With BBC'S Frozen Planet series coming to an end, interest in the Arctic, our vast frozen wilderness and its endangered wildlife has never been greater.

This winter, Wildlife & Wilderness gives travellers the chance to get up close and personal with the Frozen North, its ancient landscapes and their natural inhabitants from wolves and bison, to elk and reindeer. "Winter activities and exploration are proving increasingly popular and as such we have extended our winter programme to give travellers the opportunity to discover the season and resulting landscapes in their own way - be that by taking part in activities or spotting wildlife in a frozen wilderness. As ever our itineraries can be personalised to give travellers just the trip they are looking for." comments Dr. Steve Banner of Wildlife & Wilderness.

The winter itineraries offered by Wildlife & Wilderness -- some new -- put visitors back in touch with raw nature at the frozen frontiers of the planet. It's also a good time to head to northern latitudes; sunspot activity is rising, with the Solar Max peaking in 2013. This means the Northern Lights or Aurora Borealis are already stunning and will continue to be so. Wildlife & Wilderness travels to the heart of the Arctic wilderness - there's no light pollution here. So keep one eye on the spectacular skies.

ALL NEW

The Cry of Europe's Last Wilderness: -- W&W's Winter Wolves and Other Wildlife in Eastern Poland

Explore Europe's last primeval forest, the 8,000-year-old Bialowieza Biosphere Reserve in Eastern Poland; home to rare European bison which weigh in at 800 kilos, are the continent's heaviest land animal and truly awesome to behold. Winter time in the forest teems with life - wolves, elk, deer, lynx and a great variety of birds. It's a haunting experience to see among the ancient trees.

Shy and elusive wildlife is best spotted in this frozen wilderness with expert trackers and trained zoologists, this tour employs both. This allows guests to spot white-tailed eagles, wild boar, beaver and even racoon dogs, which are rare and even extinct in other places in Western Europe.

Combine this with the vast Biebrza Marshes near the border with Belarus and travellers will get a real sense of what Europe's lowland forest and freshwater marshland habitat used to be like. There's also a chance to experience age-old Polish culture here as ancient as the wildlife, with wooden village houses, colourful Orthodox churches and the opportunity to stay in old manor houses and eat hearty local fare after an exhilarating day out in the wilderness.

W&W: The chance to explore Eastern Poland costs from £1,865 for eight days and includes flights from the UK on British Airways, accommodation on a full board basis, all transfers, permits to enter Bialowieza Reserve and professional guiding by an experienced zoologist and expert tracker. Departure date 3rd March 2012.

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Sky-high Foxfires in the Freezer -- W & W's Aurora Northern Adventure

Snowscapes by day, a glimpse of the Aurora Borealis by night -- the Finns call the Northern Lights "revontulet" or foxfires, according to the personal briefing guests taking part in this trip will get from scientists at the Geophysical Observatory at Sodankylä.

Finnish folklore believes the vivid green solar storms are caused by sparks flying out of a giant fox sweeping its tail above the Arctic sky. As guests snowshoe through the pine forests at night, they'll find it hard to disagree. But that's only after adventure-packed days, ice fishing, riding snowmobiles, an exhilarating husky-safari and reindeer-drawn sleighs deep in the wilderness around Luosto in Finnish Lapland.

There's a host of unforgettable experiences to be had, whether it's sharing a traditional lunch in a Lappish kota or tepee, mining your own amethyst or trekking with a guide through ancient snow-covered spruce forests in Pyhä-Luosto National Park -- the country's oldest. The Aurora Northern Adventure combines outstanding experiences and activities in this magical landscape with a little added and perhaps unexpected luxury, guests stay at a small hotel renowned for its warm hospitality and great personal service.

W&W:Fly with Finnair on this eight day adventure via Helsinki, stay at the Aurora Chalet in Luosto. Aurora Chalet is situated high on the mountain to offer excellent views of the Northern Lights. Prices start from £1,925 including various activities and transfers. Departures from Manchester are possible with supplement. Tours start 10th January.

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Breathtaking Weekend Retreat - W∓W's Relax Under the Northern Lights

This weekend getaway allows guests to enjoy the spectacle of the Northern Lights from a rather more sedate and luxurious perspective. With accommodation situated in the centre of Luosto in the heart of Finnish Lapland, this short break is based on the concept that not everyone wants to get out there and explore this pristine wilderness.

One excursion to the Aurora Kota with a scientist is included in the itinerary but apart from that guests can feel free to simply enjoy the facilities and relax from the comfort of their hotel, which has excellent viewing possibilities and an aurora alarm. If the call of the wild does overcome guests, there are a variety of activities they can enjoy, including reindeer sleigh rides and snowshoeing.

W&W:Fly with Finnair on this four day relaxing break via Helsinki, stay at the Aurora Chalet in Luosto where you will find all of the peace and relaxation you require. Prices start from £725 per person including the Northern Lights excursion and transfers. Price based on two people sharing a room.

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Turn to Mush - W&W's Dog Sledding Across the Swedish Border

For those who really want to mush like a pro, over five magical days on the sled it becomes apparent that huskies live to run. This is a chance to make a real deep bond between dog and man. Guests will feed - the huskies eat a kilo of meat a day -- clean, pet and massage their team at the end of every exhilarating days' mushing close to the Tornio River, the natural boundary between Finland and Sweden.

Each day will end with a relaxing sauna and a hearty meal before getting up, preparing the dogs and beginning the next 50 breathtaking kilometres. This itinerary allows travellers the chance to stay in remote wilderness huts and farms, visit Sami villages, listen to stories of rural Lappish life and explore this pristine icy vastness of sculptured trees laden with snow. After training up as a musher, the only regret guests will have is saying goodbye to their four legged companions at the end of the trip.

W&W:The eight day adventure starts from £2,150 per person and includes all international flights, transfers to Rovaniemi, accommodation on a full board basis, a trained wilderness guide, one dog team per participant and winter gear and equipment. Tours start on 29th January 2012.

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Dog Days of Winter -- W & W's Arctic Circle Adventure

"Give me winter, give me dogs and you can keep the rest," so said Knut Rasmussen, a Scandinavian explorer in the early 20th Century. Fast forward to 2012 and for UK travellers feeling the call of the wild, driving their own canine crew is possible by learning to be a trainee musher in Finnish and Swedish Lapland. This trip is ideal for any Arctic adventurer looking for the experience without the extremes of the Dog sledding across the Swedish Border itinerary (as detailed above).

One afternoon managing the tangle of tugging harnesses and sled brakes as the huskies yelp and yowl, and guests may never go back to road transport. The 'Arctic Circle Adventure' allows them to manage their own husky team for three days among the vast taiga forests of the far north that touch the Arctic Circle.

Guests will delve into the lives of the indigenous Sami people here; get to recognise animal tracks in the tundra as they snowshoe across frozen lakes and marshes in the half-light. Wilderness cabins and cosy farms will keep them warm at night, so will the breath of the reindeer as they learn about Arctic husbandry here in the Far North.

W&W:This eight day adventure includes three day's dog sledding, return flights from the UK to Helsinki and then to Rovaniemi, Lapland's capital. Visit to a Sami reindeer farm, snowshoe hike, all accommodation in lodges and farms included, priced from £2,045; with six departures in 2012 starting January 15th.

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NEW ROMANTIC ADD ON:

Wildlife & Wilderness can now add an independent night time excursion to any itinerary taken from the popular Lapland Winter Adventure programme. Couples of even families can then have their own pulk (sled) filled with logs, a knife and fire lighting equipment, plus hot berry juice and sausages and head off for their own cosy fireplace for the evening, relaxing in the wilderness and keeping watch for the northern lights dancing overhead.

W&W:The excursion costs from £13 per person and is bookable prior to travel.

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For more information on these tours call 0845 00 44 599 or +44 1625 838225 or contact us at

For specific media enquiries, information on any of the above winter itineraries or any other details please contact Becky Fairlie-Clarke on 07974 306 579 or email: