 We have arranged a 7 night Northern Lights Tour exclusively for T&L members on February 28 to March 07, 2010 which is one of the best times to see the Northern Lights.
We have received a great response from T&L members keen to come on the Northern Lights Tour, and have received 8 confirmed bookings. We have just extended the booking deadline and would be delighted if you could join the tour.
Please see below for the following details:
- Finnish Lapland - Luosto
- Tour Agenda and Date
- Accommodation
- What’s Included
- Price
- Booking and Contact Details
- Review: The Golden Girls report on their trip to Luosto
- The Northern Lights
Discuss this tour on the T&L Forum
Plus your questions answered - including fitness and flight details...
Contact T&L to receive full tour details via email
Please note the tour will go ahead as we have received the minimum number of bookings required.
Finnish Lapland - Luosto
 The unspoilt village of Luosto is almost entirely surrounded by the fells of Central Lapland. This small ski resort offers genuine wilderness encounters but from the comfort of the excellent Luosto Tunturi Hotel and Amethyst Spa.
Dwarfed by Luosto fell this small Lappish town initially gives you the impression of being a sleepy kind of place. However, delve beneath the surface and a world of outdoor adventure and indoor comforts reveals itself.
Agenda – 7 nights: Feb 28 to Mar 07, 2010
 Sunday
Flights, arrivals and introduction
You will be greeted on arrival at Kittila Airport and transferred to the Luosto Tunturi in Luosto where you meet your guide who will outline the programme.
Monday
Cross country skiing and tepee dinner
 After breakfast you'll be kitted out with your cold weather clothing which you can keep until the end of your stay. Then you make your first foray into the snow for 2 hours of cross country skiing with a fully qualified instructor.
Warm drink and a snack included.
This evening a short snowmobile-pulled sleigh ride brings you to a teepee where you'll have dinner around a campfire.
Tuesday
Amethyst Mine
 Europe's only working amethyst mine enjoys a spectacular location on the summit of Lampivaara fell. You'll learn how the amethysts were formed two billion years ago, take a tour of the mine and dig for your own gem as a memento of the day.
Wednesday
Free day – evening Aurora House
 Today is free to try additional activities perhaps snowmobiling or take advantage of Luosto's ski slopes (payable locally).
This afternoon your guide will pick you up and transfer you to the "Aurora House". Aurora House is a specially created teepee where you will receive a fascinating Northern Lights presentation. With luck it will be the Northern Lights that guide you back to Luosto.
Thursday
Reindeer Park
 You have free time this morning before being transferred by car to a local reindeer park. Reindeer are a vital part of Lappish life and today you will be given the opportunity to learn about their importance and the lives of the herders. You will go for a short reindeer sleigh ride before having drinks around a camp fire. This is a truly Lappish experience!
Friday
Huskies and Aurora snowshoe trek
 The highlight of any visit to the Arctic is a husky safari! You will be given full instruction on how to handle a sled before heading off onto the trail and through the snowy forests for an hour long safari. Sausages around a fire will top off this fantastic trip.
By now you will have discovered that the depth of snow here is truly awesome, and very hard to walk on! This is where snowshoes come in. Tonight you will be taken on a guided snowshoe search for the Northern Lights, a magical experience under the star lit sky. You will head to a spot deep in the forest, ideal for viewing the Aurora should they appear.
Saturday
Free day
 We have left today free so that you have the opportunity to try your favourite activity again. Alternatively you can head out onto Luosto's downhill ski slopes, simply relax in the Sauna or soak up the surroundings.
Sunday
Departure
All good things must unfortunately end and today you will head back to Kittila for your return flight. You will however be safe in the knowledge that you have had a true taste of Lapland and memories to last a lifetime!
Accommodation
Luosto Tunturi Hotel and Amethyst Spa
 In our opinion, the Luosto Tunturi and Amethyst Spa is undoubtedly one of the best hotels you can find anywhere north of the Arctic Circle.
The hotel is owned and run by our very good friend Juha-Pekka (‘JP’) and you’re sure to spot him rushing around making sure everything is in order. He and his staff are always there with a welcoming smile and will always go the extra distance to ensure your stay is an enjoyable one.
The standard rooms are spacious and all have en-suite toilet/shower (with hairdryer and clothes drying cabinet), minibar, digital TV, telephone and a two seater sofa in each room.
It’s highly unlikely that you will ever go hungry in Lapland with a choice of three different restaurants, the Tunturi offers a wide range of very good dishes. Half board includes a hot and cold breakfast buffet, main course and dessert. It’s also worth trying the bistro which serves burgers, pizzas and pasta dishes, but best of all is the a la carte menu. You’ll struggle to find a better pan fried reindeer steak anywhere in Lapland.
 It’s warm in the spa and pool no matter what the weather’s like outside. The pool has a variety of massage jets as well as an amethyst cave Jacuzzi. In the sauna wing, the Finnish and Turkish saunas combined with massage, treatment and fitness centre offer both relaxation and the chance for a workout.
What’s Included
- 7 nights at Luosto Tunturi Hotel
- Half Board
- Cross Country Skiing, Dog Sledding, Reindeer Park, Amethyst Mine, Aurora Snowshoe Trek, Tepee Dinner and Aurora House
- Luosto Tunturi Hotel spa pool areas including jacuzzis, saunas, steamrooms and fitness centre
- Cold weather clothing for the duration of your stay
- Fully qualified wilderness guides and instructors
- Direct flight from Gatwick to Kittila (options: you can travel from Manchester to Kittila, or you can meet us at Kittila)
- Return airport transfers
Price
Price per person (based on prepared to share) - £1,385.00
Land only price per person (based on prepared to share) - £1,185.00
Supplements
- Single Supplement - £210
- Flight Supplement (Manchester departures on request) - £40
- Snowmobile Safari (based on 2 people sharing a snowmobile) - £85 per person
For the latest conversions please see: http://www.xe.com/
Booking and Contact Details
Booking Deadline – One week prior to departure.
If you are keen to join us or would like to be sent the full tour details, please email us at info@thelmandlouise.com
 The tour is being organised for Thelma and Louise by Activities Abroad (ATOL Number: 6865), a leading independent specialist tour operator for both summer and winter adventure holidays and activity breaks. Activities Abroad have organised many tours to see the Northern Lights, including the 'Golden Girls' trip which was a great success.
Alternatively, if you would like to book a place on the tour or have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact Stephanie Eddy from Activities Abroad who will be very pleased to assist you. Stephanie's email address is: steph@activitiesabroad.com and her telephone number is: 00 44 (0) 1670 789 991. Stephanie and her colleagues have first hand experience of the destination, so if you have specific questions about any aspect of the holiday, for example the hotel or the activities etc, there is always somebody you can talk to at Activities Abroad!
NB: Minimum booking of 6 people (8 confirmed bookings already).
The Golden Girls report on their trip to Luosto
 "We all wanted to see the Aurora Borealis - a once in a life time, amazing experience -never to be forgotten, but the chances of seeing it in Britain were minimal. We had to improve the odds and that was why five mature ladies decided to fly inside the Arctic Circle to Luosto in Finland with the ‘Activities Abroad’ travel company”.
To read the Golden Girls' review click here.
The Northern Lights
 The sight of the lights shimmering and dancing across the night sky will be etched in the memory of all those who are lucky enough to witness it.
The phenomenon of the Northern Lights has fascinated the Sámi people for centuries and there are more than 20 folk tales that attempt to explain their existence. In many parts of Lapland the Northern lights are known as the Firefox. Legend has it that the tail of a running fox brushing against the powder snow causes the sparks in the sky. It is also said that the Arctic Sea contains so many fish that the sun's light is reflected off their scales and creates the patterns in the sky.
Today's science means that we now know that the Aurora Borealis displays we see are caused by electrically charged particles in space hitting the earth's atmosphere. When they collide with oxygen and nitrogen particles they emit excess energy as light.
Although the Aurora Borealis can be seen from northerly parts of the United Kingdom the occurrences are rare and the intensity of the displays tend to be low. The further north you travel the better your chances of viewing the lights.
The optimum time to see the Northern lights is between 9pm and 1am in the morning. Be careful not to go to bed too soon or you may miss out. The intensity of the displays can vary and may start with a small stationary glow or arch in the night sky before building into a spectacular show.
The Aurora Borealis is a purely natural phenomenon and therefore cannot be guaranteed whichever destination you choose. However, the further north you travel and the further away from man-made light you are, the better your chance to see the Northern lights. A night safari will give you the perfect opportunity to see the Aurora Borealis as we take you deep into the darkness (and our guides know all the best view points!).
Lying on a reindeer skin in deep snow, watching the sky shimmer and drinking hot berry juice is an excellent way to spend part of your holiday! Whatever you believe about the Aurora Borealis there is no more spectacular experience on Earth than sitting in a winter wonderland watching the lights dancing across the sky. It is truly magical!
| 
home