PARENT-CHILD WINTER EXPEDIENCE

Program format ‘Parent-Child Experience’ in Sweden.

A wonderful experience together in Swedish Lapkand.

Day 1

The plane from the Netherlands lands in Kiruna in the late afternoon. You will already have a day on it with a transfer in Copenhagen and in Stockholm. Fortunately, a van is waiting at Kiruna airport to take us and all our luggage to our accommodation in one go. These are lodges north of Kiruna. Aurora Camp. A perfect base for the beginning of the week and an ideal place to see the Northern Lights.

We eat dinner at Aurora Camp and enjoy by the fireplace. In the evening, there is quiet time to get acquainted.

We all sleep in a large lodge with 2-bed rooms per family.

Day 2

After breakfast, we set out early. At 08:30 we start the moose safari. Early, though. But the moose are the best to find then. We have lunch during the safari with a real outdoor lunch. The safari lasts a whopping 4.5 hours. So ample opportunity to spot the king of the forest.

In the afternoon, we go out on our own. Near the lodge, you can explore the area with snowshoes. Either follow the path through the woods, or keep it quiet and go horizontally across the river. The pace is up to you. We are in no hurry. We are on vacation.

Dinner is again at Aurora Camp. In the evening, we got to go out again with our new skill, snowshoeing, to look for the Northern Lights.

Day 3

Today we can take it a little easier with breakfast. This is necessary, too, because the rest of the day goes quickly. We’re going to be driving snowmobiles. At 10:00 AM, we’ll hit the gas and head into the area on snowmobiles under the guidance of a guide. Children join their parents at the back. Helmet on and well packed on the way. We have lunch along the way and then take another trip. Around 2 p.m. we are back and there is time to play seriously in the snow. We are going to make an igloo. If it works out even an igloo that we can eat in at night. Even though our lodge is a dozen meters away. So eating inside is always possible. We just sleep in the lodge. Though a sleeping bag can of course be arranged for the truly adventurous polar bears…

Day 4

After breakfast, we’ll pack our bags and suitcases and head to Kiruna. The largest city in this region and the largest municipality in all of Sweden. We have quiet time to look around here. For example, to Sweden’s largest wooden church. It must be moved because a large part of the city is going to be relocated. This is because the iron mine next to Kiruna runs underneath the city. Slowly but surely, the ground Kiruna is built on is collapsing…
After a traditional Swedish lunch ‘Dagens rätt’, we’ll go and explore for ourselves. We got on the bus at 2 p.m. and rode right into the mine. With bus and all! We will visit the largest iron mine in Europe. The mine is in full operation. 24 hours a day. With helmets on, the guide shows us the machines used there. Tires so big, you can stand in them. Impressive for young and old alike.

When we emerged safely from the mine again, it was already well into dusk. The sun is slowly setting. We will then go to our new overnight spot. A real husky kennel. This is where we eat and sleep. May we pet the huskies and maybe even help feed them. Now just hope you can fall asleep, because tomorrow … comes the highest highlight of the week.

Day 5

After breakfast, that’s it. We get to hitch the huskies to our pulk. The children get their own pulk too. With amiable dogs that listen well and are not super strong. You get 2, 3 or 4 dogs. Depending on what you like and what the dog can pull off. If it’s too exciting (which is possible), you can ride on the pulk with mom or dad. But that rarely happens. :-)

After a good but simple instruction, we follow the guide and the column of pulks sets off. Silently we glide through the Swedish forests. We eat lunch on the road. Warmed on a wood fire. In the evening, we arrive at a wilderness cabin. We help feed and groom the dogs. Really nice to be able to feed your own team. At the cabin we have a good meal. And what could be better than a real Swedish sauna at the end of such a day. Now add the Northern Lights and you’ll never want to leave.

Day 6

After breakfast, the dogs are already eager for another run. Really nice to see that these animals love this. We sled through a waking landscape. We eat lunch at the kennel and say goodbye to the dogs. One last photo and then we headed to the last stop.

Let’s see how professional iglomakers do it. We will visit the world-famous ice hotel in Jukkasjärvi in the afternoon. This hotel is recreated every year and many rooms are spectacularly decorated by artists from around the world. Oh yes, furnished with ice cream…

At the end of this long day, we arrive at Camp Ripan. This starred hotel and restaurant has already won several awards. A perfect spot to end this unforgettable week. We sleep in 4-person lodges. Dinner is in the restaurant where our table is reserved from 19:00.

Day 7

After breakfast there will be a short time to go into town. At 11:00 the time comes and the cab is waiting for us. This one drives us to the airport and in the early afternoon it is take-off. The plane leaves to finally land back at Schiphol Airport around 7 p.m. with a stopover in Stockholm.

Well, now comes the biggest question. How am I going to explain this week at school tomorrow? That’s almost impossible to do.