Sweden, 17 January 2017: Uncovering the steamy past of the Arctic's frozen wastes is just one of the exciting pursuits offered in three new winter holidays from Simply Sweden (01427 700115; www.simplysweden.co.uk), the Scandinavian travel specialist.

Uncovering the Arctic's steamy past

Guests can discover how scorching-hot desert turned into freezing Arctic wilderness on the new trip Svalbard Archipelago – Winter. This five-night adventure in the home of the polar bear includes the chance to uncover Svalbard's fascinating natural history with the help of an expert geologist, as well as snowmobile safaris, mountain hikes and husky driving. Guests stay at Svalbard Hotel in Longyearbyen, the world's northernmost town. Available until May, from £1,395 per person, based on two sharing, including return flights and transfers and B&B accommodation.

Pure silence in the Swedish backwoods

The silent, snowy forests of Ockelbo, home to lynx and wolf, are the relaxing setting for Escape – Swedish Style (Winter), a new three-night seasonal break. Guests stay at Stilleben, a stylish boutique hotel fashioned from a former village school, just two hours from bustling Stockholm. And they can recharge their batteries skiing, ice-skating, snowshoeing, ice-fishing and riding Icelandic horses – or just relaxing in the sauna and hot tub. Available until mid-March, from £1,050 per person, based on two sharing, including return flights, train transfers or car hire, and full board.

A cabin fit for a Viking

A new Viking Cabin, beautifully decorated with Sami arts and crafts, has just opened its doors at a cosy guesthouse on the banks of the river Lainio, in the heart of Swedish Lapland. It's the latest stugor (cabin) available to guests at this small complex of traditional lodgings at Kangos, a tiny village that snuggles under a blanket of snow at this time of year, offering the ultimate winter wonderland experience. Available until March, from £1,890 per person, based on two sharing, for three nights' full board in the Viking Cabin, including return flights and transfers.

The new holidays complement the four winter holidays recently launched by Simply Sweden:

• Icehotel 365 offers the chance to visit the Icehotel's innovative new sister property, which uses state-of-the-art technology to harness sustainable energy from the Midnight Sun for a year-round frozen experience. From £960 per person.
• Icehotel – Luxury Snowmobile is a trip to the famous frozen hotel, with a night in new lakeside wilderness cabins. From £1,370 per person.
• Treehotel and Loggers Lodge – Swedish Lapland takes visitors to two of the Arctic's top lodgings, featuring a husky-sled transfer through the spectacular winter landscape. From £2,070 per person.
• Kall – Jämtland is a self-catering holiday in a spacious house at the foot of Åreskuten, one of Sweden's highest peaks, close to world-class Alpine skiing in Åre. From £775 per person.

For more information and prices, visit www.simplysweden.co.uk or to book call 01427 700115. Follow developments on Twitter @Simply_Sweden and facebook.com/simplysweden.

For further information, images, or to arrange press trips, please email: travelnews@traveltappers.co.uk. Alternatively, contact Simone Kane on 07811 161839 and simone@traveltappers.co.uk and Kate Simon on 07939 526109 and kate@traveltappers.co.uk. Traveltappers is a trading name of Little Black Book Creative Ltd.

Notes to editors:

Simply Sweden began selling holidays in 2006 and has become one of the UK's leading tailor-made tour operators to Scandinavia; in 2016, it added the Faroe Islands, in the Kingdom of Denmark, to its range of destinations. The company, founded by Chris and Karin Graham, draws on the inside knowledge of its small Sweden-based team, gained from travelling extensively across the territories, to create itineraries that offer customers the best experiences and deliver a genuine insight into the Scandinavian way of life.

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