Scandinavia, Winter 2015/2016

Taber Holidays

N O R W AY S W E D E N I C E L A N D G R E E N L A N D

SCANDINAVIAAND THE NORDIC COUNTRIES

WINTER 2015/2016

TALK TO OUR SPECIALISTS: 01274 875 1992 Taber Holidays

WHY CHOOSE US?High quality service – We are a family owned business and take pride in making you feel as comfortable as possible. We have the attitude that no question is too big or too small, and we focus on delivering exactly what you want with the trust and commitment that comes naturally to us.

Recognition – During 2009 our Managing Director, Suzel, was awarded Norway Travel Ambassador of the Year by Innovation Norway. The intention of the award is to honour those individuals among tour operators whose exceptional personal enthusiasm, drive, and love of Norway sets them apart from many other operators who also promote Norwegian products.

Experience – Taber Holidays started life in 1973 when Roy Taber, Suzel’s father, had a dream of selling holidays to Norway after his first visit developed into a life-long love affair with the country. Since then Taber Holidays has grown to encompass all the Scandinavian and Nordic countries and is now the longest serving UK tour operator to Scandinavia.

Aftercare – Travelling with us doesn’t just end when your holiday finishes. Your feedback is very important to us, and we value all comments to ensure our products are constantly the best they can possibly be. In fact, the favourite part of our job is when we receive emails from clients who want to share their holiday experience with us, through stories and photos – we love knowing you’ve had a great time!

Interest-packed itineraries – Our holidays are meticulously designed so that you really get the chance to see, hear, smell, taste and touch the place you are visiting. Scandinavia is an extraordinary region with many extraordinary ways to experience it: our holidays are aimed at sharing these with you.

Financial Security – You have peace of mind knowing that your holiday arrangements are financially protected. We provide full protection for our flight inclusive package holidays by way of our Air Travel Organiser’s Licence, number 1228. We are also members of the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA), membership number V2005, with whom we provide full financial protection for our non-flight inclusive packages by way of a bond held by them.

Front cover image © Kjetil Skogli, this image © Graeme Richardson

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3FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT: WWW.TABERHOLS.CO.UK

Why Choose Us? 2

Contents 3

Our Tailor Made Service 4

Meet the Taber Team 5

Tromsø & the Northern Lights 6

Tromsø & Lofoten Aurora Hunt 8

Northern Lights Lodge & Husky Safari 10

Tromsø & the Russian Borderlands 12

Land of the Northern Lights 14

Voyage Across the Arctic Circle 16

Sweden’s Arctic Contrasts 18

Sweden’s Icehotel 20

The Treehotel and Icehotel 22

Lapland Weekend Indulgence 24

Adventures in Swedish Lapland 26

Reykjavik & the Northern Lights 28

North Iceland & Lake Mývatn 30

Northern Lights Exploration 32

Southern Nights & Northern Lights 34

Northern Lights, Volcanoes & Glacial Lagoons 36

The Icebergs of Greenland 38

Explore Spitsbergen by Snowmobile 40

General Information 42

Booking Conditions 44

How to Book 47

Booking Form 48

CONTENTS

Taber Holidays

Brändön Lodge (see page 26) © Graeme Richardson


OUR TAILOR-MADE SERVICEWhatever you want, we can do it...well, almost! Whether it’s whale-watching in Norway, hiking on volcanoes in Iceland or simply doing nothing in your very own wilderness hideaway, we can bring together all your ideas, as well as making many helpful suggestions along the way.

Whilst our tour programmes offer a large selection of tours, we appreciate that you may have ideas of your own and that is why our tailor-made service is perfect for you. Through our love for travel and expertise of Scandinavia, Taber Holidays are here to help you create the holiday of a lifetime. Collectively we have a wealth of experience and knowledge of Scandinavia and know it inside out!

Tried and TestedOver the years our tailor-made service has provided a huge variety of alternatives. And because our team knows Scandinavia like no one else, it means we have tried and tested most things and places, so all itineraries are effectively tried and tested beforehand! We also make suggestions that are practical and achieve your objective – whether you’re seeking culture, scenery or adventure we can make sure you get it - a lot of it! We are 100% positive that you’ll have your ideal holiday because we would never suggest anywhere we haven’t been and seen for ourselves.

To plan a tailor-made holiday takes a lot of time and effort, but for a non-refundable deposit of £30 we are able to make a holiday that adheres perfectly to your needs. If you love the itinerary and decide to go ahead, the £30 will be credited towards the final balance of your holiday. We make our itineraries as comprehensive as possible - so you just provide us with the sketch and we’ll fill in the colour.

For further details and/or to discuss your requirements please:

Telephone on 01274 875199 Or email [email protected]

Taber Holidays


Suzel Taber-Shaw

Suzel is the MD and has worked for the company, in one way or another, pretty much all her life. She loves all the Nordic countries but it is fair to say that her first love must be Norway as this is where it all began when she was just 8 years old. In 2009 Suzel was awarded Norway Ambassador of the Year by Innovation Norway, an award she is extremely proud of. Suzel loves dogs and does much of her ‘managerial thinking’ whilst walking and talking to hers - she says these are some of the most productive meetings she has!

Email: [email protected]

Terry Shaw

Terry has worked at Taber Holidays for over 24 years and, although his knowledge of Norway, Sweden and Finland is excellent, his chief speciality is Iceland, a country he absolutely loves. There is nothing Terry likes better than a juicy tailor-made itinerary for Iceland and his obvious enthusiasm for all things Icelandic is infectious! Terry handles reservations to all destinations and is a key contributor to the development of our Iceland tour programme - there isn’t an inch of it he doesn’t know!


Jo Chapman

Jo has worked at Taber Holidays for over 21 years and as a result there is very little she doesn’t know or cannot do. She is responsible for reservations, travel itineraries and travel tickets and also ensures our IT booking system behaves itself and does as it’s told! Suzel and Jo meet each day to discuss new systems, products and general management issues - usually whilst walking their dogs - and in her spare time she is completing her degree in Business Studies and Spanish!


Shing Lin Yoong

A degree in Creative Writing and Literature made Shing the perfect choice for researching and writing the content for our brochures and website. She also takes care of all the new ‘stuff’ such as blogging, Twittering and Facebooking! Shing loves to travel, and does so in abundance. She is a culture vulture, always heading to where the museums are; her aim is to rebuff the notion that museums are boring. Her camera is always poised and there is little she won’t do for the perfect shot... just ask Suzel!


Clara Patrick

Despite hailing from a musical arts background, Clara is definitely the most organised and practical of us all, with a system for everything! She has travelled widely in Scandinavia and loves it so much she is currently studying Swedish during the evening. Like Suzel and Jo she has an enormous soft spot for dogs and, with a company policy which allows ‘office dogs’, we are anticipating the patter of tiny paws anytime soon! Clara liaises with clients by telephone and email and works closely with Jo on the production of travel itineraries.


Margaret Scowen

Margaret has been successfully running Specialised Tours for over 30 years, and in 2013 Taber Holidays and Specialised Tours merged operations. Margaret wanted more time to concentrate on product research and development and on tailor made itineraries and her exceptional knowledge of Scandinavia made her the perfect person to do this. Suzel is very happy about having Margaret on board - they have been colleagues and friends for over 25 years and are a formidable team!


MEET THE PEOPLE

A company is only as good as the people it employs...

Margaret Scowen

Clara Patrick

Shing Lin Yoong

Jo Chapman

Terry Shaw

Suzel Taber-Shaw


TROMSØ& THENORTHERNLIGHTS

The Northern Lights over Tromsø taken by Kjetil Skogli during one of his famous chases! © Kjetil Skogli

A wonderful short break to the Arctic’s most famous city in search of those ethereal and elusive Northern Lights

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Tromsø is the largest city in the Scandinavian Arctic. For many years it has been a popular and logical place to start Polar expeditions due to its accessibility by the coastline, however, it was our very own ‘explorer’ Joanna Lumley who really propelled Tromsø into the spotlight during her search for the Northern Lights.

Tromsø is a rather sophisticated little city with a beautiful modern Arctic Cathedral, quality shops, an excellent selection of good quality restaurants, cafes and bars and a stunning location overlooked by the Lyngen Alps and the Arctic Ocean.

ItineraryDay 1 - Fly from the UK to Tromsø via Oslo. Transfer by airport bus or taxi to your hotel (not included). The remainder of the afternoon is free for you to explore Tromsø. How about a Northern Lights Dinner Cruise? See Optional Activities for details.

3 nights TROMSØ - Clarion Collection Hotel Aurora*** or Scandic Ishavshotell **** (BB)

Day 2 - A full day to explore Tromsø. Luckily much of the city’s old wooden architecture is preserved and contrasts well with the modern Arctic Cathedral, and you will find a busy centre of shops, restaurants, cafes and bars. Well worth a visit is Polaria, an Arctic themed experience centre with the fascinating Ivo Caprino film ‘Svalbard - Arctic Wilderness’ and the Polar Museum which provides an insight into how polar explorers of yesterday and today really were/are amongst the most

daring and adventurous men and women on the planet! Alternatively, why not join one of our optional outdoor activities? Explore your magnificent surroundings by dog sled or snowmobile (Jan-Mar); learn more about the Sámi culture or join an amazing whale safari to see these glorious mammals in their natural habitat (Nov-Jan).

At 1800 you will transfer by mini-bus from Tromsø to a Wilderness Camp away from light pollution. Here you will hopefully have an opportunity to see the Northern Lights and visit your hosts’ husky kennel and puppy yard (always popular!). A traditional meal is served inside a wooden building around a roaring fire. Return to your hotel around 2230.

If you really want more of a Northern Lights chase then why not ‘upgrade’ to one of our alternative trips instead? The Aurora Safari to Basestations activity travels to one of four prime location basestations (supplement £40 per person incl. meal) or how about Kjetil Skogli’s amazing, relentless hunt for the ultimate in Northern Lights chasing? - see left box.

Day 3 - Another free day to try one of our optional outdoor activities. Perhaps you would like to celebrate your final night in Arctic Norway with a fabulous dinner at Emma’s Drømmekjokken? Their 5-course Gourmet Arctic Menu is certainly memorable!

Day 4 - Transfer by airport bus from your hotel to Tromsø Airport for your return flight home.

Meet...Kjetil SkogliKjetil is the famous Northern Lights hunter who found the Northern Lights for Joanna Lumley in the BBC’s ‘Land of the Northern Lights’. He was the shadowy figure in the background who found the perfect spot for her to marvel at the display! Supplement £92 per person.

© CH/Visitnorway.com

© Tromsø Villmarkssenter

Optional ActivitiesDog Sledding Duration 0945-1400 or 1815-2230, departures 1 Dec-20 Mar. Includes 1 hour transfers in each direction. Includes meal and warm clothing. Price: £140 per person (1 Nov-20 Dec & 21 Mar-30 Apr, £150 (21 Dec-20 Jan) & £160 (21 Jan-20 Mar)

Whale Safari, RIB Boat or Big BoatSee image top left. Duration 0830-1330, departures 1 Nov-25 Jan (10 Jan for Big Boat). Includes return transfers, whale safari, tea/coffee & biscuits and warm/survival suit. Price: £115 per person

Snowmobile Safari Duration 0845-1600 or 1630-2330, departures 1 Dec-31 Mar. Includes 1 hour transfers in each direction (inc. 20 mins scenic ferry crossing), snowmobile safari, thermal suit & crash helmet and hot meal. Price: £169 per person (2 per snowmobile), supplement for solo driving £50 per person

Reindeer Sledding and Sami CultureDuration 1000-1400, departures 1 Nov-31 Mar. Includes 30 mins transfer in each direction, 3 kms reindeer sledding, Sami activities, Sami food and warm clothes. Price: £130 per person

Northern Lights Dinner Cruise A lovely, intimate evening cruise by catamaran into sheltered waters, away from light pollution, to wait for the Northern Lights. Delicious, homemade food served on board. Boat equipped for 12 people. Price: £128 per person

5-Course Gourmet Arctic Dinner at Emma’s DrømmekjokkenFine dining Arctic style in one of Tromsø’s most famous restaurants - please ask for example menu. Sittings on the hour and every half past between 1800 and 2100. Price: £75 per person, accompanying wine menu £58 per person

FactsDeparture Day: Daily Departure Dates: 1 Oct 2015 - 31 Mar 2016 Duration: 3 nights

PricesDeparture Dates

Price per

person

Extra night per

person

Singlesupp. per

night

Clarion Collection Hotel Aurora ***1 Oct-18 Dec £765 £68 £351 Jan-31 Mar £810 £78 £42

Scandic Ishavshotell ****1 Oct-18 Dec £840 £85 £481 Jan-31 Mar £865 £92 £48

Price includes • Scheduled return flights with SAS in Economy

class from Heathrow to Tromsø (via Oslo). Alternative departure airports available on request.

• 3 nights hotel accommodation as detailed based on standard double/twin rooms at the Clarion Collection Hotel Aurora with shower and WC including breakfast and free light evening meal or a superior harbour-view double/twin at the Scandic Ishavshotell including breakfast.

• Northern Lights excursion on Day 2 as detailed including light meal and transfers.

A Whale Safari is a wonderful chance to see humpbacks and orcas as they come close to the coastline to feed. Other forms of wildlife such as seals and sea eagles are also regularly spotted.


TROMSØ &LOFOTENAURORAHUNT

© Svinøya Rorbuer

This holiday features two of our favourite places; Tromsø, the Arctic ‘capital’ and the Lofoten Islands, an Arctic archipelago of outstanding beauty

Meet...Svinøya RorbuerSvinøya Rorbuer and Børsen Spiseri are owned by Ola Skjeseth (below far left) who was born and brought up on the Lofoten Islands and has been welcoming guests to his fishermens’ rorbus for more than 20 years. He is ably assisted by Anders Løvik, Synnøve Nilsen and Anders Alsvik (left to right).

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Few places have a greater association with the Northern Lights for travellers and scientists alike than Tromsø. It is therefore appropriate that your Northern Lights quest should begin in this great Arctic capital.

A leisurely coastal voyage then carries you to the Lofoten islands, commonly recognised as one of the world’s most beautiful archipelagos. Their dramatic and hopelessly romantic landscape has enchanted travellers for many years and Svinøya is the perfect location from which to absorb the very special atmosphere of the islands’ vital fishing industry, their magical panoramic views and a further opportunity to see the Northern Lights dance.

ItineraryDay 1 - Fly from the UK to Tromsø (via Oslo). Take a taxi or the airport bus to your hotel (pay locally). Remainder of the day free.

2 nights TROMSØ - Scandic Ishavshotel (BB)

Day 2 - Spend the morning and afternoon exploring the fabulous city of Tromsø, or why not join our Whale safari (Nov-Jan) or alternatively how about dog-sledding (Jan-Mar)? See page 7 for details.

At 1830 you depart Tromsø by bus for your included Northern Lights hunting excursion. For this trip four basestations are set up at different locations and each evening one of these is chosen as the best vantage point to view the Aurora, depending on weather conditions. You have a good chance of seeing the Lights and whilst waiting the opportunity to sit inside around and open-fire. Light evening meal included. For those who would prefer more of a relentless chase we recommend Kjetil Skogli’s tour instead! (see page 7 for details).

Day 3 - Full day to explore Tromsø before your late evening departure on board Hurtigruten for the Lofoten Islands. The ship arrives into Tromsø at 2345 and you have an outside 2-berth cabin with shower and WC for your journey southwards. Delicious buffet breakfast included.

1 night ON-BOARD - Hurtigruten (BB)

Day 4 - Enjoy stunning views of sheltered

bays and glorious mountain landscapes. The ship calls at Stokmarknes on the Vesterålen Islands before continuing through the Raftsund arriving into Svolvær at 1830. Met on arrival by pre-booked taxi for transfer to Svinøya Rorbuer. As a welcome to the islands we have included dinner for your first night at Børsen Spiseri, Svinøya’s wonderful atmospheric restaurant.

3 nights SVOLVÆR - Svinøya Rorbuer (BB)

Day 5 - At 1000 embark on a memorable photo excursion by minibus introducing you to the Lofoten Islands. Your local guide will help you to explore the dramatic coastline, historical fishing villages and white sand beaches, surrounded by rugged mountains. There will be several photo stops along the way and lunch will be served in the fishing village of Kabelvåg. The mini-bus returns to Svinøya at 1400 giving you the remainder of the afternoon to relax and enjoy local food.

At 2000 you will depart on your Northern Lights Hunt with local guide. Photo instructions will be provided and you will receive warm drinks during the trip.

Day 6 - Today you are free to try one of the exciting land and water based Optional Activities detailed to the right. During the evening why not try one of Svolvær’s alternative restaurants or have another delicious meal at Børsen Spiseri?

Day 7 - Morning in Svolvær before transfer to Svolvær Airport for return flight to the UK.

© Taber Holidays

Optional ActivitiesLofoten Nature Safari Boat trip in the Trollfjord with chance to see white-tailed sea eagles and other sea birds/wildlife. Fish soup lunch included. Duration 0900-1330, Wed & Sat, 2 Sep-30 Mar (except 12 Sep, 23 & 26 Dec & 12 Mar). Price: £105 per person

Northern Lights Hunt If you want to maximise your chances of seeing the Northern Lights then why not book yourself an extra evening of hunting for them? Duration 2000-2400. Price: £88 per person

Snowshoe Hike A fun activity for everyone, and a superb way to enjoy Lofoten’s splendid nature with a guide. Duration 1000-1300, Dec-Apr. Price: £75 per person

Trollfjord & Sea Eagle RIB safari RIB boat trip into the Trollfjord for a close encounter with sea eagles and spectacular nature spots. Duration 0930-1130, Wed-Sat. Price: £68 per person

Winter Sea Kayaking Experience the Lofoten islands by sea on this exciting ½-day guided kayaking trip. Price: £99 per person

Car hire for one day from Svolvær or Tromsø Rental includes Unlimited Mileage, TP, CDW and tax and is based on a VW Golf or similar. Pick-up and drop-off from car hire office in centre. Price for car: £85

Activities from Tromsø For details of activities from Tromsø please see page 7.

FactsDeparture Day: Mon & Fri Departure Dates: 4 Sep 2015 - 25 Mar 2016 Duration: 6 nights


Price per person

Single supplement

4 Sep - 11 Dec 2015 £1555 £2951 Jan - 25 Mar 2016 £1620 £295

Price includes • Scheduled flights with SAS from Heathrow to

Tromsø (via Oslo) and Bodø to Heathrow (via Oslo), including taxes. Alternative departure airports available on request.

• 2 nights at the Scandic Ishavshotel in a superior sea-view room with shower and WC including buffet breakfast.

• Aurora Safari to Basestations excursion including meal.

• 1 night on board Hurtigruten ship from Tromsø to Svolvær based on an outside cabin with shower and WC including buffet breakfast.

• Taxi transfer from the quay in Svolvær to Svinøya Rorbuer.

• 3-course dinner at Børsen Spiseri (Svinøya’s restaurant) on your night of arrival.

• 3 nights at Svinøya Rorbuer in a rorbu for two people with living area, bedroom (twin beds), shower and WC and kitchenette including breakfast.

• Lofoten Panorama Tour by mini-bus.• Northern Lights hunt.• Transfer from Svinøya Rorbuer to Svolvær

Airport.• Domestic flight with Widerøe from Svolvær to

Bodø including taxes.

© Gaute Bruvik/Visit Norway

© Bård Lokken, nordnorway.com


NORTHERNLIGHTS LODGE &HUSKY SAFARI

© Trasti & Trine

Chef...Johnny TrastiJohnny is the Head Chef at Restaurant Laksestua and is responsible for the menu at Stengelsen Lodge as he is one of the owners. He was awarded ‘Norway’s Chef of the Year’ in 2009 and is well-known for his use of local, organic ingredients in the creation of his culinary masterpieces. What we’re really trying to say is THE FOOD ON THIS HOLIDAY IS DELICIOUS!

A little bit of heaven in the Arctic and with so much adventure included! All topped off with some seriously fine-dining. Magic...

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Picture yourself in a cosy lodge with snow-laden trees, towering snow-capped mountains and a frozen river laid out before of you.

Now add a guided wilderness exploration with your own sled-dog team, an evening of wonder under the Northern Lights, local food that is out of this world and the sort of relaxation and feeling of well-being that only true ‘escape’ can bring.

Now picture yourself on this holiday...

ItineraryDay 1 - Met on arrival at Alta Airport for your transfer to Stengelsen Lodge which nestles amongst the trees on the mountain edge, overlooking the frozen Alta River. Relaxing evening at the lodge.

3 nights ALTA - Stengelsen Lodge (HB)

Day 2 - You will receive a briefing and instructions on how to harness your dogs for your dog sledding adventure. When you’re ready you pull up the snow hook and mush your team following your guide into the forest and mountains for a glorious exploration of the nature. A delicious homemade lunch is served during the day. Why not extend your dog sledding experience with a night in a wilderness tent? A unique adventure! See Optional Activities for details.

Relaxing evening with dinner at the lodge.

Day 3 - Today you either have a free day to relax or the opportunity to try an optional outdoor activity with Glød including snow-

shoeing and ice-fishing followed by lunch over an open-fire - see Optional Activities for details.

After an early dinner at the lodge you set out by mini-bus to find clear skies with good views for watching and taking photos of the Northern Lights. The trip may take you along the coast, fjords or to inland Finnmark. Your guide will help to adjust your camera settings, however, don’t worry if you prefer to just watch the lights in wonder - your guide will also be taking photos during the evening and these will be supplied to you (see Glød’s photo of our very own Shing above!). Return to the lodge anytime between 2330 and 0100 depending on how far you have travelled!

Day 4 - Free day to relax at the lodge.

At 1700 transfer to Sorrisniva Igloo Hotel for a guided tour of Arctic Norway’s first ice hotel and its beautiful public rooms with ice sculptures, ice-bar and ice-chapel. Dinner is served in Restaurant Laksestua, a beautiful wooden building shaped like a Sami lavvo with a huge open fireplace at its centre, and Johnny Trasti is your Head Chef - Norway’s Chef of the Year 2009. Why not take an evening Northern Lights snowmobile safari from the Igloo Hotel prior to dinner? See Optional Activities for details. Either return to the lodge or spend the night in your very own Igloo Room.

Overnight ALTA - Stengelsen Lodge or Sorrisniva Igloo Hotel

Day 5 - Transfer to Alta Airport for your return flight home.

Meet...GlødGlød (‘glow’) are an outdoor adventure company whose aim is to bring you closer to nature, whatever the experience – Aurora hunting, snow-shoeing, ice-fishing or moose watching. They are an enthusiastic team of people and we know they will ensure you have lots of fun and great memories to take home.

© Sorrisniva Igloo Hotel

© Stengelsen Lodge

Optional ActivitiesSnow-shoeing and ice-fishing with Glød A fabulous trip into Alta’s forests on snowshoes followed by a spot of ice-fishing on the river. Lunch is prepared over an open fire and may be your catch of the day! Price: £128 per person

Northern Lights Snowmobile Safari An exciting evening snowmobile safari up onto the Finnmarksvidda mountain plateau prior to dinner at the Igloo Hotel. Duration 2 hours. Price: £138 per person (2 per snowmobile), £20 supp for solo driver

Extra Northern Lights Hunt Maximise your chances of viewing the ethereal Northern Lights and have an extra evening of hunting for them. For an exciting variation why not take the trip by fatbike - the ultimate snow cycle?! Price: £140 per person, £114 by fatbike

Overnight dog-sledding adventure Extend your day’s dog-sledding experience and make it more of an expedition. Spend the night in an Arctic tent in the wilderness with your 4-legged friends. Delicious camp fire dinner included. Good level of fitness and sense of adventure required. A chat with a member of our team recommended. Price: £170 per person (instead of 2nd night at lodge)

2-night holiday extension in Tromsø, the Arctic’s capital city Begin or end your holiday with a short stay in Tromsø, Norway’s fabulous Arctic ‘capital’ city. Short domestic flight from Alta to Tromsø or vice versa included. See pages 6 & 7 for details of Tromsø and activities. Price: £295 per person, £84 single supplement

FactsDeparture Day: Friday & Monday Departure Dates: 18 Jan - 31 Mar 2016* Duration: 4 nights


Price per person

Single supplement

18 Jan - 31 Mar 2016 £1670 £130

*earlier departures possible if adding 2-night Tromsø

extension to the beginning of your holiday.

Price includes • Scheduled return flights with SAS from Heathrow

to Alta (via Oslo) including taxes. Alternative departure airports available on request.

• Airport transfers.• 3 or 4 nights* at Stengelsen Lodge based on two

people sharing a twin bedded room with private shower and WC including breakfast and 4-course dinner.

• Visit/overnight stay at Sorrisniva Igloo Hotel including 3-course dinner in Laksestua Restaurant with transfers. Overnight in Snow Room includes overnight bedding, morning warm drink, breakfast and hot sauna. Main heated building with lockers, showers and lounge.

• Full-day dog sledding safari based on each person mushing their own dog-team and including campfire lunch and thermal clothing.

• Evening of hunting the Northern Lights with Glød including hot drinks and snacks.

* 4 nights if not spending last night at Igloo Hotel.

Extra nights

Stengelsen Lodge, including 4-course dinner

£155 p.p.p.n. £30 single supplement

Glød’s photo of Shing from Taber


TROMSØ & THE RUSSIANBORDERLANDS

Kirkenes sits alongside the border with Russia overlooking the Bøkfjord, an arm of the Barents Sea. It is fair to say that the town itself is not the prettiest you will ever visit due to endless bombings during WWII, however, liberation by the Russians in 1944 lead to strong cross-border relations which remain today. The region surrounding Kirkenes affords spectacular scenery.

Take the scenic route...Why not extend your trip and take the slow boat from Tromsø to Kirkenes? 2-nights onboard Hurtigruten, sailing via North Cape with magnficent Arctic coastal scenery. Outside cabin, breakfast and dinner included. Supplement £195 per person.

two of Arctic Norway’s most exciting and contrasting destinations. A tour for those who simply must experience both!

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This tour begins in the Arctic city of Tromsø before flying as far north-east in Norway as you can get, to the little town of Kirkenes.

Tromsø is the Arctic’s largest city and has a really nice vibe to it! Famous for its association with Northern Lights hunting, the city offers a blend of exciting city break and winter activity centre. By contrast what the small town of Kirkenes lacks in city nightlife it more than makes up for with location, history, and and activities which exploit the two. The area is perfect for your included snowmobile exploration and enjoys an interesting cultural mix, sitting as it does directly alongside the border with Russia.

ItineraryDay 1 - Fly from UK to Tromsø (via Oslo). Independent transfer to your hotel. The remainder of the afternoon and evening is free. Why not take a lovely Northern Lights Dinner Cruise or indulge in the 5-course Arctic gourmet dinner at Emma’s Drømmekjokken? See Optional Activities.

2 nights TROMSØ - Scandic Ishavshotell (BB)

Day 2 - Day to explore Tromsø. We recommend Polaria (an Arctic experience centre), the Polar Museum and the cable car to the viewing point on Mount Storsteinen. Enjoy lunch in one of the local cafes in the harbour.

Evening transfer to a wilderness camp where you will hopefully have an opportunity to see the Northern Lights. Visit your hosts’ husky kennel and puppy yard (always popular!) before a traditional meal is served inside around a roaring fire. Return to your hotel around 2230.

For more of a Northern Lights hunt why not try one of our alternative ‘chasing’ trips instead? The Aurora Safari to Basestations activity travels to one of four prime location basestations (supplement £40 per person incl. meal) or how about Kjetil Skogli’s relentless

hunt for the ultimate in Northern Lights chasing - he found the lights for Joanna Lumley?! (Supplement £92 per person, no meal).

Day 3 - Depart Tromsø Airport for your short flight to Kirkenes. Check-in to your hotel and have the remainder of the afternoon free to explore the small town of Kirkenes.

At 1700 you will be collected by Birk Husky and transferred to their kennels in the Pasvik Valley (approx. 50 minutes). Here you put on thermal clothing and set out, 2 people per dogsled with one mushing and the other a passenger (you can swap around) alongside the border in search of the Northern Lights. Return to a wonderful dinner served around a blazing fire inside a Sámi lavvu. Arrival back at your hotel around 2200.

2 nights KIRKENES - Thon Hotel Kirkenes (BB)

Day 4 - Breakfast at your hotel before departure on your guided snowmobile trip over the high mountains to Grense Jakobselv and the Barents Sea. This wonderful journey passes by the Norwegian and Russian border guard towers/station and includes a visit to King Oscar II’s Chapel. A light lunch, tea/coffee and dried reindeer meat are served during the trip in the great outdoors. Magnificent scenery, history and culture all rolled into one! Return to your hotel around 1500.

Evening transfer to Kirkenes Snowhotel for a guided tour to view the variety of wonderful snow rooms, meet the huskies, feed the reindeer and grill your own brattwurst before enjoying a delicious 3-course dinner in Gabba Restaurant, a beautiful wooden, Sámi inspired building. Opportunity to spend the night - see Optional Activities.

Day 5 - After breakfast transfer to Kirkenes Airport for your return flight home.

Meet...Barents SafariA great company made up of enthusiastic and experienced characters who love to present local nature, history and culture through outdoor adventures. They are your hosts for your snowmobile safari to the Russian borderlands and the Barents Sea.

Kirkenes © Barents Safari

Optional ActivitiesNorthern Lights Dinner Cruise (Tromsø)Lovely dinner cruise in sheltered waters onboard a traditional fishing catamaran. Perfect for budding Northern Lights photographers and tripods are available to use. Maximum 12 guests onboard so nice and intimate with local, homemade food. Very popular with our clients! Duration 2000-2300. Price: £128 per adult

5-Course Gourmet Arctic Dinner at Emma’s DrømmekjokkenFine dining Arctic style in one of Tromsø’s most famous restaurants - please ask for example menu. Sittings on the hour and every half past between 1800 and 2100. Price: £75 per person, wine menu £58 per person

Reindeer Sledding and Sami Culture (Tromsø)Transfer to the basecamp (30 mins each direction)where you will experience a 3 kms reindeer sledding trip followed by Sámi activities, food and storytelling. Warm clothes provided. Duration 1000-1400. Price: £130 per adult

Overnight stay at the Kirkenes Snow Hotel Why not exchange your last night at the Thon Hotel Kirkenes and spend the night in your very own Snow Room? Price includes thermal sleeping bag, hot drink, sauna and breakfast. Go on, chill out! Price: £65 per person

FactsDeparture Days: Sat, Sun, Mon, Tue Departure Dates: 4 Jan - 29 Mar 2016 Duration: 4 nights


Price per person

Single supplement

4 Jan - 29 Mar 2016 £1695 £255**includes price for solo snowmobile


Tromsø (via Oslo) and from Kirkenes to Heathrow (via Oslo) including taxes. Alternative departure airports available.

• 4 nights hotel accommodation as detailed based on two people sharing a superior sea-view double/twin room with shower and WC including breakfast (both Tromsø and Kirkenes).

• Northern Lights excursion on Day 2 including light meal and transfers.

• Domestic flight with Widerøe from Tromsø to Kirkenes including taxes.

• Northern Lights husky safari on Day 3 including transfers and dinner (2 per dogsled).

• Full day snowmobile safari on Day 4 (2 per snowmobile) including all equipment, thermal clothing, lunch and tea/coffee and snacks.

• Visit to the Kirkenes Snowhotel to include transfers, guided tour and 3-course dinner in Gabba Restaurant.

Kirkenes Snowhotel © Taber Holidays

Extras

Extra night Tromsø, BB£85 p.p.p.n. (1/10-18/12)£92 p.p.p.n. (1/1-31/3)£48 single supplement

Extra night Kirkenes, BB£77 p.p.p.n.£28 single supplement

Supplement for solo snowmobile driving

£92 per person


LAND OF THENORTHERNLIGHTS

© Bård Løken/Visit Norway

Trondheim’s wharfsideIf you’re looking for small town charm with big city attractions, Trondheim provides that. Don’t miss the colourful wharf buildings scattered alongside the Nidelva River.

The Northern Lights shot to the top of everyone’s wish-list when the BBC featured joanna Lumley’s hunt for them in ‘the land of the northern lights’

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Now you too can follow in Joanna Lumley’s footsteps for this truly momentous journey across the Arctic Circle in search of the Northern Lights.

This is a touring holiday using local transport; your journey begins in Trondheim, Norway’s former ancient capital, before travelling by rail across the Arctic Circle to the little port of Bodø. A short flight then carries you over the great Vestfjord to the magical Lofoten Islands and continues on an overnight mini-cruise to the great Arctic capital itself, Tromsø.

ItineraryDay 1 - Morning flight from the UK to Trondheim (via Oslo), the former ancient capital city of Norway and home to the beautiful gothic Nidaros Cathedral and colourful wharf buildings. If you would like more time to explore Trondheim why not add an extra night? See Prices for further details.

1 night TRONDHEIM - Britannia Hotel (BB)

Day 2 - Early start (0735) northwards by rail, travelling alongside narrow fjords, rivers and wild mountain scenery and, of course, across the Arctic Circle, arriving in the little port of Bodø at 1728. Your hotel is a short distance from the train station and includes a free evening meal so all you have to do is check-in, eat and then have a little walk around Bodø to stretch your legs. What a nice relaxing day!

1 night BODØ- Clarion Collection Hotel Grand (BB)

Day 3 - Morning at leisure in Bodø. A half-hour flight in the afternoon takes you from

Bodø to Svolvær where you will be met on arrival and transferred to your authentic fisherman’s rorbu beside the sea. In the evening you have the option to join a guided Northern Lights hunt with a local guide.

2 nights SVOLVÆR - Svinøya Rorbuer (BB)

Day 4 - A free day to try one of our optional activities, hire a car and explore independently, or simply relax and potter around the beautiful town of Svolvær at your leisure.

Day 5 - Day free to relax and explore independently or join an optional excursion from Svolvær. We recommend having dinner in Svolvær prior to boarding Hurtigruten for your overnight sailing as the ship arrives into the town at 2100 and departs at 2200.

1 night ON BOARD- Hurtigruten ship (BB)

Day 6 - During the night the ship calls at a number of ports on the Vesterålen Islands and next day you sail up the coast to Tromsø arriving at 1430. En route you will enjoy the splendid Hurtigruten lunch buffet.

2 nights TROMSØ- Scandic Ishavshotel (BB)

Day 7 - After breakfast you have the option to either spend the day exploring Tromsø and its attractions or join one of our morning excursions: Whale safari (Nov-Jan), or dog sledding (Jan-Mar) and explore the city during the afternoon. For further details of optional activities from Tromsø see page 7.

Day 8 - Transfer to the airport for your return flight to the UK.

A Taste of the ArcticEmma’s Drømmekjokken is one of those restaurants where you go for a special occasion. Food is based on locally sourced ingredients so expect King Crab, cod and reindeer of course. The staff at Emma’s all enjoy working there, and it shows as they present each course with obvious pride. 5-course Arctic Gourmet Dinner, Price £75 p.p. Accompanying Wine Menu £58 p.p.

© Taber Holidays

© Tromsø Villmarkssenter

Optional ActivitiesLofoten Panorama Tour Mini-bus exploration of the Lofotens. Several photo stops along the way with breathtaking views and a final stop for traditional bacalao lunch. Duration 1000-1400, Tue & Fri, 1 Sep-29 Mar. Price: £88 per person

Lofoten Nature Safari Boat trip in the beautiful Trollfjord with a chance to see white-tailed sea eagles and other sea birds and wildlife. Fish soup served on board. Duration 0900-1330, Wed & Sat, 2 Sep-30 Mar, except 12 Sep, 23 & 26 Dec & 12 Mar. Price: £105 per person

Lofoten Northern Lights Hunt If you want to maximise your chances of seeing the Northern Lights then why not book yourself an evening of hunting for them? Price: £88 per person

Snowshoe Hike A fun activity for everyone, and a superb way to enjoy Lofoten’s splendid nature with a guide. Duration 1000-1300, Dec-Apr. Price: £75 per person

Trollfjord & Sea Eagle RIB safari RIB boat trip into the narrow Trollfjord for a close encounter with sea eagles and spectacular nature spots. Duration 0930-1130, Wed-Sat. Price: £68 per person

Car hire for one day Rental includes Unlimited Mileage, TP, CDW and tax and is based on a VW Golf or similar. Pick-up and drop-off from car hire office in centre. Price for car: £85

FactsDeparture Day: Tue & Sat Departure Dates: 1 Sep 2015 - 26 Mar 2016 Duration: 7 nights


Price per person

Single supplement

1 Sep - 15 Dec 2015 £1475 £2952 Jan - 19 Mar 2016 £1520 £325

Price includes • Scheduled flights with SAS from Heathrow

to Trondheim (via Oslo) and from Tromsø to Heathrow (via Oslo) including taxes.

• 4 nights hotel accommodation as detailed based on two people sharing a double/twin room with shower and WC including breakfast throughout and superior sea-view room in Tromsø.

• Rail journey from Trondheim to Bodø including reserved seats and lunch.

• Scheduled flight with Widerøe from Bodø to Svolvær.

• Transfer from Svolvær Airport to Svinøya Rorbuer.• 2 nights accommodation at Svinøya Rorbuer

based on a rorbu for two people with living room, kitchenette, bedroom and bathroom including breakfast.

• Transfer Svinøya Rorbuer to Hurtigruten Quay.• 1 night onboard Hurtigruten ship from Svolvær to

Tromsø based on an outside cabin with shower and WC including breakfast and lunch.

© Lofoten Aktiv

Extra nights

Trondheim £65 p.p.p.n., £30 single supp.

Bodø £58 p.p.p.n., £30 single supp.

Svolvær £75 p.p.p.n., £60 single supp.

Tromsø£85 p.p.p.n (1/10-18/12)£92 p.p.p.n. (1/1-31/3)£48 single supp. both dates


VOYAGEACROSSTHEARCTICCIRCLE

Historical HurtigrutenIn 1893, Captain Richard With’s steamer, DS Vesterålen, was brought into regular service along the 1250 kms coast of Norway, and a regular weekly service was established.

A slow, gentle exploration of beautiful scenery with local food, tradition and community involvement. The true Norwegian Coastal Voyage.

In the late 19th century the 780 mile coastline from Bergen to Kirkenes was a busy route for all sorts of shipping. But services were unreliable, infrequent and rarely sailed at night as, due to few lighthouses, nightime sailing was too risky. The journey was therefore a long and arduous experience.

The government wished to remedy the situation and invited shipping companies to submit tenders to operate an express route. In spite of the inherant dangers of the route, the owner of a newly formed company showed an interest. His name was Richard With.

Ironically the name he chose for the route, ‘Hurtigruten’, means ‘the fast route’ - which it was at the time - but today is considered to be more of a slow and leisurely service.

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We don’t use the word cruising for Hurtigruten since it is so much more.

This is a wonderful means of transportation and accommodation which slowly makes its way along Norway’s coastline. Your journey takes you from southern Norway’s Hanseatic city of Bergen across the Arctic Circle to her Arctic ‘capital’ city, Tromsø.

ItineraryDay 1 - Arrive Bergen Airport by air from the UK (indirect flight). Independent transfer to your hotel. Remainder of the day free.

2 nights BERGEN - Augustin Hotel (BB)

Day 2 - Today we have included the popular day excursion ‘Norway in a Nutshell’ which features the Flåm Mountain Railway, a lovely boat cruise along the Aurlands and Nærøy fjords (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) and the beautiful Nærøy valley. Departs after breakfast and returns in time for dinner.

Day 3 - Full day to explore Bergen before your evening departure on board Hurtigruten. How about the funicular railway to Mount Fløyen for a wonderful view of the city followed by a stroll around the old Hanseatic harbour Bryggen with its colourful collection of shops, restaurants, bars and cafes?

At 2200 you depart Bergen by Hurtigruten ship enjoying an evening supper in the ship’s restaurant prior to departure. An outside cabin has been reserved for the duration.

4 nights ON BOARD - Ship (HB)

Day 4 - Early morning arrival into the little port of Florø before sailing past West Cape, amongst skerries and islands to the picturesque Art Nouveau town of Ålesund. Time in Ålesund (optional excursion available) before continuing northwards to Molde and Kristiansund.

Day 5 - Early arrival into Trondheim, Norway’s former ancient capital city. Time to explore the city centre independently or with an optional excursion, before continuing north-west, past beautiful Kjeungskjær lighthouse and narrow Stoksund to Rørvik.

Day 6 - During the early hours cross the Arctic Circle. If you aren’t up don’t worry, the captain marks the event for ‘first-timers’ with a ceremony on deck - be warned, this can be a chilly experience! From Bodø the ship crosses the great Vestfjord for the mystical approach to the Lofoten Islands where an optional excursion to Lofotr Viking Museum is possible prior to arrival in Svolvær - see right.

Day 7 - The ship sails through the night via the Vesterålen Islands arriving into Tromsø during early afternoon. Walk the short distance to your hotel in the harbour. Remainder of the day and evening free to explore Tromsø.

2 nights TROMSØ - Clarion Collection Aurora Hotel (BB)

Day 8 - Further full day to explore Tromsø. Alternatively why not consider one of our suggestions under Optional Activities? See right for details.

Day 9 - Independent transfer to Tromsø Airport for your return flight home.

Modern HurtigrutenIn 2015 there are now 11 ships of varying age and size sailing along the coastline. Despite their differences, they provide the same intimate and informal travel experience. Hurtigruten are working vessels carrying goods, vehicles and passengers - an integral part of Norwegian daily life.

Optional ExcursionsArt Nouveau Walk, Ålesund Guided tour of Ålesund, a town renowned for its beautiful Art Nouveau architecture including numerous spires, towers and highly detailed ornamentation. Price: £33 per person

Trondheim with Nidaros Cathedral Norway’s original capital, Trondheim was founded as early as 997 by the Viking King Olav Tryggvason, who gave the town the name Nidaros. Guided tour including the wonderful gothic Nidaros Cathedral. Price: £44 per person

Meet the Vikings Lofotr Viking Museum is a recreation of the largest Viking building ever found. The Chieftain and the Lady of the house invite you to join them for a real Viking feast in the banquet hall. Price: £101 per person

Chase the Northern Lights with Kjetil Skogli The famous Northern Lights hunter who found the Lights for Joanna Lumley in the BBC’s ‘Land of the Northern Lights’. He was the shadowy figure in the background who found the perfect spot for her to marvel at the display. Don’t forget your passport - venturing into Finland is not unusual! Departs 1900, duration 6-8 hours...most of the time... Price: £148 per person

5-Course Gourmet Arctic Dinner at Emma’s DrømmekjokkenFine dining Arctic style in one of Tromsø’s most famous restaurants - please ask for example menu. Sittings on the hour and every half past between 1800 and 2100. Price: £75 per person, accompanying wine menu £58 per person

Reindeer Sledding and Sami Culture from TromsøDuration 1000-1400, departures 1 Nov-31 Mar. Includes 30 mins transfer in each direction, 3 kms reindeer sledding, Sami activities, Sami food and warm clothes. Price: £130 per person

FactsDeparture Day: Daily Departure Dates: 1 Oct 2015 - 22 Apr 2016 Duration: 8 nights


Price per person

Single supplement

1 Oct - 11 Dec 2015 £1595 £2954 Jan - 31 Jan 2016 £1655 £2951 Feb - 31 Mar 2016 £1695 £2951 - 22 Apr 2016 £1595 £295


Bergen (via Oslo) and from Tromsø to Heathrow (via Oslo) including taxes.

• 4 nights hotel accommodation as detailed based on two people sharing a double/twin room with shower and WC including breakfast.

• 4 nights on board Hurtigruten ship from Bergen to Tromsø based on two people sharing an outside unspecified cabin with shower and WC including dinner and breakfast.

• Norway in a Nutshell excursion from Bergen.

Extra nights

Bergen£55 p.p.p.n. £35 single supplement

Tromsø£85 p.p.p.n (1/10-18/12)£92 p.p.p.n. (1/1-31/3)£48 single supp. both dates


SWEDEN’SARCTICCONTRASTS

Welcoming the warm, bright rays of the sun across the frozen Luleå Archipelago - a magic moment of Arctic contrast.

Photo © Graeme Richardson

Indulge your sensesClarion Hotel Sense is all about just that - your senses - and what better way to indulge than by soaking, warming and relaxing your body in their beautiful spa? Entrance included...naturally

A coastal sub-Arctic city and a remote frozen Arctic archipelago provide this holiday with an abundance of contrasts for the senses - literally

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A wonderful combination of city and coastline showcasing the best of both perfectly.

Luleå is truly a place of contrasts; you will be surprised by the international atmosphere of the town and at the same time enjoy the closeness to unspoiled countryside. Luleå offers action-packed adventure but also the opportunity to enjoy tranquility, peace and quiet.

ItineraryDay 1 - Fly from the UK to Luleå (via Stockholm). Independent transfer to your hotel in Luleå centre (approx 15 mins). Remainder of the day free to relax. We recommend dinner in your hotel’s wonderful restaurant, Nordic Kitchen & Table, with a panoramic view over the bay.

2 nights LULEÅ TOWN - Clarion Hotel Sense (BB)

Day 2 - Day at leisure in Luleå. Take a walk with the locals out onto the Ice Road, formed from the frozen waters of the Gulf of Bothnia, then browse Luleå’s shops and museums. In the afternoon relax in your hotel’s beautiful spa (entrance included). Take a foot bath, a Japanese bath or dip in the pool with panoramic views. The sauna area has a steam sauna, a dry sauna and a saunarium. Spa treatments are available (extra cost), please ask for details.

At 1900 walk or take a taxi to the ICE Concert Hall (two igloos joined together in the middle with an ice stage and seating) for your one hour included concert - musicians perform beautiful music on instruments made from ice! Remainder of evening free.

Day 3 - Guided transfer from your hotel to Pine Bay Lodge, overlooking the archipelago. Your journey includes a brief visit to the UNESCO World Heritage Gammelstad Church Village, Luleå’s old town and includes a wide range of interesting places along the Luleå river valley. Your guide will tell you more about the region, its people and its history. Time to try an optional dog-sledding trip (see Optional Activities) before lunch is served at the lodge.

Evening departure on snowshoes for a guided walk into the Brändö forests. This is a fun activity, especially the first few minutes until you get used to your shoes! If the sky is clear you may see the Northern Lights but in the meantime you will learn how to light a fire in the snow and help your guide to prepare a delicious outdoor dinner which you eat sitting on reindeer furs under the dark night sky.

2 nights LULEÅ ARCHIPELAGO - Pine Bay Lodge (FB)

Day 4 - Today you have an exciting snowmobile journey to Brändöskär island in the outermost archipelago, an idyllic fishing village dating from the 17th century. Outside the island is the frozen Bothnian Bay and the vast Luleå Archipelago with its seemingly endless fields of pack ice and snow. Try a spot of ice-fishing before lunch which is again cooked over an open fire. To extend this snowmobile safari see Optional Activities. Supplement for solo driving £90 per person. Dinner served at the lodge during the evening.

Day 5 - Transfer to Luleå Airport for your return flight home.

Catch your own lunch!Perhaps the freshest fish you will ever taste. First of all you drive your snowmobile out onto the frozen vastness of the Bothnian Bay. Then you drill a hole in the ice (this will keep you nice and warm) before dropping your prepared fishing line into the icy waters beneath and waiting... When you catch your fish you jump up and down gleefully - lunch is served! Magic.

© Graeme Richardson

© Taber Holidays

Optional ActivitiesDrive your own dog-sled Transfer to the husky kennels where you will meet your dog team. Learn how to take care of your dogs, how to instruct them and drive the sled. One driver and one passenger who can swap over part way. Duration 2 hours. Includes warm clothing. Price: £165 per person

Extended snowmobile trip with unique overnight stay at JopikgårdenOn the first day you will explore the archipelago and pack ice by snowmobile (included in your holiday), however, instead of returning to Pine Bay Lodge you spend the night at beautiful Jopikgården, a delightful guesthouse on its own island in the frozen archipelago. Time to relax and absorb the silence and serene beauty of your location before a wonderful 3-course dinner is served. The remoteness of the location means you may spot the Northern Lights! Return to Pine Bay Lodge by snowmobile the following morning. Price: £220 per person, £82 single supplement

FactsDeparture Day: Thursday Departure Dates: 14 Jan - 24 March 2016 Duration: 4 nights


Price per person

Single supplement

14 Jan - 24 Mar 2016 £1495 £165**includes supplement for solo snowmobile


Luleå via Stockholm including taxes.• 2 nights at the Clarion Hotel Sense in Luleå based

on two people sharing a superior double/twin room with shower and WC including breakfast.

• Spa entrance for one day at the Clarion Sense Hotel.

• Ice Concert as detailed.• Guided transfer from Luleå to Pine Bay Lodge.• 2 nights at Pine Bay Lodge based on two people

sharing a twin room with shower and WC including breakfast.

• 1 x 3-course dinner at Pine Bay Lodge.• Northern Lights Snowshoe activity including

campfire dinner. Duration 3 hours. Includes warm clothing.

• Snowmobile Safari to the Luleå Archipelago (2 per snowmobile) including campfire lunch. Duration 4 hours. Includes clothing and helmet.

• Guided transfer to Luleå Airport.

Extra nights

Clarion Sense, BB£70 p.p.p.n. £30 single supplement

Pine Bay Lodge, HB£145 p.p.p.n. No single supplement



SWEDEN’SICEHOTEL

The ICEHOTEL has several different types of room: Snow, Ice, Northern Lights, Art Suites and a Deluxe Suite. The decor of these rooms changes each year according to the artists’ vision therefore it is impossible to show you a room which will be pretty much exactly what you will receive! We have included in your stay a Northern Lights room - guess where it’s inspiration comes from?! We’ve chosen to use this photo of an Art Suite, because it’s impressive! Supplements to upgrade your room style are given in the Facts panel.

JukkasjärviGiven its current name by Finnish speaking settlers (järvi means lake) in the 17th century, the area where the village stands was originally a Sámi marketplace.

The first and original ICEHOTEL, located in Swedish Lapland. Perhaps one of the coolest nights you’ll ever spend!

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The ICEHOTEL is not only an hotel built of ice and snow but is, in itself, an art project; inspired by the Torneälven river and built by experienced ice artists who create new and unique art and design each year.

Located in the tiny village of Jukkasjärvi, 200 kms north of the Arctic Circle in Swedish Lapland, the hotel is built by the side of the river during mid November where it stands throughout the winter until temperatures rise above zero and it melts away back into the river the following April.

ItineraryDay 1 - Arrive Kiruna by air from the UK. Met on arrival and transferred to Jukkasjärvi and the ICEHOTEL resort.

Check-in to your cool room at the front desk of the service building. You will have access to your room from 1800 so in the meantime you are free to relax in the resort’s main building. How about a lovely dinner in one of ICEHOTEL’s two restaurants, enjoy a drink in the bar and, if you want to start acclimatising in preparation for your unique overnight why not visit the ICEBAR for a real drink on ice?!

1 night JUKKASJÄRVI - Northern Lights Room (BB)

It is possible to upgrade your ICEHOTEL cool room. Details are as follows:

• Art Suite £80 per person• Deluxe Suite £120 per person (the suite has

an en suite toilet and sauna)

Day 2 - At 0730 you will be woken to a cup of hot lingonberry juice. This is your signal to slowly get up and make your way to the showers and sauna - from one extreme to the other! Once you are thoroughly warm and dressed a delicious buffet breakfast is waiting for you. The remainder of your stay is in warm accommodation and we have an enticing collection of pre-bookable optional activities available to enhance your winter experience. See Optional Activities for details and prices.

2 nights JUKKASJÄRVI - ICEHOTEL Kaamos Warm Room (BB)

Day 3 - Again breakfast is served in the main building and you have another full day of pre-booked optional activities to look forward to.

Day 4 - Transfer to Kiruna Airport for your return flight home.

Warm AccommodationYour ICEHOTEL holiday experience includes two nights in their warm accommodation, Kaamos Hotel Rooms. These rooms are located in the immediate resort area, a short walk from the main service building; the rooms are bright and airy with a typically modern Scandinavian feel. All rooms have an en-suite bathroom with shower and WC, plus TV, telephone, small fridge, kettle and WiFi. Beds may be separated to form a twin room if preferred.

© ICEHOTEL

© ICEHOTEL

Optional ActivitiesSnowmobile Tour with Swedish Fika Snowmobile safari of area surrounding Kiruna including traditional Swedish Fika (coffee and cake) around an open fire. Duration 1230-1530. Price: £99 per person (2 per vehicle), £178 per person (1 per vehicle)

Northern Lights Snowmobile Tour Head out into the wilderness in search of the Northern Lights. Your guides will make stops to provide information about the lights and your surroundings. 3-course dinner included. Duration 1900-2300. Price: £160 per person (2 per vehicle), £240 per person (1 per vehicle)

Sled Dog Ride in Winter Wonderland Take a seat in the sled, experience the howling dogs, and then the silence when the journey begins. Coffee and cake over a campfire included. Duration 0930-1100 or 1300-1430. Price: £120 per person

Lunch Excursion with HuskiesUnique experience dog sledding in the Arctic wilderness. Drive your own team or sit on the sled as a passenger. Very hands-on activity. Traditional lunch at a wilderness camp included. Duration 1115-1515. Price: £325 per person (musher!), £245 per person (passenger)

Ráidu - Encounter with ReindeerVisit a Sámi reindeer herder and learn about the region’s indigenous people. Try a sleigh ride, hand-feed the reindeer and learn about reindeer husbandry. Hot coffee and suovas, a Sámi dish, served around a roaring fire. Duration 1400-1700. Price: £160 per person

Moose Safari on Horseback Head out on Icelandic horses in search of the King of the Forest. Ride through his winter grazing land at the foot hills of Kebnekaise Mountain. Lunch included. Duration 0900-1500. Price: £150 per person

FactsDeparture Day: Daily Departure Dates: 18 Dec 2015 - 29 Mar 2016 (except New Year, Valentines’ Day and Easter - please ask for a quote for these dates) Duration: 3 nights

PricesDeparture Days

Price per person

Single supplement

Sun & Mon £960 £160Tue & Wed £1030 £190Thu, Fri & Sat £1075 £205

Price includes • Scheduled return flights with SAS from Heathrow

to Kiruna (via Stockholm) including taxes. Other departure airports available on request.

• Return airport transfers.• 1 night in a Northern Lights room for two people

including luggage locker (main building), thermal sleeping bag, hot drink, sauna, shower and breakfast.

• 2 nights in a Kaamos Hotel Room based on a double/twin room with shower and WC including breakfast.

• Warm boots, snowsuit, mittens and balaclava for the duration of your stay.

Extra nights

Kaamos Hotel Room£95 p.p.p.n. (Mon-Wed)£112 p.p.p.n. (Thu-Sun)£45 p.n. single supp.

© ICEHOTEL


THETREEHOTELAND THEICEHOTEL

At the Treehotel you’ll find a range of tree rooms designed by world-class architects with a passion for innovation and the environment. Set amongst undisturbed nature, attached to living, growing trees, you will find the Bird’s Nest, Mirrorcube, Cabin, Blue Cone, UFO and Dragonfly. All are heated with en-suite WC and washbasin with Tree Sauna and showers close by.

This image of the Blue Cone (yes, we know it’s red!) © Graeme Richardson

Britta’s PensjonatBefore the Treehotel was even thought about there was Britta’s Pensjonat. Owned by Britta and Kent, the pensjonat is delightfully charming and is as unique as a guesthouse as the Treehotel is as a treehouse. Inspired by the period stretching from the 30s to the 50s, the pensjonat offers a homely atmosphere and excellent food. Not all rooms are en-suite but showers and WCs are just in the corridor and add to the charm.

Treehouses often conjure up images of Dad’s dodgy DIY...well prepare to be amazed! This is no ordinary treehouse, this is the designer Treehotel in Swedish Lapland!

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An exploration of Sweden’s Arctic wilderness which includes two of the world’s most unique hotels.

Swedish Lapland is already well-known for its famous ICEHOTEL which offers a unique opportunity to chill out (forgive the pun!), however this holiday includes the region’s other famous overnight experience - a Treehotel with designer, heated, Tree Rooms which are located in the forest and built to work with, and celebrate, nature.

ItineraryDay 1 - Fly from the UK to Luleå via Stockholm. Met on arrival for your guided transfer to Harads (duration 90 minutes). Your transfer will take you via the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Gammelstad Church Village and the small town of Boden. During your journey your guide will provide you with an insight into local history, culture and nature and will have hot/cold drinks and local snacks for you to enjoy. On arrival in Harads you will check-in to your room at Britta’s with time to relax before dinner.

1 night HARADS - Britta’s Pensjonat (HB)

Day 2 - For thousands of years the Sámi people have raised and herded their reindeer in this region. Today you have a guided tour to the village of Flakaberg, approximately 80 kms from Harads, and the home of Lars Eriksson and his family. Lars will show you his reindeer pastures and talk about the Sámi culture and way of life. In his cabin you will be served a typical Sámi lunch before returning to Harads. A lovely relaxing yet fascinating day.

Tonight you will again have dinner in the restaurant at Britta’s Pensjonat, however, this time you will retire to the forest and your chosen Tree Room for your unique overnight stay amongst the trees and nature. Surprisingly civilised and very, very warm and cosy, particularly after your included Tree Sauna!

1 night HARADS - Treehotel (HB)

Day 3 - Awake to the sound of silence, taking a few moments to relish the comfort of your Treeroom before making your way through the trees to Britta’s for breakfast. Transfer from Harads to Boden where you will take the express train northwards, across the Arctic Circle, to Kiruna. The train is very comfortable and you will find yourself sharing the carriage with a mixture of local skiiers and those travelling to the Arctic for a variety of winter wonderland experiences - just like yourself! Met on arrival and transferred to Jukkasjärvi and ICEHOTEL resort. For more information regarding the ICEHOTEL see pages 20-21.

1 night JUKKASJÄRVI - ICEHOTEL (BB)

Day 4 - Awake to a warm drink followed by a hot sauna, shower and delicious breakfast. Today is free for you to choose from one of our recommended Optional Activities - see details right.

1 night JUKKASJÄRVI - Kaamos Hotel Room (BB)

Day 5 - Breakfast in the main building before your transfer to Kiruna Airport for your return flights home.

Britta and KentBritta and Kent are the owners and hosts at Britta’s Pensjonat and the Treehotel in Harads. Their love of nature, architecture, adventure, people, the environment, storytelling and food is apparent and guests are sure of a warm welcome and stay filled with comfort, fun and good cheer!

© Icehotel

The Mirrorcube © Graeme Richardson

Optional ActivitiesSnowmobile Tour with Swedish Fika Snowmobile safari of area surrounding Kiruna including traditional Swedish Fika (coffee and cake) around an open fire. Duration 1230-1530. Price: £99 per person (2 per vehicle), £178 per person (1 per vehicle)

Northern Lights Snowmobile Tour Head out into the wilderness in search of the Northern Lights. Your guides will make stops to provide information about the lights and your surroundings. 3-course dinner included. Duration 1900-2300. Price: £160 per person (2 per vehicle), £240 per person (1 per vehicle)

Sled Dog Ride in Winter Wonderland Take a seat in the sled, experience the howling dogs, and then the silence when the journey begins. Coffee and cake over a campfire included. Duration 0930-1100 or 1300-1430. Price: £120 per person

Lunch Excursion with HuskiesUnique dog sledding experience in the Arctic wilderness. Drive your own team or sit on the sled as a passenger. Very hands-on activity. Traditional lunch at a wilderness camp included. Duration 1115-1515. Price: £325 per person (musher!), £245 per person (passenger)

All excursions listed above, from the Icehotel

FactsDeparture Day: Mon - Fri Departure Dates: 11 Dec 2015 - 28 Mar 2016 Duration: 4 nights


Price per person

Single supplement

11 Dec 2015 - 28 Mar 2016* £1795 On Req.

* except periods 30 Dec - 2 Jan & 13 - 15 Feb

Price includes • Scheduled flights with SAS from Heathrow to Luleå

and from Kiruna to Heathrow (both via Stockholm) including taxes.

• Guided private transfer from Luleå Airport to Harads including guide, hot/cold drink and local snacks.

• 1 night at Britta’s Pensjonat based on two people sharing a double/twin room with shower and WC in the corridor and including 3-course buffet dinner and breakfast.

• Sámi day excursion as detailed including lunch.• 1 night at the Treehotel in a Tree Room of your

choice based on two people sharing and including use of the Tree Sauna, 3-course a la carte dinner and breakfast.

• Transfer from the Treehotel to Boden Station.• Rail journey across the Arctic Circle from Boden to

Kiruna including reserved seats.• Transfer from the station in Kiruna to the Icehotel.• 1 night in a Northern Lights room for two people

including luggage locker (main building), thermal sleeping bag, hot drink, sauna, shower and breakfast.

• 1 night in a Kaamos Hotel Room based on a double/twin room with shower and WC including breakfast.

• Warm boots, snowsuit, mittens and balaclava for the duration of your stay at the Icehotel.

• Transfer from the Icehotel to Kiruna Airport.

Extra nights

Britta’s Pensjonat, HB £88 p.p.p.n.

Kaamos Hotel Room, BB£95 p.p.p.n. (Mon-Wed)£112 p.p.p.n. (Thu-Sun)



LAPLANDWEEKENDINDULGENCE

Stay...Camp Ripan is a collection of individual cabin rooms located close to a main building which houses the restaurant, bar, Northern Lights room and shop.

Escape to Swedish Lapland for a weekend including dog-sledding, snowmobiling, good food and a spa indulgence - short but very, very sweet

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Camp Ripan is located on the edge of Kiruna town in Swedish Lapland; with the town on one side and the Arctic wilderness on the other, it is both accessible and remote at the same time.

This holiday is particularly suited to those looking for a short weekend break which doesn’t leave anything out, but also doesn’t leave you feeling rushed with no spare time to catch your breath and enjoy your holiday.

ItineraryDay 1 - Fly from the UK to Kiruna (via Stockholm). Met on arrival and transferred to Camp Ripan. Why not spend the remainder of the afternoon exploring Kiruna? The centre is a short walk from your hotel and will give you an insight into community life. During the evening dinner is served in Ripan Restaurant.

3 nights KIRUNA - Camp Ripan (HB)

Day 2 - Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before transferring to the dog-sled kennels for your guided dog-sled safari. After meeting your 4-legged friends you will set off either driving your own dog team or sitting in the sled. The journey takes you into the forest to a wilderness hut where you light a fire and prepare lunch with your guide. Explore your surroundings on a short snowshoe hike before returning to the kennels by dog-sled.

An afternoon of relaxation and body therapy awaits you at Aurora Spa. You will be given a Sauna Bucket which includes a variety of

wonderful products to use as you work your way through the spa’s various heat and soak areas; aromatic coffee scrub, juniper salt and lemon foot soak, newly-sprouted birch leaf body scrub and soothing body oil of pine-scented canola oil - the perfect way to spend an afternoon after a morning in the great outdoors.

Dinner served in Ripan Restaurant during the evening.

Day 3 - Today you have an included full-day guided snowmobile mountain tour. The tour starts from the village of Pirttivuopio and travels up to the high mountain terrain around the Kebnekaise massive. The area is teaming with wild animals and if you’re lucky you may catch a glimpse of a moose. Lunch is included during your trip and may be outdoors around an open fire or in one of the small mountain huts. Return to Camp Ripan with time to relax before dinner.

Day 4 - Mid-morning transfer to Kiruna Airport for your return flight to the UK.

...and relaxAurora Spa is the perfect place to unwind. Mineral and aroma saunas, a steam room, footbaths, indoor and outdoor relaxation whirlpools, and an area to relax with fruit, juice, herbal tea, a smoothie or dare we suggest a glass of wine?! We have included an Aurora Spa experience and a Sauna Bucket in your holiday...

Optional ActivitiesNorthern Lights Photo Tour and Dinner See and photograph the Aurora Borealis in the wilderness of Abisko National Park. Your professional guide will provide you with a camera and lens and quickly teach you the skills to capture the magical Northern Lights. No previous photography experience is required. This is a small group activity to ensure a more personal experience. Departure from Camp Ripan at 1630 arriving in Abisko at around 1730. Dinner at the Mountain Station before your photo tour. NB. Bring your own SD memory card to be used in the camera in order that you may take your images home with you! Price: £160 per person NB. A reduction has already been made as you will not be dining at Camp Ripan.

Overnight at the ICEHOTEL at Jukkasjärvi Why not add a night to the end of your holiday at the famous ICEHOTEL? Stay in a Northern Lights room - an art installation of light, snow and ice and a real celebration of the magical Northern Lights. Your bed is enveloped in a sweeping wall sculpture of snow and ice with an animated Northern Lights ceiling projection and curtain door. Your unique overnight stay includes thermal sleeping bag and luggage locker, a wake-up drink of hot lingonberry juice, hot sauna and shower in the morning and a delicious buffet breakfast. Transfer from Camp Ripan to the ICEHOTEL and transfer from ICEHOTEL to the airport also included. Price: £185 per person (Mon-Wed), £245 (Thu-Sun)

FactsDeparture Day: Thursday or Friday Departure Dates: 17 Dec 2015 - 31 Mar 2016 Duration: 3 nights


2 people sharing

3 people sharing

4 people sharing

17 Dec 2015 -31 Mar 2016 £1395 £1325 £1285


Kiruna via Stockholm, including taxes. Alternative departure airports available on request.

• Return airport transfers.• 3 nights at Camp Ripan based on two, three

or four people sharing a cabin hotel room with shower and WC including buffet breakfast and 3-course dinner.

• Dog-sledding safari on Day 2 including lunch, based on two people per dog team.

• Entrance to Aurora Spa and a Sauna Bucket of treatment products. Also includes towel, bathrobe, tea, water and fruit.

• Snowmobile safari on Day 3 including lunch, based on two people per snowmobile. Supplement for driving solo £72.

© Martin Jakobsson, ICEHOTEL


ADVENTURESINSWEDISHLAPLAND

Your very own wooden cabin overlooking the frozen Luleå Archipelago. Secluded but accessible, simple but cosy and comfortable. Perfect.


Cosy cabinAccommodation at Brändön Lodge is in detached, cosy wooden cabins. Each cabin has two bedrooms, each with two beds, and there’s also a living room area with sofa, table, chairs and kitchenette plus a bathroom with shower and WC. Each cabin has its own verandah and is a short walk from the main building where you will find the restaurant, bar and lounge area.

Perfect for friends, families, couples and small groups - in fact anyone who enjoys spending time with other people!

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A traditional holiday staying in one place and featuring a full range of outdoor activities.

Enjoy the magnificent scenery of the Arctic wilderness whilst snowmobiling, mushing your own team of huskies and learning a few new outdoor skills, such as building a fire in the snow in order to cook lunch. A relaxing holiday which is more of a gentle exploration than an expedition.

ItineraryDay 1 - Met on arrival and transferred to Brändon Lodge. Dinner is served at the lodge shortly after arrival.

4 nights BRÄNDON ISLAND - Brändon Lodge

Day 2 - You are in the Arctic so today you will take part in some Nordic winter adventure skills! First you will learn about dressing for the cold climate before following your wilderness guide into the nearby forest of Camp Brändön to learn how to make a fire in the snow, how to make tea and coffee over an open fire and also about the wildlife of the north. At lunchtime you will be taken to a wilderness Lappish tent to cook a typical outdoor lunch. Relax and enjoy your meal whilst sitting on reindeer hides before returning to the lodge. Remainder of the day to relax before dinner in the lodge.

Day 3 - Today you have a wonderful snowmobile adventure into the surrounding forests. Your trip travels through snow-

covered forests with majestic trees, often heavy with fresh snow, and providing the sort of typical winter wonderland scenery and tranquility so often associated with a winter holiday in Lapland. During your journey stops are made to enjoy a warm drink and lunch, and your guide will provide greater insight into your surroundings, the nature and wildlife, and living in this remote northern wilderness.

Return to the lodge with time to relax and rest your tired muscles (you will have used them more than you think!) before dinner is served.

Day 4 - Dog-sledding is a fantastic activity and at Brändön Lodge there is a nearby husky kennel for your included dog-sledding adventure. First you meet your husky team (expect an extremely warm welcome!) and learn how to manage your team and operate your sled - then you’re off, ‘mushing’ them on a forest and lake trail. A glorious activity and for many the highlight of their trip to the Arctic.

Lunch is served in the lodge’s restaurant on return and the remainder of the afternoon is free to spend time enjoying snow activities. Why not build a snowman, have a snowball fight or race one another down the tobogganing slope?

Dinner is served in the lodge’s restaurant followed by a snowshoe walk, away from light pollution, to catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights. Warm drink served during the trip.

Day 5 - Transfer after lunch (served at the lodge) to Luleå Airport for your return flight to the UK.

Nordic winter skillsThose who live in the Arctic take these skills for granted; to them there’s nothing more natural than spending a lovely winter’s day in the great outdoors and making a fire in the snow to stay warm, cook a hearty meal and brew some coffee. This activity isn’t so much about survival, it’s more about sharing someone else’s life experience.

Caption


Optional ActivitiesNorthern Lights Sled Tour A 2-hour search for the Northern Lights. During this activity you sit in a sled filled with reindeer hides and warm blankets. Your guides drive snowmobiles which pull the sleds across the frozen sea and from island to island. Warm clothing included for the trip. Price: £70 per adult, £35 per child

Ice-fishing Ice fishing on the frozen sea-ice for 2 hours including a break with hot drink and sweet pastry. Your guide brings all necessary equipment and you transfer by snowmobile sled to a suitable location on the sea-ice. You drill your holes in the ice and then lower your line and bait and wait! A normal catch would be perch or sometimes pike. Price: £70 per person

FactsDeparture Day: Sat & Wed Departure Dates: 6 Jan - 26 Mar 2016 Duration: 4 nights

Prices (per person)

Departure Dates

2 per 3 per 4 per

6 Jan - 26 Mar 2016 £1750 £1660 £1620

Prices are per person and include: • Scheduled flights with SAS from Heathrow to

Luleå, via Stockholm, including taxes.• Return airport transfers.• 4 nights at Brändön Lodge based on cabin

accommodation with 2, 3 or 4 people sharing. Includes daily breakfast and 2-course buffet dinner in Brändön Lodge’s main building.

• Nordic winter skills activity on Day 2 including Sami tent lunch.

• 4-hour snowmobile forest tour on Day 3 with 2 per snowmobile, including outdoor lunch.

• 1-hour husky safari on day 4, up to 4 per sled plus lunch at Brändön Lodge on return.

• Northern Lights sled tour including warm drink.• Lunch at Brändön Lodge on Day 5.

Extra nights

Brändön Lodge, inc dinner and breakfast

£140 p.p.p.n. (2 people sharing) £125 p.p.p.n. (3 people sharing)£115 p.p.p.n. (4 people sharing)

© Graeme Richardson © Graeme Richardson


REYKJAVIK& THENORTHERNLIGHTS

Strokkur geyser © Kichatof - Fotolia.com

Lækjarbrekka Restaurant One of our favourite restaurants located in a beautiful, historic wooden building on Reykjavik’s main street. Delicious classical Icelandic cuisine prepared with passion. Let us book you a table!

It might be small, but Reykjavik thrives on being different, and unlike most cities, you are standing directly on Mother Nature’s doorstep

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Reykjavik, the world’s most northerly capital, with a population of only 120,000 is a vibrant city positioned amid fjords and mountain ranges.

It’s often said that the best things come in small packages, and Reykjavik is a perfect example of this. For such a small city it’s surprisingly cosmopolitan and offers a throng of unforgettable activities to do, ranging from the adventurous to the seriously quirky! To experience the city at it’s best, we believe it reaches new heights when combined with a selection of close-by adventures, from soaking in the Blue Lagoon, to whale watching, and to ensure you don’t go home without experiencing Iceland’s unique landscape, we have included a more intimate, small-group Golden Circle tour and an exciting Northern Lights hunt by Super-Jeep.

ItineraryDay 1 - Fly from UK to Keflavik Airport. Transfer by airport bus to your hotel. Evening pick up from your hotel to start your Northern Lights hunt by Super Jeep. This is a small-group excursion with the benefit of more space and fewer people!

3 nights REYKJAVIK - Fosshotel Reykjavik *** or Hotel Reykjavik Centrum**** (BB)

Day 2 - Full day small-group Golden Circle trip (7-8 hours). This tour needs little introduction; it includes some of Iceland’s most stunning sights. You will see the hot spring Strokkur shoot a column of water up to 30 metres into the air every 4-8 minutes - a thrilling experience you will anticipate each time. You will also visit magnificent Gullfoss waterfall, created where the river Hvítá tumbles and plunges into a crevice some 32 metres deep. Your tour also includes the historical and geological

Quirky Reykjavik...If we had to sum Reykjavik up in one word it would be ‘quirky’. The city prides itself on being unique and has something special around almost every corner. You’ll find few chain shops here, instead there’s an eclectic mix of independent retailers including vintage, record and design shops and a good selection of cosy cafes with homemade food for when you need to rest your weary legs. For something really, really quirky, how about a trip to the world’s only Phallological museum? We’ve been, but we daren’t show you the photos...!

© Blue Lagoon

© Mountain Taxi

Optional ActivitiesThe Blue Lagoon on Departure What better way to end your holiday than bathing in the famous Blue Lagoon geothermal spa to soothe and refresh body and soul? The milky-blue seawater has a temperature of between 37 - 39ºC, and make sure you visit the sauna, steam bath and powerful massage waterfall for total body indulgence! Price: £55 per person

Reykjavik Whale Watching The whales most frequently seen are Minke whales, Humpback whales, dolphins, porpoises and orcas, though other species are sometimes spotted too. Hot drinks and light refreshments are available on board. Price: £49 per person

South Coast Tour by mini-busA fantastic tour featuring: the waterfalls Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss, a glimpse of Iceland’s most notorious volcanic glacier Eyjafjallajökull, the small town of Vik (opportunity to buy lunch), the black sandy beach at Reynisfjara and impressive basaltic rock pillars - all this before visiting and touching the Sólheimajökull glacier (see alternative options below) before returning to Reykjavik. Duration 8-9 hours, operates Wed, Fri and Sun.Price: £68 per person

South Coast plus Glacier Hike As above but without Vik and Reynisfjara, heading straight to the Sólheimajökull glacier for a guided crampon walk on the ice field to view its raw and stunning landscape of cravasses, ridges and ice sculptures. Approx. 1½ hours on the ice. Duration 8-9 hours, operates Wed, Fri and Sun. Price: £113 per person

South Coast plus Snowmobile/ATV Quad Bike Ride As above, without Vik and Reynisfjara, but including either a tour by snowmobile on the Mýrdalsjökull or an ATV Quad Bike tour on the black sand beaches formed by the dormant volcano, Katla. Duration 8-9 hours, operates Wed, Fri and Sun. 1 hour on the snowmobiles or 2 hours on the Quad bikes. Driving licence required. Price: £158 per person (2 per vehicle), supplement for solo riding £52 (both options)

FactsDeparture Day: Daily Departure Dates: 1 Oct 2015 - 8 Apr 2016 Duration: 3 nights


Price per

person

Extra night per

person

Single supplement per person

Fosshotel Reykjavik***1 Oct 2015 - 8 Apr 2016 £830 £65 £49

Hotel Reykjavik Centrum****1 Oct 2015 - 8 Apr 2016 £895 £92 £49

Price includes • Scheduled return flights with Icelandair from

Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester, Birmingham or Glasgow to Keflavik including taxes.

• Arrival and departure airport transfer by Flybus.• 3 nights hotel accommodation as detailed based

on two people sharing a double/twin room (Fosshotel Reykjavik) or a double deluxe room (Hotel Reykjavik Centrum) both with shower and WC including breakfast.

• Northern Lights Hunt by Super-Jeep.• Golden Circle excursion (small group, max 19).

© Visit Iceland

wonder that is the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Thingvellir National Park (actually spelt Þingvellir but we thought you’d appreciate knowing how to pronounce it!), where the American and Eurasian tectonic plates are pulling apart at a rate of a few centimetres per year. Additionally you visit the wide Faxi waterfall, which is like a smaller version of Gullfoss but with only one tier. Return to your hotel just in time to get ready for dinner!

Day 3 - Today you are completely free to do as you wish! Why not pre-book one of our exciting Optional Activities? Alternatively, why not spend the day exploring Reykjavik’s quirky street art, modern art gallery, Harpa concert hall or the vast array of independent cafes and shops?

Day 4 - Transfer from your hotel by airport bus to Keflavik Airport for your return flight to the UK. Why not visit the Blue Lagoon on departure? See Optional Activities for details.


NORTHICELAND&LAKEMÝVATN

Icelandic horse © h368k742 - Fotolia.com

Monster waterfall!Dettifoss is thought to be Europe’s most powerful waterfall and a favourite location for Hollywood films including Ridley Scott’s, Prometheus. The surroundings are rugged; steely cliffs, barren sands and rocky ground evoke images of monsters and giants - or so some say! Why not take a sightseeing tour to find out for yourself? Price: £150 per person, duration 4 - 5 hours incl. picnic.

Combining Reykjavik with North Iceland, offers both citylife and remarkable landscape constantly interacting with the forces of nature

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Lake Mývatn is a unique natural phenomenon, teeming with geological wonders on the northern fringe of the central highlands. It is also a very good place to see the Northern Lights.

After enjoying a night in Reykjavik you fly to North Iceland where you will experience the region’s renowned landscape and have the option to get involved in a range of activities including horse riding, snowmobiling, Northern Lights hunting and Super-Jeep adventures. This region is of great geological importance with huge volcanic craters, lava fields and mud pools.

ItineraryDay 1 - Fly from UK to Keflavik and take the airport bus to your hotel in Reykjavik. The capital has a diverse range of independent restaurants offering local and international cuisine and an excellent selection of bars for a nightcap.

1 night REYKJAVIK - Fosshotel Reykjavik (BB)

Day 2 - Short midday flight to Akureyri, the ‘capital of the North’. Met on arrival for transfer to the Mývatn area renowned for its beauty and geological wonders. The landscape has been moulded by glacial and volcanic activity; since the end of the last Ice Age the whole area has undergone tremendous changes, which are still iin progress. A stop will be made at the horseshoe-shaped falls of Goðafoss, also known as the ‘waterfall of the Gods’.

After check-in there will be a guided sightseeing tour of the Mývatn area which will include such

places as the Dimmuborgir (lava fields), Höfði (a community park) and the bubbling mud pools at Hveraleira. After dinner, we suggest taking a stroll around the area in case the Northern Lights make an appearance.

3 nights LAKE MÝVATN - Sel Hotel (HB)

Day 3 - Today you can enjoy various leisure activities in the area (see optional activities). We suggest ending your evening with a tour to Mývatn Nature Baths for a late night relaxation in the lagoon. It’s safe to say you’ll sleep like a baby afterwards!

Day 4 - Another free day to choose from a variety of activities, or you may simply wish to relax around the beautiful landscape of Mývatn. Alternatively you have the option to explore the fishing village of Húsavik by mini-bus. On this 5-hour tour you will visit the Whale Museum and get an overview of the Icelandic way of life, past and present £110 per person.

Day 5 - Flight back to Reykjavik and check in at your hotel. Enjoy the city’s atmosphere at night where you have a fabulous array of bars and restaurants to celebrate the final night your winter holiday in Iceland. For extra nights and additional optional activities from Reykjavik see page 29.

1 night REYKJAVIK - Fosshotel Reykjavik (BB)

Day 6 - Transfer to the airport for your retun flight to the UK. Depending on flight time you might wish to soak in the Blue Lagoon en route.

Did You Know?Lake Mývatn is around 300 m above sea-level which makes it a remarkable place for Aurora spotting! Auroras are formed in the outermost layer of the atmosphere when electrically charged particles from the sun collide with oxygen, nitrogen, and other atmospheric atoms and molecules and form visible light.

Mývatn Nature Baths © Sylvia adams / Fotolia.com

Hverir © TTstudio / Fotolia.com

Optional ActivitiesFrom Reykjavik

The Blue Lagoon on Departure What better way to end your holiday than bathing in the famous Blue Lagoon geothermal spa to soothe and refresh body and soul? N.B. Not open from 5 - 21 Jan 2016 Price: £55 per person

Northern Lights Hunt by Super-Jeep The ultimate way to hunt for the Northern Lights! Smaller numbers of passengers for a more intimate and personal experience. Price: £110 per person

From Lake Mývatn

Snowmobile Adventure A snowmobiling tour (twin share) for those who want a little bit more from the lake. It will get you further out on the lake and give you a great view of the beautiful nature around Lake Mývatn. Price: £75 per person for 30 mins, £110 per person for 1 hour

Mývatn Nature Baths Transfer to the lagoon, a rich and unique combination of natural minerals, blue green algae and white silica mud, which give the lagoon its soft, milky, aquamarine colour. The natural geothermal water is also very healthy for those who suffer from psoriasis and other skin ailments. A good dressing-room, natural steambath and a hot tub can also be found at the nature baths. Price: £21 per person (entrance fee not included, approx. £17 p.p.), duration 2 - 3 hours

Mývatn Horse Riding The horse at Álftagerði takes you on an adventure tour into the beautiful sites of Lake Mývatn and through the frozen lake. Icelandic horses are well known for their five gaits, especially the ‘tolt’, and did we mention how beautiful they are?Price: £45 per person, duration 45 mins



Price per person

Single supplement

1 Oct 2015 - 31 Mar 2016 £1165 £195

Price includes • Scheduled flights in economy class with Icelandair

from London Heathrow/Gatwick, Manchester, Birmingham or Glasgow including taxes.

• Return airport bus transfer in Reykjavik.• 5 nights hotel accommodation as detailed based

on two people sharing a double/twin room with shower/WC including breakfast in Reykjavik and half-board in Mývatn.

• Return flight Reykjavik - Akureyri - Reykjavik including taxes.

• Return transfer Akureyri - Lake Mývatn - Akureyri.• Short sightseeing tour of the Lake Mývatn area.• Full use of the special Northern Lights shelter at

Sel Hotel.

Extra nights

Fosshotel Reykjavik

£65 per person per night £49 single supplement per night

Goðafoss © Bono / Fotolia.com


NORTHERNLIGHTSEXPLORATION

Northern Lights over Jökulsárlón © Ronnihauks - Fotolia.com

A small group tour which encompasses what we believe to be many of Iceland’s greatest highlights...with more time, more attention, less distraction

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Smooth, soak, steam, sweat!We simply can’t get enough of the Blue Lagoon! If ever a place were guaranteed to chill you out whilst warming you up this would be it. The extremely rich mineral content, which is so good for the skin, is generated by geological layers pushed up to the surface by hot water. Smooth the silica over your face for the world’s finest face mask, soak your skin in the milky waters, steam in the Turkish bath, sweat in the saunas, and then, feeling silky all over, slide onto a seat in the submerged bar for a celebratory cocktail to cool you down!

This holiday is packed full of experiences. There is lots of tasting (most of it pleasant!), plenty of Icelandic culture (past and present), and lots and lots about the Northern Lights.

Designed to maximise your chances of seeing the Northern Lights, hotels are specifically chosen for their remote location away from light pollution and proximity to Iceland’s weird and wonderful natural landscapes.

ItineraryDay 1 - Fly from UK to Keflavik. Take airport bus to your hotel, and have the rest of the day to explore Iceland’s quirky capital.

1 night REYKJAVIK - Centrehotel Plaza (BB)

Day 2 - Meet 0900 with your tour guide for a Reykjavik city tour, before travelling north-west to Borgarfjörður, known as the Saga valley because of its many important historical events. Then a chance to climb the Grábrók volcano crater - don’t worry it’s not difficult and the view is fantastic! Now head to Hraunfossar, a series of waterfalls pouring from beneath a wide lava field, and Deildartunguhver, Europe’s most powerful hot spring with a flow rate of 180 litres per second of 97ºC water. The afternoon includes a lecture about Northern Lights. After dinner step into the hotel garden in search of the Northern Lights.

2 nights BORGARNES - Icelandair Hotel Hamar (BB)

Day 3 - Explore the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, a rugged mountain chain jutting out into the Atlantic Ocean. Travel to the charming fishing town of Stykkishólmur for a cruise on the Breiðafjörður fjord. A uniquely Icelandic ‘treat’ awaits you at Bjarnarhöfn - Hákarl, fermented shark! On the way back to Borgarnes your guide provides practical tips on how to photograph the Aurora and you can hopefully put this into practise during the evening by the outdoor hot tubs!

Day 4 - Travel along scenic shores before arriving at Thingvellir National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, then continue to Geysir geothermal field, where a variety of hot springs and bubbling pools await. The original geyser is now dormant but has been replaced by Strokkur ‘the Churn’ which erupts at 5-10

minute intervals. Onwards travel to Gullfoss, a formidable double waterfall tumbling 34 metres into the Hvítá River. In the evening search for the elusive Northern Lights.

1 night near SELFOSS - Fosshotel Hekla (BB)

Day 5 - Travel along the South coast to Eyjafjallajökull Information Centre and learn about living next to an active volcano. Continue to Skógafoss, an impressive 60 metres high waterfall, and in the afternoon stroll along the black lava beach at Reynisfjara in South Iceland, before making your way to Vatnajökull National Park, located in complete darkness and ideal for Northern Lights search.

2 nights KIRKJUBÆJARKLAUSTUR - Hotel Laki (BB)

Day 6 - Visit the extraordinary Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon filled with floating icebergs and where the occasional seal might be spotted playing and swimming. During the evening enjoy a film presentation about the Northern Lights and another opportunity to see the Northern Lights shimmering across the night sky.

Day 7 - Heading west past Laki lava field to the charming village of Vik, Iceland’s southernmost village and famous for the Reynisdrangar sea stacks, 66 metres high. Return to Reykjavik during the afternoon via Seljalandsfoss waterfall for a few hours before heading to the Blue Lagoon for a relaxing soak, followed by a traditional Icelandic dinner at the Northern Light Inn. Embark on one last Northern Lights tour!

1 night REYKJAVIK - Centrehotel Plaza (BB)

Day 8 - Transfer by airport bus to Keflavik Airport for your return flight home.

© Maridav - Fotolia.com

FactsDeparture Day: Tuesday Departure Dates: 6 Oct 2015 - 29 Mar 2016 Duration: 7 nights


Price per person

Single supplement

6 & 20 Oct 20153 & 17 Nov 20151 Dec 201519 Jan 20162 & 16 Feb 20161, 15 & 29 Mar 2016

£1795 £199

Price includes • Scheduled flights with Icelandair from the UK to

Keflavik, including taxes.• Return airport transfers by flybus (no guide).• Fully escorted small group (max. 14 people) 6-day

bus tour with an English speaking guide.• 7-nights accommodation in simple 3-star hotels

including breakfast.• Fjord cruise on Breiðafjörður fjord including lunch

in Stykkishólmur.• Visit to traditional shark curing farm.• Hot spring tasting with geothermally cooked

bread and eggs. Visit to Icelandic horse stables and geothermal greenhouse.

• Visit to multi-media presentation at Eyjafjallajökull Volcano Information Centre.

• Entrance into Skógar folk museum and turf houses.

• Entrance to the Blue Lagoon including towel.• Tradtional Icelandic dinner at Northern Light Inn.• Northern Lights Academy program during

6 evenings with a combination of lectures, presentations, film, guided Northern Lights searches and midnight refreshments.

• Use of winter and Northern Lights explorer equipment: simple non-slip snow & ice gripper spikes for shoes and a flash-light that is helpful when walking in the dark and operating your photo camera at night.


SOUTHERNNIGHTS &NORTHERN LIGHTS

© Sylvia adams / Fotolia

Nature s Best!Iceland has some of the purest water in the world. A fantastic and eco-friendly way to experience its natural taste is by refilling your bottle at one of the many waterfalls you’ll come across, or better still, during your time at the iceberg filled Jökulsarlon Glacial Lagoon!

There’s something about iceland that feeds the imagination and leaves you wanting more. If we could, we’d never leave...

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Explore the dazzling attractions of South Iceland on this 5-night fly-drive holiday.

This area of South Iceland’s remote, beautiful wilderness has much to offer those seeking an ‘away from it all’ destination - amazing glaciers, gushing waterfalls and impressive volcanoes, including mighty Hekla and one other notorious, unpronounceable one - Eyjafjallajökull!

Should ‘the Lights’ make a middle of the night appearance, hotel reception will give you a quick wake-up call and then it’s time to throw your coat on over your pyjamas and hot tail it outside (wake-up call not obligatory!).

ItineraryDay 1 - Arrive Keflavik Airport and collect hire car. Your journey begins by driving via the Blue Lagoon near Grindavik (dependent on flight times) with the possibility of bathing in the milky blue waters kept at a soothing 37-40°C. Then continue eastwards along the southern shore of the spectacular Reykjanes Peninsula via Seltun geothermal area with its mud pots, fumaroles and hot springs. Nearby is Kleifarvatn lake, southern Iceland’s third largest. Then onwards via Selfoss to Hella (approx. 90 miles).

2 nights SELFOSS - Fosshotel Hekla *** or HELLA - Hotel Rangá **** (HB)

Day 2 - A full day at leisure in south-west Iceland with the opportunity for a number of exciting activities. We recommend driving the Golden Circle route which can be described as a microcosm of Iceland since it comprises of Thingvellir National Park, Geysir area and almighty Gullfoss waterfall.

Day 3 - After a leisurely breakfast take the

drive to Vik. Vik is Iceland’s most southern town and a perfect base to see many of Iceland’s most famed attractions. Despite its small size it’s still one of the largest towns in south Iceland and arguably the prettiest, nestled at the bottom of rolling mountains and overlooking the ocean. Perhaps Vik’s most distinct feature are the ‘fingers’ of basalt rocks also known as Reynisdrangar (see opposite) that eerily juts out of the sea and can be seen from most places, including your hotel (approx. 58 miles).

2 nights VIK - Icelandair Hotel Vik***plus (HB)

Day 4 - On your free day take the scenic drive to Jökulsárlón Glacial Lagoon, an extraordinary vision of floating icebergs. Other attractions of South Iceland include the black beach of Vik, Dyrhólaey and Svartifoss – a unique waterfall famed for its basalt columns which inspired the creation of Hallgrímskirkja Church in Reykjavik (approx. 120 miles).

Day 5 - Retrace your route to Reykjavik and drop off your hire car. You are now free to spend the remainder of the day exploring Iceland’s quirky capital city. The city has a wonderful selection of bars and restaurants and a visit to the top of Hallgrimskirkja church is recommended for a great view of the city.

1 night REYKJAVÍK – Fosshotel Reykjavik *** or Hotel Reykjavík Centrum**** (BB)

Day 6 - Take the airport bus transfer from your hotel (takes approx. 45 mins) to Keflavik Airport for your return flight to the UK.

How are black beaches formed?There are two ways: Lava from a volcano hits the cold ocean and causes the lava to explode, forming small glass-like shards which become rounded as the ocean waves erode them. Or, the beating from the ocean cuts through the black volcanic rock (basalt) and breaks it up before it’s formed into small eroded sediments by the time it reaches the ocean.

Rainbow across Skógafoss! © Taber Holidays

Northern Lights at Hotel Rangá

Must Do! To see the best of South Iceland, follow our suggestions on things to see and do.

Svartifoss Waterfall (‘Black Falls’) and Svinafellsjökull - from SkaftafellSvartifoss plunges over a wall of symmetrical columnar balsalt and an easy walk to its base provides a spectacular photo opportunity. Walk to the edge of Svinafellsjökull, a glacial tongue of Vatnajökull, Europe’s largest glacier.

Dyrhólaey (‘Doorway Hill Island’) - from Vik Iceland’s most southerly tip. A 120 metres high promontory where unique arch-shaped rock is found. The cliffs and sand dunes have been declared a nature reserve protecting large seabird colonies. Spectacular views of the black sand beaches from the lighthouse!

Skógafoss Waterfall - from SkógarJust 20 miles away from Vik you will discover one of Iceland’s most beautiful and photographed waterfalls. Skógafoss is also one of the biggest waterfalls in the country with a width of 25 metres and a drop of 60 metres. Due to the amount of spray the waterfall consistently produces, a single or double rainbow often appears by its side!

Jökulsárlón Glacial Lagoon - in South East Iceland This iceberg filled lagoon may be furthest away but we urge you to take the stunning drive from Vik. The term ‘out of this world’ could not be more accurate for this place!



Price per person

Single supp.*

Hekla, Vik, Reykjavik1 Oct 2015 -31 Mar 2016 £1130 £225

Rangá, Vik, Reykjavik Centrum1 Oct 2015 -31 Mar 2016 £1250 £280

* applies when two singles travelling together in 1 car. Price for solo travel or travelling with a twin, on request.

Price includes • Return flights with Icelandair from the UK to

Keflavik, including taxes.• Car hire with Avis for a period of 4 days based

on a Group L car (VW Golf, automatic or similar). Rental includes unlimited mileage, CDW, theft protection and tax.

• Hotel accommodation based on two people sharing a double/twin room with shower and WC including breakfast and dinner at country hotels and breakfast only in Reykjavik.

• Transfer to Keflavik Airport by bus on departure.• Motoring Map.

Extra nights Reykjavik

Fosshotel Reykjavik, BB£65 p.p.p.n.Single supp. £49

Hotel Reykjavik Centrum, BB

£92 p.p.p.n.Single supp. £49

A photographers paradise © Taber Holidays


NORTHERNLIGHTS,VOLCANOES & GLACIALLAGOONS

© Taber Holidays

A short-break winter trip full of adventure, icy landscapes, volcanic activity and the chance to see the sought-after northern lights

Taber Holidays


During this tour you visit many of Iceland’s most well-loved sites.

You will see some of Europe’s most powerful waterfalls, smoking geysers, colourful volcano craters, a spectacular ice lagoon with floating icebergs and black lava beaches, all set against a backdrop of glistening glaciers and restless geology. Finally, cross your fingers for clear skies, wrap up warm, and don’t forget your camera and tripod when you try to catch sight of the Northern Lights.

ItineraryDay 1 - Fly from UK to Keflavik Airport. Take the airport bus to your hotel, and have the rest of the day to explore Iceland’s quirky capital.

1 night REYKJAVIK - Fosshotel Baron

Day 2 - At 0830 meet your tour guide and start with a short introduction to Icelandic geology at Reykjavik Volcano House. Later on you depart Reykjavik with your group for Thingvellir National Park, a UNESCO world heritage site. Thingvellir is part of a fissure zone running through Iceland, and is situated on the tectonic plate boundaries of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. The faults and fissures of the area make evident the rifting of the earth’s crust!

Exploring the hot springs at Geysir is truly exciting: natural springs bubbling away in the ground until the pressure becomes too much – and they explode in spectacular style. Geysir and Strokkur are the two biggest of the geysers there. While Geysir no longer is active, Strokkur still spouts every 5 to 10 minutes to the delight of visitors. Next you travel to Gullfoss, a double waterfall that tumbles 34 metres into the Hvítá river. It’s one of Iceland’s most beautiful as well as powerful waterfalls. In the evening you are out in the garden waiting for the Northern Lights to reveal herself.

1 night HELLA - Árhús Cottages

Day 3 - Travel to Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon filled with floating icebergs - a sight not to be missed! Explore this extraordinary site and perhaps see some seals swimming in the icy waters. You can walk on the black sandy beach where large icebergs get stranded.

The Vatnajökull National Park is about 12,000 square kilometers and is the largest National Park in Europe. In this area you’ll find Iceland’s highest mountains, an alpine environment and Europe’s largest glacier. Tonight you can enjoy a movie presentation about Northern Lights as a part of the Northern Lights educational program. Be careful not to go to bed too soon in this remote and quiet location or you could miss out on seeing the Northern Lights shimmering and dancing across the night sky!

1 night KIRKJUBÆJARLAUSTUR - Fosshótel Núpar

Day 4 - Today you head across the Laki lava field to the village of Vík where you make a photo stop. Take a stroll on the black lava beach and along the bird cliffs at Reynisfjara beach in South Iceland. You pass the glacier Mýrdalsjökull and the infamous volcano Eyjafjallajökull and continue to Skógafoss waterfall which is 60 meters high and belongs to the most impressive waterfalls in the country. Further west, reach the high but narrow Seljalandsfoss waterfall which plunges over the mountain. There’s a trail that goes behind the falls which is interesting – if you are prepared to get wet! In the evening you return to Reykjavik for one last night. An optional Northern Lights bus tour or fjord cruise can be booked on the spot if the weather conditions are ideal.

1 night REYKJAVIK - Fosshotel Baron

Day 5 - Individual transfer by airport bus from your accommodation in Reykjavík to Keflavík Airport for your flight home.

© Visit Iceland

© Visit Iceland

FactsDeparture Day: Sundays Departure Dates: 27 Sep 2015, 11 & 25 Oct, 8 & 22 Nov, 6 Dec, 10 & 24 Jan 2016, 7 & 21 Feb, 6 & 20 Mar, 3 Apr Duration: 4 nights


Price per person

Single supplement

27 Sep 2015 - 3 Apr 2016 £985 £95

Price includes • Return flights with Icelandair from the UK to

Keflavik including taxes.• Airport transfer on arrival and departure.• Fully escorted 3-day bus tour with English

speaking guide (group size max. 30).• 4 nights accommodation in simple tourist-class

hotels and cottages including breakfast.• 2 x 2-course dinner and 2 x midnight refreshment

on day 2 and 3.• Entrance to Kerið volcano crater.• Visit to a multi media presentation at the Volcano

House in Reykjavík• Northern Lights program during 2 evenings with

a combination of lectures, presentations, film and guided searches for the Northern Lights.

• Use of winter & Northern Lights explorer equipment: simple non-slip snow & ice grippers spikes for shoes and a flash light that is helpful when walking in the dark and operating your photo camera at night.

Extra nights Reykjavik

Fosshotel Baron£45 per person per night £17 single supplement

© Taber Holidays

Did You Know?Gullfoss, in the Hvítá river on the edge of the central highlands, is one of Iceland’s most renowned and spectacular waterfalls and one of the most visited attractions in Iceland. The waterfall is about 32 m high, falling in two cascades down into an impressive gorge up to 70 m deep. About 2.5 km in length, the gorge has been formed over the past 10,000 years, since the end of the last Ice Age by erosion action of the river. The name Gullfoss (Golden Falls) is believed to be inspired by the refraction of sunlight in the spray of the fall, which often forms a multiple rainbow. But legend also attributes the name to a hoard of gold and other valuables once flung into the waterfall by a wealthy farmer in the neighbourhood!


THEICEBERGSOFGREENLAND

The first Inuit people to set foot in Greenland arrived around 4-5000 years ago from North America and Canada. Greenland’s population today is descended from the last immigration, the Thule culture, which arrived in the 13th century.

In the Icelandic sagas it is said that in the year 982 Erik the Red and his extended family set out by sea from Iceland to search for the icy lands known to lie to the northwest - a land he eventually found and named Grœnland (‘Greenland’). In 985 he returned to Iceland to encourage other Norsemen to follow him; what is rather ironic is that the country they were leaving was actually greener than the land they were going to! It is believed that devious Erik had thought of this and deliberately chosen the name to encourage new settlers. What a surprise they must have had to find that 80% of Greenland was actually covered by ice!

For reasons unknown the Norse population disappeared around 1500 and it was in 1721 that the missionary Hans Egede, from the joint kingdom of Denmark-Norway, arrived. He was actually looking for the Norsemen but instead found the Inuit people and decided to stay and convert them to Christianity!

© Visit Greenland

Ilulissat: famed for its dramatically chiselled icebergs. Nowhere else is the power of Nature so apparent, or in our opinion, so beautiful.

The Greenland DogThe Greenlanders do not call their dogs huskies, they call them Greenland dogs. This is because they are perfectly suited to Greenland’s extremes being big, heavy-built, powerful, resilient, fierce when required and very hard working. They are not pets. Puppies live wild until they reach adulthood and are then captured to become full time working dogs.

Taber Holidays


Visiting Greenland is an adventure, an inspiration, an awakening, a revelation.

This tour takes you to the settlement of Ilulissat - situated at the mouth of the 40 kms long Ice Fjord and filled with enormous spectral icebergs produced when the Ilulissat Glacier, an arm of Greenland’s great Ice Sheet, calves into the fjord’s icy glacial waters. This unique nature and beauty has resulted in Ilulissat Ice Fjord being listed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List.

ItineraryDay 1 - Fly from UK to Copenhagen. Your hotel is only one Metro stop away from the airport (3 minutes). If you would like more time to visit Copenhagen please request an early flight.

1 night COPENHAGEN - Park Inn Copenhagen (BB)

Day 2 - Flight from Copenhagen to Kangerlussuaq and then onward by smaller aircraft for the magnificent ‘sightseeing’ flight to Ilulissat, with glorious views of the Ilulissat Icefjord. Met on arrival for transfer to your hotel. Ilulissat is a modern town by Greenlandic standards yet we believe better described as a ‘settlement’. It is 300 kms north of the Arctic Circle, with the unique Disko Bay and magnificent Ilulissat Ice Fjord (A UNESCO World Heritage Site) right on the doorstep. Here you will find calving glaciers, gigantic and majestic icebergs and remote, isolated settlements where Greenlandic hunters still live very much according to ancient traditions. During your guided

walking tour of Ilulissat you will also see the Greenlanders’ chief working companion, the Greenlandic dog; there are around 3500 of them in Ilulissat area!

During the evening relax and enjoy a delicious welcome dinner in your hotel.

4 nights ILULISSAT - Hotel Arctic (HB)

Day 3 - Today you leave the civilised world and enter an Arctic wilderness of low passes and ice-covered fjords with icebergs rising from the surface like spectral sculptures. The experience is a journey back to the time of the old polar explorers and travels in the mountains and fjords close to Ilulissat. Please note, this excursion is primarily operated by dog sled but an alternative exploration by boat to the hunters’ settlement at Rodebay may be taken instead if ice conditions dictate. Either way - glorious scenery!

Day 4 - Today you have a short excursion to see the icebergs of Sermermiut. You travel by car as far as the road goes and then continue on foot for an easy hike to a viewpoint from which the icebergs at the mouth of the Ice Fjord can be seen. They really are quite breathtaking. Remainder of the day free.

Day 5 - Free day for optional activity or relaxation in Ilulissat.

Day 6 - Transfer to the airport for your flight to Copenhagen via Kangerlussuaq.

1 night COPENHAGEN - Park Inn Copenhagen (BB)

Day 7 - Homeward bound from Copenhagen Airport to the UK.

GreenlandersCulturally, Greenlanders tend to be characterised by the extreme environment in which they live, dictated by nature. Life as hunters and fishermen in small, isolated communities is reflected in their language, music, myths, clothing, food and homes. Much is history, but their cultural roots are alive and strong in today’s communities.

© Visit Greenland

© Visit Greenland

Optional ActivitiesNight Rider Tour An evening snowmobile tour in search of the Northern Lights. No previous experience is required as you will be given full instructions before setting out into the darkness (with headlights of course!) following your guide. Duration approximately 2 hours. Price: £120 per person

Northern Lights Snowshoe Adventure Experience the Northern Lights on a snowshoe walk from Ilulissat. You will follow your guide, wearing your headlamp and snowshoes (provided) and walk safely into the wilderness where there is no artificial light. Walking with snowshoes is fun and practical - once you get used to them! Duration 1½ hours. Price: £58 per person

Deluxe flight over Ilulissat Icefjord A wonderful sightseeing flight and photo safari in a 5-seater quiet and comfortable aircraft. We fly in low altitude to the very end of Ilulissat Ice Fjord. The trip first cruises above the glacier front, getting as close to it as safely possible, before heading out over the Ice Fjord to enjoy views of the huge icebergs formed by the glacier. Window seat is guaranteed for the best photo opportunities. Duration: 1 hour. Operates from February only. Price: £265 per person

FactsDeparture Day: Thursday Departure Dates: 1 Nov 2015 - 24 Mar 2016 Duration: 6 nights


Price per person

Single supplement

1 Nov 2015 - 24 Mar 2016 £2680 £298

Price includes • Scheduled return flight with SAS from Heathrow

to Copenhagen including taxes.• 2 nights (in total) at the Park Inn Copenhagen

Airport Hotel including breakfast.• Air Greenland flight from Copenhagen to Ilulissat

(via Kangerlussuaq) including taxes.• Meet and Greet service on arrival at Ilulissat

Airport with transfer to Hotel Arctic.• 4 nights (in total) at Hotel Arctic in Ilulissat

including welcome dinner on Day 2 and farewell dinner on Day 5 plus daily breakfast.

• Guided familiarisation tour of Ilulissat settlement.• Excursion to the hunters’ settlement at Rodebay

by dog sled or boat including lunch.*• Excursion to the viewpoint to see the icebergs of

Sermermiut.*• Transfer from Hotel Arctic to Ilulissat Airport.

* Excursions are always dependent upon weather/ice conditions. We reserve the right to amend/cancel activities should conditions be deemed unsafe or prohibitive at the time by our ground handlers.

© Visit Greenland


EXPLORESPITSBERGENbysnowmobile

© Hanne Feyling/Spitsbergen Travel

Located on a remote island between Norway and the North Pole, travellers to Spitsbergen will follow in the great footsteps of famous Arctic explorers

Taber Holidays


An inspiring journey to the edge of the world by snowmobile, passing incredible glacial landscapes where only a few have tread before.

Explore the raw elements of the Arctic wilderness while enjoying the community-feel of Longyearbyen from where your explorations begins.

ItineraryDay 1 - Fly from UK to Tromsø. Remainder of the day free. For details of Optional Activities in Tromsø please see page 7.

2 nights TROMSØ - Clarion Collection Hotel Aurora (BB)

Day 2 - A full day to explore Tromsø. Luckily much of the city’s old wooden architecture is preserved and contrasts well with the modern Arctic Cathedral, and you will find a busy centre of shops, restaurants, cafes and bars. Well worth a visit is Polaria, an Arctic themed experience centre with the fascinating Ivo Caprino film ‘Svalbard - Arctic Wilderness’ and the Polar Museum which provides an insight into how polar explorers of yesterday and today really were/are amongst the most daring and adventurous men and women on the planet!

Day 3 - Fly to Longyearbyen, settle into your hotel and become acquainted with the small town of Longyearbyen. Remainder of the day free.

4 nights LONGYEARBYEN - Spitsbergen Hotel or Radisson BLU Polar Hotel (BB)

Day 4 - Morning free in Longyearbyen. In

the afternoon you depart on a fantastic snowmobiling adventure, covering approximately 70kms, and enjoying phenomenal views over Tempelfjord towards the mighty Tempel Mountain. This tour takes you through varied terrain, but isn’t technically demanding and is therefore an excellent trip to hone your snowmobiling skills. Svalbard’s impressive landscape will surround you throughout the drive, and at the turning point, Elveneset, the guides will offer warm drinks and share interesting local stories before you head back towards Longyearbyen. Total duration approximately 4 hours.

Day 5 - Day free with the opportunity to try an alternative means of transportation with an optional dog sledding excursion (long or short). Alternatively, free time in Longyearbyen. See box (below left) and Optional Activities for further details.

Day 6 - Today you have a full day’s exploration by snowmobile and the opportunity to use your new skills. Your route heads up to Todalen before heading westwards towards Barentsburg, the Russian mining town. The journey takes you to Colesdalen and along the coast passing Kapp Laila and Kapp Heer before arriving in Barentsburg. An alternative may be that you travel to Skiferdalen and across to Grøndalen before converging with Grønfjorden and Barentsburg (weather dependent). There is a guided tour and lunch at the Russian Kitchen in Barentsburg. Weather permitting you take the opposite route on the way back to Longyearbyen. Total duration approximately 9 hours.

Day 7 - Transfer to Longyearbyen Airport for your return flight to the UK via Oslo.

LongyearbyenKnown as ‘the last stop before the North Pole’, Longyearbyen is the main settlement on Spitsbergen and the base for your holiday. With a population of just over 2000 people, the community is small yet unified. Brightly painted houses cluster together in neat rows to reprieve the sollitude otherwise present in this high Arctic landscape where even trees cannot grow.

Optional ActivitiesDog-sledding Bolterdalen You follow the riverbed as it meanders back and forth into Bolterdalen, surrounded by beautiful mountains. Hopefully you might spot local wildlife like reindeer and Arctic foxes. You will stop several times during the tour to take pictures and interact the dogs. At the Scott Turner Glacier you will turn the sleds and set a course for the dog yards. Upon your return you will help to unharness the dogs, before the guide serves a refreshment and shows you the newest litter of puppies! N.B. Each sled will take two people so you will have the opportunity to to enjoy the ride as a passenger and try mushing for yourself. Pick up to and from hotel. Duration: approx. 4 hours. Price: £105 per person

Dog-sledding to an ice-cave After being given outerclothing and an introduction to dog-sledding the fun adventure begins! Drive your own dog team to an otherworldly ice cave, only accessible by dog sled. The hidden cave is protected from the elements which allows the ice to form spectacular shapes and colours. You will explore the incredible ice cave with your experienced guide whilst the dogs rest. After exploring the cave, you will enjoy a light lunch before picking up pace again en route back to the dog yard. Pick up to and from your hotel. Duration: 6 - 7 hours. Price: £185 per person

Ice-cave tour From the big Longyear glacier you descend into the ice and enter a fascinating cave with extraordinary formations of ice and stones. This is a breathtaking experience where you will also get an insight into the geology of your surroundings. You will be provided with all the equipment you need, including a headlamp necessary for walking inside the passages formed by the melted water under the glacier. Pick up to and from your hotel. Duration: approx. 3 hours. Price: £65 per person

FactsDeparture Day: Tue & Fri Departure Dates: 16 Feb - 10 May 2016 Duration: 6 nights


Price per person

Single supplement

16 - 26 Feb 2016 £1835 £3451 Mar - 26 Apr 2016 £2145 £58029 Apr - 10 May 2016 £2045 £545


Tromsø and from Longyearbyen to Heathrow, both via Oslo, including taxes.

• Domestic flight with SAS from Tromsø to Longyearbyen including taxes.

• 6 nights hotel accommodation based on two people sharing a double/twin bedded room with shower and WC including breakfast.

• Half day’s snowmobile safari to Elveneset on Day 4. Driving snowmobile solo.

• Full day’s snowmobile safari to Barentsburg including lunch. Driving snowmobile solo.

• Return airport transfers in Longyearbyen.

Please note: it is possible for two people to share a snowmobile i.e. driver and passenger, HOWEVER, it is strongly recommended that for comfort and safety each person drives their own snowmobile.

© Ragnar Hartvig/Spitsbergen Travel © Hanne Feyling/Spitsbergen Travel

© Hanne Feyling/Spitsbergen Travel


GENERALINFORMATION

Northern Lights Cathedral, Alta © Taber Holidays

Taber Holidays


Taber Holidays

Accommodation Our featured accommodation is a mixture of hotels, lodges and guesthouses. Much of the accommodation is family owned and managed, others are Scandinavian hotels offering a high standard of service. There is no official star system for grading hotels in Scandinavia, however, to give an indication of standard all our featured accommodation, unless otherwise detailed, would be of a 3 or 4 star rating with all rooms having en suite shower and WC unless specifically detailed otherwise (i.e. the Icehotel in Kiruna and Britta’s Pensjonat in Harads). We must emphasise that there can be a wide variation in styles between accommodation of the same category, and just because a hotel may be smaller doesn’t necessarily mean that it will be lower in price. The atmosphere of both hotels and guesthouses is very informal.

Children You will note that we do not automatically feature child prices. This is because we have found that there can be so much variation on how parents would like to stay with their children, i.e. family room, inter-connecting rooms, double room with extra bed, cabin... that our price panels simply aren’t big enough to detail all the options. We therefore ask that you let us know which holiday you are interested in and what sort of accommodation you would like along with the number and ages of your children and we will happily supply a quotation.

Climate and Clothing What everyone wants to know is ‘How cold is it going to be?’ and this is a good question but difficult to provide a definite answer to! Temperatures in the Arctic regions have, as elsewhere, been warmer over recent winters than usual, however, still very cold by our standards. Expect anything from -2°C to -30°C and you’ll be ready for anything! We strongly recommend the use of a good oil based moisturiser, for both men and women, whilst on outdoor activities to avoid chapping and a good suncream to protect against the sun’s rays reflected off the snow.

For all outdoor activities such as husky dog, snowmobile and whale safaris, specialist outdoor Arctic clothing is provided i.e. thermal overalls, mittens, hat/helmet, socks and boots. This does not mean, however, that you do not need your own warm winter clothing for those times when you will not be joining an activity but will still be outside. Our advice is layering, no cotton for any layer expected to provide warmth, just synthetic fibres or wool only. A base layer would consist of thermal underwear or synthetic T-shirt with long sleeves and socks; a mid-layer, fine wool jumper or fleece with trousers, a third layer of outer lined trousers (preferably water and windproof) and a thick jumper or fleece with woollen or thermal socks and an outer layer of warm, winter jacket, gloves, scarf and winter boots (hiking or walking boots are fine).

It is normal in Scandinavia to remove your outdoor footwear inside buildings. You will see most people walking around in socks, however, if you prefer something on your feet we recommend you take a light pair of walking sandals with you.

We strongly recommend you carry a back-pack at all times to carry such items as clothing, camera, binoculars, sunglasses, additional refreshments and sandals. These are much more practical than handbags or shoulder bags and allow body movement where you are still able to use both hands! We would also stress that our suppliers in the Arctic are all experts on these types of conditions - take their advice!

None of the destinations we feature, or indeed any of the hotels for that matter, have a formal dress code. Formal dress in Scandinavia is not a requirement but a choice. If you are going out to a rather nice restaurant during the evening, or dining in your hotel’s restaurant, then we are sure you will want to dress up a little bit more than you probably would during the day – just as you would at home – the point is that no-one is going

to refuse you entry if you do not. The Scandinavians are used to wearing practical clothing and therefore if they are going out in the evening, especially if it is to celebrate something special, you will find them dressed up in all their finery because they do not do it very often, but this is their choice and not a requirement.

If you are unsure what you may need for a specific activity or excursion just ask us and what we don’t know we’ll find out.

Excursions and Activities A number of our holidays offer the opportunity to pre-book optional excursions/activities. Suppliers have been chosen due to their level of experience, qualifications and that they meet the high standard of local regulations to operate as an excursion/activity provider. Brochure space prevents us from detailing every little piece of information regarding these trips so we recommend you discuss them with a member of our helpful staff beforehand to ensure they are perfectly suited to you. We strongly recommend and request that excursions and activities are booked at the same time as your holiday. Of course this does not mean you are prevented from adding excursions at a later stage - it just avoids disappointment due to possible lack of availability at a later date.

In order to drive a snowmobile in Scandinavia you have to hold a driving licence and you must take it with you. Please also remember to inform your insurer that you will be taking a snowmobile safari as part of your holiday to ensure you are covered on your insurance policy.

Flight Upgrades Both SAS and Icelandair offer flight upgrades. All the holidays in our brochure include standard, economy class seats, however, we are happy to quote for upgrades. Details are as follows:

SAS Plus Class All SAS flights included in our holidays are based on SAS Go class. The following table indicates the differences applicable to your journey should you wish us to quote for an SAS Plus Class Upgrade for your chosen travel dates.

SAS Go SAS Plus

Mobile check-in Changeable tickets

Mobile boarding card Assisted premium check-in

Advanced seat reservation

Fast track security

Lounge access

1 x 23 kg checked baggage

2 x 23 kg checked baggage

Free coffee/tea

Newspapers

Free meals and drinks

Free WiFi

Icelandair Economy Comfort Class All Icelandair flights included in our holidays are based on Economy class. The following table indicates the difference which would be applicable to your holiday:

Economy Economy Comfort Class

6 abreast seating 4 abreast seating

More leg room

Personal seat back screens and all new inflight entertainment

Personal seat back screens and all new inflight entertainment

Complimentary soft drinks

Complimentary meal, soft drinks, wine and beer

Use of business class check-in desk and lounge

Drinks Let’s not beat around the bush - alcohol is expensive in Scandinavia, especially in hotels and restaurants. Having said this, our company are based in Yorkshire and we can quite honestly say that we have spent as much on alcohol in London (in good hotels and restaurants) as we have in Scandinavia!! But it is expensive and if you like a little tipple in your room then we strongly recommend you use your duty free allowance.

Food You will find a staple diet of meat and fish in these regions, however, this does not mean that people with specific dietary requirements e.g. vegetarians, diabetics etc cannot be catered for as long as we have been informed in advance.

The day generally commences with a substantial help yourself buffet breakfast offering everything from toast and cereal to cheese, ham, boiled eggs, pickled herrings and reindeer pate. Dinner at larger hotels may be the traditional Smörgåsbord (buffet) consisting of fish, cold meat and salad selection plus a choice of four or five hot dishes followed by a selection of desserts. At smaller hotels dinner could be a served 3-course dinner with a selection for each course. Several of our holidays include dining of an extremely high standard and may be considered gourmet dining - in such cases a choice (other than specific dietary requirements) will not be given.

Luggage Remember most of the time you will have to handle your own luggage so do not take more than you can comfortably manage (20-23kg luggage allowance by air). We recommend a trolley suitcase for ease of transportation. Few hotels automatically provide porterage these days but most will arrange it for guests who are elderly or disabled if notified in advance.

Motoring Throughout Scandinavia you can drive for miles through mountain passes, towering peaks and forests and only infrequently see another car - even at peak periods the roads are seldom jammed. This makes it a dream destination for those who have never driven abroad before with Scandinavian drivers being amongst the most courteous and patient. Driving is on the right. There is no upper age limited for driving in Scandinavia as long as you still have a valid UK driving licence. Please note that all hire car vehicles will be fitted with winter tyres (studded).

Transfers Most of our featured holidays include transfers, however, there are one or two (e.g. Tromsø city break) that do not. This is because we found that many of our clients preferred to just jump in a taxi for extra convenience or didn’t want to be restricted by airport transfer schedules. Also, a number of bus companies, to reduce their own admin costs, decided against accepting vouchers for the service. Under ‘Price includes’ in the Fact panel for each holiday you will find an itemised list of all that is included and here it will advise you if transfers are included.


This holiday programme is operated by Roy Taber Ltd, of PO Box 176, Tofts House, Tofts Road, Cleckheaton, BD19 3WX. Taber Holidays is a registered trading name of Roy Taber Ltd, registered number 1138491.

These Booking Conditions, together with any other written information we brought to your attention before we confirmed your booking, form the basis of your contract with Taber Holidays (“we” or “us”). Please read them carefully as they set out our respective rights and obligations. In these Booking Conditions references to “you” and “your” include the first named person on the booking and all persons on whose behalf a booking is made or any other person to whom a booking is added or transferred. By making a booking, the first named person on the booking agrees on behalf of all persons detailed on the booking that:-

a. He/she has read these terms and conditions and has the authority to and does agree to be bound by them;

b. He/she consents to our use of information in accordance with our Privacy Policy;

c. He/she is over 18 years of age and where placing an order for services with age restrictions declares that he/she and all members of the party are of the appropriate age to purchase those services.

1. Booking and Paying For Your Arrangements

A booking is made with us when:

a) you tell us that you would like to accept our written or verbal quotation; and

b) you pay us a deposit. Deposits will be £200.00 per person, although we reserve the right to apply a deposit of 25% of the whole holiday cost in some tailor made packages and for holidays which include a substantial amount of travel by Hurtigruten, but we will inform you of this prior to booking. (Sometimes you may be required to make an interim payment at the time of booking. If you are booking within 56 days of departure, full payment is due at the time of booking); and

c) we issue you with a booking confirmation. We reserve the right to return your deposit and decline to issue a confirmation at our absolute discretion. A binding contract will come into existence between you and us as soon as we have issued you with a booking confirmation that will confirm the details of your booking and will be sent to you or your travel agent. The balance of the cost of your arrangements (including any applicable surcharge) is due not less than 56 days prior to scheduled departure. If we do not receive this balance in full and on time, we reserve the right to treat your booking as cancelled by you in which case the cancellation charges set out in clause 10 below will become payable. When you buy a flight-based holiday, all monies you pay to the travel agent are held by him on behalf and for the benefit of the Trustees of the Air Travel Trust at all times. This is subject to the agent’s obligation to pay it to us for so long as we do not fail. If we fail, any money held at that time by the agent, or subsequently accepted from you by him, is and continues to behalf on behalf of and for the benefit of the Trustees of the Air Travel Trust without any obligation to pay that money to us. When you buy a holiday not including a flight, all monies you pay to the travel agent are held by him on our behalf at all times. In the case of international payments you must ensure that the full GBP Sterling amount is received by us after all bank charges have been levied.

2. Your Financial Protection

1. We provide full financial protection for our package holidays, by way of our Air Travel Organiser’s Licence number 1228. When you buy an ATOL protected flight or flight inclusive holiday from us you will receive an ATOL Certificate. This lists what is financially protected, where you can get information on what this means for you and who to contact if things go wrong. We will provide you with the services listed on the ATOL Certificate (or a suitable alternative). In some cases, where we aren’t able do so for reasons of insolvency, an alternative ATOL holder may provide you with the services you have bought or a suitable alternative (at no extra cost to you). You agree to accept that in those circumstances the alternative ATOL holder will perform those obligations and you agree to pay any money outstanding to be paid by you under your contract to that alternative ATOL holder. However, you also agree that in some cases it will not be possible to appoint an alternative ATOL holder, in which case you will be entitled to make a claim under the ATOL scheme (or your credit card issuer where applicable).

If we are unable to provide the services listed (or a suitable alternative, through an alternative ATOL holder or otherwise) for reasons of insolvency, the Trustees of the Air Travel Trust may make a payment to (or confer a benefit on) you under the ATOL scheme. You agree that in return for such a payment or benefit you assign absolutely to those Trustees any claims which you have or may have arising out of or relating to the non-provision of the services, including any claim against us,

the travel agent (or your credit card issuer where applicable). You also agree that any such claims may be re-assigned to another body, if that other body has paid sums you have claimed under the ATOL scheme.

2. When you buy a package holiday that doesn’t include a flight, protection is provided by way of a bond held by ABTA Ltd.

3. Accuracy

We endeavour to ensure that all the information and prices both on our website and in our brochures are accurate, however occasionally changes and errors occur and we reserve the right to correct prices and other details in such circumstances. You must check the current price and all other details relating to the arrangements that you wish to book before your booking is confirmed.

4. Pricing

Prices are based on exchange rates quoted by Travelex; please ask a member of our reservations team to confirm the exchange rate applicable to a particular product as there may be a variation between seasonal brochures. Details of what your holiday price includes are detailed in the heading of the relevant price panel for your chosen holiday. Prices include all appropriate local taxes and mandatory charges. We reserve the right to amend the price of unsold holidays at any time and correct errors in the prices of confirmed holidays. The price of your confirmed holiday is subject at all times to changes in transport costs such as fuel, and any other airline cost changes which are part of our contracts with airlines (and their agents), cruise ship operators and any other transport provider; to cost changes arising from government action such as changes in VAT or any other government imposed changes; and to changes in the currency exchange used to calculate your arrangements and to rates, dues, taxes or fees chargeable for services such as landing taxes or embarkation or disembarkation fees at ports and airports any or all of which may result in a variation of your holiday price. We will absorb and you will not be charged for any increase equivalent to 2% of the price of your travel arrangements, which excludes insurance premiums and any amendment charges and/or additional services or travel arrangements. You will be charged for the amount over and above that, plus an administration charge of £2.00 per person together with an amount to cover agents’ commission. If this means that you have to pay an increase of more than 10% of the price of your confirmed travel arrangements (excluding any amendment charges and/or additional services or travel arrangements), you will have the option of accepting a change to another holiday if we are able to offer one (if this is of equivalent or higher quality you will not have to pay more but if it is of lower quality you will be refunded the difference in price), or cancelling and receiving a full refund of all monies paid to us, except for any insurance premiums and any amendment charges and/or additional services or travel arrangements. Should you decide to cancel for this reason, you must exercise your right to do so within 14 days from the issue date printed on your final invoice. There will be no change made to the price of your confirmed holiday within 30 days of your departure nor will refunds be paid during this period. We will consider an appropriate refund of insurance premiums paid if you can show that you are unable to transfer or reuse your policy. Should the price of your holiday go down due to the changes mentioned above, by more than 2% of your confirmed holiday cost, then any refund due will be paid to you. However, please note that travel arrangements are not always purchased in local currency and some apparent changes have no impact on the price of your travel due to contractual and other protection in place.

5. Links to external websites

These links are provided so you can find out further information quickly and easily. Taber Holidays is not responsible for the content of these websites and Taber Holidays accepts no responsibility for the content of such other websites, nor does Taber Holidays accept responsibility for any losses or penalties incurred as a result of your use of the links or reliance on any website to which the Taber Holidays’ website is linked to.

When you access a website, through a link from the Taber Holidays website, you accept that it is independent and that Taber Holidays has no control over the content of the linked third party website. Accordingly, a link to a website does not mean that Taber Holidays endorses or accepts any duty or responsibility for the content, accuracy or the use of the contents of such website.

6. Privacy

We may require basic information which identifies you as an individual such as your name and address, in order to enable you to take advantage of particular services that we offer. We will only use such personal information for the purposes of providing information or services which you have requested, or for other related purposes as set out in our Privacy Policy.

7. Jurisdiction and applicable law

These Booking Conditions and any agreement to which they apply are governed in all respects by English law. We both agree that any dispute, claim or other matter which arises between us out of or in connection with your contract or booking will be dealt with by the Courts of England and Wales only. You may however, choose the law and jurisdiction of Scotland or Northern Ireland if you live in those places and if you wish to do so.

8. Cutting your holiday short

If you are forced to return home early, we cannot refund the cost of any services you have not used. If you cut short your holiday and return home early in circumstances where you have no reasonable cause for complaint about the standard of accommodation and services provided, we will not offer you any refund for that part of your holiday not completed, or be liable for any associated costs you may incur. Depending on the circumstances, your travel insurance may offer cover for curtailment and we suggest that any claim is made directly with them.

9. Changes by You

If you wish to change any part of your booking arrangements after our confirmation invoice has been issued, you must inform us in writing as soon as possible. This should be done by the first named person on the booking. Whilst we will do our best to assist, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to meet your requested change. Where we can meet a request, all changes will be subject to payment of an administration fee of £25.00 per booking (for a minor change (e.g. cancellation of car hire) or £25 per person for a major change (e.g. name change, change of accommodation etc) as well as any applicable rate changes or extra costs incurred as well as any costs incurred by ourselves and any costs or charges incurred or imposed by any of our suppliers. You should be aware that these costs could increase the closer to the departure date that changes are made and you should contact us as soon as possible. Where we are unable to assist you and you do not wish to proceed with the original booking we will treat this as a cancellation by you. A cancellation fee may be payable. If you are prevented from travelling it may be possible to transfer your booking to another suitable person provided that written notice is given. An administration fee will be charged, details available upon request. Note: Certain arrangements may not be amended after they have been confirmed and any alteration could incur a cancellation charge of up to 100% of that part of the arrangements. Please note that a booking cannot be amended within the 8 weeks prior to departure and any amendment during this time will be treated as a cancellation of the original booking and therefore be subject to cancellation charges as set out under ‘Cancelling your booking’.

10. If you Cancel

If you or any other member of your party decides to cancel your confirmed booking you must notify us in writing. Your notice of cancellation will only take effect when it is received in writing by us at our offices. We recommend that you use recorded delivery. Since we incur costs in cancelling your arrangements, you will have to pay the applicable cancellation charges up to the maximum shown below (The cancellation charge detailed is calculated on the basis of the total cost payable by the person(s) cancelling excluding insurance premiums and amendment charges which are not refundable in the event of the person(s) to whom they apply cancelling):-

• More than 56 days, loss of deposit • 56 - 43 days prior to departure 30%; • 42 – 29 days, 50% • 28 - 15 days, 70%; • 14 days or less 100% of the total holiday cost.

The above percentages include the deposit.

Note: Certain arrangements may not be amended after they have been confirmed and any alteration or cancellation could incur a cancellation charge of up to 100% of that part of the arrangements in addition to the charge above. If the reason for your cancellation is covered under the terms of your insurance policy, you may be able to reclaim these charges. We will deduct the cancellation charge(s) from any monies you have already paid to us.

If any member of your party is prevented from travelling, that person(s) may transfer their place to someone else (introduced by you and satisfying all the conditions applicable to the arrangements) providing we are notified not less than 28 days before departure and you pay an amendment fee of £50.00 per person transferring, meet all costs and charges incurred by us and/or incurred or imposed by any of our suppliers and the transferee agrees to these booking conditions and all other terms of the contract between us. If you are unable to find a replacement, cancellation charges as set out will apply in order to cover our estimated costs. Otherwise, no refunds will be given for passengers not travelling or for unused services.

Booking Conditions

Taber Holidays


Taber Holidays

11. If We Change or Cancel

It is unlikely that we will have to make any changes to your travel arrangements, but we do plan the arrangements many months in advance. Occasionally, we may have to make changes and we reserve the right to do so at any time. Most of these changes will be minor and we will advise you or your travel agent of them at the earliest possible date. We also reserve the right in any circumstances to cancel your travel arrangements. For example, if the minimum number of clients required for a particular travel arrangement is not reached, we may have to cancel it. However, we will not cancel your travel arrangements less than 60 days before your departure date, except for reasons of force majeure or failure by you to pay the final balance. Examples of “major changes” include the following when made before departure; a change of accommodation area for the whole or a significant part of your time away, a change of accommodation to that of a lower standard or classification for the whole or a significant part of your time away, a change of outward departure time or overall length of your arrangements of twelve or more hours, a significant change to your itinerary, missing out one or more destination entirely. Examples of “minor changes” include the following when made before departure: any change in the advertised identity of the carrier(s), flight timings, and/or aircraft type; a change of outward departure time or overall length of your holiday of twelve hours or less, or a change of accommodation to another of the same standard or classification. If we have to make a major change or cancel, we will tell you as soon as possible and if there is time to do so before departure, we will offer you the choice of i) (for major changes) accepting the changed arrangements ii) having a refund of all monies paid or iii) accepting an offer of alternative travel arrangements of comparable standard from us, if available (we will refund any price difference if the alternative is of a lower value). You must notify us of your choice within 7 days of our offer. If you fail to do so we will assume that you have chosen to accept the change or alternative booking arrangements.

If we make a major change or cancel, less than 56 days before departure, we will also pay compensation as detailed below:

• 56 days or more before departure £NIL, • 55 – 29 days £20.00 per person, • 28 - 14 days £30.00 per person, • 13 – 0 days £40.00 per person

The compensation that we offer does not exclude you from claiming more if you are entitled to do so. We will not pay you compensation where we make a major change or cancel more than 56 days before departure or in the event that we are forced to make a change or cancel as a result of unusual and unforeseeable circumstances beyond our control, the consequences of which we could not have avoided even with all due care or if we cancel your arrangements because the minimum number of participants to run the arrangements has not been reached. (We will tell you if we have to cancel for this reason not less than 45 days before departure). The above sets out the maximum extent of our liability for changes and cancellations and we regret we cannot meet any expenses or losses you may incur as a result of change or cancellation. Please note: where accommodation with a higher price than the original accommodation is offered by us and accepted by you, the difference in price will be deducted from any compensation payable. In no case will we pay compensation if accommodation is offered by us and accepted by you with a higher price than that originally booked in the same location where no additional payment is made by you.

We will not pay you compensation and the above options will not be available if we make a minor change or cancel as a result of your failure to make full payment on time or where the change(s) or cancellation by us arises out of alterations to the confirmed booking requested by you.

Very rarely, we may be forced by “force majeure” (see clause 12) to change or terminate your arrangements after departure. If this situation does occur, we regret we will be unable to make any refunds (unless we obtain any from our suppliers), pay you compensation or meet any costs or expenses you incur as a result.

If we become unable to provide a significant proportion of the services that you have booked with us after you have departed, we will make alternative arrangements for you at no extra charge and, if appropriate in all the circumstances, will pay you reasonable compensation.

12. Force Majeure

Except where otherwise expressly stated in these booking conditions we will not be liable or pay you compensation if our contractual obligations to you are affected by any event which we or the supplier(s) of the service(s) in question could not, even with all due care, foresee or avoid. These events can include, but are not limited to war, threat of war, civil strife

terrorist activity and its consequences or the threat of such activity, riot, the act of any government or other national or local authority including port or river authorities, industrial dispute, lock closure, natural or nuclear disaster, fire, chemical or biological disaster and adverse weather, sea, ice and river conditions and all similar events outside our or the supplier(s) concerned’s control. Advice from the Foreign Office to avoid or leave a particular country may constitute Force Majeure.

13. Special Requests

Any special requests must be advised to us at the time of booking e.g. diet, room location, a particular facility at a hotel etc. You should then confirm your requests in writing. Whilst every effort will be made by us to try and arrange your reasonable special requests, we cannot guarantee that they will be fulfilled. The fact that a special request has been noted on your confirmation invoice or any other documentation or that it has been passed on to the supplier is not confirmation that the request will be met. Failure to meet any special request will not be a breach of contract on our part unless the request has been specifically confirmed. We do not accept bookings that are conditional upon any special request being met.

14. Disabilities and Medical Problems

We are not a specialist disabled holiday company, but we will do our utmost to cater for any special requirements you may have. If you or any member of your party has any medical problem or disability which may affect your stay, please provide us with full details before we confirm your booking so that we can try to advise you as to the suitability of your chosen arrangements. We may require you to produce a doctor’s certificate certifying that you are fit to participate in the tour. Acting reasonably, if we are unable to properly accommodate the needs of the person(s) concerned, we will not confirm your booking or if you did not give us full details at the time of booking, we will cancel it and impose applicable cancellation charges when we become aware of these details.

15. Complaints

We make every effort to ensure that your holiday arrangements run smoothly but if you do have a problem during your holiday, please inform the relevant supplier (e.g. your hotelier) immediately who will endeavour to put things right. If your complaint is not resolved locally, please contact your tour guide or in the case of a tailor-made tour our local agent or our Cleckheaton office as soon as possible. Failure to do so will affect ours and the applicable supplier’s ability to investigate your complaint, and will affect your rights under this contract. If the problem cannot be resolved and you wish to complain further, you must send formal written notice of your complaint to us at our Cleckheaton office within 28 days of the end of your stay, giving your booking reference and all other relevant information. Please keep your letter concise and to the point. This will assist us to quickly identify your concerns and speed up our response to you.

16. Your Behaviour

All guests staying with us are expected to conduct themselves in an orderly and acceptable manner and not to disrupt the enjoyment of other guests. If in our opinion or in the opinion of any hotel manager or any other person in authority, your behaviour or that of any member of your party is causing or is likely to cause distress, danger or annoyance to any of our other guests or any third party or damage to property, or to cause a delay or diversion to transportation, we reserve the right to terminate your booking arrangements with us immediately. In the event of such termination our liability to you and/or your party will cease and you and/or your party will be required to leave your accommodation or other service immediately. We will have no further obligations to you and/or your party. No refunds for lost accommodation or any other service will be made and we will not pay any expenses or costs incurred as a result of termination. You and/or your party may also be required to pay for loss and/or damage caused by your actions and we will hold you and each member of your party jointly and individually liable for any damage or losses caused by you or any member of your party. Full payment for any such damage or losses must be paid directly to the hotel manager or other supplier prior to departure from the hotel. If you fail to make payment, you will be responsible for meeting any claims (including legal costs) subsequently made against us as a result of your actions together with all costs we incur in pursuing any claim against you. We cannot be held responsible for the actions or behaviour of other guests or individuals who have no connection with your booking arrangements or with us.

17. Our Liability to You:

1) We will accept responsibility for the arrangements we agree to provide or arrange for you as an “organiser” under the Package Travel, Package Holidays and Package Tours Regulations 1992 as set out below. Subject to these booking conditions, if we or our suppliers perform or arrange your

contracted holiday arrangements negligently, taking into consideration all relevant factors (for example following the complaints procedure as described in these conditions and the extent to which ours or our employees’ or suppliers’ negligence affected the overall enjoyment of your holiday), we will pay you reasonable compensation. Please note that it is your responsibility to show that we or our supplier (s) have been negligent if you wish to make a claim against us.

(2) We will not be responsible or pay you compensation for any injury, illness, death, loss, damage, expense, cost or other claim of any description if it results from:-

(a) the act(s) and/or omission(s) of the person(s) affected;

(b) the act(s) and/or omission(s) of a third party unconnected with the provision of the services contracted for and which were unforeseeable or unavoidable; or

(c) unusual or unforeseeable circumstances beyond ours or our supplier(s) control, the consequences of which could not have been avoided even if all due care had been exercised; or

(d) an event which either ourselves or suppliers could not, even with all due care, have foreseen or forestalled.

(3) We limit the amount of compensation we may have to pay you if we are found liable under this clause:

(a) loss of and/or damage to any luggage or personal possessions and money, The maximum amount we will have to pay you in respect of these claims is £25.00 per person in total because you are assumed to have adequate insurance in place to cover any losses of this kind.

(b) Claims not falling under (a) above or involving injury, illness or death The maximum amount we will have to pay you in respect of these claims is twice the price paid by or on behalf of the person(s) affected in total. This maximum amount will only be payable where everything has gone wrong and you or your party has not received any benefit at all from your booking.

(c) Claims in respect of international travel by air, sea and rail, or any stay in a hotel

i) The extent of our liability will in all cases be limited as if we were carriers under the appropriate Conventions, which include The Warsaw/Montreal Convention (international travel by air); The Athens Convention (with respect to sea travel); The Berne/Cotif Convention (with respect to rail travel) and The Paris Convention (with respect to hotel arrangements). You can ask for copies of these Conventions from our offices. Please contact us. In addition, you agree that the operating carrier or transport company’s own ‘Conditions of Carriage’ will apply to you on that journey. When arranging transportation for you, we rely on the terms and conditions contained within these international conventions and those ‘Conditions of Carriage’. You acknowledge that all of the terms and conditions contained in those ‘Conditions of Carriage’ form part of your contract with us, as well as with the transport company and that those ‘Conditions of Carriage’ shall be deemed to be included by reference into this contract.

ii) In any circumstances in which a carrier is liable to you by virtue of the Denied Boarding Regulation 2004, any liability we may have to you under our contract with you, arising out of the same facts, is limited to the remedies provided under the Regulation as if (for this purpose only) we were a carrier.

iii) When making any payment, we are entitled to deduct any money which you have received or are entitled to receive from the transport provider or hotelier for the complaint or claim in question.

(4) It is a condition of our acceptance of liability under this clause that you notify any claim to ourselves and our supplier(s) strictly in accordance with the complaints procedure set out in these conditions.

(5) Where any payment is made, the person(s) receiving it (and their parent or guardian if under 18 years) must also assign to ourselves or our insurers any rights they may have to pursue any third party and must provide ourselves and our insurers with all assistance we may reasonably require.

18. Excursions

Excursions or other tours that you may choose to book or pay for whilst you are on holiday are not part of your package holiday provided by us. For any excursion or other tour that you book, your contract will be with the operator of the excursion or tour and not with us. We are not responsible for the provision of the excursion or tour or for anything that happens during the course of its provision by the operator.


19. Passport, Visa and Immigration Requirements and Health Formalities

Your specific passport and visa requirements, and other immigration requirements are your responsibility and you should confirm these with the relevant Embassies and/or Consulates. We do not accept any responsibility if you cannot travel because you have not complied with any passport, visa or immigration requirements.

20. Conditions of Suppliers

Many of the services which make up your holiday are provided by independent suppliers. Those suppliers provide these services in accordance with their own terms and conditions which will form part of your contract with us. Some of these terms and conditions may limit or exclude the supplier’s liability to you, usually in accordance with applicable International Conventions. Copies of the relevant parts of these terms and conditions are available on request from ourselves or the supplier concerned.

21. Delays, Missed Transport Arrangements and other Travel Information

If you or any member of your party miss your flight or other transport arrangement, it is cancelled or you are subject to a delay of over 3 hours for any reason, you must contact us and the airline or other transport supplier concerned immediately. The Package Travel, Package Holidays and Package Tours Regulations 1992 provide that in the event that you experience difficulty on the occurrence of circumstances described in clauses 17 (2) (b) (c) or (d) of these booking conditions, we will provide you with prompt assistance. Where you experience a delay which is not owing to any failure by us, our employees or sub-contractors, this prompt assistance is likely to extend to providing help in locating refreshments, accommodation and communications but not paying for them. Any airline or other transport supplier may however pay for or provide refreshments and/or appropriate accommodation and you should make a claim directly to them. Subject to the other terms of these conditions, we will not be liable for any costs, fees or charges you incur in the above circumstances, if you fail to obtain our prior authorisation before making your own travel arrangements.

We cannot accept liability for any delay which is due to any of the reasons set out in clause 12 of these booking conditions (which includes the behaviour of any passenger(s) on any flight who, for example, fails to check in or board on time). Under EU Law, you have rights in some circumstances to refunds and/or compensation from the airline in cases of denied boarding, cancellation or delay to flights. Full details will be publicised at EU airports and will also be available from airlines. However reimbursement in such cases will not automatically entitle you to a refund of your holiday cost from us. Your right to a refund and/or compensation from us is set out in clause 11. If any payments to you are due from us, any payment made to you by the airline will be deducted. A delay or cancellation to your flight does not automatically entitle you to cancel any other arrangements even where those arrangements have been made in conjunction with your flight.

This brochure is our responsibility, as your tour operator. It is not issued on behalf of, and does not commit the airlines mentioned herein or any airline whose services are used in the course of your travel arrangements.

22. Advance Passenger Information

A number of Governments are introducing new requirements for air carriers to provide personal information about all travellers on their aircraft to the Authorities before the aircraft leaves the UK. The data will be collected either at the airport when you check in or in some circumstances when, or after you make your booking. Where we collect this data, we will treat it in accordance with our privacy policy.

23. ForeignOfficeAdvice

You are responsible for making yourself aware of Foreign Office advice and warnings in regard to the safety of the countries and areas in which you will be travelling and to make your decisions accordingly. Advice from the Foreign Office to avoid or leave a particular country may constitute Force Majeure. (See clause 12).

24. ABTA

We are a Member of ABTA, membership number V2005. We are obliged to maintain a high standard of service to you by ABTA’s Code of Conduct. We can also offer you an arbitration scheme for the resolution of disputes arising out of this contract. The scheme is arranged by ABTA and administered independently. It is a simple and inexpensive method of arbitration on documents alone with restricted liability on you for costs. The upper limit on claims is £5,000 per person and £25,000 per booking form. The scheme doesn’t apply to claims which are solely in respect of physical injury or illness or their consequences. It can however deal with claims which include an element of minor injury or illness subject to a limit of £1,500 on the amount the arbitrator can award per person in respect of this element. Your request for arbitration must be received by ABTA within eighteen months of the date of return from holiday. For injury and illness claims, you can request the ABTA Mediation Procedure and we have the option to agree to mediation. Further information on the Code and ABTA’s assistance in resolving disputes can be found on www.abta.com.

25. Data Protection

In order to process your booking and to ensure that your travel arrangements run smoothly and meet your requirements we and your travel agent need to use the information you provide such as name, address, any special needs/dietary requirements etc.

We take full responsibility for ensuring that proper security measures are in place to protect your information. We must pass the information on to the relevant suppliers of your travel arrangements such as airlines, hotels, transport companies etc. The information may also be provided to security or credit checking companies, public authorities such as customs/immigration if required by them, or as required by law.

Additionally, where your holiday is outside the European Economic Area (EEA), controls on data protection in your destination may not be as strong as the legal requirements in this country. We will not however, pass any information onto any person not responsible for part of your travel arrangements. This applies to any sensitive information that you give to us such as details of any disabilities, or dietary/religious requirements. (If we cannot pass this information to the relevant suppliers, whether in the EEA or not, we cannot provide your booking. In making this booking, you consent to this information being passes on to the relevant persons.)

26. ABTA

Roy Taber Ltd is a Member of ABTA, membership number V2005. We are obliged to maintain a high standard of service to you by ABTA’s Code of Conduct. We can also offer you an arbitration scheme for the resolution of disputes arising out of this contract. The scheme is arranged by ABTA and administered independently. It is a simple and inexpensive method of arbitration on documents alone with restricted liability on you for costs. The upper limit on claims is £5,000 per person and £25,000 per booking form. The scheme doesn’t apply to claims which are solely in respect of physical injury or illness or their consequences. It can however deal with claims which include an element of minor injury or illness subject to a limit of £1,500 on the amount the arbitrator can award per person in respect of this element. Your request for arbitration must be received by ABTA within eighteen months of the date of return from holiday. For injury and illness claims, you can request the ABTA Mediation Procedure and we have the option to agree to mediation. Further information on the Code and ABTA’s assistance in resolving disputes can be found on www.abta.com.

27. AITO Quality Statement

Roy Taber Ltd is a member of the Association of Independent Tour Operators. The Association represents Britain’s leading independent tour operators and encourages high standards of quality and service. Roy Taber Ltd abides by the Association’s Code of Business Practice and adheres to the AITO Quality Charter which can be viewed on www.aito.com. Visit the website to find out more about the Association or call 020 8744 9280.

AITO Quality CharterAITO is the Association for independent and specialist holiday companies. Our member companies, usually owner-managed, strive to create overseas holidays with high levels of professionalism and a shared concern for quality and personal service. The Association encourages the highest standards in all aspects of tour operating.

Exclusive Membership

AITO sets criteria regarding ownership, finance and quality which must be satisfied before new companies are admitted to membership. All members are required to adhere to a Code of Business Practice which encourages high operational standards and conduct.

Financial Security

An AITO member is required to arrange financial protection for all holidays and other arrangements (including accommodation only) booked by customers with the member under the AITO logo. This financial protection applies to customers who are resident in the UK at the time of booking and to most overseas customers who have booked directly with the member. In doing so, the member must

comply with UK government regulations. Members are required to submit details of their financial protection arrangements to AITO on a regular basis.

Accurate Brochures and Websites

All members do their utmost to ensure that all their brochures and other publications, print or electronic, clearly and accurately describe the holidays and services offered.

Professional Service and Continual Improvements

All members are committed to high standards of service and believe in regular and thorough training of employees. Members continually seek to review and improve their holidays. They listen to their customers and always welcome suggestions for improving standards.

Monitoring Standards

AITO endeavours to monitor quality standards regularly. All customers should receive a post-holiday questionnaire the results of which are scrutinised by the Association.

Sustainable Tourism

All members acknowledge the importance of AITO’s Sustainable Tourism guidelines, which recognise the social, economic and environmental responsibilities of tour operating.

Customer Relations

All members endeavour to deal swiftly and fairly with any issues their customers may raise. In the unlikely event that a dispute between an AITO member and a customer cannot be settled amicably, AITO’s low-cost Independent Dispute Settlement Service may be called upon by either side to bring the matter to a speedy and acceptable conclusion.

Roy Taber Ltd is a member of the Association of Independent Tour Operators.

To contact the Association, visit www.aito.com or call 020 8744 9280.

Taber Holidays


How to BookOnce you have decided which of our exciting holidays you would like to book the next step is to call us on 01274 875199. We will be happy to answer any questions you may have and confirm that the choice you have made is exactly right for you. Alternatively, you can always send us a quick email to [email protected] and we will get on with it for you straight away.

What we need from you

Your chosen holiday, departure date, departure airport, number of passengers, type of room required and any special requests you may have i.e. vegetarian, allergies, special occasion, assistance. We also need a contact telephone number so we can call you if we have a quick question. We also strongly advise that you inform us of any Optional

Activities you would like to add to your booking at this time so we can secure them for you.

What we do next

We will then contact all our suppliers to confirm your booking and provide them with your details. As many of our suppliers are small, independent companies they are not always able to answer straight away as they may be with clients, so be prepared to wait for up to 48 hours for us to come back to you with confirmation of your whole holiday and provide you with a booking reference.

When your holiday is booked

Once this is all complete you will be asked to complete our Booking Form (we have a digital or paper version, whichever you prefer) and return this to us at the same time as you pay your deposit payment. Your Confirmation Invoice and ATOL

Taber Holidays

Certificate (if you are booking a flight inclusive package) will be emailed or posted to you as soon as this deposit payment is received.

Final payment and tickets

The balance payment for your holiday is due 8 weeks prior to departure or at the time of booking if within this period. The due date is detailed on your Confirmation Invoice, however, don’t worry if you forget, we NEVER automatically cancel any holiday and one of our friendly staff (usually Clara!) will give you a quick call or email to remind you. Your travel documents will be send to you approximately 2 weeks prior to departure. These can be sent by surface mail, or, if you prefer, in pdf format via email.*

* Please note, if receiving travel documents via email the resort guides you receive will be links to destination websites rather than paper booklets.

Travel Insurance

It is a requirement that all clients travelling with Taber Holidays carry travel insurance which provides full cover for their holiday arrangements. Please remember to advise your insurers of any activities which you may be taking part in, such as a snowmobile or husky dog safari, to make sure that you are fully covered. Under certain circumstances Taber Holidays may ask you to provide evidence that you have purchased travel insurance for your holiday.

Taber Holidays no longer sell travel insurance, however our partners, Holiday Extras, provide a variety of travel insurance policies. To view details of these policies, which may be purchased online, please visit our website at www.taberhols.co.uk/holidays-extras.

All our holidays are based on scheduled flights in Economy class with scheduled flight carriers using special IT fares. We do not hold allocations on flights as we prefer to provide our clients with as much flexibility over their chosen departure date and time as possible and this means that these flights are subject to availability at the time of booking. In most cases we are able to confirm flights at the brochure price, however, should your chosen flight not be available in our included booking class we may be able to offer you the same flight in an alternative economy booking class but at a supplement. This supplement will be quoted at the time of booking.

On the rare occasion that we are unable to secure availability in one of our IT booking classes we may be able to quote the airline’s published fare for a flight. These fares are what we term ‘Best Buy’ prices which means that they are only valid if the flight is bought and paid for at the same time and are completely non-refundable or changeable. This means that these flights must be paid for in addition to our standard holiday deposit and are non-refundable in the event of cancellation.

Flight and Airline Information

Airline Information

Possible Alternative Departure Airports:

Aberdeen

Please note: schedules are constantly being updated and added to therefore flight times and supplements will be quoted and confirmed at time of booking. Please ask a member of our Reservations Team for further information.

Birmingham

Edinburgh

Glasgow

London Gatwick

Manchester

Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS) was founded in 1946 and is the multi-national airline of Denmark, Norway and Sweden and is the leading carrier in these Scandinavian countries. SAS operates out of three primary hubs, Copenhagen, Stockholm and Oslo with Copenhagen being the chief focus for European services. SAS is a Star Alliance member. Norway’s regional airline, Widerøe, has been a member of the SAS Group since 2002, and primarily features in our programme to service the more remote parts of Norway.

Norwegian Air Shuttle ASA, commercially branded ‘Norwegian’, is a public low-cost airline noted on the Oslo Stock Exchange. The company is the second largest airline in Scandinavia, and has a route portfolio that stretches across Europeinto North Africa and the Middle East. Norwegian is the 4th largest low-cost airline in Europe operating over 40 aircraft on 170 routes to 87 destinations. In January 2009, Air Transport World (ATW) named Norwegian ‘Market Leader of the Year’.

WOW air is an Icelandic low-cost airline that flies to Iceland from a number of European cities the whole year round. The airline was founded in November 2011 and in October 2012 took over the flight operations of Iceland Express. The airline operates Airbus A320 aircraft that have been the choice of many of the world’s leading airlines. and is committed to providing the cheapest flights to and from Iceland, but doing so with a smile and providing a memorable service.

Icelandair was founded in 1939 and is the flag carrier airline of Iceland, based in Reykjavik. It is part of the Icelandair Group and operates services to 25 cities in 12 countries on both sides of the Atlantic. They operate scheduled flights from London Heathrow, Manchester and Glasgow to Keflavik Airport and their fleet consists of Boeing 757 aircraft. An in-flight seat-back entertainment system offers movies, TV programmes, music and documentaries.


Booking reference Departure airport Holiday name Number of nights Departure date

*As per your passport Lead name 2nd person 3rd person 4th person

Title

Mr, Mrs, Miss, Ms, other

Surname*

First name *

Date of birth

Home address

Room type

Daytime telephone

Mobile

Email address

(Please tick the box if you would NOT like to be added to our e-mailing list). � � � �

Special requests

Eg; vegetarian, diabetic, low floor room, etc.

How did you first hear about Taber Holidays?

Agent name and address:

Agent’s reference:

ATBA number:

Credit card payment

I wish to pay by:

�Mastercard � VISA � Debit card

N.B. we do not store credit/debit card details in our system therefore you will need to supply this information again in order to settle your balance.

Cardholder’s name:

Start date: Expiry date: Issue No:

Security code: Signature:

Cardholder’s address:

Credit card charges: In line with most operators, we will make a charge of 2% for balances paid by credit card.

Insurance

It is a requirement that all passengers travelling with Taber Holidays have travel insurance (either independently or through their Travel Agent) to cover their holiday arrangements. Please complete the following:

I have taken out Travel Insurance to cover my holiday arrangements and personal possessions. Details are as follows:

My insurers are:

24hr emergency contact number:

Signed:

Payment authority I enclose: � Cheque � Credit Card Authority for:

Deposit/s (total amount): £

Balance (within 8 weeks of departure): £

Total enclosed (note: cheques made payable to Roy Taber Ltd): £

Bank transfer: For convenience, payment may be made directly into our account by bank transfer. Our account details are: Account name: Roy Taber Ltd. Account number: 11051550. Sort code: 05-03-03. Please inform our Accounts Department that you have transferred payment in this way by sending an email to [email protected] stating your name, booking reference and amount transferred.

I certify that I am authorised to make this booking on behalf of the persons named above and that I am responsible for ensuring due payment of all monies payable in respect of this booking and have read and agree to accept the Booking Conditions and, if applicable, the details of insurance.

Signature: Date:

Taber HolidaysContact details Address: Taber Holidays, PO Box 176, Tofts House, Tofts Road, Cleckheaton, West Yorkshire, BD19 3WX. Telephone: 01274 875199 Email: [email protected]

BOOKING FORM

Date post:	23-Jul-2016
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Scandinavia, Winter 2015/2016

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