The Ice and Lights Trail
- Tour ID: HAM3
Tour Info:
- Duration: 12 Days / 11 Nights
- Seasons: Winter
- Travel Style: Independent, Multi Country
- Countries: Finland, Lapland, Norway, Sweden
- Available: January to April
Journey from stylish Stockholm into the heart of the Arctic on a spectacular winter adventure through Swedish Lapland and northern Norway. Travel by overnight train to Kiruna, experience an unforgettable night inside the world-famous Icehotel, explore the pristine landscapes of Abisko National Park and cross the mountains by rail into Norway.
Along the way, enjoy snow-covered wilderness, panoramic mountain views, unique Arctic accommodation and excellent opportunities to search for the Northern Lights. Dine high above Abisko at the Aurora Sky Station, take in magnificent views over Narvik’s fjords and finish your journey in vibrant Tromsø, one of the best-known destinations in the Arctic.
Combining Scandinavian cities, Arctic rail journeys, winter wilderness and memorable experiences, the Ice and Lights Trail is an ideal introduction to northern Scandinavia.
Highlights:
- Explore beautiful Stockholm
- Stay at Ice Hotel
- Discover the Arctic wilderness of Abisko National Park
- Four-course Nordic-inspired Aurora Dinner at the Aurora Sky Station
- Excellent opportunities to experience the Northern Lights
- Travel the Arctic route from Narvik to Tromsø
Price Includes:
- 6 nights selected hotel accommodation with breakfast
- 1 night onboard the Stockholm to Kiruna overnight train in a private compartment
- 1 night in a cold room at the Icehotel with breakfast
- 1 night in a warm room at the Icehotel with breakfast
- Breakfast as specified throughout the itinerary
- Return transfers between Kiruna train station and the Icehotel
- Train from Kiruna to Abisko
- Dog sled safari
- Aurora Dinner at the Aurora Sky Station
- Train from Abisko to Narvik
- Narvik cable car
- Coach from Narvik to Tromsø
- Tromsø Fjellheisen cable car
Price Excludes:
- Items not listed under Inclusions
- Flights
- Travel Insurance
Itinerary:
Arrive in Stockholm according to your individual travel arrangements.
Built across 14 islands and surrounded by waterways, Sweden’s capital combines beautiful architecture, fascinating history and contemporary Scandinavian style. Spend the remainder of the day exploring at your own pace.
Wander through the cobbled streets and colourful buildings of Gamla Stan, Stockholm’s atmospheric Old Town, browse the shops and cafés or find a welcoming restaurant for your first evening in Sweden.
After breakfast, enjoy a full day at leisure to continue exploring Stockholm.
You may wish to visit the fascinating Vasa Museum, explore Skansen Open Air Museum, see the Royal Palace and City Hall or simply enjoy the shops, cafés and waterfront areas of the city.
Later this evening, make your way to Stockholm Central Station and board the overnight train north to Kiruna. Settle into your private compartment as you travel through Sweden towards the Arctic.
Accommodation onboard the overnight train.
Arrive in Kiruna this morning and transfer to the extraordinary Icehotel in Jukkasjärvi.
The remainder of the day is yours to discover this remarkable hotel created from ice and snow. Explore the individually designed ice rooms and spectacular frozen art installations or choose from a variety of optional winter experiences such as snowmobiling or ice sculpting.
Tonight, experience one of the highlights of the journey with an overnight stay in a cold room at the Icehotel. Your bed is constructed from ice and topped with insulating mattresses and reindeer hides, while a thermal sleeping bag keeps you warm throughout the night.
Accommodation: Icehotel cold room
Wake to a warm drink before enjoying breakfast at the Icehotel.
Today, head out on an included dog sledding adventure through the beautiful Arctic wilderness surrounding Jukkasjärvi. Experience the excitement of travelling across the snow behind a team of energetic huskies while taking in the peaceful winter landscapes of Swedish Lapland.
The remainder of the day is free to enjoy the Icehotel and its Arctic surroundings at your own pace.
Optional activities may also be available, including snowmobiling or ice sculpting.
After your memorable cold-room experience, spend tonight in the comfort of a warm room at the Icehotel.
Accommodation: Icehotel warm room
After breakfast, transfer back to Kiruna train station and board the train to Abisko.
The journey takes you deeper into Swedish Lapland, surrounded by expansive Arctic landscapes and snow-covered mountains.
Arrive at Abisko, beautifully located within Abisko National Park and renowned for its pristine wilderness and excellent conditions for observing the Northern Lights.
Settle into your accommodation and enjoy the peaceful Arctic surroundings.
After breakfast, head into the winter wilderness on a guided snowshoe adventure.
Travel through snow-covered birch forest before reaching more open terrain where beautiful mountain views unfold around you. Pause along the way for a traditional Swedish fika with a light snack and hot drink while enjoying the silence of the Arctic landscape.
This evening, enjoy one of the tour’s signature experiences. Travel up to the Aurora Sky Station, high above Abisko National Park, for a memorable four-course dinner inspired by Nordic flavours.
Surrounded by mountains and vast dark skies, Abisko is renowned for its favourable Northern Lights conditions. Nature permitting, you may be treated to an unforgettable display of the Aurora Borealis during the evening.
After breakfast, board the train from Abisko and travel west across the mountains towards Norway.
This is a spectacular rail journey, taking you through dramatic Arctic scenery before descending towards Narvik and the Norwegian coast.
Arrive in Narvik, beautifully positioned between snow-covered mountains and deep fjords.
Enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure to explore this historic northern Norwegian town.
After breakfast, experience Narvik from above with a journey on the cable car.
Travel high above the town and enjoy magnificent panoramic views across the surrounding mountains, fjords and Arctic landscape.
Later this afternoon, board the coach and continue north through spectacular scenery towards Tromsø.
Arrive in Tromsø and settle into your hotel for a two-night stay.
After breakfast, enjoy a day discovering Tromsø, one of northern Norway’s most vibrant Arctic cities.
Take the Fjellheisen cable car up Mount Storsteinen for spectacular views over Tromsø, the surrounding islands, mountains and fjords.
Spend the remainder of the day at leisure exploring the city. Tromsø offers excellent museums, restaurants, cafés and optional winter activities, and during the darker months there may be another opportunity to experience the magical Northern Lights.
Accommodation: Tromsø
Enjoy breakfast at your hotel before checking out and continuing with your onward travel arrangements.
Your Ice and Lights Trail through Sweden and northern Norway comes to an end today.
Map:
Important Info:
An itinerary and quotation will be prepared for your consideration. Once accepted, a deposit is required to secure the booking.
For each traveller, we require:
- Full name exactly as shown on passport
- Date of birth
- Contact phone number
- Dietary, medical or other special requirements
No services are held at quotation stage and remain subject to availability until booked and confirmed. If a quoted service becomes unavailable, we will offer a suitable alternative where possible.
Deposit amounts vary by tour and supplier and will be advised before booking. Some accommodation, cruises, Christmas/New Year arrangements and special services may require higher deposits, full payment or non-refundable payment at booking.
Final payment is generally due 90 days before travel, unless an earlier date is required by a supplier. Your booking invoice will confirm the applicable payment schedule.
Where final supplier rates have not yet been released, provisional pricing may be provided. Any applicable conditions will be explained before booking.
Your confirmed itinerary will specify all inclusions. Unless stated otherwise, prices generally exclude:
- International flights
- Travel insurance
- Meals not listed
- Optional activities
- Personal expenses
- Services not specifically listed
Comprehensive travel insurance is strongly recommended as soon as the deposit is paid, particularly where components are non-refundable.
Clients receive a 20% discount with GO Insurance. Please request a quotation.
Traveller names must exactly match the passport used for travel, including all given names and surnames. Incorrect details may result in fees or difficulties with travel arrangements.
Travellers are responsible for ensuring passports meet the validity and entry requirements of all countries visited. For the Schengen Area, Australian passports generally must:
-
- Be valid for at least 3 months after departure from the Schengen Area
- Have been issued within the previous 10 years
We recommend having at least 6 months’ passport validity remaining wherever possible. Travellers are responsible for obtaining required visas, travel authorisations and other entry documents. Requirements should be checked with relevant government authorities before travel.
Nordic itineraries may involve walking on snow/ice, uneven surfaces, stairs, boats, snowmobiles, carrying luggage and extended periods outdoors in cold weather. Activities may have age, height, health, mobility or licensing requirements.
Medical conditions, mobility limitations and accessibility needs should be advised at booking so suitable arrangements can be considered.
Dietary requirements and allergies should be advised at booking. We will make reasonable efforts to accommodate them, but cannot guarantee this, particularly in remote or wilderness locations. Travellers with serious allergies should also confirm requirements directly with meal providers.
Travellers on self-drive itineraries are responsible for holding the appropriate licence for the destination and rental provider. A valid physical licence may also be required for activities such as snowmobiling.
Accommodation will be booked in the room category shown on your confirmed itinerary. Scandinavian rooms may be smaller than Australian equivalents and configurations can differ.
Twin rooms commonly have two single beds, sometimes positioned together. Additional beds may be sofa or rollaway beds. Double rooms may also use two single beds together, with separate doonas.
If accommodation must change due to circumstances outside our control, we will seek a similar or higher standard wherever possible.
Porterage is generally not included. Travellers should be comfortable managing their own luggage.
Some trains, flights, coaches, ferries, transfers and vehicles have luggage limits. Any applicable restrictions will be advised in your travel documents. One manageable suitcase per person is recommended. Excess luggage charges are the traveller’s responsibility.
Scandinavian and Lapland travel can involve very cold temperatures, snow, ice and rapidly changing weather. Appropriate thermal layers, waterproof outerwear, gloves, hats and suitable footwear are essential. Summer weather can also change quickly, so rain protection is recommended.
Weather, road conditions or operational issues may require activities or transport to be delayed, modified, rescheduled or replaced. Safety takes priority, and suitable alternatives will be arranged where reasonably possible.
The Northern Lights are a natural phenomenon and cannot be guaranteed. Sightings depend on solar activity, weather, cloud cover and darkness. Tours are designed to maximise viewing opportunities but cannot guarantee a sighting.
Weather, transport schedules, supplier operations and other circumstances may require changes to accommodation, transport, activities or itinerary order. Where possible, comparable alternatives will be arranged and significant changes communicated.
Changes and cancellations are subject to supplier conditions and may incur fees. Some services are non-refundable from booking, with Christmas/New Year arrangements often having stricter conditions.
Please refer to the full Terms & Conditions and quotation for applicable cancellation conditions.
Unused services are generally non-refundable, including those missed due to late arrival, early departure or choosing not to participate. Where services are missed due to circumstances outside the traveller’s control, we will assist where reasonably possible, subject to supplier conditions.
A live digital itinerary will be provided before departure with confirmed arrangements, important information, contacts and relevant documents/vouchers. It may be updated in real time if arrangements change.
We recommend it is kept accessible and checked regularly. If an issue occurs during travel, contact the relevant supplier and our team as soon as possible so we have the best opportunity to resolve it. Delayed reporting may limit what can be done.
Travellers should provide a mobile number that will remain active while overseas. Suppliers such as hotels, transfer companies and activity providers may use this number to contact you.
WhatsApp may not be available with all suppliers, so travellers may sometimes need to make a direct local or international call. Before departure, check roaming, international calling, SIM and eSIM options with your mobile provider.
All phone, roaming, SIM and international calling costs are the traveller’s responsibility.
Price Includes:
Based on 3* twin share. Request pricing for other categories.
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