Lapland Winter Wonderland by Rail

DAY 1

This morning we will meet at London St Pancras International for a welcome drink with pastries where we have chance to meet our fellow travellers and tour manager before embarking on our winter adventure. Settle back and enjoy the start to our thrilling journey, travelling by Eurostar from London, we change trains in Brussels, continuing our journey to Hamburg. We check into our hotel for the evening located next to the train station and enjoy our first evening at leisure.

DAY 2

This morning we begin our journey north, leaving Germany behind and travelling through charming scenery into Denmark and finally into Sweden where we arrive in the capital city in the early evening. We walk the short distance from the main station and check into our base for this evening, The Clarion Amaranten Hotel. On arrival we will enjoy a 3-course meal together at the hotel.

DAY 3

Following a hearty breakfast, we check-out from the hotel and leave our luggage securely stored. Making our way to the city centre we join our guided walking tour of Stockholm, exploring all the cities major attractions, learning the history, and visiting exciting exhibitions including the Vasa-museum which houses an impressive fully preserved warship from the 17th century. We have time at leisure in the afternoon to shop for any essentials and to enjoy an early dinner before returning to the hotel to collect our luggage in time for the departure of the Arctic Circle night train to Kiruna. Enjoy this exciting and traditional way of travelling north into Swedish Lapland, waking to a truly magical landscape.

DAY 4

Arriving at Kiruna this morning we transfer to our base for the next 4 nights, Camp Ripan. This family-owned business offers the best in Swedish hospitality, excellent comfort, cuisine, and magical activities and experiences. Our rooms will be in the cottage style chalets, which are private and cosy, and offer all the amenities needed. After settling in we reconvene at the Camp Ripan kitchen to enjoy lunch together, all produce is locally sourced and each dish has its own history, you will learn where the reindeer roamed and where the fish was caught. Once we are replete, we embark on a guided Kiruna city tour which will ensure we get our bearings quickly and learn about this fascinating community where Swedish, Sami & Finnish cultures meet. On return to the Camp we enjoy a 3-course meal together.

DAY 5

This morning we enjoy breakfast together before making an exciting visit to the Kiruna Mine, an iron ore mine which is the largest and most modern in Europe. Once we have finished exploring, we return to the Camp and have the rest of the day at leisure. You have the option to book another local activity or relax in the Aurora Spa which is the winner of the "best unique experience spa" in Europe and gives the ability to marvel at the stars from an outdoor hot pool. Will you catch a glimpse of the Aurora? This is a truly memorable experience.

DAY 6

Today we have breakfast included before a day at leisure to explore further or take chance to enjoy the surroundings of Camp Ripan. In the early evening we will reconvene to share a once in a lifetime experience, our first group will embark on a Northern lights dog sled hunt. As we journey into the dark wintry night, we escape the lights of the city, sitting aboard a large sled pulled by a pack of excited, friendly Alaskan Huskies. The trail winds its way through a pine and birch forest down to the famous Torne River where the night sky stretches out far in front of us. If the sky is clear and the Aurora forecast is on our side, it may be possible to see the lights dancing in the sky! At the halfway point we stop at a traditional Sami-style tipi for a warming drink and apple cake. Here you can take a chance to warm up by the open fire or stay outside to marvel at the night sky before we retrace our steps home.

Day 7

This morning after breakfast we transfer to the traditional open-air museum, which tells the story of the local Sami people and their traditional way of life, Meet the reindeers, and hear traditional stories. We enjoy a hearty lunch in a heated tent seated at long communal tables around the crackling fireplace while Sami music is played to create the atmospheric experience. The remainder of the day and evening is at leisure to relax at the Camp and spa. In the early evening our second group will take to the snow on the Northern lights dog sled hunt.

DAY 8

Following our final breakfast at the Camp, we check-out and transfer to the amazing ICEHOTEL. The Torne River supplies the ICEHOTEL every year with enough ice to build an entire hotel. It is located in the village of Jukkasjärvi which derives from a Sami word meaning 'meeting place' and the village is a historical trading site where people from far and wide have met since ancient times. Continuing we bid farewell to Kiruna and transfer to the station in time for our early evening night train departure to Stockholm.

DAY 9

Arriving in Stockholm this morning we have time to stretch our legs before connecting to our onward train departing for Denmark's capital, Copenhagen. Arriving in the afternoon we check into our convenient city base, the Mayfair Hotel, which is a short walk from the central station and is close to all the major attractions. This evening we will have a meal together in a local city restaurant.

DAY 10

This morning we enjoy a leisurely breakfast before we make our way to the station and board the train for Hamburg. Retracing our steps, we arrive in the city in the afternoon with some time to explore before enjoying our final evening meal together at the hotel.

DAY 11

After breakfast today we bid farewell, departing Hamburg for the final legs of our journey. Travelling from Hamburg via Brussels and connecting onto the Eurostar returning to London St Pancras.




*Day 6 and Day 7 - have been slightly changed from the brochure. As we have two dog sled groups.

B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner