Banish the winter blues - Christmas Markets & Northern Lights experiences
Autumn may be unseasonably mild at the moment, but we all know what’s coming. As short days, dark nights and cold conditions approach, instead of dreading it, why not embrace all that Europe has to offer at this time of year by booking an atmospheric short break?
Specialist tour operator for discerning travellers, Kirker Holidays believes in making the very most of the winter months, offering a tempting selection box of seasonal escapes that includes once-in-a-lifetime Northern Lights itineraries to Iceland, Norway and Sweden as well as a choice of 13 Christmas Market destinations.
Northern Lights For Discerning Travellers…
Winter in Scandinavia is always a magical experience, made even more so this year as the ‘solar maximum’ gives visitors an especially high chance of experiencing one of the world’s most spectacular phenomenon, the Northern Lights (aurora borealis). Whilst conditions can never be guaranteed, Kirker’s tailor-made trips feature carefully-chosen hotels and experienced local guides, equipped with the knowledge and tools to give clients the best possible chance of being in the right place at the right time for a front-seat sighting.
Says Ted Wake, Managing Director at Kirker Holidays: “There can be few experiences to match the sublime indulgence of relaxing after dark in an outdoor Jacuzzi, glass of bubbly in hand, marvelling at your surroundings whilst anticipating the possible appearance of the aurora borealis. Whilst the Northern Lights are a reason to visit in themselves, one should never forget all that Scandinavia has to offer at this time of year – crisp fresh air, deep powdery snow and an irresistible combination of chic cities and glorious countryside, topped off with a friendly welcome and delectable Nordic cuisine.”
Kirker’s recommended Northern Lights itineraries include:
Sweden - After two nights in stylish Stockholm, staying at the four-star Hotel First Reisen, a short flight takes Aurora enthusiasts to the heart of Swedish Lapland for two nights at the iconic Ice Hotel. Try snowmobiling and dog-sledding, take a relaxing reindeer sled ride across snow-covered landscapes or opt for an evening excursion to a wilderness camp for a three-course meal accompanied by Northern Lights hunting with experts from the Swedish Institute of Space Physics. Price is from £1,596 pp (two sharing) including flights (London), private car transfers, accommodation with breakfast and Kirker Guide Notes to restaurants and sightseeing in Stockholm. Optional Northern Lights excursion is £260 pp.
Iceland - Perfectly located beneath the auroral oval, Iceland’s ideal for a short winter break. From a comfortable four-star base at the Hotel Borg in Reykjavik, Kirker’s expert local guide escorts clients as they look for the Northern Lights, using local knowledge and weather reports to find the best areas for viewing. This three-night trip also includes a full-day tour of the Golden Circle by 4x4 ‘super jeep’. Price is from £1,246 pp (two sharing) including flights (London), private car transfers, accommodation with breakfast and excursions.
After more Aurora? Add a two-night stay at Hotel Ranga - in the rural south of Iceland - where open-air Jacuzzis offer a sublimely-decadent spot from which to await your very own aurora display. Supplement is from £828 pp.
Norway - Combine Norway’s cosmopolitan capital with an adventure north of the Arctic Circle on this five-night holiday. After two nights at the four-star Rica Grand in Oslo, spend the next three in a ‘Rorbu’ (converted fisherman’s cottage) on the magical Lofoten Islands, where Aurora-hunting, a Lofoten Nature Safari and a visit to the Northern Lights Base Camp await. Price is from £2,165 pp (two sharing) including flights (London), transfers, accommodation with breakfast, evening meals in Lofoten and excursions.
Why not get even closer to the beautiful shores and dramatic coastline of Norway with a Hurtigruten winter cruise that includes ample opportunity for shore visits and Northern Lights excursions? A seven-night trip, blending four nights on board the cruise vessel with one night in Bergen and two in Tromso costs from £1,594 pp (two sharing).
Christmas Markets For Discerning Travellers…
Browsing for hand-crafted gifts from pretty snow-clad market stalls has to be one of the most perfect ways to prepare for the festive season, interspersed with almost obligatory stops to indulge in a restorative glass of glühwein or hot chocolate whilst soaking up the unmistakable atmosphere. For Christmas 2013, Kirker offers tailor-made short breaks to Berlin, Bruges, Brussels, Budapest, Cologne, Copenhagen, Lille, Munich, Prague, Salzburg, Stockholm, Tallinn and Vienna.
First of the cities to kick off its Advent celebrations this year is Copenhagen (on 15 November), where a three-night break is from £694 pp* whilst Prague keeps the festive feeling going for longest - its markets close on 12 January; three nights are from £528 pp*. Kirker’s Christmas Market breaks start in price from £389 pp (two sharing) for a three-night stay at the four-star superior Hotel Carlton in Lille that includes a complimentary upgrade to Standard Premier Eurostar if booked by 31 October. The Eurostar upgrade offer also applies on festive short breaks to Bruges (three nights from £438 pp*) and Brussels (three nights from £526 pp*).
Many of Kirker’s Christmas Market packages also include free night offers, giving festive budgets a much-needed boost. These include:
Berlin: Stay three nights for the price of two at the five-star superior Brandenburger Hof from £697 pp* - saving £144 pp. Price also includes a 72-hour ‘Museuminsel’ card, giving entrance to five museums on the city’s Museum Island, including the Pergamon.
Budapest: Stay three nights for the price of two at the four-star superior Art’Otel from £535 pp* - saving £57 pp. Offer valid from 1 November to 28 December.
Salzburg: Stay four nights for the price of three at the five-star Goldener Hirsch from £769 pp* - saving £150 pp. Offer valid on Sunday to Thursday stays from 29 November – 20 December.
*Prices are based on two sharing and include flights (Eurostar for Bruges, Brussels & Lille), private transfers (excludes Bruges and Lille), accommodation with breakfast, Kirker Guide Notes to restaurants, museums and sightseeing, and the services of the Kirker Concierge to book theatre, opera or ballet tickets, arrange expert local guides or make restaurant reservations. Please note that Christmas Market dates are subject to change.
Music lovers eager to escape the UK at Christmas need look no further than Kirker’s five-night escorted ‘Christmas in Vienna’ holiday. Combining superb sightseeing, gallery and museum visits with two sublime performances at Vienna Staatsoper – of The Nutcracker by Tchaikovsky and La Cenerentola (Cinderella) by Rossini – the itinerary also features a delicious Christmas Day lunch and three other dinners at carefully-selected local restaurants. Departing 23 December, the price of £1,970 pp (two sharing) also includes flights (London), accommodation with breakfast at the four-star K&K Palais hotel, transfers and the services of a Kirker tour lecturer.
Give The Gift Of Travel This Christmas
Why not share the pleasure of a Kirker short break with a loved one this Christmas? The ideal present for discerning travellers, Kirker gift vouchers can be tailored to a specific holiday or to any cash value and sent either direct to the desired recipient or to the purchaser, accompanied by a copy of one or more of Kirker’s holiday brochures.
For further information, to order Kirker gift vouchers or for a copy of the 2013 Christmas Markets brochure or Northern Lights leaflet, visit kirkerholidays.com.