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WIN! A Four Night Aurora Escape to Seek the Northern Lights in Glass Igloos
Saariselkä is located in the far north of Finland, high above the Arctic Circle. Framed by snow-lit pines and remote enough to avoid light pollution, the Northern Lights Village is the perfect base for your nightly Northern Lights hunts. While venturing into the darkness on snowshoes and a snowmobile to seek them sounds like fun, a more relaxing aspect way to spot them will be from your bed, staring into the stars through your glass-roofed Aurora Cabin. We have teamed up with the Aurora Zone to offer a four-night holiday to Saariselkä, allowing one lucky winner to spend their nights seeking the lights in a winter wonderland.
NORTHERN LIGHTS
While viewing these wonders of nature can never be guaranteed, we have a great track record for helping our customers find the Northern Lights. The key is to get as far away from the light pollution as possible – which does seem rather obvious. Our strength as a company is making these journeys into darkness fun. Your first night will introduce you to the Finnish tradition of snowshoeing, which will allow you to walk atop the snowdrifts your guide will lead you through. Once you have found a suitable fenn, you will stop to build a fire and enjoy snacks and hot drinks. Enjoyed your first night watching the skies in this most incredible location? Your second will involve a Northern Lights snowmobile safari, which will combine sports with stargazing to take your trip to new heights.
HUSKIES
As well as your nightly adventures, you will also spend one of your days taking part in a husky safari. This is an unforgettable ride, which will take you and your companion (who can ride together or take a pack each) for a thrilling dog sled trip into the Arctic wilds. Huskies are synonymous with the Arctic and a husky safari is the epitome of a winter adventure: drive your pack through thick Nordic snowdrifts, racing them through the forests which frame your accommodation with cries of “mush” to direct them. Once you have worked up an appetite through your excitement, you will enjoy a feast of Nordic cuisine in the hotel restaurant.
IGLOOS
It’s not often that folk prefer a sleepless night. Given yours will be spent underneath a panoramic glass roof looking up at the stars, however, we can think of worse things to keep you up. Your accommodation at the Northern Lights Village will be in Aurora Cabins, which boast stylish Scandinavian minimalist design and a half-roof with glass. Though the Northern lights can be elusive, this year has been predicted to be one of the most dazzling by astronomers, given the sun is in the upward phase of its solar cycle. Scared you’ll sleep through them? We also offer an Aurora alert service which you can set to alert you throughout the night.
Photo by HAMID ELBAZ: https://www.pexels.com/photo/adorable-dolphins-on-surface-of-water-225869/
Azores – Lava Lands and Swimming with Dolphins
Our Azores – Lava Lands and Swimming with Dolphins trip is a great choice, consistently ranking as one of our most beloved holidays. Get a fabulous introduction to the Azores on this family holiday based on Sao Miguel Island. You will get to kayak on Sete Cidades Lake and mountain bike through its lovely surroundings. There will be whale watching on the Atlantic Ocean and snorkelling with friendly dolphins! Taste a traditional ‘cozido’ stew on a thematic tour around the volcanic area of Lake Furnas and the Terra Nostra Botanical Garden. Relax in a hot spring, visit the longest lava tunnel on the island and go canyoning in a natural park.
Photo by Florian Kriechbaumer: https://www.pexels.com/photo/portrait-of-orangutan-26926253/
The Best of Borneo
Few places can compete with Borneo when it comes to adventures, activities, and wildlife. Our The Best of Borneo trip is based in the wild and beautiful Malaysian Sabah region, a tropical paradise which ensures you will see the very best that Borneo has to offer. From memorable encounters with some of the world’s most endangered species to scuba diving in clear sapphire waters, this trip is truly wild!
Photo by Diego Madrigal: https://www.pexels.com/photo/mountain-peak-2024534/
Costa Rican Rainforest Explorer
The saying ‘Good things come in small packages’ was practically created for Costa Rica. Despite covering less than 0.05% of the world’s landmass, this wonderful country offers a staggering variety of landscapes: pristine coastline, rainforest, cloud forest, mountain ranges, wetlands, and other aquatic habitats. Our Costa Rican Rainforest Explorer holiday’s itinerary has been crafted to ensure that your family gets to enjoy as many of these natural wonders as possible.
Photo by Mohammed Ajwad: https://www.pexels.com/photo/scenic-sunlit-shining-on-islands-18059873/
Croatia – An Island Adventure
Croatia’s Elaphiti Islands are little-known gems for family holidays. They are some of the greenest in Croatia, covered by forests and edged by sandy beaches, hidden coves, reefs, pines and palms, all just waiting to be explored. Our Croatia – An Island Adventure will allow you to explore to your heart’s content, both on land and in the beautiful waters that surround the islands.
Photo by Luciann Photography: https://www.pexels.com/photo/aerial-view-of-a-city-and-island-3566139/
Croatia – Sailing Short Break on the Dalmatian Coast
There can’t be many better ways to spend a long weekend with the family than on our Croatia – Sailing Short Break on the Dalmatian Coast trip. Together, you will sail the brilliantly-blue Adriatic Sea and explore luscious-green islands off Croatia’s Dalmatian coast. Pair this with fun-filled included activities such as paddle boarding, snorkelling and cycling and you have the makings of an unforgettable adventure.
DAY 2 – Guided RIB Adventure and Overnight in a Crystal Lavvo
For those travelling in September and October, after breakfast, you will join your local guide for a RIB (rigid inflatable boat) wildlife adventure exploring the archipelago of islands around Tromsø. The boat is able to pick up great speed as it takes you out to sea. You will be treated to some truly dramatic and breath-taking scenery with incredible views of not just the islands but the city and the mountainous Arctic landscapes. There is a variety of wildlife in this area, including seals and various seabirds. Your trip will include a stop at Hella, where you will enjoy hot drinks and snacks. The pick-up point for this activity is a short walk away from your hotel and the activity will last for approximately 3 hours, including transfers. You will return to Tromsø at approximately 2 pm and you will have some free time to explore the city until your transfer to the Crystal Lavvos this afternoon at 5:30 pm. Your luggage can be left securely at your hotel, after you have checked out this morning and you can pick it up later this afternoon, prior to your transfer.
For those travelling in November, it may also be an opportunity to spot various whale species, however, this can never be guaranteed. The whale safari in November will begin at 6 am and will need to cover greater distances to hopefully find the migration route of these majestic animals. It is certainly worth the journey. Orcas and humpbacks are common in Norwegian waters, so, hopefully, you will be in luck today. The pick-up point for this activity is a short walk away from your hotel and the activity will last for approximately 6-8 hours, including transfers. Following a light lunch, you will transfer straight to the Crystal Lavvo after your activity today, so please bring your luggage with you this morning. You may choose to pack a light overnight bag and leave the rest of your luggage in Tromsø at the hotel, if you wish.
The Crystal Lavvos are situated on the majestic Lyngen Peninsula. The region is characterised by steep-sided mountains which slope sharply down to the enchanting fjords offering a new panorama around every corner. You will be spending the night in a Crystal Lavvo, located right in the heart of these stunning natural surroundings. The glass roof offers unobstructed views of the night sky whilst the warming fire will keep you cosy during your stay (you will be shown how to keep this fire going during the night, if you prefer to stay in a nearby bedroom then this can be arranged at the time of booking).
Before you head to bed, you will enjoy a home-cooked dinner, before an informative Aurora workshop and some tips on how to capture the lights on camera. The lengthening nights and the remote location of the Crystal Lavvos are a recipe for captivating Aurora displays. Hopefully you’ll have the opportunity to put your photography skills to the test!