New Year & Xmas Northern Lights Breaks to Swedish Lapland & Iceland

We have four super Aurora breaks over the seasonal period for you to go and see the Northern Lights over Christmas and New Year. We appreciate that everyone is short of time at this period so all four Northern Lights breaks have been jam packed with activities to make as much of your short time there as possible. You will come back from your short Northern Lights Trip feeling as if you have been away for so much longer.

This is probably the only time of the year where it is difficult for us to tailor-make a Northern Lights Holiday as we have to put a set programme in place in some instances 12 months ahead in order to ensure we have flights and hotels to match the wonderful Northern Lights tours we combine into the breaks.

New Year is the most popular as people look to escape with friends, after their fun with the family over Christmas.

The Iceland New Year Classic break as a trip over New Year to see the Northern Lights is a popular one as the New Year Fireworks in Reykjavik are world famous. Unlike in the UK where we have bonfire night and one dedicated show of fireworks, in Reykjavik it is very different. Just about every household in Reykjavik lets off fireworks during the night which builds  to a crescendo at midnight. It really is a crazy spectacular night with fireworks going off all over the city. To help you see the best of them you take a Firework cruise out of the old harbour at 11 o clock together with a glass of champagne to toast in the New Year. For the last two years our clients have seen the Northern Lights as well as the Fireworks on New Years Eve– what a bonus! The boat goes just outside the harbour so you see the whole waterfront of Reykjavik without being too far away.

We then combine this with a 2 night stay in a country rural farm far away from artificial lights so as not to spoil any Northern Lights. It is also in the heart of superjeep adventures so you can visit up close volcanoes, glaciers and go river fjording in the superjeeps, and there is time to also self explore the black volcanic beaches and dramatic waterfalls in the area. We call this area “Northern Lights Alley” as it has great incidences of the Northern Lights showing due to the nearby clear sky microclimate created by the glaciers.

The New Year Northern Lights in Abisko break always sells out fast offering 4 nights in Abisko, considered by many to be the best place in Europe to see the Northern Lights. This action packed break combines Husky and Snowmobile Safaris, a visit to the extraordinary Ice Hotel with 2 nights focused on the Northern Lights; A trip up the Abisko Sky Station and a Northern Lights Photo Tour. On this tour you will be provided with cameras which are pre-set to enable you to take incredible photos of the Northern Lights that can be used to impress your friends back home. Many of our clients have seen the Northern Lights from the chair-lift as they are going up to the Abisko Sky Station, and the views across the frozen lake with the Northern Lights dancing above is a sight you will never forget.

Our other New Years Eve break in Lapland is based at the wonderful Mattarahkka Lodge. This intimate “Home from Home” lodge only has 7 rooms, and is situated on an elevation with wonderful views across the Arctic Tundra. The lodge has a sauna, and a Hot Tub on the roof. This is the perfect romantic place to relax and wait to see if the Northern Lights are going to show! New Year’s Eve is spent with a local Sami Innuit who will introduce you to both his traditional and modern lifestyle. With the incredible IceHotel just a short drive away this is a must go and see this years creations of the new art suites and Ice Hotel Chapel and bar, and of course being in Lapland a superb Husky Sled Ride is included. What is very special about Mattarahkka Lodge is that due to its location the snowmobiling starts right outside your front door, and you head off with a guide to explore the wilderness.

Finally for a Northern Lights Trip over the actual Christmas period we have the Ultimate Christmas Northern Lights Holiday. This is a perfect break for families with teenage children looking to go and hunt for the Northern Lights. This twin destination break is split between the homely and personal Mattarahkka lodge and Abisko Mountain Lodge. This offers the perfect combination to do all the best daytime activities, whilst being in the right place for Northern Lights in the evenings. Abisko is not called “The Northern Lights Capital” for nothing!! The Husky Sledding will take through the wilderness on a frozen river in a picturesque river valley is a very special experience and you can take turns driving, or Mushing as it is called!  The Snowmobile Safari starts directly outside the Mattarahkka lodge and you will take snowmobile tracks into the most stunning wilderness Arctic tundra.

You will have time to walk through the gorgeous National Park; Snow Shoes are available to use and a day train trip will take you across the border into Norway to see Narvik, the scene of a fierce naval battle in the second world war, but now a peaceful, though dramatic, steep sided Mountain Fjord.

One evening you will meet a local Sami in her tepee and she will talk you through how her current lifestyle is still geared around the 8 seasons dedicated to managing their Reindeers. When in Abisko you will go up the Sky Station to hopefully seen the Northern Lights dancing above your head with the view stretched out beneath them, and you!

A Northern Lights Photography evening will also result in some stunning photos, that you took yourself with preset cameras that are provided, which you can take home to impress.

Your Grand finale on this Northern Lights Holiday which the whole family will be amazed by is a stop at the famous Ice Hotel to see the latest creations and art suites.