Enjoy a 3-night break at Brandon Lodge for an exciting Swedish Lapland Escape in a beautiful remote part of Lulea. Nestled in the woods, but also close to the sea, it's a great spot for winter activities and hunting for the Northern Lights.
This is no ordinary sea – in the winter months, the Bay of Bothnia freezes creating an incredible frozen wonderland to discover by snowmobile, husky, or even by hovercraft. It also makes it the perfect location for trying to hunt for the Northern Lights.
Location
Sweden
Duration
3 Nights
Available dates
Dec - Mar
Price per person (excl. flights)
from £2,000
Overview
Highlights
- 3 nights based in a prime location for aurora spotting
- Experience a brilliant Aurora Hideaway Dinner
- Experience some of the best winter activities
What’s included
- 3 nights accommodation at Brandon Lodge
- Full Board
- Aurora Hideaway Dinner
- Aurora Observatory
- Snowmobiling Excursions
- Husky Sledding
- Arctic outer winter clothing for the duration of your stay
- Return transfer from Lulea Airport
A note on flights
While flights are not included in the holiday price, our team will happily provide a quote and arrange them for you. Simply ask one of our Travel Experts for details of the available options.
Day by Day Itinerary
Day 1
Arrive ar Brandon Lodge
Experience a seamless transition from Lulea Airport by private taxi transfer to your accommodation for the next four nights, Brandon Lodge.
After you’ve settled into your warm private lodge, take some time to unwind in the evening. Enjoy a private soak in the hot tub and add on a sauna session, setting the stage for a relaxed dinner. Following your meal, venture outside and try your luck at spotting the Northern Lights over the bay, as night sets in, the peace and quiet arrives at Brandon Lodge and just a short walk from your accommodation there is always a log fire on in the teepee and a warm drink in the reception area at the main building. With dark skies and fabulous views over the bay there is always the possibility of seeing the Northern Lights.
Day 2
Dog Sledding
Today, prepare for an exhilarating adventure as you embark on a dog sledding expedition. You’ll join a skilled team of mushers, learn the art of mushing, and take the reins of your own sled. Together with your loyal canine companions, you’ll traverse the enchanting frozen landscapes, meandering through the snow-capped forests and across serene frozen lakes. A midday break will provide the perfect opportunity to savor a satisfying lunch before tending to the well-being of the huskies.
As nightfall graces the Arctic, you’re in for an astronomical treat. Join Ulf Jonsson, a passionate amateur astronomer who owns an observatory conveniently located near Brandon Lodge. Under his expert guidance, peer through the telescope’s lens and explore the mysteries of the night skies. What wonders await your gaze? With luck on your side, you may be treated to the breathtaking spectacle of the Northern Lights, painting the heavens with vibrant hues, alongside a backdrop of captivating constellations. An evening of celestial discovery awaits you.
Day 3
Snowmobiling Adventure
Get ready for an action-packed day that promises exhilarating experiences from dawn till dusk. Your adventure begins with a thrilling choice: snowmobiling through the enchanting snowy forests or racing across the icy expanses of the frozen archipelago.
The path you tread will be determined by the month of your travel, each offering its own unique spectacle. If you’re visiting during the winter months, the snowy forests will be your playground, where you’ll rev up your snowmobile and conquer the winding trails beneath the snow-laden trees. Alternatively, if your journey falls during the frosty embrace of the archipelago season, you’ll find yourself gliding across the frozen sea, surrounded by a vast expanse of glistening ice and snow-covered islands. No matter the choice, this thrilling adventure will leave your heart pounding and your spirits soaring.
As the day turns to night, prepare for an extraordinary dining experience like no other. You’ll be whisked away onto the frozen expanse of a tranquil ice-covered lake for an Aurora Hideaway Dinner. Imagine a table set amidst the Arctic wilderness, the starry night sky above, and the Northern Lights dancing overhead. It’s a culinary escapade that transcends the ordinary, offering a dining experience that is both unique and unforgettable. Savour delectable dishes in the midst of this enchanting natural spectacle, creating memories that will linger long after you’ve returned home. Tonight, you dine under the stars and the shimmering auroras, making it an evening to cherish forever.
Day 4
Returning Home
Today you check out and head home – leaving this beautiful part of Swedish Lapland behind you. However, if you want to extend your stay and explore more places then be sure to speak to our Aurora specialists who will be more than happy to give you some guidance on where else you can discover this part of the world.
Where You'll Stay
Brandon Lodge Lulea Archipelago
This beautifully situated lodge rests at the edge of the Lulea Archipelago with easy access to explore the expanse by boat or snowmobile depending on the season.
Each of the 15 cabins at Brändön Lodge has two bedrooms with 2 single beds in each room. In one room the two single beds can be joined into a double bed on request. The cabin has a bathroom and small kitchen if required. The front of the cabin includes a balcony and all cabins have a view over the sea.
In the main Lodge building is a relaxation lounge, bar and restaurant.
Enquire Now
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Reviews
See what our clients say
A fantastic short break which fulfilled all expectations. Well organised with a polished delivery, we could not have asked for more. The accommodation was perfect for us and the guides knowledgeable and helpful. Every day was packed with adventure, each lasting longer than scheduled but we were never rushed; the guides took pride in showing and explaining their beautiful country. We would certainly use Weekend a la carte again and recommend them to others.
Carol Mumford
An amazing trip and excellent service provided by all involved. Great value for money too. Food was excellent. Accommodation was wonderful and the trips booked were outstanding. An amazing trip
David Watson-Cammock
Thank you for arranging a fabulous holiday, we had a really enjoyable time and would love to return in the future. Hotel Ranga is a lovely place to stay and the owner greeted guests in the restaurant, which was an unexpected welcoming touch. We didn’t see the Northern Lights due to the weather and the trip to the Eyjafjallajokull glacier and volcano was substituted by an excursion to Thorsmork, also due to the weather, which we thoroughly enjoyed; the brochure description doesn’t do it justice. We found Iceland and the people there really charismatic. Although the wind and snow cut short the amount of travelling we could do, we still covered a reasonable amount of what we wanted to see and our appetites are whetted for a return, perhaps in Spring or Summer. We found a couple of great places to eat near the Hotel in Reykjavik. Messin does tasty fish dishes and the Icelandic Street Food restaurant was excellent, offering simple but hearty soups with refills included in the price – great value.
Nigel Goadsby
We booked with Aurora for a short winter break to celebrate an event. We wanted something special and that’s what we got. Clear information was backed up with straightforward booking detail, and we had a super, holiday with no complications.
The holiday exceeded my expectations and I will use Aurora in the future. Thank you!
David Foley
We enjoyed both the hotels that were arranged by weekend a la Carte Aurora nights. The Porsmork trip was very enjoyable, both guides were fantastic and informative.
The Northern Light hunt trip out of Reykjavik with Superjeep was an adventure and we got to see the lights, worth braving the cold at -6.
David Rogers
Dear Abigail, We have safely returned from Iceland and we wanted to say a huge and sincere thank you for all the plans that you put into place to make this one of the most memorable holidays we have ever had. It was simply beautiful each and every day. The cabin was idyllic and so cosy and warm. The tour guides were so knowledgeable and friendly and the scenery was breathtaking. All the arrangements worked so well and we will remember the trip for a long time to come.
Thank you once again.
Gillian Griffiths
We did the aurora nights break and had a great time overall. Everything related to flights, hire car, and hotels ran smoothly. There were a few issues largely relating to the weather and driving conditions (we travelled in mid March), but what we did manage to do was amazing.
The blue lagoon was easy to access from the airport and was a brilliant experience. We booked the standard package and it came with a free drink and face mask. Facilities were clean and organised with free toiletries in the shower rooms, which helps if you’ve gone there straight from the airport.
The drive to Hotel Ranga afterwards was long but fine (check out the road on google streetview to know what to expect). The hotel and staff were great. We were limited to one option as vegetarians on the bar and a la carte menus, but the food was lovely and if you are a meat eater you will see options of unusual dishes like puffin and reindeer.
Our northern lights super jeep trip was cancelled on both nights due to a poor forecast, but we were lucky enough to get an aurora wake up call from Hotel Ranga the first night. We couldn’t use the hottubs as there are only a few and they were always taken in the limited time we spent at the hotel, so don’t go expecting to get lots of time in one and you won’t be disappointed. View them as an add on if you can time it right. We were travelling with an 11 year old, so we didn’t stay up really late. If you are a couple you probably have a better chance of getting one later on.
The glacier/volcano super jeep trip was outstanding. Our driver, Íbí was excellent. She went above and beyond and gave us such an awesome experience. We were also super lucky with the weather the first two days and had great views across Iceland.
The ice cave tour was also incredible and the guides running it were excellent. The group size was much bigger than expected (especially after the more exclusive volcano super jeep tour), but it was broken down into smaller groups that were managed well, with plenty of time factored in for photographs. There were several unexplained delays getting to the cave during the tour that meant we weren’t able to ‘mini tour’ the rest of the South Coast afterwards, so if you plan to do the ice cave don’t overplan for the afternoon as you may not have much time. Not a huge disappointment for us as we got to experience the cave, but I imagine someone who planned a full itinerary afterwards might be frustrated by the estamiated timings not always being right and subject to change with the weather (which was wicked that day).
Driving around Reykjavik was a horrible experience as we arrived around rush hour and weren’t prepared for all the traffic, having only experienced quiet roads along the south coast. It was difficult finding a parking space, so be prepared to drive around a little when you arrive. If you haven’t driven on the right before and are not a confident driver this could leave you feeling stressed. Again, check out the roads into Reykjavik on Google maps to get a sense of what awaits if you aren’t used to self-driving.
We didn’t get to tour the golden circle because of road conditions/ice/road closures, so we spent the day in Reykjavik instead. This turned out okay for us as we did some of the attractions (Lava Centre and Fly Over Iceland – both hughly recommended), but it ended up being an extra expense and we missed out on the golden attractions. Again, not a big issue if you are aware this could happen. The weather is so changeable that having a plan B is a good approach.
Weekend a la Carte sent us a text warning us about the bad weather conditions, which we’d already seen on the Safe Iceland app, but we were grateful for anyway. It was good to know they were looking out for us!
All in all, a remarkable trip, with some unique experiences. If you book this in the knowledge that nature will have her own way, and you may not see everything you want (especially in winter), you will have a great time. Ranga is definitely the best place to maximise your chances of seeing the lights.
Sarah Brooks
What a fantastic trip! I booked this for myself and my husband to celebrate my 40th birthday and it didn’t disappoint! Booking was simple and we were kept up to date with all the details from the office team in the UK.
From the moment we arrived at Kiruna airport all the staff we encountered were so friendly and couldn’t do enough for us. We opted for the upgraded room at the Abisko Mountain Lodge which I would highly recommend. The cold weather clothing which was supplied was fantastic and kept us really warm in the sub-zero temperatures. The dog sledging, snowmobiling and the Northern Lights photography were all superb and the staff leading the trips were really friendly and so knowledgeable. Even though we weren’t able to do the sky station trip because of the weather, there was a lovely alternative evening organised for us which included a traditional dinner and a walk to the lake where we were able to see the lights. The food at the lodge was also exceptional and showcased some lovely traditional dishes using Moose and Reindeer which were wonderful to try.
I would like to send a massive thank you to all the staff at The Abisko Mountain Lodge as well as the guides we used for our guided walks, dog sledging and snowmobiling. I’d highly recommend the trip, it was our first visit to Sweden and we would definitely return. Thanks again to everyone (including the huskies) who made it so memorable!
Carly Webster