Northern Lights Hunters

Arctic Travel and Northern Lights

Arctic travel and Northern Lights specialists, Off the Map Travel, have this week launched a range of new experiences for guests interested in experiencing the best of the Northern Lights, culture, adventure and food of the Arctic region.

Whether dining in a private mobile restaurant; floating under the Northern Lights; glamping in the wilderness with a clear view of the night sky – or the world's only Snow Sauna, there are plenty of new experiences for those planning an Arctic adventure this winter.

New for foodies to experience this winter include:

Go wild with the Aurora Hideaway dinner:

The Aurora hideaway is a destination dining experience with a difference. The hideaway is a mobile restaurant on skis meaning it can be moved by snowmobile to the most stunning and remote areas of the Swedish Arctic wilderness. Guests can indulge in a candlelit dinner inside the hideaway of locally sourced delicacies cooked on an open fire, and then step out into nature, under the night sky and (conditions permitting) the Northern Lights.

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 Get into the Scandinavian spirit at the world's most northerly distillery:

The Arctic, with its local herbs, berries and melting glacier water offers the perfect conditions for distilling spirits and guests can experience an immersive tour at the world's northernmost distillery. Guests will be guided by passionate experts and will see, feel and smell the Arctic ingredients as they experience the art of Arctic distillation, learning about Viking drinking customs and Northern Norwegian drinking habits along the way. Extending the AuroraSpirit distillery with snowshoeing or photography in Lyngenfjord; and dinner, a hot tub and Northern Lights hunting from the distillery's Arctic setting – and you have a full arctic experience.

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Immerse yourself through dogsledding and fine dining:

For those looking to combine great food and an Arctic adventure, a new experience in Norway run by a husband and wife team has been launched, which combines their passions for dogsledding and gourmet food in a new immersive luxury Arctic experience. The adventure starts at the home of Johnny Trasti, Trine Lyrek and their Alaskan huskies, a spectacular Eco Lodge nestled in the forest. During the day, guests will not only learn to drive (or mush) their own dogsled team, but will also return to the lodge to enjoy a fine dining experience which blends traditional and modern cuisine with local ingredients.

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New for those looking for a once in a lifetime Arctic and Northern Lights adventure:

Hunt for the Northern Lights from your remote luxury Aurora wilderness Camp cabin with a clear roof:

This new experience offers a new and exciting way to sleep under the Arctic night sky, with a mobile wilderness camp including cabins complete with a clear roof, allowing you to hunt for the Northern Lights from the comfort of your wilderness bed. Aurora Wilderness Camp in Kilpisjärvi, Finland, includes two mobile sleeping huts which are placed in the best possible Northern Lights spotting locations, and around an Arctic fire, on which you cook your dinner and learn more about local culture and the Northern Lights from your guide. The night is then spent getting back to nature, with the comfort of your glamping cabin to retire back to.

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Celebrate New Year twice the Scandinavian way in Finland and Sweden:

This once in a lifetime experience offers guests a chance to travel back in time and see in the new year twice once in Finnish and again in Swedish Lapland, and all in a perfect sport to experience the majesty of the Northern Lights. Guests will be treated to champagne from the ice bar, a 3-course gala dinner, fireworks, bonfires and a traditional sauna, all in the Arctic wilderness on the frozen river Kalix. The New Year's celebrations are enjoyed by locals as well as guests so there will be a chance to mingle, dance and sauna with the local Finnish and Swedish people as well as family, friends and other guests. The time difference of one hour between the countries allows for leisurely enjoyment of both New Years.

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Take an Arctic dip with Aurora and Arctic floating:

Taking a dip in a frozen lake is not the first experience that comes to mind on a luxury Northern Lights adventure, however many are raving about this quirky new Arctic experience. Off the Map Travel have uncovered two of the best ways to experience the Northern Lights and Arctic scenery where guests wear a head-to-toe high-quality rescue suit, allowing them to comfortably take a dip in the frozen Arctic waters, lie back and relax. Whether in Finland under the night sky hunting the Aurora, or in Sweden whilst taking an adventure on an Arctic icebreaker, this is one to add to your Arctic travel bucket list.

New Aurora floating experience, Finland:

Off the Map Travel

New Icebreaker and Arctic floating experience, Sweden:

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Finally, for those wanting to unwind in the Arctic:

Feel the health benefits of the world's only snow sauna:

Guests can now experience pure rest and relaxation in the world's first sauna made from snow, at the Arctic Snow Hotel and Glass Igloos in Finland.  This is a truly unique sauna experience where the snow creates an instant blast of steam, making the health benefits for mind and body the equivalent to a steam room. The snow sauna is the latest edition to their suite of amazing snow architecture and their spa offerings, which also includes a traditional Finnish sauna, and jacuzzi under the Northern Lights.

Off the Map Travel

Escape modern life through yoga and husky therapy:

Dog lovers looking to experience a mixture of Scandinavian hospitality, relaxation and mindfulness should look no further than this wellness experience. In the welcoming cocoon of a family run farm in Rovaniemi, Finland, guests can refresh both body and mind in spectacular surroundings. This holistic experience combines a variety of yoga sessions with a trained specialist in a custom-built yoga shala on shore of the lake, with either dog sledding or hiking (depending on the season) alongside the family's eight adorable Siberian huskies.

Off the Map Travel

'The Northern lights are the top of many travel bucket lists and for good reason, experiencing them is humbling and almost spiritual and that's why we are dedicated to bringing new and excited ways for our guests to enjoy this natural wonder for themselves," says Jonny Cooper, Aurora travel expert and owner of Off the Map Travel. 'The team have pulled together new culinary, therapeutic and high-octane adventure experiences which are both luxurious and distinctive."

For more information on any of the new Arctic Travel experiences, visit www.offthemap.travel; call +44 (0) 800 566 8901; or join in the conversation on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube or Pinterest