Nordic countries have yet again stormed the UN's World Happiness Report listings for the world's happiest countries.  With Finland now at number one, the rankings put Norway at number two, Denmark at number three, Iceland at number four and Sweden at number nine.

For those searching for the elixir of happiness, specialist tour operator Best Served Scandinavia has come up with a selection of unique holidays across all five destinations.  With lively cities, breathtaking landscapes and a fabulous choice of contemporary hotels, there are plenty of options to choose from.

Visit Santa in Finnish Lapland

Now we know the secret behind Santa being so jolly. For a holiday that is sure to bring a smile to everyone's faces, take a classic Santa break to Harriniva in Finnish Lapland.  Best Served Scandinavia offers a range of Santa holidays, including a four-day holiday staying at Hotel Harriniva, a cosy wilderness retreat tucked away on the Finnish border. There's plenty to keep the kids busy and entertained including a visit to a local reindeer farm, a guided tour of a husky farm, a husky safari and a 20km long snowmobile safari and even a lasso lesson. Naturally there's a visit to the great man himself in his log cabin one evening following a sled ride through the forest. 

Best Served Scandinavia [0207 664 2241, www.best-served.co.uk] offer a four day Santa in Harriniva holiday from £1,665 per person, including return flights to Kittila, transfers, three nights in a cabin on a full board basis, warm winter clothing, a reindeer farm visit, lasso lesson and sled ride, husky farm tour and husky sled ride, snowmobile safari, cookie baking, stocking making, snowshoeing, ice fishing, tobogganing, mini snowmobile riding (for children) and a Santa Claus visit.

Soar to the Peaks on the Loen Skylift in Norway

Be exhilarated on this six day holiday which showcases fjord Norway at its very best. Best Served Scandinavia's Sognefjord, Nordfjord and Geirangerfjord itinerary, takes in three of the country's most spectacular icons, as well as a ride on the new Loen Skylift – which takes guests from sea level to 1011m to the summit of Mt Hoven – described as the roof of Norway.

Enjoy the incredible natural beauty of fjord Norway with plenty of time en route for hiking and bike rides. After a night in historic Bergen, with its colourful timber buildings and meandering alleyways, travel to Sogndal on a scenic cruise before turning inland along the mighty Sognefjord.  The journey continues through the region's UNESCO listed scenery before arriving at Loen for a ride on the newly opened Loen Skylift. This spectacular cable car climbs 1,000 metres to the summit of Mt. Hoven, offering truly dramatic views over glaciers and forested fjords. Accommodation is at the fjordside Hotel Alexandra with its superb spa, pools and massage rooms. From Loen onto Geiranger – home to what is often considered the jewel of Norway's fjords, with deep blue waters, lush green vegetation and clifftops etched with waterfalls. Travel along this magnificent fjord with Hurtigruten, for a final night in the art nouveau port town of Alesund.

Best Served Scandinavia (0207 664 2241, best-served.co.uk) offers this six day holiday from £1,210 per person including flights, transfers, cruises, all accommodation and a ticket on the Loen Skylift.

Iceland: Snaefellsnes and the Golden Circle in style

Explore Iceland's extraordinary landscapes in luxurious style on this new four-day self-drive holiday. Staying in some of Iceland's finest hotels, the holiday combines Reykjavik's urbane charms with Iceland's incredible natural spectacles of glaciers, geysers and waterfalls. Accommodation includes a stay in the fabulous boutique Ion City hotel - whilst sampling Reykjavik's rich heritage, the chance to enjoy the majestic glaciers of Snaefellsnes whilst dining in one of Iceland's finest restaurants at Hotel Budir and a night in the stilted spa masterpiece of Ion Adventure Hotel after exploring the Golden Circle. Here, you can marvel at giant waterfalls and set your watch by geyser eruptions, soaking up the surroundings from the hotel's magnificent outdoor infinity pool.  It's all linked by impossibly scenic drives.

Best Served Scandinavia (0207 664 2241, best-served.co.uk) offers this four day holiday from £1,040 per person including flights, transfers, car hire, and all accommodation on a bed and breakfast basis.

Denmark: Viking Trail Self-Drive Holiday

Drive through Denmark's historic Viking heartland and picturesque villages on Best Served Scandinavia's Viking Trail self-drive holiday. 

This seven-day holiday begins in the Danish capital Copenhagen at 71 Nyhavn, a stylish warehouse conversion in the heart of the city. Soak up the culture of the country's most important Viking sites including Roskilde, a picturesque town which was the capital of Denmark during the Viking Age, overlooking Roskilde Fjord and home to the Gothic cathedral where Harald Bluetooth is buried. West of Roskilde is Lejre, once an important Viking settlement featuring in the story of Beowulf.  The Land of Legends is an outdoor museum where history is brought to life with reconstructed villages from the Viking era, Stone and Iron Ages. The next stop on this Viking journey is Trelleborg, a fortress dating back to 980, built by Harald Bluetooth. 'Real Vikings' can be encountered here offering an insight into their daily life including the opportunity to taste traditional Viking brew and a demonstration of combat skills.

Best Served Scandinavia (0207 664 2241, best-served.co.uk) offer a six night viking inspired self-drive holiday from £895 per person including flights, accommodation and car hire.

Autumn Aurora in Sweden

Whilst aurora viewing is usually associated with snowy landscapes and cold wintry nights, few people are aware of the opportunities to view the Northern Lights in autumn. In fact, the Northern Lights are at their most active in the colourful months before winter, with the Earth's orientation maximising the probability of solar flares.  Viewing the lights is a different experience in autumn, with options to enjoy evenings on pretty lake shores, hunt the Northern Lights by mountain bike and walk through wildlife filled forests.

There's a five day tailor made itinerary in Sweden, Autumn Adventure at Brandon Lodge and the Treehotel, which combines a stay in a treehouse with a log cabin by the sea - a perfect autumn adventure.  This new itinerary includes 3 nights in idyllic log cabins at Brandon Lodge on the shore overlooking an archipelago of 1,300 islands where the remote beauty of Swedish Lapland can be explored with an included wilderness skills session. A local guide teaches Arctic survival skills in the forest with lessons on fire-making, cooking and the local wildlife followed by lunch around the campfire.  There's also a Northern Lights walk one evening which heads for a clearing away from light pollution on a hunt for these natural wonders.  The final night is spent away from the coast at the Treehotel deep into Swedish Lapland's forests offering truly unique, treetop accommodation. Choose from rooms ranging from a mirrored cube and floating UFO to a bird's nest and an entire cabin strung up at canopy level. There's also a full range of activities available, including zip lines, river kayaking, forest hikes and moose safaris.

This five day tailor made tour with Best Served Scandinavia (0207 664 2241, best-served.co.uk) starts from £1,695 per person including flights, transfers, 3 nights at Brandon Lodge on a half-board basis, a Nordic Wilderness Skills excursion, a guided Northern Lights walk with dinner, 1 night in a tree room at the Treehotel (including lunch on arrival, dinner and breakfast).

Commenting on the World Happiness Report, product manager Kirsi Jokela who also happens to be Finnish said, “It's great to see Finland recognised as the home of happiness and there is certainly plenty to experience in my homeland that will bring a smile to the faces of holiday makers.  With a broad range of holidays to choose from across five of the top ten happiest countries in the world, Best Served Scandinavia's team of experts can build tailor made itineraries to create the perfect Nordic escape.”

For bookings or more information, call 0207 664 2241 or visit best-served.co.uk

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