It may be February already but there's still plenty of time to indulge your snow-capped winter fantasies with one of these sub-zero holiday ideas from members of the Association of Independent Tour Operators (AITO, www.aito.com), which is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year.

Try out a range of wintry activities, from a Northern Lights snowshoe safari in Sweden to learning husky mushing techniques in Finland or staying in a new igloo concept in Northern Sweden, all with a generous dusting of the white stuff.

(Last chance to book) Spitsbergen and the Northern Lights – from £1,815 pp with The Aurora Zone

Travel to Tromsø and beyond to Spitsbergen, part of the Svalbard Archipelago and the last stop before the North Pole. Savour Arctic Char and Svalbard reindeer on a tasting tour of Longyearbyen, and mingle with the locals along the way. Explore the remarkable vastness of the Arctic wilderness on a husky-drawn sled and on a snowmobile, and experience an exhilarating hunt for the Northern Lights on a snowcat. The price of £1,815 pp (two sharing) includes return flights (London), one night in Tromsø, four nights on Spitsbergen, five breakfasts and three dinners, all activities, guides, transfers and cold weather clothing. Departures in February. Call AITO* member The Aurora Zone on 01670 785 012 (www.theaurorazone.com).

NEW and exclusive: Igloo stays in Northern Sweden – from £1,149 pp with Sunvil

Pine Tree Lodge in Kangos, Northern Sweden, has launched a new igloo concept. Sunvil is the only UK operator to feature the heated igloos, which are not made of ice but are transparent – making them perfect for viewing the ethereal Aurora Borealis as you snuggle up comfortably under the stars. Located deep in the wilds of Swedish Lapland, the unspoiled rural setting is nothing short of magical. A three-night Magical Northern Lights tour costs from £986 pp (two sharing) and includes flights (London), full board, transfers, and a snowmobile and dog-sledding excursion. Bookable locally and subject to availability, a night in an igloo is an additional £163 (total £1,149 pp). Call AITO* member Sunvil on 020 8758 4722 (www.sunvil.co.uk).

Learn husky mushing techniques in Finland – from £1,665 pp with Artisan Travel

Form an unforgettable bond with your own team of dogs on a four-night husky safari in North West Lapland. With wilderness guides to show you the ropes, you'll soon settle into a rhythm, covering up to 40km a day through the Pallas-Ylläs National Park, said to have the cleanest air in Europe, stopping at simple cabins each night and cooking over an open fire. The eight-day itinerary costs from £1,665 pp (two sharing), including return flights (London/Manchester), four nights in a wilderness cabin, three nights in a hotel, all food, transfers, husky safari, guides and cold weather clothing. Departures from now until April. Call AITO* member Artisan Travel on 01670 785 085 (www.artisantravel.co.uk).

Skiing with a conscience in Idrefjäll, Central Sweden – from £899 pp with skiSweden

Idrefjäll is a ski resort with a difference. Exclusive to skiSweden and brand new to the UK travel market, this stunning resort in the heart of Sweden is run as a not-for-profit business, which means that everything in Idrefjäll is geared towards making your holiday the best it can be. This ski resort with a conscience is also home to the Pernilla Wiberg hotel, the stylish ski-in ski-out brainchild of past cross-country Olympian Pernilla Wiberg. The seven-night itinerary costs from £899 pp (two sharing), including return flights (London), B&B in the Pernilla Wiberg Hotel and car hire. Call AITO* member skiSweden on 020 7199 6011 (www.ski-sweden.co.uk).

Searching for elk and other Nordic winter experiences – from £1,190 pp with Inntravel

With breath-taking views stretching towards the mighty peaks of the Jotunheimen National Park, the Hindsaeter Highlands are about as remote as a cross-country skiing holiday can get. Farmer Østrem showed great foresight when he built his hotel here in the late 19th century – much remains the same, with just a handful of summer farms and a semi-nomadic reindeer herd for neighbours. Guests are introduced to a range of Nordic pastimes - a cross-country skiing lesson, guided snowshoe walk, canyon walk and a dawn safari in search of wild elk are all included. The hotel's restaurant is one of the best places to sample traditional Norwegian cuisine and, with its own tiny, timber-clad hydro-electric power station, it's fully  committed to sustainability. The price of £1,190pp (two sharing) includes return flights to Oslo, six nights' full board, transfers, activities and equipment hire. Departs 12 March. Call AITO* member Inntravel on 01653 617000 (inntravel.co.uk).

New ways to enjoy the Northern Lights – from £1,248 pp with Discover the World

The Northern Lights are still a big draw for many of us and, deep in Finnish Lapland, the new Kelo Log Cabins (NEW for winter 2016) at Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort offer traditional log cabins with their own glass igloos attached on the side. With such a novel way to view the night sky and so many other winter activities to enjoy during the day, what better way to seek an alternative winter-based activity holiday to the traditional European ski sojourn?  Guests can choose from husky, reindeer and snowmobile safaris and more. The new three-night itinerary costs from £1,248 pp (two sharing), including return flights between the UK and Ivalo via Helsinki, three nights in a new Kelo Log Cabin on a half-board basis and airport transfers.  Departures now until April.  Call AITO* member Discover the World on 01737 214 291 (www.discover-the-world.co.uk).  

Northern Lights Snowshoe Safari – from £945 pp with KE Adventure Travel

The Abisko National Park in Sweden is famous for offering the best chance of seeing the Northern Lights due to its remote location, far away from light pollution. Explore remote Swedish Lapland with an experienced guide, whilst spending two nights in a remote, cosy cabin in the park. The price of £945 pp (two sharing) includes three nights in lodges, two nights in a mountain cabin, all meals, three days' snowshoeing, all equipment and transport. Departs 18 March 2016. With flights included (Heathrow to Kiruna) the cost is from £1,265 pp. Call AITO* member KE Adventure Travel on 01768 773966 (www.keadventure.com).

Ends – 16 FEBRUARY 2016

Note to Editors: 

*AITO (established in 1976, 40 years ago in 2016) is an alliance of over 120 specialist holiday companies, all of which offer full financial protection to their clients and all of which are proud of their expertise and knowledge, the quality of service offered and the emphasis which they place on Sustainable Tourism. AITO members together offer holidays and travel arrangements around the globe, with a huge array of niche holiday ideas that simply can't be found elsewhere.  Visit www.aito.com for a full list of members and the destinations which they serve.

Press: For more information about AITO (www.aito.com) please contact Sue Ockwell or Rebecca Milne at Travel PR (020 8891 4440, s.ockwell@travelpr.co.uk or r.milne@travelpr.co.uk).