Pre- and Post-conference Tours

Pre-conference tour to Kiruna in Lapland - 11-14 June 2008

Sorry, but we didn't get enough participants on our proposed tour. The Pre-Conference Tour to Kiruna is therefore cancelled!

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Lake Tornetrask with Lapporten in the background.

In the most northerly part of Lapland, 200 kilometres north of the Arctic Circle and some 1,200 kilometres north of Stockholm, Kiruna is surrounded by forests and moors, mighty mountains and thousands of lakes flowing slowly into winding rivers. This is the land of the midnight sun, shining for 100 days without night!

This pre-conference tour offers an opportunity to experience the unique mining and “space” town of Kiruna, its underground iron ore mine, the Esrange Satellite Station, the picturesque Jukkasjärvi village with an old Sami church and ice sculptures from its famous Ice hotel, the Sami culture based on reindeer herding, spectacular mountain scenery and more. You will also get acquainted with the bold plans to move and re-build the entire Kiruna City – in an effort to secure continuous iron ore mining.

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Esrange.
© Swedish Space Corporation

You will arrive to Kiruna at about lunch-time on Wednesday 11 June. A bus will take us directly to the Jukkasjärvi Guesthouse for lunch. The afternoon will be devoted to the Esrange Satellite Station, where the Swedish Space Company will inform about and demonstrate their activities, such as receiving data from earth observation satellites, tracking and controlling satellites, as well as sending rockets and high altitude balloons to space. After that we will visit Jukkasjärvi and spend time visiting the old church, the Ice Art Centre and the old village, where you may try the traditional sauna and an extremely short swim in the Torne River. We will have dinner at the Guesthouse, before going to the hotel. Later that same evening we will catch a view of the never setting midnight sun from the top of Luossavaara Mountain.

On Thursday we will pay a visit to the largest and deepest underground iron ore mine in the world, more than thousand meter downwards. The high tech mining methods will be demonstrated and a lunch is served in the underground cantina. Afternoon is dedicated to a visit to the nearby Space Building, where the National Land Survey of Sweden demonstrates satellite image production, remote sensing and advanced geographic information technology. We will also have time for a visit to the Sami handicraft centre, Matarakka.

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Kebnekajse.

On Friday morning we will travel by bus into the high mountains west of Kiruna. From the village Abisko we will go for a guided short walk in a spectacular natural setting, have a lunch in the field and learn about mountain flora, fauna and culture. In the afternoon the Sami culture will be the main topic, reindeer herding, mythology, handicraft and the traditional
Sami jojk music. Dinner with Sami specialities will be served at the hotel.

Saturday morning early from Kiruna to Stockholm Arlanda Airport. You will be in Stockholm city well before lunch.

Travel Plan:

Departure 11 June at 11.45 am by SK1042 from Stockholm Arlanda (terminal 4) to Kiruna non stop with arrival in Kiruna at 1.15 pm

Departure 14  June at 8.55 am by SK1049 from Kiruna to Stockholm Arlanda (terminal 4) with arrival in Stockholm at 10.25 am

Price: SEK 5,700, all inclusive

Please note that the price above includes air flights from Stockholm (Arlanda) to Kiruna and back plus bed in shared double room. For single bed room there will be an additional cost of SEK 1,700.   It is also important to note that a binding registration is needed no later than 14th of March and that the maximum number of participants will be 30. The tour will be arranged for a minimum of 24 participants.

Post-conference tour – Experience the Swedish Midsummer in Dalarna – 20-22 June 2008

Join us to explore the beautiful province of Dalarna in central Sweden, the most famous of all Swedish tourist areas. We leave Stockholm by bus Friday (20 June) morning and arrive in time for the Midsummer festivities in Rättvik at Lake Siljan. You will see the Swedes in their folk costumes, rowing in church boats, fiddle orchestra playing traditional songs and, of course, dancing around the maypole. It is an excellent opportunity to participate in the folk dances and experience the marvellous atmosphere during the magic Midsummer Night when the sun hardly sets. Get to taste a variety of Swedish dishes at a genuine Midsummer smorgasbord.

On Saturday we will continue to explore the scenic landscape surrounding Lake Siljan. The sightseeing will start with a visit at the Vasaloppet Museum in Mora, which will give you a glimpse of the spectacular 90 km long distance ski race. At the old-fashioned museum in Våmhus you will watch a very rare handicraft – jewellery made of hair. This handicraft with its origin in Våmhus was practised all over Europe and North America. At this museum skilled craftsmen also make high-quality wooden baskets.

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Chalet in Dalarna.

In a beautiful mountainous forest area with a view of the country for miles you will get the chance to see bears, wolves and lynxes at the Grönklitt Bear Park. In the afternoon you will taste the unique atmosphere of traditional farm life in a chalet with a lot of cows, goats, sheep and horses in a wood-grazing area. At the Nusnäs Dala Horse factory you can watch the horses being carved and decorated. The painted horses carved of wood have become a famous tourist souvenir and the symbol of Sweden. In the evening you will have the opportunity to socialize and mingle with your Swedish colleagues at an organized dinner party.

Sunday we depart for Stockholm, on the way we stop to visit the famous copper mine in Falun, we will arrive at Arlanda Airport at approximately 16:00 hrs. Embark on this voyage of discovery where many surprises are awaiting you.

Price: SEK 3,000 per person in double room, all inclusive.

Please note that a binding registration is needed no later than 14 March.
The tour will be arranged for a maximum of 50 participants or a minimum of 20 participants