Winter Delights: Northern Sweden

Borton Overseas Scandinavia Director Nicole Anderson will accompany the group on our departure from Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport. Borton Overseas can assist with arrangements for departures from other US locations – please inquire!

We arrive this afternoon in Kiruna and will enjoy lunch at the hotel prior to check in. This evening we’ll travel to Nutti Sami Siida for a traditional Sami dinner and presentation of the reindeer. After the Sami experience we will travel back to the hotel. Overnight at Scandic Ferrum

After breakfast at the hotel, we will travel to Abisko, which is about a 1.5 hour drive, to spend time in a city with a high success rate of seeing the Northern Lights! Lunch is provided upon arrival at the resort. Dinner and a Northern Lights tour will also be provided this evening! Overnight at Hotel Fjallet

Today, you will have time on your own for an optional excursion, or you can relax and explore Abisko. Overnight at Hotel Fjallet

Excursion Options Today:

• Arctic Ice Fishing | 3 hours, $118 – Join a guide out on the ice and try your hand at fishing acrtic char and trout. It’s definitely a favorite activity among locals!
Includes: Fishing gear, fishing permit, sled ride, hot drinks and warm clothes if needed
• Snowshoeing | 2 hours, $84 – Venture into Abisko National Park on snowshoes. If you’re lucky, you’ll catch up with some of nature’s local residents. As you travel through the terrain, your guide will teach you to identify the prints and tracks of the different animals living in the area. The guides are well acquainted with the area and will also be happy to tell you about life in the Arctic.
Includes: Transfer, guide, snowshoes
• Dogsledding | 2 hours, $237 – Sit on cozy reindeer skins in a big wooden sled, ready to explore the wonderful winter landscape of Abisko. The sled will be driven by one of our guides who will take you through the sparkling frozen winter wonderland. We travel with four people per sled and a two sled maximum. Along the tour a photo stop will be made. At the end of the tour, back at the camp, we will enjoy a traditional Swedish fika, a hot drink and cookies, by the campfire in a lavvu.
Included: Transfer, guide, Swedish fika, winter overalls, shoes, gloves, and a hat
• Morning Hike in Abisko National Park | 1.5-2 hours, $75 – This 2 km guided hike will help you discover all the beauty that the National Park has to offer! During this spectacular adventure, your guide will lead you down a beautiful trail which meanders along the scenic Abisko River Canyon. You will wander through an ancient Arctic birch forest, enjoy stunning open views of the Abisko river delta, marvel at soaring mountain peaks, walk along the incredible frozen shoreline of Lake Torneträsk, and much more. It is not uncommon to see beautiful animals during this trip, such as reindeer, Arctic Hare, foxes, a full range of birds, and the ever-majestic Scandinavian moose. Be sure to bring a camera as this trip gives you an up close and personal experience in all of the most scenic locations in Abisko National Park!
This hike will be led at a very relaxed pace and usually takes between 1.5 and 2 hours to complete. Most of the trip happens on well-trodden, level ground but there is a slight incline during the hike.
Includes: Transfer and guide; boot and overall rental are possible in advance for $13 each per person
• Panorama Snowmobiing | 2 hours, $187pp for 2 people OR $249/pp for 1 person – Explore the wonderful winter landscape in Abisko National Park and drive on the world famous Kungsleden/King’s trail!
We will be traveling through the magnificent mountain scenery of Abisko with high mountains, frozen lakes, and swamps, as well as great views of Torneträsk, Sweden´s second largest lake. With some luck we might even get a glimpse of the wildlife in the National Park. Along the route we will take a break and enjoy a traditional Swedish fika, a hot drink and cookies. If you choose to share a snowmobile you will have the opportunity to swap drivers during the tour.
Includes: Transfer, Swedish Fika, winter overalls, shoes, gloves, helmet, and guide
• Aurora Photo Tour | 4 hours, $124 – Join a professional photographer for an opportunity to see and photograph the aurora borealis in one of our lovely locations in Abisko National Park. Due to a tendency for clear skies, Abisko is one of the greatest places in the world to see the northern lights. A DSLR camera and lens will be provided that is preset to capture the northern lights and the guide will quickly go over the basic skills that you will need to find and photograph the magical aurora borealis.
This evening under the stars offers you a fantastic opportunity to learn about the culture and natural history of Lapland and gives you a chance to experience beauty that can only be found in Abisko National Park.
Includes: Transfer, guide, camera, tripod, backpack, warm overalls, head lamp, and warm drink. Please bring an SD memory card with you to capture your memories (2-4G)
• Northern Lights Trip | 3 hours, $124 – The trip starts with a sleigh ride behind a snowmobile driven by one of our knowledgeable guides. Depending on the light and weather conditions, you will be taken to one of several different locations in the area, away from light pollution. If you get cold you can always come inside the shelter where we will keep a fire burning throughout the evening.
Includes: Transfer, guide, tripod to use with own camera, and shelter

Breakfast will be at the hotel and this morning is at your leisure in Abisko before our departure this afternoon. Located about a 1.5 hour drive from Abisko, we will travel to the famous ICEHOTEL in Jukkasjarvi. Upon arrival, we will tour the cold accommodation before checking in. We will stay in warm accommodation, unless you’d like to request cold accommodation for your stay. Overnight at ICEHOTEL

Excursion Options Today:

• Sauna Ritual | 2.5 hours, $596 for 1 to 6 people – Pamper your body and soul with this carefully curated sauna ritual, which includes a roll in the snow and an ice plunge. A long-time tradition in northern Sweden, the contrasts between hot and cold are said to have wholesome effects on the body.
Includes: Loan of bathrobe and towel, use of spa products, and Jukkasjärvi Sauna Diploma to bring home
• Horseback Tour in the Northern Lights | 5 hours, $274 – You are picked up at ICEHOTEL by bus and taken to Ofelas Icelandic horse farm where you get to meet the animals and prepare your own horse. You then ride towards Sweden’s highest mountain range Kebnekaise with a chance to spot moose and other wildlife along the way. The tranquil ride through the winter evening is magical, like being inside a fairytale. Hopefully, you will see the Northern Lights paint the dark sky above you as you ride. Back at the farm you will help unsaddle the horses before you are served a dinner made from local produce in a Sámi hut and taken back to the hotel.
Includes: Guide, own horse, and dinner in a Sámi Hut
• Northern Lights Safari by Snowmobile | 4 hours, $262pp with 2 riders OR $360pp with 1 person – On this tour, you take a snowmobile out in the wildernesss, away from light pollution where the northern lights are most visible. As you follow your guide through the dark winter landscape, you’ll make frequent short stops to learn about the Northern Lights as a phenomenon, how it occurs, and for you to watch and have time to take your own pictures. In addition, you stop in a warm wilderness cabin where the guide serves a two-course dinner. The experience continues on the way back and the northern lights have hopefully danced for you before you return to ICEHOTEL.
• Northern Lights Photo Tour | 4.5 hours, $212 – While you wait for the Aurora to make her appearance in the night sky, your guide takes you through the basics of nighttime photography and capturing the Northern Lights on camera.
Includes: Camera, tripod, warm drink and introduction to nighttime photography. Remember to bring your own SD memory card of at least 4 GB.

This morning we will enjoy breakfast at the ICEHOTEL before making our way to the airport for our flight provided by Scandinavian Airlines to Stockholm at 11:05 a.m. Upon arrival in Stockholm we will have a short bus tour of the city to get oriented and eat lunch prior to checking in to our hotel. The evening is at your leisure in Stockholm.Overnight at Hotel Reisen

Breakfast is at the hotel. Today is at your leisure to explore on your own, or, take part in an optional cruise. We will enjoy a final dinner together as a group this evening as we reminisce on the good memories of the trip. Overnight at Hotel Reisen

Optional Excursion Today:

• Archipelago Cruise | 3.5 hours, $40 – This is the perfect trip if you are looking to experience the untouched nature of the unique archipelago in a short time. On board our guide will tell you all about what’s typical about the Stockholm archipelago in a very inspiring way, making the journey a beautiful and informative outing.

Breakfast will be provided at the hotel prior to our departure from Sweden – or, extend your stay in Scandinavia!