Northern Lights of Scandinavia with Insight Vacations
10 days
09 Oct 24 to 17 Dec 24
Book by 31 Jul 24
Embark on a 10-day journey to witness the Northern Lights from the stunning mountain peaks of Scandinavia. Explore Helsinki, Alta, and Oslo. Venture through Finnish Lapland, located 250km above the Arctic Circle, and arrive at Ivalo, known as the Gateway to the North. Enjoy the spectacle of the aurora borealis from your cozy cabin with a glass roof in Aurora Village. Cross into Norway and visit North Cape, Europe's northernmost point, where you can savor caviar. Experience a unique opportunity to visit a working husky farm and meet the world-famous Alta huskies, champions of dog sled racing. Your adventure continues in Tromsø, where the Indigenous Sami community welcomes you to assist in feeding their reindeer herd. The journey concludes on the picturesque shores of the Oslofjord, once frequented by Vikings.
Includes
10 Day Insight Vacations Guided Holiday
9 Nights in stylish, hand picked hotel accommodation
Authentic dining inclusive of 9 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 3 dinners, 2 dinners with Wine
Enjoy the comfort of Insight's luxury, air-conditioned coach
An expert Insight Travel Director
From time to time, your Travel Director will enchant you with an Insight Flourish, which is a local specialty representing the destination
Baggage handling everywhere, we include all taxes and porterage charges at hotels
Hotel and restaurant tips are included
Personal radio headsets, gives you the freedom to wander during visits to famous highlights without missing any of your local expert's fascinating insights and commentaries
Additional experiences during your free time that can be purchased at an additional cost
Top Rated Highlights
Honningsvåg Orientation
Alta Orientation
Tromso Orientation
Oslo Orientation
and much more!
Unique Insight Experiences
Meet the Lyrek family and their huskies: Meet the Lyrek family and their huskies. Hear tales about their marathon Arctic dog sled races while enjoying a hearty lunch.
Make Travel Matter Experiences
Meet a Sami Family at their Reindeer Camp in Tromsø while they share their traditions, culture and history coupled with an evening of dinner and games.
Excludes
Flights
Transfers not mentioned
Visas
Travel Insurance
Items of a personal nature
Extras
On occasion, hotels of similar standard and location may be utilised.
Additional experiences that have been curated by your Travel Director from their own in-depth local knowledge can be signed up for on tour at an additional cost.
Airport Transfers: If your arrival and/or departure flights are as per the itinerary start and end dates, then transfers are available at scheduled times. If your flights are outside these times, or you have booked additional nights accommodation with Insight Vacations, you may purchase transfers or make your own way from/to the airport.
Smaller coaches without extra legroom or onboard washroom may be used.
Please note that your Tour Director and Driver are continuously monitoring the road conditions for your safety and alternative routes might be taken if necessary.
Please note some departures are not definite departures.
Highlights
9 Nights in stylish hotel accommodation
15 Meals
Unique Insight Experiences
Itinerary
Day 1: Welcome to Helsinki.
Welcome to Helsinki, with its excellent museums and pretty seaside buildings. This beautiful city is set to be your home for the night. Our stay begins at the grand GLO Hotel Art. Decorated in a distinctive Art Nouveau style, this charming four-star hotel is the ideal place to sit backand relax before your Scandinavian adventure begins. Meet your Travel Director for a drink and mingle with your fellow travelling companions.
Arrival Transfer: Depart the airport at 10:00, 14:00, 16:00
Welcome Meeting: Meet your Travel Director at 18:00
AccommodationL: GLO Hotel Art
Day 2: The gateway to Lapland
Today you’ll take a flight to Ivalo, a small yet important centre in Finnish Lapland, 250km above the Arctic Circle. The Gateway to the North, Ivalo is set on the Ivalo River, where the first Lapland Goldrush took place in the 19th century.
You’ll enjoy a Welcome Dinner at your boutique hotel, Aurora Village, famed for its cabins with a glass roof, offering sweeping views of the night sky. Look out for the dancing northern lights, as you gaze through the glass ceiling from the comfort of your room. Please note that the northern lights are a natural phenomenon and therefore sightings cannot be guaranteed.
Accommodation: Aurora Village
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner with Wine
Day 3: Ivalo to Honningsvåg
Today you’ll be heading further North through the winter Lapland landscape. Cross the Finnish–Norwegian border as you make your way to Honningsvåg, the northernmost and smallest city in Norway. Your drive will take you along the mighty Porsangerfjord, the fourth largest fjord in Norway. You will take the subsea Nordkapp Tunnel to the island of Magerøya, to reach your hotel in this small fishing community. Explore the quaint city by taking a stroll along the waterfront before retiring to your hotel and enjoying a delicious dinner.
Accommodation: Scandic Nordkkapp
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 4: Northern Lights in North Cape
Enjoy a leisurely day to discover more of Honningsvåg. Take a walk to the 19th century church that survived the destruction of World War 2, a true rarity in Northern Norway. Perhaps take an Optional Experience to learn about king crabs and enjoy a fresh, sea-to-table lunch of this delicacy. Take your chance to visit the northernmost point of Europe, the famous North Cape and sip on bubbles and delight in exquisite caviar with your fellow travellers (weather permitting).
Accommodation: Scandic Nordkkapp
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 5: North Cape to Alta
Today’s journey will take you along an ever changing landscape from barren lands through highlands to the shores of the Altafjord. It was in Alta where the world’s first northern lights observatory was built at the end of the 19th century. With increasing tourism the city is going through quick development offering a wide range of activities. Start your adventures with a visit to one of the first ice hotels in the world and enjoy a chilled beverage with your fellow travellers. Your comfortable hotel is located next to the modern and iconic Northern Lights Cathedral in the heart of the city.
Accommodation: Scandic Alta
Included Meals: Breakfast
Day 6: Alaskan Huskies in Alta
You’ll enjoy a leisurely day in Alta to continue with your activities. Maybe you’ll choose to visit the UNESCO World Heritage listed Alta Museum famous for its prehistoric rock carvings. Later, you’ll visit a working husky farm and get to know the Lyrek family and champion sled dogs. Learn about the Alaskan huskies and the challenges they face competing in the marathon long Arctic dog sled races. Indulge in a delectable oven-baked Highlight Lunch before meeting the dogs themselves.
Accommodation: Scandic Alta
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 7: Norway’s gateway to the Artic
Today you’ll head to Tromsø, northern Norway’s largest city, located on the island of Tromsøya. You’ll be surrounded by snowcapped mountains and ethereal water views. Just a short walk from your hotel, you’ll find a high concentration of old wooden houses and a great array of restaurants.
Accommodation: Clarion Hotel The Edge
Included Meals: Breakfast
Day 8: Delve into Scandinavian history
Join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience as you meet members of the Indigenous Sami community of Scandinavia. Delve into the history of Arctic Norway and join a Sami guide for an immersive journey through their camp, with an invitation to help feed their reindeer herd.
You are invited into a lavuu (a traditional Sami tent) to hear stories of Sami life and folk songs around the fire, after enjoying a traditional Sami meal with hot drinks.
Accommodation: Clarion Hotel The Edge
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 9: A merry finale in Oslo
In the morning, take a flight from Tromsø to Oslo, a modern city located on the shores of the Oslofjord. Surrounded by forested mountains, city dwellers and visitors alike have easy access to nature all year round. On your orientation see the Oslo Opera House and the new Deichmann Library in the contemporary Bjørvika district. Join your fellow travellers at a local restaurant to make a toast to newfound friends and a wonderful journey, over a Celebration Dinner with wine.
Accommodation: Thon Hotel Opera
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner with Wine
Day 10: Farewell Oslo
It’s time to say farewell to your fellow travellers. Your trip ends after breakfast.
Departure Transfer:Arrive at the airport at 07:15, 10:15
Included Meals: Breakfast
Terms & conditions
Prices are per person twin share, include discounts, and are subject to availability and rate of exchange changes. Offers above are a guide only and will vary depending on departure date, our guide price is based on the cheapest departure within the stipulated season and availability is correct at time of loading. Visas may be necessary and insurance is essential. Pentravel and Tour Operator terms and conditions apply, and may be found on our website. Subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time without notice. High season supplements and block out dates may apply, pricing varies pending departure date. The package excludes flights. You can do optional free-time add-on experiences in your free time and pay for them as you travel (additional costs apply). Tour operator reserves the right to withdraw promotional offers and adjust savings anytime. Full payment due 120 days prior to departure or at time of booking if booked within 120 days of departure; whichever comes first. R3000 per person deposit required at time of booking for Level 1 tours to hold space; some trips require payment in full at time of booking. Savings are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Advertised price is based on 9 October departure. At time of loading this may not be a definite departure, please contact a travel consultant for more info. Other conditions may apply. These packages are based on CASH price. E&OE;.
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