Luminous Lapland home to holiday magic

An enchanting arctic adventure with Travcoa The holiday season is a magical time of year. Travcoa, the world leader in luxury travel, invites travellers to celebrate this magic with an enchanting arctic adventure to the snow-covered terrain of Finland and Sweden. Departing March 7, 2013, guests on Travcoa’s15-day Lapland’s Magical Northern Lights & Reindeer Safari Escorted Journey will explore the cities of Helsinki and Stockholm; cross the Arctic Circle; cruise on a powerful icebreaker; and travel by dogsled, snowmobile, and reindeer-pulled sleigh through pristine wintry wilderness. Highlights of the trip include viewing the Northern Lights, a stay in Sweden’s remarkable ICEHOTEL, and participation in the colourful traditions of the annual St. Maria’s Day celebrations.
“This journey showcases the breathtakingly beautiful aspects of northern Sweden and Finland that few travellers ever see,” stated Jerre Fuqua, President of Travcoa. “Guests will not only witness the most spectacular Northern Lights in 11 years as the auroral activity cycle peaks, but will also be able to discover the old-world charm of historic cities, people, and culture of this intriguing northern region.”
The snowbound landscape of Lapland is a world of serene beauty, where reindeer roam and the mysterious Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights, sometimes illuminates the night skies. This is the land where the nomadic Sámi live, tending their reindeer and, on Saint Maria’s Day, gathering together to festively celebrate their culture. Travelling by reindeer sleigh, dog sled, and snowmobile, is ideal ways to truly enter this winter wonderland. We will also visit Helsinki and Stockhölm, where we will enjoy tastes of cosmopolitan life — and cuisine — with a Scandinavian flavour.
The St. Maria’s Day celebrations in Hetta, Finland bring travellers and Scandinavia’s indigenous herders, the Sámi, together for a day of traditional dance, local delicacies and reindeer racing. Throughout the journey, guests will enjoy the finest accommodations, including the world-renowned ICEHOTEL located in a small Swedish village just north of the Arctic Circle.