DESTINATIONS — EUROPE
Joanna Booth looks at visiting
the Nordic region in both winter and summer
F
ew destinations can vary as much from winter to summer as those in the Nordic
countries. From winter’s sub-zero temperatures, Narnia-
like snowscapes and northern lights, the region emerges blinking into a summer where daylight never dies, and the midnight sun makes cities vibrant and the countryside idyllic. Get clients booking now for last-minute northern lights trips, or get them thinking ahead for some summer sunshine with a difference.
NORTHERN LIGHTS MIGNIGHT SUNV
l WINTER There’s no doubt that the northern lights have been having quite a season, both from the point of view of quality and frequency of sightings, and from the resulting buzz in the media. The desire to see the magical aurora dancing in the sky is at fever pitch, so why not jolt clients out of their January blues and book them a last minute trip above the Arctic Circle? There are plenty of ways to see the lights, but
most involve braving the sub-zero temperatures of an Arctic night. Not so for those staying at Hotel Kakslauttanen in Finnish Lapland. The hotel’s village of glass igloos means guests can stay in toasty, cozy comfort, gazing at the aurora and the twinkling stars from the warmth of their own bed. Daytime activities include husky and reindeer sledding and snowmobile safaris, plus there are outdoor options for night-time northern lights spotting. Taber Holidays offers a five-night trip for a family of four from £1,333 per adult and £1,009 per child under 12. This includes flights from Heathrow and
four nights’ half-board accommodation in a traditional log cabin at Hotel Kakslauttanen, plus one night in a glass igloo. There are daily departures until April 30. What could be more magical than listening to a concert in a hall made of ice, with music played on instruments made from the same chilly stuff? The first ICEconcert hall opened in Lulea, in the north of Sweden, on December 28 last year. Styled on a giant igloo, the icy grotto seats
16 January 2014 —
travelweekly.co.uk • 77
EUROPE
travelweekly.co.uk/destinations
PICTURES: BJARNE RIESTO/VISIT NORWAY; PATIN
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