Aurora Safari Camp : TRAVEL/FOOD

A NEW PROGRAM WITH A FLOATING LODGE BRINGS YOU CLOSER TO NATURE IN ARCTIC SWEDEN

Designed for an off-the-grid immersion in the beautiful nature of Arctic Sweden, a new holiday program offered by Off the Map Travel invites guests to spend two nights on a floating lodge on Lake Degerselet combined with one night in a land safari camp 10 minutes away. Just south of the Arctic Circle, the Floating Safari Camp and the Aurora Safari Camp are designed for relaxation in complete seclusion.

Offered through September, the three-night program offers a unique opportunity to experience two “off-the-grid” sites, each surrounded by the brilliance of the changing foliage of the Swedish forest. Beginning late August, guests can witness the return of the Northern Lights with long sunny days and dark nights.

While on the lake, up to six guests will stay in the Floating Safari Camp with two safari-style tents with double beds and one double room furnished in Scandi style with night tables and a seating area with views across the lake.

The camp also includes toilet and shower facilities plus a traditional wood-fired sauna. Possible Floating Safari Camp activities include lake swimming, fishing, canoeing, paddle-boarding, with all sports equipment provided on site.

Despite its Arctic location, lake temperatures reach a comfortable 64-77 degrees Fahrenheit. For true relaxation, guests are encouraged to kick back and soak up the beauty and sounds of the lake and surrounding wilderness or relax in the sauna.

An Off the Map Travel exclusive, a sunset BBQ on a private island is a highlight of the program. Meals, including the sunset BBQ and an “under-the-stars” dinner on the Råne River, are provided by a private chef who also serves as the personal tour guide for the stay. Images can be found here.

“With the hustle and bustle of modern life, it’s a rarity that we get to completely switch off and immerse ourselves in nature and this program gives us that opportunity,” says Alex Minnis, COO, Off the Map Travel.

The four-day, three-night Floating Safari Camp itinerary is priced at $2825 USD* (£2199), per person, based on double occupancy, and includes all meals, two nights at the Floating Safari Camp and one night in the Aurora Safari Camp, boat and canoe transfers, and activities. Flights are not included. Additional activities such as forest cycling, foraging and a guided canoe trip can be arranged.

A reduced-rate self-catering option is also possible for those who wish to cook themselves. *at the time of this writing As with any itinerary from Off the Map Travel, the Floating Safari Camp program can be tailor-made to fit the wishes and requirements of the guests.

Detailed itinerary: Day 1 Upon arrival at Luleå Airport, you will be greeted by your private guide who will accompany you on a transfer to the Floating Safari Camp reception. From there, a boat transfer will take you to the captivating Floating Safari Camp itself.

Before dinner, indulge in a rejuvenating sauna session to unwind and relax. As the day winds down, a four-course dinner awaits, prepared by a private chef who doubles as a host and guide, for a personalized and memorable dining experience.

The night is spent in the Floating Safari Camp, where the tranquility of the surrounding waters creates a soothing ambience for a comfortable and restful overnight stay.

Day 2

Breakfast and lunch will be prepared by your private guide. After that, there are a variety of options for activities to immerse yourself in the beautiful Swedish surroundings: canoeing, kayaking, paddle boarding, swimming, and fishing. For an additional fee, guided canoeing, foraging and forest cycling tour can be arranged through Off the Map Travel. In the early evening, you can enjoy a sauna session before your evening boat trip to a private island for a BBQ dinner, an exclusive experience from Off the Map Travel.

Day 3

In the morning your guide will prepare breakfast for you before a canoe transfer from the Floating Safari Camp to the Aurora Safari Camp where you will have lunch with a glass of bubbly. The rest of the afternoon is yours to relax or enjoy a forest sauna session before a four-course dinner.

Day 4

After breakfast you will be transferred to the airport via a guided forest tour. You can opt to extend your stay here or in another location such as Stockholm or the forests of Swedish Lapland – all can be arranged with the Off the Map Travel adventure specialists.

OFF THE MAP TRAVEL

The team at Off the Map Travel works with experiences and destinations that allow people to explore hidden wonders of our planet. Specializing in the Nordic region, OTMT creates tailor-made itineraries offering authentic experiences not offered by many larger travel companies. For more information on Off the Map Travel holidays visit www.offthemap.travel; call 1-646-701-0041; email info@offthemap.travel or join in the conversation on Facebook or Instagram.

For more information visit www.offthemap.travel, call 1-646-701-0041 or email info@offthemap.travel

It’s time to go adventuring with Off the Map Travel’s Reconnect under the Aurora—the ultimate soft adventure Arctic Northern Lights glamping experience for families and friends.

Designed for one group traveling together to ensure safety and social distancing, the Reconnect under the Aurora experience in Sweden is a bucket list adventure taking place in the land of the Northern Lights.

Created for families with children four years and older, the luxury four-night program starts with a flight into Lulea Airport and then transferring for a snowmobile safari through the majestic countryside and across a frozen river to Aurora Safari Camp. Here the luxurious accommodations begin with a stay in a new aurora lavvu, a traditional tepee used by the nomadic Sami people. Each 325-square-foot lavvu has room for up to four guests and is winterized with a large “aurora window” which delivers awe-inspiring views of the Northern Lights. The lavvu also features wood and automatic fuel burners to keep guests cozy during their stay.

“The newly upgraded lavvu accommodations are not only warm, inviting and beautifully furnished, but they also all face north to get the best views of the Northern Lights,” says Jonny Cooper, founder of Off the Map Travel, the designer and exclusive provider of the experience. “The large, clear Northern Lights panel in the side of the lavvu brings an immersive connection with the wilderness and the Arctic culture meaning you’ll never miss a second when searching for the Aurora.”

The second part of the experience features a stay in a log cabin at Arctic Retreat deep in the sub-Arctic woods. Other Instagram worth parts of the holiday include interacting with reindeer, dog sledding, a sled ride, a sauna experience frozen into the lake and more snowmobiling.

Children aged 4-eleven are entertained by an expert Sami guide who teaches traditional survival skills such as how to make Gáhkko bread over a campfire. Older children have the opportunity to learn how to ice fish as well as how to stay safe and dry in the Arctic winter climate.

Reconnect Under the Aurora is a chance to unwind, be together as a family in a totally immersive experience unlike any other.

The five- day, four-night, “Reconnect under the Aurora” package is available until March 2022 and is offered exclusively by Off the Map Travel. Priced from $9145 per person and based on six people with total exclusivity for all activities. The package includes all meals, transfers, two nights in an Aurora lavvu, two nights in a luxurious private cabin at the Arctic Retreat, and more. Flights are additional.