It has been a busy time here in the 50 Degrees North office with the production of a Winter Brochure. It is being launched this week and we would love to send you a copy! It is full of great ways to see the Northern Lights in 2013/2014.

For many southerners, our ‘northern’ world in winter might simply bring to mind darkness, freezing cold and snow. For us it is a snow-covered playground fullof magical experiences. From exhilarating safaris onsnowmobiles, to sled rides by teams of reindeer or huskies, to skiing, ice skating and tobogganing. It might be hard to believe if you’ve never experienced it, but if the thermometer dips below Zero degrees Celsius, the air tends to be dry and crisp with little wind, which makes it feel far more pleasant than you might imagine.

Scandinavians compensate for the winter darkness through various traditions that are all about bringing candles and lights to every window. We are brought up to make our homes and hotels as cosy and welcoming as possible.

In winter, a cobblestoned city street with the warm inviting glow of the cafes and shops will leave a lasting impression. Above the Arctic Circle, the sun does not rise for a month or more during winter though it is not completely dark. Dawn and dusk are extended, and even during the shortest days you will experience around 3-4 hours of unique beautiful blue ‘Polar light’. Gradually the days get longer and in March you can enjoy 10 hours of daylight with beautiful sunshine. So, what would you like to do? The northern winter awaits, let us show you ‘our world’!

Some things to look out for: our new bricks concept which allows you to design Your Own Nordic Experience. We have put together a selection of short stays in all the major cities in the Nordic region, taking a bit of inspiration from another classic Scandinavian invention, Lego, pick and choose your own city breaks, or choose from our range of suggested itineraries. Use our bricks to create a winter get-away or add them to the itineraries featured in the brochure to extend your stay.

We have new trips in Iceland such as the Lava, Hotsprings and Glacier tour (Self-Drive, Fabulous country hotel) and the Fire, Ice and the Blue Lagoon tour. These trips are tailor made for you by 50 Degrees North.

Travelling to Russia in winter has unique advantages – there are no crowds in the museums, there are no queues in front of the palaces and it is easier to get tickets to famous ballet performances. St. Petersburg, laid on more than 65 islands with more than 300 bridges, is full of the palaces of the Czars and the noble, making it a magical place to visit. Walk across the frozen Neva River from Hermitage to the St. Peter and Paul Fortress and enjoy a traditional horse sleigh ride in the snow covered Pavlovsk Park. In Moscow the ice-skaters are out and the city’s numerous parks are home to fledgling ice sculptors. The Red Square and the Kremlin towers look amazing against the white backdrop on a crisp winter’s day. And if you need to warm up, enjoy a hot drink or a shot of vodka in one of the many new trendy cafes.

We are passionate about bringing the best of Winter to you so please let us know if you want either a digital or printed version of our brochure.