24 May 2017
Independent Scandinavian specialist Best Served Scandinavia has launched its Winter 2017/18 brochure with a host of inspirational winter holidays across the region. Along with some great early booking offers for Northern Lights viewing, there are superb new accommodation options including the Arctic TreeHouse Hotel, Arctic Snow Hotel and Glass Igloos, Levi Spirit Luxury Villas and the adult-only Beana Laponia wilderness boutique hotel – all in Finnish Lapland. A wide choice of tailormade itineraries are featured ranging from luxurious Santa breaks to a romantic five day luxury retreat and from wintry city breaks to intrepid adventures.
Experiences on offer include a choice of ways in which to view the magical Aurora Borealis, such as the more active night safaris, husky rides and cruises, or simply lying back and enjoying their beauty from the comfort of a heated glass igloo or TreeHouse. For the more adventurous, and new for 2017/18, is an exciting Aurora Ice Floating experience. Available for guests staying in and around the Finnish Lapland town of Rovaniemi, it offers the chance to see the Northern Lights overhead whilst floating in an icy lake. Protected by a high-quality drysuit, you can lie back and float under the starry sky in sub zero temperatures while remaining toasty warm and dry underneath. Also new for 2017, at the Arctic SnowHotel and Glass Igloos is a 'Snow Sauna'. Taking this traditional Finnish pastime to new levels, the sauna is made from thick snow and ice - apart from the wooden benches – with a stove generating the high heat needed for a sauna, in contrast to the frozen, snowy walls.
Lapland isn't all about the children, as this luxurious new adult only break demonstrates in style. This wilderness boutique hotel has just 11 rooms, and is located north of the Arctic Circle, some 60km from the closest town of Rovaniemi. Enjoy the Aurora Borealis far from the city lights, as well as a variety of activities right on the doorstep, such as husky and snowmobile safaris, ski and hiking trails and snow shoe adventures. Drawn from the Sami word for dog 'Beana' and Latin for Lapland 'Laponia', with husky sled touches throughout, the hotel even has a resident team of huskies which guests can meet.
With an outdoor hot tub and sauna, some rooms also have their own private sauna. The restaurant serves a wide range of gastronomic styles drawn from delicious local ingredients and evenings can be spent in a woodland lavvu tent, where guests can enjoy campfire stories as they wait for the Northern Lights. Best Served Scandinavia (0207 664 2241, best-served.co.uk) offers a four night Beana Laponia Luxury Break from £2055pp. Price includes flights, transfers, four nights on a full board basis, winter clothing throughout your stay, daily sauna and a range of excursions.
Bringing a touch of indulgent luxury to the wilds of Finnish Lapland, the Levi Spirit Luxury Villas combine contemporary style with cutting edge architecture, yet blend in their spectacular alpine setting, with natural stone, wood and glass. Each villa has its own Jacuzzi bath and log burning stove, as well as a kammi – a traditional Sami earth lodge with balcony, outdoor terrace and private sauna. There are also in-villa spa treatments on offer. Gourmet meals can be taken in the villa, with optional butler service and a guest chef to finish the cooking in your villa's kitchen. If you can drag yourself away from the villa, the setting is incredible. Set at the heart of Finland's largest ski area, this is one of Europe's most reliable ski resorts, with some 200 skiing days a year and a season that stretches well into April. Away from the slopes – there are plenty of opportunities to enjoy classic winter activities such as snowmobiling, husky safaris and Northern Lights tours. Best Served Scandinavia (0207 664 2241, best-served.co.uk)
Arctic SnowHotel Break: Arctic SnowHotel and Glass Igloos
In the heart of the frozen forests of Finnish Lapland, this unique hotel brings together two of Scandinavia's true winter innovations – heated glass-dome igloos and the intricate carvings of a snow hotel. Conveniently, both are on the same site, and offer a truly memorable way to enjoy the Northern Lights in an incredible setting. There is even an aurora alarm to wake guests when the time is right. Two nights are spent in a cosy glass igloo – with the chance to watch the Northern Lights above your head, whilst one night is in the SnowHotel, sleeping on a transparent bed of ice, surrounded by super-warm arctic sleeping bags and reindeer furs.
Days can be spent exploring the snowy wilds on snowshoe hikes or ice fishing adventures… alternatively guests can relax and enjoy the outdoor Jacuzzi or the hot steam contrasts of the Snow Sauna – a new take on Finland's favourite pastime. Best Served Scandinavia (0207 664 2241, best-served.co.uk) offers a three night tailor made Arctic Snow Hotel Break from £1195pp including flights, transfers, 2 nights Glass Igloo and one night SnowHotel on a half board basis, including a snowshoe excursion.
Lapland in Style: Arctic TreeHouse Hotel and Arctic Light Hotel
This new four day tailor made break showcases the very best in outdoor adventure in this magical part of the world, staying in the superb Arctic Light Hotel in the heart of Rovaniemi, as well as a night at the new Arctic TreeHouse Hotel – a true wilderness experience. Whilst Rovaniemi is best known as the year-round home to Santa Claus, its location just south of the Arctic Circle makes it the perfect wintry escape. Whilst the Arctic Light Hotel combines modern Finnish design with the cosiness and character of a Lappish winter retreat, the Arctic TreeHouse Hotel, located in the snow laden forests near Rovaniemi, has north-facing floor to ceiling views to make the most of the Aurora-viewing opportunities. Activities include a husky safari and snowmobile adventure into the forest with a fireside supper and a Northern Lights viewing experience.
Best Served Scandinavia (0207 664 2241, best-served.co.uk) offers a three night Lapland in Style holiday from £1095pp including flights, transfers, 2 nights BB Arctic Light Hotel, 1 night HB Arctic TreeHouse Hotel, husky safari and snowmobile tour with dinner.
Expanded Range of Santa Itineraries and Experiences
Visiting Santa in Lapland is a magical experience for children and adults alike. The new brochure offers the widest range yet of different styles of accommodation, suitable for all tastes and budgets. New for 2017/18 is a Luxury Santa Break at Arctic TreeHouse Hotel, where the Arctic Glass Houses, with two double bedrooms include fun, alcove bunks for children, a well equipped kitchenette… and even a private sauna. Also new, Snow and Santa in Finnish Lapland offers two nights in the stylish Hotel Aurora, as well as a night in a Glass Igloo. The holiday includes a reindeer excursion, a private meeting with Santa and plenty of time to explore the Pyhä-Luosto National Park with optional activities including cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and snowmobiling. With all rooms facing north, it's the ideal spot for aurora viewing.
Northern Lights
There are Northern Lights itineraries to suit all budgets, and with the direct flight from London Gatwick to the Norwegian city of Tromso, in the centre of the northern aurora zone, Best Served Scandinavia offers some superb value Northern Lights viewing holidays. With a lively street scene, some great museums and art galleries as well as more pubs per capita than anywhere else in Norway, it's the perfect location for a city break with a difference. Best Served Scandinavia (0207 664 2241, best-served.co.uk) offers a four day tailor made city break from £495pp, including flights, bed and breakfast accommodation and an aurora tour. Optional excursions include husky and snowmobile safaris, whale safaris, reindeer sledding or a Northern Lights cruise.
For bookings or more information, call 0207 664 2241 or visit best-served.co.uk
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