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Home Tours Ice Hotel, Northern Lights & Hurtigruten

Ice Hotel, Northern Lights & Hurtigruten

Start your winter adventure in Stockholm, Sweden and continue by overnight train to the Ice Hotel in Jukkasjärvi. Travel to Abisko for Northern Lights observations at the Aurora sky station before making your way through the Arctic wilderness to Norway. Cruise with Hurtigruten from Tromsø to Kirkenes.

Duration

9 days

Transportation

Train, Bus, Cruise

Season

Winter

Tour Type

Self-guided

Itinerary - Day by day

day 1
  • Arrival in Stockholm according to your own itinerary
  • Accommodation in Stockholm

Arrival in Stockholm according to your own itinerary. Sweden’s capital is stretched across an archipelago of 14 islands connected by a network of waterways and bridges. Visit the old town “Gamla Stan”; a maze of narrow cobbled alleyways lined with restaurants and boutiques. This is one of the best-preserved medieval city centres in Northern Europe, with its oldest structure dating back to the thirteenth century. Other sights of interest include the Royal Palace, the Vasa Museum, Skansen Open Air Museum, the City Hall and Stockholm Cathedral. We also recommend a cruise in the Stockholm archipelago, comprising 24.000 islands. Accommodation in Stockholm.

Add extra nights in Stockholm - From EUR 95 per person per night

day 2
  • Breakfast at the hotel
  • Day at leisure in Stockholm
  • Recommended attractions:
    • Vasa Museum
    • The Old Town
    • Long distance Ice Skating
    • Royal Canal tour
    • Stockholm Panorama
  • Overnight train from Stockholm to Kiruna

Breakfast at the hotel. Spend the day exploring Stockholm, both by land and by sea. We recommend one of the optional sightseeing tours, either by bus, boat or on foot. At approximately 6 pm your overnight train to Kiruna departs from Stockholm. Accommodation in a sleeping compartment on-board the train.

As an alternative to heading straight to the Ice Hotel we recommend breaking the tour and adding an overnight at the Treehotel in Harads, located 3,5 hours south of the Ice Hotel (please contact us for further information). 

Compartment included during the overnight train ride

SJ night train.
Overnight train Stockholm–Kiruna (shared) Silver
Private compartment on board the SJ night train in Sweden.
Overnight train Stockholm–Kiruna (private) Gold
day 3
  • Morning arrival by train to Kiruna
  • Transfer from Kiruna train station to Jukkasjärvi Ice Hotel.
  • Overnight at Kaamos Hotel (warm accommodation, next to the Ice Hotel).

Upon your arrival at the train station in Kiruna in the morning, you will be met by a driver and transferred to Sweden's Ice Hotel. The Ice Hotel is situated in the small village of Jukkasjärvi in Swedish Lapland. Since 1998, artists from all over the world have gathered here to create the world's largest Ice hotel. The hotel has over 50 rooms built each year from snow and crystal clear ice and you will also find an ice chapel, an ice art exhibition hall and an ice bar. The interior is always between -5°C to -8°C, even when it gets up to -37°C outside. In 2012, the Ice Hotel will open on Friday, 7th of December and some building work will continue into early January where guests can watch the creation of this masterpiece. Winter activities have not been included in this tour giving you the opportunity to choose freely amongst the activities on offer in Jukkasjärvi. It's recommended that you book these in advance. This evening we recommend joining one of the Northern Lights tours. Overnight at Kaamos Hotel (warm accommodation) next to the Ice Hotel.

day 4
  • Breakfast at the hotel.
  • Day at leisure in Jukkasjärvi.
  • Recommended winter activities:
    • Wilderness Snowmobile Safari
    • Dog sledding – 4,5 hours
    • Ice Driving
    • Visit to a Reindeer farm
    • Northern Lights tour on horseback
  • Overnight at Jukkasjärvi Ice Hotel

Breakfast at the hotel. This day is at your own leisure. We recommend joining one of the winter activities such as dog sledding, where you can experience driving your own team of huskies, a snow mobile safari or rent cross country skies or snowshoeing equipment and head off on your own. In the evening, guests can choose to dine at the Ice Hotel Restaurant, awarded with the prestigious Werner Vögeli Statuette and featured in gourmet magazines around the world. Alternatively, dine at the authentic and charming Old Homestead Restaurant 800 meters away from the Ice Hotel, which offers a rustic á la carte menu and overlooking the Torne River. Tonight you will stay at the Ice Hotel, in rooms furnished with furniture made from ice and snow. You will sleep in a thermal sleeping bag on comfortable reindeer skins in a special bed built of snow and ice (please see hotel description for further details about the Ice Hotel and dining options).

Accommodation included at the Ice Hotel

Ice room at the Ice Hotel in Jukkasjärvi, Sweden
Ice Hotel - Ice Room Silver
Art Suite at he Icehotel in Jukkasjärvi, Sweden
Ice Hotel - Art Suite Gold
day 5
  • Morning sauna, followed by breakfast.
  • Transfer from the Ice Hotel to Kiruna train station
  • Train from Kiruna to Abisko
  • Return ticket by cable car to Aurora Sky Station, including hire of warm aurora watchers overall and a guided tour
  • 4-course dinner at the Aurora Sky Station (Hotel Category GOLD only)
  • Accommodation at Abisko Tourist Station

In the morning you will wake up to a cup of hot lingonberry juice at your bedside. Take a walk to the sauna to warm up before breakfast is served at the restaurant. Transfer from the Ice Hotel to the train station in Kiruna for your 2 pm train towards Abisko is included (1,5 hrs train ride). Here you will stay at Abisko Tourist Station, located only a few minutes’ walk from the chairlift going up to the Aurora Sky Station in the evening. Before travelling up to the station you will be provided with warm overalls and blankets. The mountain station is an excellent location to observe the Northern lights since there is no air pollution and the nearby lake Torne träsk, "the blue hole of Abisko” is said to keep the skies above the mountain station clear, even when fog covers other parts of Lapland. Upon arrival you will join a guided tour. At the Aurora Sky Station you will find a panorama café selling coffee, tea, cakes and sandwiches, a souvenir shop and look-out tower. There is also a Northern Lights exhibition, which emphasizes observing and understanding the Northern Lights. The observations are made with help of both radio receivers and Northern Lights cameras. Please note that for guests booking category GOLD, a 4-course dinner is included at the restaurant. Accommodation at Abisko Tourist Station.

Add extra nights in Abisko - From EUR 110 per person per night

day 6
  • Breakfast at the hotel
  • Train from Abisko to Narvik (Norway)
  • Bus from Narvik to Tromsø (arrival at about 8pm)
  • Accommodation in Tromsø

Breakfast at the hotel followed by a 1,5-hour train ride to Narvik, Norway. You will travel by train on a scenic route passing through Abisko National park, with the mountain Kebnekaise as backdrop, towards the port town of Narvik on the Norwegian coast. Just after having passed the border between Sweden and Norway the train travels slowly downhill from the mountain region and for the last part of the journey you can look down into the deep Rombakks fjord with a view of Lofoten Mountains in the far background (not visible during the darkest winter months). In Narvik you will change to a bus which will take you to Tromsø, the Northern Lights capital of Norway. Arrival in Tromsø in the evening at about 8pm. Accommodation in Tromsø.

If you are interested in visiting the Polar Park north of Narvik, you can add this by staying one night in Narvik before continuing the day after by bus via the Polar Park to Tromsø.

day 7
  • Breakfast at the hotel.
  • Day at leisure in Tromsø.
  • Recommended attractions:
    • Arctic Cathedral
    • Polar Museum
    • Tromsø Gondola lift
    • Polaria Arctic Aquarium
    • Mack brewery
  • Hurtigruten cruise departure:
    • Embarkation/check-in commences at 14:30 hrs
    • Check-in at least 30 minutes before departure
    • Departure from Tromsø at 18:30 hrs
    • Dinner onboard Hurtigruten.
    • It is recommended to book shore excursions in advance.
  • Accommodation onboard Hurtigruten (unspecified cabin category).

Breakfast at the hotel. This day is at your own leisure to experience Tromsø, often referred to as Paris of the North due to its lively atmosphere. The city is surrounded by mountains, fjords and islands and is the largest town in the Nordic countries north of the Arctic Circle. It is placed right in the Northern Light’s belt making it one of the best places in the world for spotting the Northern Lights. Sights of interest include the Polar Museum, Polaria Arctic Aquarium, Tromsø Gondola lift and more. Today you will also have the possibility to join one of the optional activities, before embarking on your winter cruise with Hurtigruten at 6 pm. Dinner and accommodation onboard. Read more about the Hurtigruten cruise.

Cabin types included during the cruise

Polar inside cabin on board Hurtigruten
Hurtigruten – Polar Inside Cabin Silver
Outside cabin onboard Hurtigruten.
Hurtigruten - Polar Outside Cabin Gold
day 8
  • Hurtigruten Cruise
  • Attractions along the coast:
    • The North Cape (only on shore excursion)
    • Fishing station
    • Sværholdtklubben, bird cliffs
    • Finnkjerka, mountain formation
  • Breakfast buffet & dinner onboard
  • Accommodation onboard Hurtigruten

This morning you will spend at sea before arriving in Honningsvåg around noon. Excursion possibility to the North Cape Plateau where you can admire the panoramic view of the wide open expanse of the Arctic Ocean. Entrance to the North Cape Hall with viewing platform, souvenir shops, cinema, cafeteria and restaurant, is included in the excursion. The cruise continues in the afternoon towards Kirkenes. Dinner and accommodation onboard

day 9
  • Hurtigruten Cruise arrival in Kirkenes at 09:00 hrs
  • Breakfast onboard
  • Attractions along the coast:
    • Kirkenes, the turning point of the journey
  • Departure from Kirkenes according to your own itinerary

While you sleep, the ship continues sailing east along the Varanger peninsula, past Båtsfjord and Vardø. At breakfast time, you will pass by Vadsø, the administrative centre of Finnmark. It was from here that the Arctic explorers Roald Amundsen and Lincoln Ellsworth began their flights over the North Pole in the airship, Norge. At 9.00 am you will arrive in Kirkenes, the last stop on the northbound journey with Hurtigruten. Here you will disembark, but before leaving Kirkenes you have the opportunity to choose between several shore excursions. Or perhaps you would like to add on an overnight stay in Kirkenes, or even spend the night at Kirkenes Ice Hotel? Departure from Kirkenes will be according to your own itinerary.

Tour category

Scandic Norra Bantorget Hotel

Silver

Accommodation at good tourist class hotels equal to 3 to 3+ stars according to Scandinavian standard.

Inside cabin included during overnight cruises.

See Silver accommodation

Elite Hotel Adlon

Gold

Accommodation at 4 star hotels or at unique properties, like historic hotels or manor houses, selected for their atmosphere.

Outside (seaside) cabin included during overnight cruises.

See Gold accommodation

About the tour categories

Services included: 

  • 4 nights hotel accommodation in a standard room with private shower/WC, including breakfast.
  • Overnight train from Stockholm to Kiruna. Accommodation in shared 6-berth sleeping compartment.
  • 1 night in a “Ice Room” at Jukkasjärvi Ice Hotel, including warm facilities as described, including breakfast.
  • Return transfer from the train station in Kiruna to the Ice Hotel.
  • Train from Kiruna to Abisko
  • Return ticket by cable car to Aurora Sky Station, including warm aurora watchers overall and a guided tour.
    • The Sky Station is open November 21- March 21.
  • Train from Abisko to Narvik.
  • Bus from Narvik to Tromsø.
  • 2 nights onboard Hurtigruten from Tromsø-Kirkenes. Accommodation in unspecified inside cabin (twin beds).
  • Half board during the cruise:
    • Breakfast buffet with a wide selection of food, usually served between 07.00-10.00
    • 3-course dinner, usually served between 18.30-21.00
  • Electronic travel documentation, including a detailed travel itinerary and travel vouchers.
  • Additional services included for Tour Category GOLD only:
  • Category GOLD hotels (accommodation in standard rooms)
  • Private sleeping compartment on the overnight train from Stockholm to Kiruna.
  • Guests booking category GOLD will be staying in an Art Suite Winter at Jukkasjärvi Ice Hotel.
  • Exclusive 4-course dinner at Aurora Sky Station in Abisko.
  • Guaranteed outside cabin (porthole or window, twin beds) on the Hurtigruten cruise

ICE HOTEL: Travelling before December 13 2019:
The Ice Hotel opens December 13 2019. When booking a tour between November 17 and December 13, you will spend the night in an Art Suite at the Icehotel 365, the permanent ice hotel structure. Please be aware that the seasonal ice hotel is under construction during this period. It is however a great opportunity for a behind the scenes experience (you will not be able to enter the ice hotel). Please note that some of the optional winter activities might not be available though.

ABISKO: Additional costs on New Year’s Eve:
On New Year's Eve there will be a supplement for the visit at the Aurora Sky Station (to be advised).

HURTIGRUTEN: Important information for winter 2019/2020:
Due to the planned docking of several ships, Hurtigruten will not have daily departures. In addition, capacity for cabins for the shorter stretches is often first bookable closer to departure.

Changes on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve:
Hurtigruten is moored in a harbour for some hours in the afternoon and evening on December 24th and until after midnight on New Year's Eve. This means that the normal schedule changes slightly and some of the following, smaller ports will be passed by to catch up on the lost time (usually stops during night time). A special Christmas / New Year's dinner will be included; the additional cost will be EUR 35 per person.