The best Scandinavian holidays money can buy

Discover Spectacular Stockholm, Sweden

Scattered across 14 of the 20,000 islands where the Baltic Sea meets Lake Mälaren, Stockholm is a revelation. The individual islands are connected by a network of ferries, water taxis, bridges and a splendid underground system. Encompassing a mixture of modern Scandinavian designs and ancient cobblestone streets, the city offers visitors a variety of mesmerising attractions. Must-see sights include the Baroque-era Royal Palace; the 1898-built opera house; the Old Town at the heart of the medieval city; Sweden’s oldest amusement park dating back to 1883; Skansen, the world’s first open-air museum; and the Centralbadet bath house. When travelling underground, you can marvel at the World’s Longest Art Gallery – over 90 of the 100 metro stations along the 110km track are decorated with mosaics, paintings, sculptures and carvings.

Where to stay

Located on the waterfront opposite the Royal Palace and the Old Town, the 1874-built Grand Hôtel Stockholm is a premier choice. Indulge in a pampering treatment at the hotel's full-service spa or take a scenic walk to any of the world-famous attractions in the area, including Stockholm Palace, the Moderna Museet modern art museum and Skansen, an open-air museum and zoo. Nobis Hotel Stockholm is another fine luxury hotel in Norrmalm, central Stockholm, which is attached to the island of Skeppsholmen by a bridge that takes you to some of the city’s finest museums and the Royal Swedish Opera.

How to get there

To start your Swedish holiday in style, charter a private jet. A flight from London Heathrow Airport to Stockholm Arlanda Airport takes up to two hours and 11 minutes in a midsize jet like the eight-seat Hawker Beechcraft 750. For a more intimate party, charter a very light jet like the four-seat Cessna Citation Mustang, which will get you there in up to two hours and 35 minutes.

See the Northern Lights in Norway

When it comes to Scandinavian holidays, many travellers prefer a remote destination away from the city lights where the legendary Northern Lights can be viewed in all their glory. One of the top places to view this phenomenon is northern Norway. Located on the western and northern part of the Scandinavian Peninsula and bordering Sweden on the east, Finland and Russia to the northeast, Norway is home to a smorgasbord of spellbinding natural wonders including the snowbound Svalbard archipelago, an Arctic tundra wilderness where tree growth is hindered by low temperatures and short growing seasons. The mainland is home to majestic mountains, shimmering lakes, sea-blue fjords and vast national parks with plummeting waterfalls. In winter, Norway transforms into a snowy wonderland where midnight shines throughout the night, casting a reddish-yellow hue over the horizon.

Where to stay

Located on the western coast of Malangen fjord, the Malangen Resort makes for an unforgettable Arctic adventure. It comprises a stylish hotel complete with chic and spacious rooms, as well as sea-view apartments. Alternatively, guests can stay in a log cabin either on the fjord’s edge or higher up, with great views overlooking the fjord. If you feel adventurous, opt for a private guided tour. Camp Nikka, the resort’s mountainside wilderness centre, offers a range of summer and winter activities.

In summer, the area surrounding Malangen Resort is ideal for hiking, cycling, berry picking and fishing. Winter visitors can enjoy snowmobiling, husky sledding, Nordic skiing, snowshoe walking, fat bike rental or watch for the Northern Lights around a campfire at a wooden lavvu. Christmas is a great time to visit Malangen. Being so close to the North Pole, you may even get a glimpse of Santa Claus and his reindeer – and just imagine the wonder of welcoming the New Year with the Northern Lights illuminating the sky!

How to get there

Private jet flight durations from the UK to Norway range from approximately an hour to nearly four hours, depending on your choice of aircraft and the route. A flight from London Gatwick Airport to Tromso Airport, for example, in a very light jet like the four-seat Embraer Phenom 100, takes up to four hours. Malangen Resort offers private transfers from Tromso Airport, which is approximately an hour and 15 minutes’ drive.

Arctic Cruise Adventure: Norway, Greenland & Iceland

No list of top Scandinavian holidays is complete without an Arctic cruise. Board the luxurious Le Boreal for an all-balcony expedition and embark on an exclusive tour of the remote Arctic islands, which few others have seen. The world-class team will take you on an exploration of Svalbard, Kejser Franz Josef Fjords and Scoresby Sound on Greenland's east coast, as well as the Denmark Strait.

The Itinerary

This Arctic adventure starts in Oslo, Norway. From here guests board a charter flight to Longyearbyen, the glacier-covered capital of Svalbard on the main island of Spitsbergen. Leaving this remote archipelago on board the Le Boreal, you’ll embark on a two-week cruise starting amidst the awe-inspiring wilderness of the Svalbard Islands, home to a range of wildlife including polar bears, walrus and musk oxen. Cruising along fascinating icy landscapes, you may spot polar bears hunting in their true natural habitat. The cruise continues along the Arctic edge and through the Greenland Sea to explore the rarely visited east coast of Greenland, Kejser Franz Josef Fjords and Scoresby Sound.

On Day 12, the cruise enters the Denmark Strait, a narrow strip separating Greenland from Iceland that connects the Arctic Sea with the northern part of the Atlantic Ocean – a perfect place to spot whales. The following days are spent visiting Husavik, the first permanent village settled in Iceland, and gliding through the glacier-carved terrain of the West Fjords with its sparkling waterfalls and icebergs. The cruise ends in Iceland's capital, Reykjavik.

How to get there

Take your Nordic experience to the next level and hire a private jet to enjoy the freedom of having the cabin all to yourself. A private jet charter from London City Airport to Oslo Gardermoen Airport takes up to just over two hours in a light jet like the Hawker Beechcraft 200 Premier II. Your return flight in the same jet takes up to three hours and 14 minutes.

Let us arrange your private jet charter and whisk you away to a fabulous Scandinavian destination. Contact us today – we will take care of all your flight arrangements so you can relax and recharge with a restorative break.

MORE ARTICLES