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Spotting moose, reindeer and other wildlife. Searching for northern lights. Afternoon dog sledding and a wonderful night in a Sampi lavvu, followed by an opportunity to try cross country skiing and snow shoeing. Fabulous trip, excellent tour leader and great food.
D.P. Berkshire, Feb 22
Tour Itinerary and Reports
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Swedish Lapland - Northern Lights & Winter Wildlife
Tour Code: SWE16An 8-day holiday, including two nights of 'glamping' in Swedish Lapland, in search of spectacular winter scenery, wildlife and the Northern Lights.
8 days
from
£4,395 (Inc flights)
£4,395 (Inc flights)
Land only price
from
£3,995
£3,995
Highlights
Tour Itinerary and Reports
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Summary
The ground is covered with a thick blanket of pristine snow, and the trees bend under its weight to create an other-worldly landscape. We stand on a frozen lake, sipping hot chocolate and watching the Northern Lights dance overhead … this is Swedish Lapland in the depths of winter, home to the Sami people, a small selection of special wildlife and stunning winter scenery. We begin our holiday with a flight to Lulea, where we will spend our first night, before driving the following day to the town of Jokkmokk, just inside the Arctic Circle., where we spend three nights in a comfortable hotel. From here we will explore Swedish Lapland during the short daylight hours by vehicle, dog sled and on foot. Then, after dinner each evening, if the skies are clear, we will venture out to watch for the Northern Lights. Next we move north, and the highlight of the holiday for many will be our nights spent 'glamping' in a traditional Sami style tented camp, where we can explore our surroundings on Nordic skis or snowshoes. We finish the tour with a night back in Lulea ahead of our flight home.
- Stay in a tented Sami camp deep in the wilderness
- Good chances of witnessing the Northern Lights
- Photograph Moose and wild Reindeer in a snowy landscape
- Siberian Jay and Siberian, Crested and Willow Tit all possible
Grading
Grade A/B. You will be warm and comfortable in your accommodation, but outside you will need to be prepared, and extremely well-equipped, for the very cold weather! There is no great physical activity during this tour, though there will be some short walks of up to half-an-hour on packed snow or snowmobile tracks.
A thick blanket of pristine snow carpets the ground and bends the branches of trees under its weight, creating a white, other-worldly landscape. Standing in the midst of it all on a frozen lake, we sip hot chocolate and stare skyward as the Aurora Borealis dances silently overhead. This is Swedish Lapland, home of the Sami people, a choice selection of special wildlife and stunning winter scenery.
We begin our winter holiday with a flight via Stockholm, Sweden’s capital city, to the small coastal town of Luleå in the north of the country where we spend our first night. The following day, we will drive for approximately two hours further north to the outpost town of Jokkmokk, located just inside the Arctic Circle, where we will stay for three nights in a comfortable hotel. Here the subarctic climate is very cold — the lowest temperature on record is a bitter minus 46°C — though around minus 10°C to minus 15°C is more typical at this time of year. Importantly, the weather around Jokkmokk is fairly stable, often dry, cold and clear, resulting in excellent conditions for viewing the Aurora Borealis, the wonderful natural light show also known as the Northern Lights.
On our first morning in Lapland we will explore the frozen countryside by the most practical means available … a husky safari! We will greet the dogs and help to prepare them for the expedition, before taking off across the snowy landscape. We expect to be out exploring for around three hours in total, stopping for lunch over a roaring camp fire — allowing us to warm up and the dogs to cool down — before we set off back to Jokkmokk. In the afternoon we will meet up with a Sami Reindeer herder, joining her for an evening meal in her ‘lávvu’ (traditional tent) in order to learn more about Sami way of life and try some traditional homemade dishes. Each evening in Jokkmokk we will check the skies above. If clear, we will head out after dinner in search of the Aurora, hoping to marvel at the dancing curtains of green and red light illuminating the heavens overhead.
The following day, we will drive through a nearby valley in search of herds of Reindeer, as well as some of Europe’s largest Eurasian Elk (Moose). We will take our time, and if the weather is fine we will stop for an al fresco lunch on the shores of Lake Saggat. We will also visit one of the best bird feeding stations in Lapland, where we could see Siberian Jay, Siberian Tit, Crested Tit and Willow Tit, and perhaps Red Squirrel too. Elsewhere the forests are usually quiet in the winter, but we have a reasonable chance of seeing Dipper, Willow Ptarmigan, Black Grouse, Capercaillie and Raven during our daily excursions.
After three nights, we will leave Jokkmokk behind and travel further north still, spending two nights ‘glamping’ in a tented camp deep in the forest. In the afternoon we will explore the woods and frozen lake surrounding the camp, either on Nordic skis or using snowshoes. We will search for animal tracks and learn about the different types of snow, listening out for birds in the trees and enjoying the stunning landscapes all around. Anyone who would prefer to stay behind and enjoy the delightful camp, however, will be very welcome to do so! We will enjoy dinners by the fireplace in a small wooden cabin, or outdoors if the weather permits, and then take it in turns to check for the Aurora. The illuminated tents provide an ideal foreground for night sky photography and, if the skies are clear, the sheer number of stars overhead and the sweeping arc of the Milky Way will be spellbinding.
After a final morning enjoying our camp and surrounds, we must say our goodbyes to wild northern Sweden and make our way back towards civilisation. We spend our final night in the coastal town of Luleå, where it is worth taking a stroll to the south harbour to enjoy the sight of the frozen sea! There may be a little time for exploration the following morning, before we must return to Luleå Airport to board our flight to Stockholm and ultimately home.
Please note that you will need to be very well equipped for the cold weather on this tour. For more information on this, and all other aspects of the tour, please download the detailed tour itinerary.
Outline Itinerary
Day 1
Fly Lulea via Stockholm and overnight Lulea
Day 2/4
Excursions from Jokkmokk
Day 5/6
Glamping
Day 7
Overnight Lulea
Day 8
Fly London
What's Included?
- Flights
- Accommodation:
In Jokkmokk and Lulea we stay in comfortable hotels, where all rooms have en suite facilities. For our two nights of glamping we are in cosy, heated, traditional Sami-style tents. There is a separate, heated toilet close to the tents. Please note that single occupancy is NOT available for the nights of glamping.
- Food:
All included in the price.
Reviews
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Visit to Jokkamokk in Northern Sweden. Very fortunate to have great views of Northern Lights. Evening meal with Sami - reindeer herder and talk about their history and looking after the reindeer. Dog sledding through snowy forest. Winter scenery with lunches taken outside round open fire. I have travelled with Naturetrek on a number of occasions. They always provide good pre departure information. Use excellent local guides. Varied itinerary provided.
J.L. Surrey, Jan 22
Dates & Prices
2025
Departures
Availability
Cost
Thu 13th Feb – Thu 20th Feb
4
£4,395
Flights:
Most Naturetrek tours include flight costs ex-UK. If flights are not included, we indicate that here.
Flights are included in the tour cost
Regional Departures:
On certain tours it is possible to depart from a regional airport (rather than London). If a regional departure is possible, we indicate that here.
Regional Departures are available. Call 01962733051
Land only cost:
The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.
£3,995
Single Room Supplement:
Single Room Supplement.
£355
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[description] => Birding Tours Led by Expert Naturalists
The majority of our wildlife tours focus primarily on birds, allowing us to offer a huge choice of bird holidays. On most of our birdwatching tours we aim to see a wide variety of species, while taking time to enjoy other wildlife as well as cultural highlights and architecture.
Naturetrek Birdwatching Tours
We have one of the largest selections of professionally organised, small group birdwatching holidays around the world and all of our birdwatching tours are accompanied by at least one professional ornithologist leader with detailed knowledge of the area.
The majority of our bird tours have a relaxed, flexible approach which allows more time for photography, detailed wildlife exploration, leisure time and the region’s people, culture, history and architecture, while allowing the group to see a wide range of bird species.
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Our Bargain Birdwatching Selection
Our Bargain Bird Tours are intensive birdwatching holidays suitable for the serious birder. They are led by expert English-speaking local guides (and not accompanied from the UK by a tour leader). You can expect a higher-paced tour and to spend long hours in the field.
Our specialist recommends...
"Try Coto Doñana & Extremadura for an excellent introduction to Europe's wetland and steppe birds. I would recommend our bargain holiday, 'Nepal – A Birdwatching Tour' for those interested in Siberian rarities and Ibisbill, while Costa Rica offers a chance to search for arguably the world's most beautiful bird, the Resplendent Quetzal."
Byron Palacios - Tour Leader
Byron Palacios - Tour Leader
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Wildlife Photography Workshops with Expert Tuition
Our dedicated wildlife photography workshops are aimed at wildlife photographers of varying levels of experience and ability, including beginners with ambitions to learn and improve, keen amateurs looking to hone their skills, and accomplished photographers seeking exceptional photographic opportunities.
Naturetrek Wildlife Photography Holidays
We work with outstanding photographers who share our goals of spending quality, informed time watching – and capturing – once-in-a-lifetime moments. Joining one of our wildlife photography tours will not only improve your technique and sharpen your reflexes, but will also optimise your chances of capturing memorable, high-quality images of some of the world’s most sought-after species. Group sizes on these holidays are strictly limited, not only to allow you plenty of room in which to work, but, just as importantly, to enable you to benefit from the dedicated time of our expert leaders. Our leaders aim to challenge your approach to photography, giving you the chance to pursue new avenues of creativity. They are also expert naturalists, enabling them to provide insight that will help you see your subjects in a new light, and improve your ability to predict and capture interesting behaviour.
Our tours offer:
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- Picturesque landscapes, visited at optimal times
- Limited group size
- Like-minded travelling companions
Our specialist recommends...
“Our ‘Mull’s Otters and Eagles’ holiday provides fantastic opportunities to photograph charismatic wildlife in a stunning natural setting, allowing plenty of time to hone your technique with the aid of an expert photographer. If you’re looking for a long-haul option, our 16-day photography holiday to Costa Rica has it all with abundant, vibrant wildlife; over 900 species of bird, 250 species of mammal and 1,200 species of butterfly. Combine this with its stunning landscapes, and few countries in the Americas are better suited to a photography holiday!”
Paul Stanbury - Operations Manager
Paul Stanbury - Operations Manager
Arctic Wildlife Holidays – Specialist Tours and Cruises in the Arctic
The Arctic is special. Bathed in a surfeit of light and pale blue skies during summer, then plunged into constant darkness during the winter, the seasonal contrasts in scenery, light and wildlife at the poles compared with the rest of the planet are stark. Still visited only by the lucky few, the Arctic has for centuries held an irresistible magnetism for explorers.
For the wildlife enthusiast and the adventurous-spirited, the Arctic has a bewitching appeal and well-deserved reputation as one of the world’s top wildlife destinations. Naturetrek Arctic expeditions are special in that we usually charter an entire ship (30 to 80 berth), and operate our Arctic holidays as dedicated wildlife cruises, focusing solely on the region’s wildlife and visiting the very best wildlife sites. All our Arctic holidays are also accompanied by expert naturalist guides.
Here are some of the reasons why Naturetrek’s Arctic holidays are so successful:
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- We only charter small ships ranging in size from 30 - 80 berths.
- All operate at the best times of year for wildlife.
- Flexible itineraries to ensure the best wildlife sightings.
- We use a team of hand-picked & experienced expedition staff.
- Led by naturalist guides with expert knowledge of the Arctic region.
- We offer a wide range of tours both above and below the arctic circle.
- Cruises include daily zodiac excursions, accompanied by naturalist guides.
- Daily briefings & recaps held.
Wildlife seen on a Naturetrek Arctic holiday:
- Look for Polar Bears, Walrus, Arctic Fox & seals in Spitsbergen
- See the Northern Lights, spectacular fjords & snowy mountains
- Glaciers, icebergs, pack-ice, taiga forests and Arctic tundra Experience 24-hour daylight
- Humpback, Fin & Sperm Whales
- Little Auks, Grey Phalaropes, Ivory Gull & Long-tailed Skua in Spitsbergen and Franz Josef Land
- Steller’s & King Eiders plus Gyr Falcon in Iceland
- Bears, Wolves & owls in sub-arctic Finland, Sweden & Norway
- Colourful tundra flora
Our specialist recommends...
"The Arctic is like nowhere else on the planet – and once you’ve been, you will be hooked (I was!). Spitsbergen is the ultimate Arctic destination and one of the best places to look for Polar Bears. Our 11-day Spitsbergen Wildlife Cruise offers a spectacular supporting cast of Walrus, dramatic scenery and huge seabird colonies. If you’re looking for a short break, or a taste of the Arctic, try one of our Bear-watching or owl-focused holidays in Finland or Sweden.”
Paul Stanbury - Operations Manager
Paul Stanbury - Operations Manager
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Prefer to Travel in a Private Group?
For any interested natural history club or society, we can arrange for a private departure of this tour.
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Why Naturetrek?
At Naturetrek we craft expertly-guided group and tailor-made wildlife holidays and cruises to all seven continents. On one of our holidays, you can be assured that our passionate team will enable you to experience and enjoy the best of the world's wildlife and natural spectacles in as comfortable and rewarding a manner as possible, caring as best we can for the environment in the process. We are proud to provide:
- The widest choice of wildlife holidays worldwide
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- Outstanding value and exceptional customer service
Furthermore, as a Naturetrek client, our office team are always to on hand to help you – so if you have any queries about your holiday, whether before or after you have booked, we will be delighted to answer them on the phone. Please just give our team a call!
