Tourism in Norwegian Lapland has become a main source of employment and income, replacing traditional industries such as forestry. Working within this growth industry in rural and remote areas means that we must take a great deal of responsibility; socially, environmentally and economically. We fully appreciate the impact of tourist visits on local communities and their residents and strive to ensure that we are having a positive effect. We have included a great deal of interaction with the Sámi culture & in addition we encourage our clients to get involved in local events and activities which help to sustain traditional values and customs.

The Rica Hotel Alta is part of the Rica hotel chain with almost 80 hotels across Norway and Sweden. The hotel chain operates The Swan is the official Nordic environmental label and has guidelines on how hotels and their suppliers should should operate in order to mee the environmental requirments. For example some of these requirments include all the laundry services the Rica use are environmentally certified. Suppliers involved in renovating and expansion of their hotels must act in accordance with their environmental requirements and suppliers of cleaning products must provide environmentally labelled products.

Another project developed by Rica Hotels is to use local suppliers for the food served in the resturants in the hotel. This has many benefits two of which are to promote traditional Norwegian dishes on the menu and also to contribute toward sthe development and growth of small scale food producers. This also reduces cost of transport for the food and Rica Hotel's carbon footprint.
We always encourage our clients to respect and embrace the lives and culture of local inhabitants by learning a few important words: hello, goodbye, please, thank you etc. In all of our destinations we ensure that we use local suppliers, enabling locally owned businesses and the economies in which they work to benefit directly. Through the tourism multiplier effect, this all helps to generate incomes and employment where the drift might otherwise be towards larger employment areas such as towns and cities. Our use of small businesses means that the tourism income, generated by our presence, stays where it should, in the local economy. We firmly believe in paying a fair price for all the services provided by our suppliers regardless of where they are in the world.

Our holidays rely on visiting beautiful and un-spoilt areas. Naturally we wish to maintain the natural settings in which we work, not just for the future of our company, but also for future generations. We always insist that our local providers are equally conscious of this need.

Monday: Flights, arrivals and transfers
After your flights to Alta Airport you will be met by a representative who will transfer you to your
hotel. You will then have the opportunity to discuss the programme for your stay and ask any
questions you may have.

Tuesday: Northern Lights exhibition and taste of Norwegian Lapland
This is the perfect introduction to life in Alta. Your guide will meet you in the hotel and take you
on a guided tour of Alta. This will include a visit to the award-winning museum to see the many
fantastic exhibits. You will learn more about the Northern Lights and the history of this stunning
natural phenomenon in Alta.

This evening, experience another important part of Norwegian Culture, the food. The Rica Hotel
menu and restaurant really does offer the best cuisine this area has to offer. (Ali, our boss,
promptly proposed to the chef after his meal-but best not tell his wife).

Wednesday: Arctic adventure followed by an evening’s Aurora hunting
Today will be spent experiencing true Arctic Nature. You will travel out of Alta and immerse
yourself in the peace and tranquillity of snow covered pine forests and vast frozen lakes. Here
you will try the traditional Norwegian activity of ice fishing before snowshoeing to a nearby
Sami Lavvu to enjoy your lunch which will be cooked over an open fire.

This evening your guide will meet you at the hotel and together, armed with up to date weather
and aurora forecasts, you will plan the best route for the evening before setting off in the car for
an exciting Aurora hunt with your expert guide. Good Luck.

Thursday: Husky safari and Sorrisniva Igloo Hotel
With this programme we have definitely saved the best until last. After breakfast it’s your chance
to meet some very excited huskies before a short safety briefing and heading out on the trail.
This is the ultimate way to see the real Lapland countryside, an experience you will never forget.

This evening we have arranged a tour of the nearby Sorrisniva Igloo Hotel. This is one of our
favourite snow hotels anywhere and has won awards for the beautiful designs used in the
different rooms. The Sorrisniva Igloo hotel is right in the middle of nature’s larder and you can
again look forward to tasting some delicious local Norwegian delicacies. If you would like to stay
overnight we would be happy to arrange this for you.

Friday: Departure, Transfers and Flights

Alta has truly earned its title as ‘Town of the Northern Lights”. It was at the top of the Haddle Peak that the worlds first Northern Lights Observatory was built in 1899. The main building had four flats and an office. Up to three families (complete with children and pets) lived here over the entire winter period. Two children were even born in the observatory and between them the men who lived here even carried a piano up the 9km track for a little light evening entertainment!

During your visit you will visit Alta Museum which won the European Museum of the year award in 1993. There are several fascinating exhibits which your guide will explain. One of which is detailing the Rock Carvings around the Alta Fjord, some of which date back as early as 4200BC. The museum offers some fantastic views across the stunning Altafjord.

We have designed two different itineraries here in Alta to ensure there is something to suit everyone. We have also arranged some optional activities so the programmes are flexible allowing you to add in additional activities if you are want to spend more time exploring this fantastic area through the activities alternatively you can explore at your own pace leaving plenty of time for relaxing.

Anybody aged 18 years or over.