Norway Christmas at Savalen  5 day

The Savalen Winter Experience
Savalen’s location encapsulates the winter dream. It overlooks a frozen, snow covered lake and is surrounded by fells and winter forests.  It’s not the most accessible place in the world but believe us, the journey is well worth the effort.
Savalen really is the perfect place to spend a family winter holiday. The accommodation is excellent, the activities varied and fun and the whole place encapsulates winter perfectly. There are even some ski slopes and an ice rink within walking distance of your accommodation. Once you are there you have everything at your fingertips.

This holiday is designed for families with children aged 4 years and over so the activities have been tailored to ensure that the whole family can participate together - it is not unusual to see three generations of one family on a husky safari.  This holiday creates family memories to last a lifestyle.

A Genuine Father Christmas Experience
This holiday is designed as a fabulous Christmas time experience that incorporates Norwegian and English traditions into a family activity holiday. This of course wouldn’t be complete without visiting Father Christmas.
Thankfully, the great man lives just a short walk away. His large log built house is Savalen’s centrepiece and is home to the elves’ workshop, toy factory, and Father Christmas’ own office.

There’s no “whistle stop” Santa experience here. Each family will spend a minimum of ten minutes with the big guy in red and it’s often difficult to know who is more delighted, the parents or the children.

This is an authentic Nordic Christmas experience and not Santa at Hamley’s. At Savalen the experience provides you with lasting memories and an insight into Norwegian Christmas traditions that have captivated families over the years.

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What to Expect:

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• Sleigh ride
• Visit Santa's cottage
• Ice fishing
• 5 days
• Husky safari
• Small Group Trip
• Snowmobile Safari

When

Trips departing: December each year

Stay

Savalen Fell Hotel and Spa
Savalen started life as a mountain lodge but over the past 45 years the Hektoen family have transformed it into a modern hotel with fabulous spa facilities and views to die for. The hotel is still family run and has earned a glowing reputation from its many repeat clients. Outside Norway there are not too many people who know about this winter haven. It’s a closely guarded secret to which we are more than delighted to be privy.

There are 64 standard rooms in the hotel with double or twin beds all of which have en suite shower and WC, TV and telephone. There are also a range of suites which can provide extra space for families.

The restaurant offers views across the lake and serves a comprehensive evening buffet which combines both Norwegian and international cuisine. There are also two lounge areas in which the adults can relax whilst the children make use of the downstairs play room.

The “piece de resistance” at Savalen is the Aqua Wellbeing Centre and Spa. There’s a swimming pool with jaw dropping views through the large panelled windows, massage seats, water jet beds, waterfall, two jacuzzis, a steam grotto, sauna, Scottish shower (for the very bravest hearts only) and treatment rooms for massages and facials.

Santa Street Apartments
Santa Street is located within 300m of the restaurant, spa and swimming facilities and the person who gives the street its name lives just 100m down the way from the apartments. The ski slopes, sledging run and ice rink are also just a few minutes walk away.

There are two different types of apartments. The smaller, measuring 45m², are ideal for families of four people or less. They have two bedrooms, a living area with TV, a dining area, wood burning fire and under floor heating. In addition, you will find a bath or shower room with WC as well as a well equipped open plan kitchen complete with cooker, microwave, fridge/freezer and coffee machine. We find that many families like to pack some of their favourite snacks and drinks to nibble in their apartment. You may even want to bring some Christmas decorations to put yourown festive stamp on your accommodation.
For parties of five or more people, the larger 68m² apartments are a great choice.

These apartments have two bedrooms and a mezzanine sleeping area with extra beds (the kids love sleeping here). These apartments will accommodate up to nine people and enjoy the same facilities as those described above with the extra convenience of an additional bathroom.

Bed linen and towels are included as is end of stay cleaning so it’s all very simple. Your meals will be served in the hotel restaurant.

Families with young children (6 and under) should give serious consideration to staying at the hotel. Yes, the lure of staying on Santa Street is compelling but in very cold conditions, you will have to ensure they are well wrapped up everytime you venture out.

If you do stay in the apartments then we find many people like to use kick sleds as their preferred method of transport to and from the hotel. So heading for dinner can also be quite fun!

Price

From £1125 per adult and £845 per child, departures 15th, 18th, 19thn, 22nd & 23rd December 2011.  Includes return direct flights from London Heathrow to Oslo (regional departures via Amsterdam on request), return airport transfers, 4 nights hotel or Santa Street apartments, 4 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 4 dinners, Father Christmas, snowmobile safari, horse-pulled sleigh ride, husky safari, ice fishing, cold weather clothing for the duration of your stay, fully qualified wilderness guides and instructors.

Itinerary

Day 1: Flights, arrival and introduction

At Oslo Airport you will be greeted by your Norwegian elf who will accompany you during your journey North.

Family DVDs will be played during the journey and the elf will be on hand to keep everyone entertained. On arrival at Savalen you’ll collect your cold weather clothing and be shown to your accommodation before a welcome dinner.

Day 2: Father Christmas

Santa’s log built house is steeped in Norwegian tradition and legend. Throughout the morning one of Santa’s helpers will help the children make Christmas decorations. Then 3 or 4 families at a time will be collected by the elves (everyone will be given an invite detailing their alloted time) and will be shown to Santa’s house. Each family will have a 10 minute private visit with Father Christmas and there will be a guided tour of his house.

Drinks and snacks will be served and the children can draw and play. It’s simply magical.
In the afternoon some of Santa’s elves will come by horse and sleigh and take everyone to a nearby forest to collect a Christmas tree which everyone will help to decorate.

Day 3: Snowmobile safari and horse-pulled sleigh ride

This morning you’ll go on a snowmobile safari exploring the area surrounding Savalen. This is an easy paced safari with the children riding in a covered sled behind the guide’s skidoo.

After lunch the elves will arrange informal fun and games in the snow before an evening horse-pulled sleigh ride. With tinkling bells and flaming torches it really doesn’t get more “Christmassy”.

Day 4: Husky safari and ice fishing

As you walk down to the lake you will hear the impatient huskies long before you see them.  They are desperate to get running!  Being pulled by a team of willing dogs across a frozen lake is an unforgettable family experience especially in terrain as pristine and beautiful as this.  Whilst on the lake you will also meet our ice fisherman who will help you feed your hook through the ice and into the water for a spot of family ice fishing.

This evening there’s a magical candlelit hour in the spa before dinner. The perfect ending.

Day 5: Departure

All good things must come to an end.  Sorry!  Today it is time to head home.