arctic Wilderness Lodge

Day 3 - Sami Culture Experience With Reindeer Sledding then Northern Lights Search

Today, feel the rush of the winter air on your cheeks as you race along the frozen Alta River on a sled being pulled by a reindeer. This experience gives you a sneak peek into the Sami lifestyle and introduces you to some of their traditions while being surrounded by magnificent winter scenery. The combination of the reindeer sledding and storytelling in a traditional Lavvu around a bonfire provides fascinating insights into this special semi-nomadic culture.

Then this evening at 8pm, you will join a Northern Lights search with an expert guide. Be driven along the coast or up onto the inland plateau searching for the best location to view the Borealis. The Northern Lights are allusive and sometimes can be seen from different locations whilst not from others on the same evening. Your guide will select the route which offers the best chance of viewing the Borealis given the prevailing weather and atmospheric conditions and explain the phenomena's part in the history of Alta as it relates to the scientific investigation and understanding of it.

For those travelling on the 29 December, this evening is a special New Year's Eve event with a party and fireworks.

Meals
1 Breakfast
1 Lunch
1 Dinner

Day 4 - Snowmobile along the Alta River before moving into the Iceroom at the Igloo Hotel

After a late breakfast, head out to drive your own snowmobile through the wilderness of the Alta River valley up to the inland plateau. During the winter months the Arctic light often creates wonderful colours on the horizon despite the sun never rising. Your guide will provide you with your thermal suit, boots, gloves and helmet, as well as instruct you on how to drive the snowmobile properly so that you can go wild ways in safe hands.

Return for a late lunch and move into your igloo room for an experience of a lifetime. Designed with a unique and original theme, the Igloo Hotel is built and crafted by a crew of local artists each winter. You will have your own ice room with a shared bathroom. You’ll be sleeping on top of a layer of reindeer skins ond you get two Arctic sleeping bags per person, each withstands up to -30°C.

You might like to add another jacuzzi & sauna or try your hand at ice sculpture this afternoon before your final dinner.

Meals
1 Breakfast
1 Lunch
1 Dinner
Accommodation
Iceroom at the Igloo Hotel

Day 5 - Departure Day

After breakfast, transfer to the airport.

Meals
1 Breakfast
Dates & Prices

Price per person, twin share for a double room. Family triple and quad share on request and subject to availability.

Dates
Valid From
Valid To
From Price
Status
Accommodation
19 Dec 2023
23 Dec 2023
19 Dec 2023
23 Dec 2023
AUD 4,432
Available
Standard
19 Dec 2023
23 Dec 2023
19 Dec 2023
23 Dec 2023
AUD 1,868
Available
Extra for Single
23 Dec 2023
28 Dec 2023
23 Dec 2023
28 Dec 2023
AUD 5,182
On request
Standard
23 Dec 2023
28 Dec 2023
23 Dec 2023
28 Dec 2023
AUD 1,868
On request
Extra for Single
29 Dec 2023
2 Jan 2024
29 Dec 2023
2 Jan 2024
AUD 5,058
Available
Standard
29 Dec 2023
2 Jan 2024
29 Dec 2023
2 Jan 2024
AUD 1,868
Available
Extra for Single

Important Information

SUSTAINABLE TRAVEL:

The activities are also selected for their sensitivity to nature, with trekking and skiing available on your doorstep. The huskies that live on site each have their own kennel and welfare is of an incredibly high standard. The dogs also take part in races, including the Finnmarksløpet (Europe's longest dog race) so the quality of food and care needs to be the best possible to keep them happy and healthy.

The Snowhotel is also a champion of sustainability. The electricity is run 100% on renewable energy (hydro or wind), they are blessed with their own source of water (which is filtered to ensure it meets appropriate health standards) and they have a goal of being carbon neutral by 2030. The igloo hotel is created with naturally formed ice, and the snow which is created with renewable electricity. The only carbon footprint is the transport used in construction, but they aim to make this fleet electric in line with their carbon neutral goal.

The Snowhotel is also family run and exclusively hires local residents who are considered part of the family and provided with attractive employment benefits. They also try to ensure that any contractors on site are, where possible, local, thus ensuring as much revenue is kept within the community that they are proud to be a part of.

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