The town of Lulea in Swedish Lapland and its surrounding islands are challenging the traditional Nordic winter destinations and its emergence as a winter adventure playground is helping to put Lulea firmly on the map.The town sits on a peninsula by the Gulf of Bothnia, surrounded by more than 700 islands. In the winter when the gulf freezes over, the islands are linked by thick sheets of ice, allowing locals and tourists to hop on their hovercrafts, straddle their snowmobiles, snap on their skis or slip into snowshoes.
Lulea in winter is all about action and adventure and our suggested 4-day break is guaranteed to get hearts racing and fists pumping. The thrills start with a hovercraft tour across the glistening pack ice and a night-time snowmobile tour. You can recreate our own Top Gear moment by driving around a purpose built ice track. We’ve also squeezed in an evening of snowshoeing and icefishing. There are many other activities to consider including a trip on an ice-breaker, swimming in a survival suit and husky safari’s so please talk to your travel expert to create your own adrenalin adventure.
If you would like to add certain tours and excursions on to your trip, check out some Swedish Lapland activities here
PRICES & DATES
Price is based on 2 people sharing and includes return flights from London Heathrow to Lulea (via Stockholm), 3 nights accommodation at the Elite Stadshotellet in a standard room on a BB basis, all transfers between airport and hotel and activities, Plus a hovercraft pack ice tour, a snowmobile night tour, driving your own dogsled safari, a driving on ice experience, and Icebreaker adventure and Northern Lights snow-shoe tour with ice-fishing and dinner.
Please note that all activites are weather dependent.
The above itinerary is based on a Wednesday arrival. Activities differ from day to day. We can tailor-make your stay should you wish to arrive on a different day and include as many or as few activities as you wish.
Departures: daily until mid-April 2012
ITINERARY
Day 1: Lulea
After flying to Lulea via Stockholm you’ll first make your way to the best hotel in town, the Elite Stadshotellet. With views of the city park and the town’s annual ice sculpture, this modern hotel offers individually designed rooms and a great pub and restaurant - which we would recommend for dinner that evening.
Day 2: Hovercraft Pack Ice Tour & Snowmobile Night Tour
You’ll be picked up from the hotel for the first of many thrilling activities - a hovercraft pack ice tour. Built to travel equally well on land or sea a hovercraft provides a safe, fun and quick mode of transportation and works so well on the frozen sea. On this spectacular tour you will visit the outer edges of the Lulea archipelago where you will be able to take a walk around the towering ice packs. After lunch you are taken back to your hotel. Early evening you’ll be taking a snowmobile night tour where you return to the frozen waters. Following a short briefing, your guide with lead you through thick layers of virgin powder snow with just the headlights of the snowmobiles guiding the way. There is no light pollution out here and should the Northern Lights appear, you’ll be sure to have the best view.
Day 3: Ice driving/Dog Sledding & Northern Lights Tour
Today is back-to-back activities to get your heart racing and blood pumping.
Recreate some classic Top Gear moments on a purpose built ice rack track in the indisputable champions of Swedish car design - the classic Volvo. You’ll also have the chance to zoom around in a zippy ice cart. One can only describe this as a real hoot and an experience for all.
It’s then straight on to test-drive your own team of friendly Alaskan huskies. Accompanied by local experts, you’ll have time to catch your breath during your instruction, then as the driver, you’ll travel over frozen lakes and through snow covered forests with no other sound than your commands to the team, their quick footfall and the sled against the snow.
You’ll be back at the hotel for a short break before an evening Northern Lights Tour on snow-shoes, ice fishing and dinner. Snow-shoes allow you to tread on top if the snow and make it possible to explore otherwise inaccessible terrain. Walking through the Brando forests the experienced guide will tell you all about the surroundings and life in the northern wilderness. If conditions are right then the Northern Lights may be spotted. Lighting the fire in the snow, dinner is prepared outdoors by you and the guide and subsequently enjoyed sitting on reindeer furs under the dark sky. This is as close to nature as you can get.
Day 4: Icebreaker Adventure at Pitea
If you are taking a later flight home you may have the chance for one last adventure. Experience the might of the ice-covered sea and listen to the sound of ice blocks being crushed against the hull of the boat Arctic Explorer. This tour includes 1hr of icebreaking during which time you can stroll around the boat, visit the captain on the bridge and non-restricted areas of the engine room. You will also walk on the ice and for those who date it is the chance to try swimming amongst the floes dressed in a survival suit.
You’ll be taken back to the hotel to pick up your luggage and transferred the airport where your flight home can be spent reflecting on your Lulea and the marvels that it has to offer.
If you would like to add certain tours and excursions on to your trip, check out some Swedish Lapland activities here
Hotel, Activity and Local Information
The Elite Stadshotellet Lulea has 158 tastefully and individually decorated rooms and is where style and 100-year old craftsmanship have been tastefully combined with today’s demands for comfort and service. The hotel is located in central Lulea overlooking the city park and the north harbour. Buses and trains stop within comfortable walking distance and the airport shuttle stops close to the hotel entrance. The hotel also houses a large gym, restaurant and pub.