F


u


l


l


i


y


o


p


h


r


o


t


e


Santa Adventures (3 & 4 nights)


Xmas Adventures (5 nights)


New Year Adventures (4 nights)


c


IN FOCUS NORTHERN LIGHTS


The Northern Lights are visible much closer to home – in Scotland – although the viewings here are more erratic


Taber Holidays (www.taberhols. co.uk) has three new northern lights tours to Finnish Lapland, while Basecamp Explorer (www. basecampexplorer.com) offers stays in restored cabins aboard a Norwegian schooner in remote Svalbard. Regent Holidays (www. regent-holidays.


co.uk) has launched a new Northern Lights Explorer tour in Iceland while Sunvil Discovery (www.sunvil.co.uk)


includes a Northern Lights tour to Abisko Mountain


station in Swedish Lapland in its latest programme.


ITC Classics (www.itcclassics.co.uk) has a new Northern Lights tour to Iceland.


tourismtalk


Catherine Foster, Country Manager UK Innovation Norway "Visits from the UK are up


by an astonishing 125% year on year and we experienced a 92-95% increase in bed nights in January and February in Northern Norway. “We continue to get high interest from consumers and some of our tour


operators have great booking numbers already. The high number of winter visitors from the UK to Norway looks set to continue. We will launch our Northern Lights campaign in the UK this September.”


“One big increase we’ve seen is in designated Northern Lights


Hunting; a vehicle takes you to wherever the


chances of clear


skies are the biggest, be it inland or on the outer coast.”


asktheoperators


Michael Fleetwood, Europe Product Manager, Cox & Kings


“There is nothing quite


like seeing the lights for the fi rst time. It’s so alien but amazingly beautiful and totally captivating. Regarding barriers to selling, the only barriers really are the weather. The lights are visible from the end of September through to the end of March but there needs to be at least partially clear skies to view them. We do add a disclaimer explaining lights viewing is a natural phenomenon and can’t be guaranteed.”


Maxine Dunson Sales Manager


Hurtigruten UK and Ireland “Winter 2012/13 sees


Hurtigruten doubling the number of charter departures. The charter packages are available on two itineraries: the ‘Arctic Highlights Voyage’ from Tromsø to Kirkenes and back and the ‘Classic Round Voyage’ from Bergen to Kirkenes and back.”


Suzel Taber-Shaw, Managing Director Taber Holidays


“In most cases travellers


are happy, and understand that in order to reach some of these remote destinations, north of the Arctic Circle, it is necessary to change fl ights at least once en route. However, there are times, for certain destinations, when it may be necessary to change fl ights twice and this is more of a challenge when selling a short break holiday.”


FACTFILE 23


Where To Book It Hurtigruten


0844 272 896 www.hurtigruten.co.uk The new fi ve-day Taste of the Arctic voyage, from Tromsø to Bergen, which operates from January to March, is priced from £1080pp, including fl ights.


Taber Holidays 01274 875 199 www.taberhols.co.uk


The new seven-night Northern Lights Exploration tour starts from £1193pp with fl ights from Heathrow, transfers, accommodation, breakfast, guide, activities and excursions. Highlights include Eyjafjallajökull, Iceland’s ‘ash cloud’ volcano, walking between two tectonic plates in the UNESCO-listed Thingvellir National Park. Departures on selected Sundays from September 30 2012 to March 24 2013.


MAGICAL LAPLAND Santa Adventures


NEW picturesque Lapland resort of Olos


Lapland Holidays are inclusive of ALL ACTIVITIES (snowmobile, reindeer, husky dog sled rides, a visit to Santa’s Post Offi ce*, a meeting with Santa* and an Arctic Circle ceremony)


*Post Offi ce visit and meeting with Santa not included in New Year breaks


Reservations & Admin 0871 423 8518 or visit viewdata (Calls cost 10p per minute plus network extras)


Brochure requests: www.trade-gate.co.uk ABTA No.V0531 t


e


d


l


d


a


y


s


thedeal seal


Stay north: “Maximise the chances of seeing the


Northern Lights by staying above the Arctic Circle for the entire trip”


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36