Northern Norway

Norway

The phrases ‘Northern Lights’, ‘Midnight Sun’, and ‘husky dog-sledding’ are some of the most evocative in the travel lexicon, but there are few places where it’s possible to experience all three. Northern Norway – and Finnmark in particular - is one such place.

Oh, and while you’re there, why not try your hand at diving for king crabs and snowmobile safaris or meeting indigenous Sami people, all while staying in a snow hotel. Not a bad haul of activities to notch up in a long weekend up north.

The action in Finnmark is centred around two regions – the city of Alta, and the North Cape, with both offering a wide range of wacky things to do and excellent hotels. The gateway to this vast region is Alta, known as the City of the Northern Lights. There are a couple of excellent places to stay here, and this is also the place to enjoy dog-sledding and snowmobile safaris, either as day trips or including overnight stays in wilderness cabins. Dog-sledding is one of the most magical experiences imaginable, and seeing the huskies’ sheer exuberance and desire to run is very special.

In North Cape divers can enjoy a truly original experience. Back in the sixties Soviet scientists hoping to increase yields for local fisheries introduced king crabs in to the Murmanskfjord near the border with Norway. Since then, millions of these enormous crustaceans (which can reach six foot in length!) have spread west into Norwegian waters and now qualified divers can join professional crab fishermen for the ultimate catch of the day. The lunch that follows is predictably delicious, as the crab meat is served up with fresh bread and a delicious homemade dressing.

If it’s a break from the humdrum routine you’re after, then look no further than this extraordinarily beautiful region, and the charming people who inhabit it.

Testimonials

Julian Allason has an otherworldly adventure through northern Norway

As we approached Bodo, our endpoint, it was plain that we were somewhere alien to southerners. The land, architecture and people look- and are different, products of a climate in which the sun hardly sets in summer, and barely appears in deepest winter. It was the logical conclusion of a venture into the far north, where other natural rules apply. As if in proof, the aurora borealis appeared above us in the night sky, shimmering green and blue.
...

Julian Allason

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