Arctic Circle Aurora Adventure

• 6 nights fully equipped chalets with twin rooms and shared facilities (in 2-bed or 4-bed configurations); 1 night wilderness lodge (dormitory-style)
• 5 days of mixed activities and 1 free day
• Group normally 4 to 16, plus guides and instructors. Min. age 16 years
• Arctic clothing provided

Temperatures should remain below 0°C for the whole season, however recent years have had some unexpected fluctuations, both warmer and colder. Generally, you should expect much colder temperatures in December and January, around -25°C to -10°C. As the days get longer the temperatures rise to around freezing point by March.

Daylight hours: As we are inside the Arctic Circle, from 1 December to 7 January the sun remains just below the horizon during the day. But it is not dark - there is plenty of reflection from the snow - so expect 4-5 hours of daylight. At the end of January daylight hours increase to 6-7. In February there are 10 hours and in March 15 hours.

Northern Lights: The stunning Aurora Borealis are one of nature's most awe-inspiring sights and seeing them hover above us on a cold winter's night is an experience never to be forgotten. Scientists will tell you the Northern Lights occur when solar wind particles collide with air molecules in the earth's atmosphere, transferring their energy into light. The 'season' runs from August to April (when there is sufficient darkness). Within this window, the slightly better months are September and March. During periods of high solar activity (not forecastable) they can often be seen every night, but the sky has to be clear of cloud cover, and you need to be away from other light sources. Displays can vary in intensity - from a greenish-yellow glow moving gently around the sky, to a spectacular multi-coloured show dancing across the heavens. Sightings not only vary in intensity but in duration too, from just minutes to sometimes hours.

A mixed activity week for adults, with a good selection of guided activities and free time for independent excursions or relaxation. Although none of the activities require previous experience, a good level of fitness, agility and balance is required.

Some forest ski training and tuition will be provided during the week. The distance covered on the two-day expedition will depend on the group's fitness and on the temperature and weather conditions. Usually, you will cover approx. 7-12 km each day and the activity duration is around 4 hours plus lunch-stop by the fire.

Temperatures in this part of Sweden can drop as low as -30C (-22F). You should come prepared for such extremes. With standard precautions and good clothing, the cold weather won't be a problem but can in itself be tiring. Arctic outerwear (overall, gloves, hat, socks and winter boots) is provided - please see our essential packing list for more information.