The Reinefjord in Lofoten. Image: Andrea Giubelli/www.visitnorway.com

Travel period: 7.1.2012-1.4.2012
5 nights/6 days

Cruise along Norway’s magnificent fjords; enjoy the beauty of northern lights, stay in an igloo hotel, and learn to drive a snowmobile. This is a winter holiday at its best. The beauty of Norway is breath-taking!

Your relaxing winter holiday begins in the Northern Norway’s capital, Tromsø. It is the home of the country’s northernmost university, and has the Arctic Sea as its closest neighbour. Tromsø is situated above the Arctic Circle, and right in the centre of the Northern Lights zone. After enjoying the pulsating cultural life of Tromsø, the Hurtigruten Cruise will take you for an unforgettable journey further up north along the Norwegian coast line. And when you thought your winter experience couldn’t get even more exciting you’ll check in at the Alta Igloo Hotel, built completely of snow and ice.

Day 1: Tromsø – the Arctic Capital of Northern Lights

Arrival in Tromsø according to your own itinerary. Tromsø is often referred to as the ‘Arctic Capital’, and is the largest Norwegian city above the Arctic circle. We suggest a visit to the famous Polaria, a very distinctive building that represents ice floes that have been pressed up on land by the rough Arctic seas. Polaria has an Arctic aquarium, interesting knowledge-based exhibits and a panoramic cinema.

Tromsø is known for having the most Northern Lights in the world! It’s located in the middle of the Aurora Borealis zone. Because of the planet’s rotation, Tromsø moves into the aurora zone around 6pm, and moves out again around midnight. The Northern lights don’t appear every night, but the chances to see them in Tromsø are definitely high! Overnight at Clarion Bryggen Hotel.

Day 2: Tromsø – Honnigsvåg fjord cruise

Breakfast at the hotel. Half day of leisure before boarding the Hurtigruten cruise ship in the afternoon. On board you have a unique opportunity to explore the wonderful arctic landscape from the sea. Glaciers, the colourful culture of the Inuit and wild animals make Hurtigruten one of the most exciting and beautiful voyages in the world. Overnight onboard in an outside cabin.

Day 3: North Cape – top of Europe

Breakfast onboard. Today you have reached your final port onboard, Honningsvåg. From here you will go for an excursion to the northernmost point of Norway – the North Cape. The tour goes by bus from Honnigsvåg through the sub-arctic landscape towards our destination. The plateau itself rises 307 meters up from the Arctic Ocean which gives you a Majestic view. Entrance to the North Cape Hall with viewing platform, souvenir shops, cinema, cafeteria and restaurant, is included in the excursion. Transfer back to Honningsvåg for overnight stay. Overnight at the Rica hotel Bryggen.

Day 4: Honnigsvåg -Alta

Breakfast at the hotel. This morning is at your own leisure in Honningsvåg before your journey continues by a local bus to Alta in the afternoon. From Honningsvåg you will drive through the underwater tunnel to the mainland, along the Porsangen fjord and across the pristine Sennalandet plains of Finnmark country. Overnight at Rica Hotel Alta.

Day 5: Snowmobile Safari and Igloo Hotel

After having breakfast at the hotel start the day with a breathtaking Snowmobile Safari trough the beautiful landscape of Finnmark. You will follow the old trade route towards Karasjok which offer a great variety of nature – from forest and valleys to unending, snow-covered plains. You will also get a pre-view of the Igloo Hotel – your accommodation for the night.

The hotel measures approx 2,000 square metres and its 30 rooms are built completely of snow and ice. Before going to bed you will be served a two-course dinner in the beautiful wooden restaurant shaped like a Sami Lavvo, a traditional Lappish tent.

The temperatures inside the igloo remain constant between minus 4 and minus 7 degrees Centigrade. Thanks to natural reindeer hides, mattresses and sleeping-bags that keep you warm, you will have a comfortable night. We recommend wearing woollen underwear and a hat during the night. Overnight at the Sorrisniva Igloo Hotel.

Day 6: Return to Alta and Farewell

Breakfast and morning sauna at the hotel before the bus takes you back to Alta. Departure according to your own itinerary.

Prices are valid from 07.01.2012 until 01.04.2012
Please note that this tour does not commence on Wednesdays.
This tour is subject to weather conditions.

Package prices:

from £1278 per person when 2 people sharing
from £1540 per person in single room

What is included in the price?

• 3 nights hotel accommodation

• 1 night accommodation onboard Hurtigruten in guaranteed outside cabin

• Half board onboard Hurtigruten

• 1 night cold accommodation at the Sorrisniva Igloo hotel

• 1 dinner at the Sorrisniva Igloo hotel

• Excursion to North Cape

• Transfers as described in the itinerary

• Snowmobile Safari (3 hrs) including warm clothing + safety equipment and Sami lunch

Flights: This package price doesn’t include flights but you can ask for a quote including flights as well. If you decide to book flights yourself, the airlines flying to Norway are Scandinavian Airlines and Norwegian Airlines.

The Winter Palace on Palace Square in St. Petersburg

Prices from £742 per person
Period: February-December 2012

Enjoy 72 hours city break in St. Petersburg without the hassle of getting a Russian visa. Cruise on a modern M/S Princess Maria overnight from Helsinki, and combine the modern Helsinki and the historic St. Petersburg for a memorable cultural holiday.

Peter the Great founded St. Petersburg in 1703 as his capital. The city is majestic with palaces, cathedrals, river embankments and canals, handsome parks and dozens of bridges.

Helsinki, the Finnish capital, offers dozens of museum and galleries, design boutiques and interesting architecture.

This is a great holiday for independent travellers, who want to explore arts and history, but there is also a good selection of optional excursions and evening programmes with opera, ballet, circus or folklore.

Wednesday: Modern Helsinki
Arrival to Helsinki.

Helsinki is easy to explore on foot as everything is within easy reach – it is a beautiful city on a human scale. The architecture ranges from graceful neo-classical to art nouveau and modernism.

There are dozens of museums and galleries ranging from the outdoor museum of old Finnish buildings to the cutting edge modern art.

For keen shoppers, Helsinki offers an interesting choice of design boutiques and open-air markets. For the year 2012 Helsinki has been chosen as the Design Capital of the World.

There are also excellent restaurants using Finnish ingredients like reindeer, game, fish and berries. To get in the mood, why not pop into one of the several top-level Russian restaurants?

Thursday: Day in Helsinki and overnight cruise
Day of free programme in Helsinki. We recommend the huge outdoor museum of Seurasaari with dozens of old buildings, the Ateneum Museum with works from the Golden Period of Finnish art and a city sight-seeing tour with commentary in 11 languages, including Latin.

Departure to St. Petersburg at 19.00 on M/S Princess Maria.

This modern passenger ferry was built in Finland, and can take 1,638 passengers and 395 vehicles.

Friday: Welcome to St. Petersburg
Arrival in the morning.

The Panoramic sightseeing tour includes the most essential sights of this magnificent Russian city, such as the Admiralty, the Peter-and-Paul Fortress, the brilliant St. Isaac’s Cathedral, St. Nicholas Cathedral, Palace Square and Smolny Convent.

Former palaces of czars, extravagant mansions, and richly decorated churches create an imperial ambience all around the city, the home of Russian rulers for two hundred years.

Saturday: For art lovers
Breakfast at the hotel.

Optional tour on foot to The Hermitage, one of the greatest museums in the world. The tour includes Old Masters, State Rooms in the Winter Palace, and the Impressionists’ Exhibition. The Hermitage has works by Leonardo Da Vinci, Raphael, Renoir, Degas and Matisse. The collection of Spanish art can only be compared to Prado Museum in Madrid, and the French collection is the largest outside France.

Wear good walking shoes. Besides the long walks in the museum, there is a 10-minute walk from the hotel.

Sunday: Imperial jewel
Breakfast at the hotel.

Optional  excursion to Pushkin, one of the former imperial summer residences, and a visit to the Catherine’s Palace. The town of Pushkin was originally called Tsarskoye Selo (Czar’s Village). The Empress Elizabeth had the original palace, named Catherine’s Palace, expanded and renovated in 1752. The work continued during the reign of Catherine the Great. The palace is a combination of white and gold, and has a huge ballroom and ornately decorated drawing rooms. The most famous of these is the Amber room, which was raided by the German’s during the war, and restored after its return to Russia.

A lunch in a traditional Russian style at a local restaurant.

In the evening, an optional transfer to the ferry terminal. Departure from St. Petersburg at 19.00.

Monday: Farewell to Helsinki
Arrival in Helsinki in the morning at 08.30.

There is still time to visit the boutiques, market square or museums before your flight home. During the summer, the tree-lined Esplanadi comes to life with live music and cafes.

Prices per person:

From £742 in a twin room and £1079 in a single room.

What is included in the price:

• Scheduled return flights from London Heathrow with Finnair. Flights from other airports are available for additional charge
• One night in a city centre hotel in Helsinki including buffet breakfasts
• Transport by ferry M/S Princess Maria in B-class double cabin
• Panoramic city tour with a visit to the Peter & Paul Fortress
• Services of a local English speaking guide in St. Petersburg
• Two nights at Hotel Belveder-Nevsky (or similar) in St. Petersburg with breakfast
• Registration fee and VAT at hotel

Please note that transfers in Helsinki and departure transfer to ferry terminal in St Petersburg are not included in the price.

Optional extras:

• Meals on board: Breakfast eur10, Deluxe breakfast eur18, buffet dinner eur33
• Optional excursions as per program as follows: Hermitage eur100 per person, Pushkin including lunch eur155 per person
• A-class cabin +eur150 per cabin
• departure transfer to ferry terminal eur85 per car
• Optional evening program: ballet or opera eur90-120 per ticket, folklore or circus eur60 per ticket
• Additional nights in Helsinki
• Helsinki Card

Tall ship in Käringsund

Prices from £1009/adult when sharing a twin/double room
10 days, 9 nights
Travel period: May – September

See gracious, classic Stockholm, modern, stylish Helsinki, the amazingly beautiful Åland Islands and historic Turku on one ten-day summer holiday. Start with Stockholm, the royal Swedish capital, then take a ferry and stay in a cottage by the sea in the Åland Islands, stop in the cultural Turku, and finish the tour on Helsinki, the World’s Design Capital 2012. Relax and enjoy history, culture and beauty on the shores of the Baltic Sea.

Friday to Sunday: Imperial Stockholm

Stockholm is called “Venice of the north” for a reason. It is a city characterised by the sea with boats and ships everywhere. It has a wealth of handsome historic buildings from the Royal Palace to museums and the medieval Old Town, Gamla Stan.

Stockholm is very compact city, so walking is the best way to get hold of it. Have a stroll in the narrow streets of lively Old Town in the evening. There are dozens of restaurants and bars to choose from, small boutiques for shopping and beautiful squares to relax for a while.

Sightseeing by boat is a must. There are various tours available depending on your interests or time available. ”Under the bridges of Stockholm” and the early “Good morning Stockholm” tours give an excellent view of the city.

Skanssen is an outdoor museum with 150 old buildings moved there from around Sweden. It gives an idea how people lived in the 17^th and 18^th century both in towns and in the countryside.

Vasa Museum is built around the battleship Vasa that sunk on its maiden voyage in 1628. The ship was salvaged and is the only almost intact ship from the 17^th century left in the world. Visitors can see the ship from six levels from keel to the stern, and there are fascinating displays life at the sea and about history of Sweden. Since its opening in 1990 about 25 million people have visited the Vasa Museum.

For shopping Södermalm has dozens of small trendy boutiques and friendly cafes. Östermalm’s old market building is an essential destination for all food lovers.

Monday to Thursday: Archipelago experience

Take a ferry from Stockholm through the islands to Mariehamn in Åland. This autonomous region of Finland is a collection of 6 700 islands and rocky islets. Pick up your hired car in the harbour and drive about 20 miles to Eckerö to settle in your cottage in Käringsund resort.

It is easy to tour Åland either by a car or a bicycle as the main islands are connected by bridges or ferries. The main attraction is the region itself with islands and the sea. On top of that, Åland boast 46 sights to see: there is the medieval Kastelholm castle, lovely fishing villages, the museum sailing ship Pommern, ruins of the Bomarsund fortifications bombarded by the Royal Navy, museums, events and handicrafts.

Åland’s capital, Mariehamn, is a small shipping town of 11,000 inhabitants that livens up in the summer. It has several museums reflecting its history as a seafaring town, and it has the largest small boat harbour in the Nordic countries. Mariehamn has idyllic streets with linden trees lined with quality craft shops and cafes.

The museum ship Pommern in the western harbour next to the Maritime Museum has been restored, and its four masts remind of the huge sailing fleet that once took to seas from the port. The ship was built in Glasgow in 1903 and came to Mariehamn in 1923. She sailed constantly around the world until the break of the Second World War, and in that time visited her home harbour only five times.

The Bomarsund fortification was built when Finland was still part of the imperial Russia. In 1854, during the Crimean War, the British and French bombarded the fort until it surrendered. The battle resulted in the first ever Victoria Cross being awarded to Charles David Lucas for his bravery. About 2,000 Russian soldiers were taken as prisoners of war to Britain and France, including 300 Finnish grenadiers who were taken to Lewes. The fortification was totally destructed after the battle.

The medieval Kastelholm castle was built by King Gustav Vasa of Sweden as the stronghold in the middle of his kingdom that also included Finland at the time. Most of the castle has been restored and there are guided tours available.

Åland offers also excellent opportunities for cycling, canoeing, golf, fishing and other sports.

Thursday: Ferry to Turku

Take a ferry to Turku, the former capital of Finland. You can have a nice dinner by the Aurajoki river or enjoy a drink in one of the various boats moored on the river. Make a plan for the next morning as there are a few hours to explore Turku before taking the train at noon to Helsinki.

The Turku Castle is a culturally historical tourism attraction that is over 700 years old. The Castle has a museum, which demonstrates the history of the Turku region from prehistory to present day with its frequent exhibitions, events and furnished style rooms. The Turku Cathedral is the national shrine of Finland. Dedicated to the Virgin Mary and Finland’s first bishop, English St. Henrik, the church was inaugurated in 1300. The Cathedral Museum in the southern gallery takes the visitor back in times to the 14th century Wäinö Aaltonen Museum of Art hosts a collection of the sculptors own works in various media and the city’s own art collection with works of regional artists.

Friday to Sunday: Helsinki, the modern capital

You have time to explore Turku before taking the 1.5 hours train at noon to Helsinki.

Helsinki’s identity has been formed by cultural influences from both the East and West. It is a vibrant city with a laid back attitude. Helsinki has a history of over 450 years, but it is modern and forward looking. There are dozens of museums and art galleries, lively markets, events and concerts, excellent restaurants and good shopping opportunities especially for design and fashion.

For the first time visitor a sightseeing tour is a good way to start. You can get the commentary on 12 languages (including Latin) on a bus tour or, alternatively, take the tram 3T/3B that drives a one hour circular route to different parts of the city. After the tour, it is easiest to walk everywhere as the Helsinki centre is very compact.

The Ateneum Art Museum has an excellent collection of Finnish art from the 1750s to 1960s with a superb section of works from “the Golden Age” of early 1900s.

Helsinki has been chosen as World’s Design Capital in 2012. The Design District around the Dianapuisto park has a cluster of designer shops, antique dealers, clothing and jewellery boutiques and galleries. In the centre of the area, Design Forum Finland, presents the best of the latest Finnish design. Artek shop shows the furniture by the legendary architect Alwar Aalto.

Temppeliaukio church is quarried out of natural bedrock that forms the interior walls with a copper dome as a ceiling. The church, opened in 1969, is a popular place for concerts and an essential place to visit in Helsinki.

Take a ferry to Suomenlinna, one of the world’s largest historical maritime fortresses. Built on six islands in the 1700s, the garrison town attracts steady flow of visitors and also offers a home for over 800 residents. This UNESCO Heritage site has museums and even a submarine to visit.

The Seurasaari open-air museum gives an insight into the Finnish housing and building traditions in the past. The museum’s buildings, dating from 18^th to 20^th century, come from all over Finland, and tell about how both the gentry and peasants lived.

Restaurants in Helsinki bloom in the summer. There are serious gourmet places with Michelin stars, small corner venues, restaurants on islands. There are dozens of cuisines available from traditional Finnish cooking to excellent Russian kitchen and international tastes. Try the Helsinki menu that is served in various establishments with local, pure ingredients.

Prices:

May, September: £1009/adult when sharing a twin/double room
June, August: £1064/adult when sharing a twin/double room
July: £1134/adult when sharing a twin/double room

The programme includes:

• flights from London to Stockholm, return from Helsinki to London
• 3 nights in a central Freys-hotel in Stockholm including breakfast
• Viking Line ferry from Stockholm to Mariehamn including breakfast buffet
• 3 days car hire in Åland
• 3 nights in a cottage including breakfast in Käringsund resort
• Viking Line ferry from Mariehamn to Turku including breakfast buffet
• 1 night in a central Hotel Seurahuone inTurku including breakfast
• train transportation from Turku to Helsinki
• 2 nights in a central Hotel Helka in Helsinki including breakfast

Not included: Activities in Åland – optional extras (pdf format)

Summer scenery in the fells

Prices: from £769 per person
Period:  1 June to 31 August 2012
7 overnights and 8 days

The sun never sets at night during summer at or above the Arctic Circle. There is almost constant daylight for some two and a half months. Towards the late July, the sun starts dipping just below the horizon for a few minutes at first and then for a couple of hours before the ‘white’ nights begin to turn darker from mid August onwards.

Lapland is a safe, stress-free place to take your holiday. Motoring in Lapland has many exotic features. In summer, you may find a herd of reindeer standing in the middle of the road. Chance exotic events apart, motoring is safe in Lapland. The roads are kept in good condition and are well marked.

Our Lapland Fly & Drive package includes accommodation with Lapland Hotels and a rented car. You can plan and book your Lapland route and accommodation before your journey or decide your route upon arrival to Rovaniemi, capital of Lapland. This package offers a lot flexibility – you can be just like the reindeer – roam free wherever you feel like; just marvel at the nightless sky, fish, hike or relax as long as you wish.

Hotel accommodation is provided all over Lapland and the daily driving distances need not be long. You can easily visit Norway, take a daytrip to Nordkapp, the northern end of Europe or to Tromsö, the Paris of the North, before returning back to Finnish Lapland for overnight. You can also take part in excursions such as a visit to a reindeer farm, go salmon fishing in the nightless night, or take a quad bike safari.

Lapland Hotels in Finland:
Levi, Ylläs, Rovaniemi, Olos, Pallas, Saariselkä, Kilpisjärvi and Hetta

Package prices

Car Cat A / VW Polo:

£769 Adult sharing a twin room
£1174 Adult in single room
£366 Child 4-14 sharing room / extra bed
£262 Child 2-3 sharing room / extra bed

Car Cat C / Golf Variant:

£854 Adult sharing a twin room
£1339 Adult in single room
£364 Child 4-14 sharing room / extra bed
£262 Child 2-3 sharing room / extra bed

Cat H / Minibus:

£1159 Adult sharing a twin room
£364 Child 4-14 sharing room / extra bed
£262 Child 2-3 sharing room / extra bed

Please note that you can purchase this package also without flights, or with flights to Helsinki and a night train from Helsinki to Rovaniemi.

What is included in the price?

• Return flights from London Heathrow to Rovaniemi
• 7 nights accommodation with breakfast in double room
• Riverboat cruise in Rovaniemi
• Car rental for 7 days (7 x 24 hours)
• All departure taxes and fees
• Road Map of Finland

Car rental includes

• Unlimited mileage
• Insurance with 950 Euros excess / minibus 1250 Euros
• 24 hour road assistance
• Deliver and pick up service in downtown area
• Airport service fee
• Value added tax 22%
• CDW Collision Damage Waiver
• THW Theft Waiver

Car rental does not include

• Petrol
• Additional driver fee 24.60 Euros per driver
• Navigation system 14.76 Euros per day
• Child seat 30.75 Euros per rental period

Please note that the minimum age is 18 years (for minibus 20 years). The driver must present a valid driving licence at the rental desk and the driving licence must have been valid for at least one year.

Silja Symphony © Tallink Silja

Prices from £361 per person

Scheduled flights from/ to London Heathrow, two nights’ accommodation in high quality hotels and an overnight cruise – all this from just £361 per person. Fantastic value for this four day / three night expedition!

Stockholm

Stockholm is a picturesque city built on fourteen islands and you are never far from water. Stockholm is also a city of contrasts. Those who are attracted to history and medieval surroundings will find Gamla Stan – Stockholm’s old town – irresistible. Those who seek sleek Scandinavian style will be drawn to Södermalm’s chic design shops, bars and restaurants.

Helsinki

Helsinki also comes with its fair share of history and style and is an ideal short break destination – friendly, lively and welcoming. It is easy to explore on foot as everything is within easy reach – it is a beautiful city on a human scale. It is a city of bustling, colourful market squares and halls, of outdoor summer concerts and sports events, of seaside parks, of excellent cafes and restaurants catering for every taste and budget, and cutting-edge art in fine museums.

In fact, there is no shortage of things to do and see in either capital, and the sea route connecting them is plied by two of the most luxurious cruise ships sailing on the Baltic, the sister ships Silja Serenade and Silja Symphony.

At the heart of each of Silja’s flagships is the 460 ft (142 m) long glass-roofed Promenade, watched over on both sides from cabin windows. Lined by restaurants, bars, shops and boutiques, the Promenade is just like a elegant high street at sea. Cabins are available in several classes, from comfortable cabins for 2-4 people, to deluxe Commodore Class cabins. Most of the cabins have a window, with either a view over the Promenade or a sea view. See here the cabin descriptions.

Read what Daily Express said about this trip.

Package prices

View departure dates and detailed package prices here (pdf)

What is included in the price?

• Scheduled flight from London Heathrow to Stockholm Arlanda & scheduled flight from Helsinki to London Heathrow
• One night in a four star hotel incl. breakfast in Stockholm
• One night in a four star hotel incl. breakfast in Helsinki
• Cruise from Stockholm to Helsinki on m/s Silja Serenade or Symphony in chosen cabin category incl. breakfast
• Departure taxes and fees

Please note that transfers are not included in the price. Additional nights in Stockholm and/or Helsinki available on request.

Departures from airports such as Manchester, Birmingham, Aberdeen, Newcastle and Edinburgh are also available. Please ask for a quote.

Optional extras

Pre-booked dinner on the ferry
We advise to make a table reservation in advance, especially during the high season. You also receive a discount on meal prices if you pay for your meal coupons in advance. More information and prices can be found here (pdf).

One Day Stockholm Card
Stockholm – convenient and easy. This one day Stockholm Card offers you free admission to more than 75 museums and attractions plus free travel on local transportation and other bonus offers.
Price: £45.00 per person

One Day Helsinki Card
This one day Helsinki Card offers you free admission to more than 40 attractions and free travel on local transportation and other bonus offers. Free audio city tour worth £19 included.
Price: £34.00 per person

Sightseeing tour in Helsinki
This is 1 hour 45 min coach tour departs conveniently from Silja terminal immediately after arriving in Helsinki. Tour takes in the most important and interesting parts of Helsinki, and includes entrance to the Temppeliaukio Church and stop at the Sibelius Monument.
Price: £26.00 per person

Helsinki by Kayak
Get a great new perspective to Helsinki, the Finnish capital by the Baltic. Visit the islands with an experienced guide during the summer months. You can join in alone or in a group up to eight people, for a bigger group you need to book in advance. You can see the beautiful nature surrounding the city from a new viewpoint. The kayaking is suitable also for beginners. Paddling takes place from 10.00 to 13.00 in Vuosaari Paddling Centre and other locations. The routes vary daily. Trip is organised every day from June to August. Pick up points are the Kiasma Art Museum in the centre and Tapiola Garden Hotel in Espoo.
Price: £58.00 per person includes paddling equipment, a professional guide, sandwich, a drink and transfers.

Nuuksio Forest Lake Trail
Experience the Finnish forest and lake country with rugged hills, steep gorges and deep lakes just outside Helsinki! The Nuuksio forest area has lakes formed by the Ice Age that you can swim in during the trip if you are brave enough. Professional guides will tell you about development of this natural treasure just next to the city. The walk is suitable for all ages. The three-hour, about 2.5 mile walk is done at leisurely pace on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday from 3 July to 14 August. Transportation is from Kiasma Museum at 14.00 and you will be back at 18.30.
Price: £49.00 per person includes transfers, guidance and a snack. You can hire walking poles and get a professional photo taken for a separate fee. The number of participants is from one to eight, for larger groups you need to book in advance.

Sea Life
Sea Life wants to offer visitors an adventurous learning experience and wake the desire to protect seas and animals. Sea Life offers the possibility to experience the wonders of underwater miracles by creating as natural as possible living environments for the creatures of the exhibition. Visitors will have a unique experience with over 40 exiting and interesting aquariums.
Price: £15.00 per person