Details

Transportation

Hurtigruten coastal port-to-port voyage and private transfers.

Included

• All hotel accommodation in shared double/twin room with private facilities, single supplement available
• Kakslauttanen: 1 night in a traditional log cabin with its own fireplace and sauna + 1 night in a Glass Igloo, breakfast and dinner included
• Kirkenes Stay: Gamme cabins or a snow room option available 20DEC to 20APR, dinner included
• Norwegian Coastal Voyage: 1 night twin outside cabin with private facilities aboard Hurtigruten ship port to port Kirkenes to Tromsø, breakfast and dinner included
• Daily breakfast and most dinners
• Bus transfers between Kakslauttanen and Kirkenes
• Transfer Ivalo to Kakslauttanen
• Included Activities: Arctic city walk Tromsø, Arctic King Crab Safari, Husky safari (2 hrs) and Aurora Hunting by Reindeer sled
• 24-hour emergency service
• Taxes and service fees

Optional Extra

Nordic +: Deluxe room in Tromsø, private transfer between Kirkenes and Kakslauttanen, 2 nights in a Kelo Glass Igloo. From Tromsø, you can also continue down the Norwegian coast past the Lofoten Islands to Bergen, South bound voyage. You will sail past the Lofoten Islands in the daylight hours.

Not Included

Flights, meals other than specified, winter clothing (thermal overall & boots) for the entire stay, items of personal nature, beverages, additional activities such as icefishing, horse riding, overnight safaris and Santa's Resort Visit.

Please note that additional nights can be added either in Tromsø, Kirkenes or Kakslauttanen.

Itinerary

Day 1 - Arrive Kakslauttanen and a spectacular night in Glass Igloo

Fly to Ivalo airport, located about 250km north of the Arctic Circle. Upon arrival at Ivalo airport, transfer to Hotel Kakslauttanen. Check in to your Glass Igloo where you will be spending the first night of the tour.

Dinner at hotel then get ready for your night in under the stars - and hopefully the Northern Lights.

Glass Igloo provides one of a kind opportunity to admire the Northern Lights and millions of stars of the crystal clear sky in a comfortable room temperature. Built from a special thermal glass the temperature inside the Igloo always stays at a normal level. It also prevents the glass from not getting white frosted, hence keeping the view clear even when the temperature outside drops to under -30°C. Standard igloos are equipped with a toilet, but no shower. There is an upgrade option to a large igloo with a shower.

Meals

Accommodation

Day 2 - Husky Safari and then Aurora Hunting by reindeer in the evening

After breakfast, move to your log cabin and then get ready for today's husky safari - an unforgettable journey through breathtaking winter scenery.

On arrival to the husky farm we will provide you with a warm outer thermal suit, gloves and hat and then we will present your very own husky team. You will be given a lesson on how to drive the sledge and how to observe important hand signals given by your leader.

Each team consists of about six dogs, you, the driver, and your passenger, who is comfortably seated in the wooden sledge. The driver and the passenger can change places during the safari.

This afternoon is free to relax before your evening aurora hunting by reindeer.

Meals

Accommodation

Day 3 - Transfer from Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort to Kirkenes

Private transfer from Kakslauttanen to Kirkenes (3.4 - 4 hrs). This evening, you can either stay in one of the warm Gamme cabins or sleep in one of the cold snow rooms at the Snowhotel.

Every room in Kirkenes Snowhotel is like a small treasure. The rooms are equipped with everything needed for a comfortable night in the somewhat extreme conditions. The pictures look like you are sleeping on ice, but that would be too cold and too hard for your back. The beds are framed with ice blocks and the beds have comfortable mattresses with thermal insulation on top. You sleep inside a sleeping bag graded for -35 degrees celcius. However, snow is a very good insulator, so even when it's -35 degrees outside, the Snowhotel remains a stable -4 degrees.

Upon entering the gates of the Snowhotel, you will receive a welcome drink at the snowbar, made from berries collected from surrounding hills. It will then be time to make the ‘coolest’ hotel check-in around!

Once you are settled, it is time for your ARCTIC KING CRAB SAFARI - a very popular highlight for our travellers north.

The Arctic King Crab is a sought after delicacy and you will learn how to catch, prepare and eat them. Your guide takes you out and you can lend a hand in sawing through the ice before your guide attempts to land you a few of these massive crustaceans. Enjoy the day's catch for lunch seated by a cosy fire in a small local farmhouse by the lake. You will travel to the lake by snowmobile sleigh.

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Accommodation

Day 4 - Transfer to the harbour for your Hurtigruten South Bound Port to Port voyage

Transfer down to the Kirkenes harbour to join the Hurtigruten ship as it turns around to travel southbound (the ship arrives at 9am, embarkation from 9.30am & leaves Kirkenes approx. 12.30pm). As the ship starts its voyage south, you can first enjoy lunch followed by views of the surrounding Arctic landscape on deck or from the panorama lounge.

In the afternoon, the ship docks at Vardø, Norway's easternmost port. Weather permitted, you may be invited to experience ice bathing in the Arctic Ocean during the winter season. Heading south, cruise along the Varanger peninsula to Båtsfjord, before reaching Berlevåg in the evening. The latter town is home to one of Norway’s most famous male choirs, consisting mainly of local fishermen.

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Accommodation

Optional Add Ons

Day 5 - Hammerfest and optional excursions with Hurtigruten

In the middle of the night, you will dock at Mehamn, where it is possible to join an unforgettable snowmobile trip through one of Europe's most extreme and exciting natural areas during winter time. Experience snow-clad valleys, fresh winter air and perhaps the mesmerising Northern Lights in the clear, starry sky.

Before stopping in Hammerfest, you can enjoy an 'energy coffee' and short introduction to Melkøya - the world´s northernmost natural gas terminal'. Hammerfest was founded in 1789, and over time became Norway's polar capital, serving as a base for hunting expeditions into the High Arctic. Here you can see the UNESCO-listed Meridian Column, erected in 1854 to commemorate the first precise geographic measurement of the globe. In winter, you can also join a mini-mountain expedition to experience the Arctic outdoors and learn about local polar hero and cook, Adolf Henrik Lindstrøm.

Continue south to Øksfjord. After crossing open water, make a brief stop at the old trading post of Skjervøy.

At 11.30pm, dock at Tromsø, and tranfer to your hotel.

Meals

Accommodation

Optional Add Ons

Day 6 - Welcome to Tromsø, the capital of Arctic - explore the town and its surroundings.

Tromsø is a city packed with culture, polar history and fresh locally sourced food in its numerous restaurants. Tromsø is often called "Paris of the North" and "City of Lights", and it is rare to have such a lively town located so far past the Arctic Circle. Mountains, fjords and islands surround it, making it a great base for exploring the winter landscape.

This morning, enjoy a guided city walk of Tromsø and then you are free to either try many of the winter activities available in its vicinity or head to the lovely cafes & pubs by the water. Ask us for information about additional dog sledding through the beautiful winter landscape, guided northern light tours and other possible activities.

Or if it is a clear day, experience Tromsø’s best view! On the outskirts of Tromsø (it is a very small town) a cable car runs from Solliveien in Tromsdalen up to the mountain ledge Storsteinen (421 m above sea level) in just four minutes. From the viewing platform at the upper station, you can enjoy spectacular panoramic views of Tromsø and the surrounding islands, mountains and fjords. At the fully licensed Fjellstua restaurant, you can enjoy a delicious dinner based on local produce or select light meals from the café menu, while you take pleasure in the view. In winter, it's an ideal place for hunting the magical Northern Lights.

Meals

Accommodation

Day 7 - Departure Day

After breakfast, transfer to the Tromsø airport. If your flight isn't until the afternoon, perhaps consider a brunch cruise on the luxury Vulkana Spa boat as a final Arctic pleasure.

Meals

Important Information

Please note that this tour can also be run in reserve, starting in Tromsø.