ICE ACADEMY

What measures have been put in place due to COVID-19?

Please click the following link to view our approach to COVID-19. Please note that government guidelines are changing frequently, we are constantly monitoring the situation and responding to the requirements. Please check back on this link often during the lead up to your travel to the Jaguar Land Rover Ice Academy.

Who operates the Jaguar Land Rover Ice Academy?

Quintessentially Travel operates the Jaguar Land Rover Ice Academy in conjunction with Jaguar Land Rover, who provide the vehicles and the qualified Jaguar Land Rover Experience driving instructors. The drive programme and ice tracks have been designed by Jaguar Land Rover and an on-site team will be on hand should you need anything either before or during your time with us in Sweden.

What language is the Jaguar Land Rover Ice Academy delivered in?

The programme is delivered in English.

Can I participate in the Ice Academy as a non-driver?

Our programmes are tailored to delivering a unique driving experience. Nothing can compare to driving on the ice and therefore we recommend registering as a driver. However, we understand that some guests will want to accompany their partners without wanting to participate in the Ice Driving. An alternative programme will be offered although it is essential to note that it may not always be possible to schedule an entire day’s worth of activities. Should guests wish to watch their partners complete the ice drive, this can only be accommodated on a case-by-case basis due to venue capacities and cannot be guaranteed.

What is the maximum group size on each driving experience?

At the Jaguar Land Rover Ice Academy, we have group sizes of 20 to 30 depending on the rotation dates. Each group is then split into smaller group sizes of 10 for the driving activities, however the full group will come together at meal times.

Please note this is subject to change and will be closely monitored, responding to government guidelines on COVID-19. Please refer to our COVID-19 section for the latest information.

Do I need to have a certain level of physical fitness to take part?

To participate in the Driving Experience, you should ensure that you do not know of any circumstances which would disqualify you from driving such as chronic back problems (or similar conditions), mental conditions which might impair your ability to drive, poor eyesight which doesn’t meet the standards for driving, pregnancy, respiratory conditions or heart problems.

What other activities are available?

There are optional Hot Lap Upgrades, Arctic Circle Drive, Husky Rides, Snowmobile tours (for an extra charge), which can be pre-booked when booking your place on the Jaguar Land Rover Ice Academy. For more information about these and any other activities on offer, please contact our operating partner Quintessentially Travel:
E-mail: iceacademy@quintessentially.com or Telephone: +44 207 291 5253 (09h00 – 17h30 (GMT), Monday to Friday, excluding bank holidays. Local operator charges may apply.

When do the bookings close?

Rotations will be closed 30 days prior to rotation start date.

Do I need to purchase extra insurance to be able to drive?

Additional vehicle insurance is not required but it is mandatory for guests to purchase a comprehensive travel insurance policy. Should you have any queries around this please contact our operating partner Quintessentially Travel:
E-mail: iceacademy@quintessentially.com or Telephone: +44 207 291 5253 (09h00 – 17h30 (GMT), Monday to Friday, excluding bank holidays. Local operator charges may apply.

What is included in the price of the Jaguar Land Rover Ice Academy?

General inclusions are as follows:

• All driving activities
• Hotel accommodation (with a double bed)
• Breakfast, lunch & dinner
• Drinks with meals
• Airport transfers to/from Arvidsjaur Airport.
• Please refer to your individual tour itinerary for the exact inclusions. Please note that due to the level of driving involved, alcohol is only included with your dinner and will be limited. Soft drinks, tea and coffee are included with all meals.

What isn’t included in the price of the driving experience?

• Flights, meals and drinks that are not specified in the programme
• Optional activities (for example; Hot Lap Upgrades, Arctic Circle Drive, Husky Rides and Snowmobile tours)
• Visa fees (if applicable)
• Travel insurances
• Any pre or post-trip arrangements that deviate from the itinerary.

Who does the driving?

You do! There will be a team of Jaguar Land Rover Experience instructors on hand to provide expert guidance and tuition, but you are behind the wheel.

I’ve never driven a vehicle on ice before, can I still participate in the Jaguar Land Rover Ice Academy?

Absolutely – the driving activities are designed for drivers of all abilities. You will receive thorough driver briefings and our team of expert Jaguar Land Rover Experience instructors will be on hand to provide expert guidance and instruction on the ice via two-way radios fitted in each vehicle. For the Advanced programmes previous Ice Driving or low-mu experience is strongly advised.

What vehicles will I be driving?

Ice Drive Lite:
You choose your standard vehicle from either a Jaguar F-PACE or a Land Rover Defender. The option to upgrade your vehicle for the afternoon session is available at an additional cost. For more information on how to do this, please contact our operating partner Quintessentially Travel:
E-mail: iceacademy@quintessentially.com or Telephone: +44 207 291 5253 (09h00 – 17h30 (GMT), Monday to Friday, excluding bank holidays. Local operator charges may apply.

Ice Drive:
Jaguar F-PACE, Jaguar F-TYPE, Land Rover Defender and Range Rover Velar
Ice Drive+:
Jaguar F-PACE, Jaguar F-TYPE, Land Rover Defender and Range Rover Velar
Advanced:
Jaguar F-PACE, Jaguar F-TYPE, Jaguar I-PACE, Land Rover Defender and Range Rover Velar
Advanced +:
Jaguar F-PACE, Jaguar F-TYPE, Jaguar I-PACE, Land Rover Defender and Range Rover Velar

Occasionally we may need to change or substitute the vehicles specified, due to circumstances beyond our control and we reserve the right to do so.

Are the vehicles manual or automatic?

All vehicles on this programme are automatic.

Are the vehicles left or right-hand drive?

The vehicles are a mix of left and right-hand drive. Guests who are not comfortable driving on a specific side of the vehicle are welcome to inform the instructor teams who will do their best to accommodate your requirements.

What is the minimum age for participation?

For driving off road on the ice, minimum participation age is 18 with at least one year (1) uninterrupted driving experience on a full licence without serious accident or conviction.

For activities which include driving on the public road (e.g. Arctic Circle Drive add on) the participation age is 23 and must have at least three (3) years uninterrupted driving experience on a full licence without serious accident or conviction in the last two (2) years.

What type of driver’s licence will I need?

All drivers must hold a full and valid driving licence. You will be sent a link to follow in order to verify to us the status of your licence. You will also be asked to produce your driving licence on the day of the Driving Experience so please ensure you bring it with you. Failure to do so may result in you are not able to participate in the Driving Experience.

For driving off road on the ice, all drivers must have at least one year (1) uninterrupted driving experience on a full licence without serious accident or conviction and be a minimum age of 18.

All drivers must have at least three (3) years uninterrupted driving experience on a full licence without serious accident or conviction in the last two (2) years and be a minimum age of 23 to drive on public roads.

All drivers must have no more than 6 current penalty points on their licence to enable them to participate in any on-road requirements of the Driving Experience. You must notify us if you have more than 6 penalty points on your driving licence.

How many people are in each vehicle?

On the Ice Drive and Ice Drive + programmes there will be two guests sharing per vehicle. On the Advanced programmes there will be elements of 1:1 instruction with one of the Jaguar Land Rover Instructors. Please refer to our COVID-19 section if you are a solo traveller.

Are children allowed to join the Jaguar Land Rover Ice Academy?

The Jaguar Land Rover Ice Academy is not suitable for children due to safety reasons and the extreme climate conditions in the destination.

Which types of beds are available?

We offer double beds in all rooms. Single or twin beds are not available.

Do I require a visa?

Most countries outside of the EU require a visa for travel to Sweden and the EU. Kindly contact your local consulate to check on your specific requirements. Should you require an invitation to receive your visa, kindly contact our operating partner Quintessentially Travel:
E-mail: iceacademy@quintessentially.com or Telephone: +44 207 291 5253 (09h00 – 17h30 (GMT), Monday to Friday, excluding bank holidays. Local operator charges may apply.

Which currency is used in Sweden?

The local currency is Swedish Crowns (SEK).

Whom can I contact if I require assistance with my flights or extending my journey?

Quintessentially Travel, our operating partner, will gladly assist you with booking your flights and extending your journey. As a full service Travel Agency they’ll be more than happy to enhance your Ice Academy experience and take it above and beyond. They can be contacted as follows:
E-mail: iceacademy@quintessentially.com or Telephone: +44 207 291 5253 (09h00 – 17h30 (GMT), Monday to Friday, excluding bank holidays. Local operator charges may apply.

Do I need special clothing?

The temperatures at the driving event may fall to -30°C or lower and we therefore ask you to ensure that you bring appropriate warm, weatherproof clothing and footwear. Clothing is not provided and therefore we recommend all participants bring the following items:

• Warm hat
• Warm gloves
• Woolly scarf
• Thermal base layer (long sleeved / long legged)
• A good insulated jacket
• Woolly jumper or fleece jacket
• Some additional light-weight layers to add as required
• Sturdy, comfortable footwear (suitable for driving)
• Sunglasses

Should guests book any additional activities (including, but not limited to snowmobiling and dog sledding), protective clothing is included. Please check with the Quintessentially Travel Team upon booking for full information.

What is the dress code for evenings?

Evening dress code is casual.

What happens if the weather is not ideal for ice driving?

Should the weather lead to a closure of the ice lake for safety reasons, an alternative programme will be offered.

Am I allowed to bring a camera or video camera?

Yes of course, but please note the Jaguar Land Rover Ice Academy takes place at Jaguar Land Rover’s secret cold climate testing facility, so some photography restrictions will apply. Drones are not permitted.

We also offer the chance to hire a GoPro for use during your experience. For more information on this please kindly contact our operating partner Quintessentially Travel: E-mail: iceacademy@quintessentially.com or Telephone: +44 207 291 5253 (09h00 – 17h30 (GMT), Monday to Friday, excluding bank holidays. Local operator charges may apply.