Cold, crisp, chilly; the winter wonderland that is the Scandinavian region offers oodles of festive fun and plenty of opportunities to warm up afterwards with a hot chocolate in one hand and Swedish meatballs in the other. The people here are known as the happiest in the world and while enjoying these unique winter activities, you too will get a taste of the season's cheer. At Original Travel, we know that planning a holiday is snow joke (excuse the terrible pun), so make the most of your arctic adventure with five of our top recommendations...
Dog Sledding
A world away from the quintessentially British traffic jams on the M25 in the run up to Christmas, the incredible experience of being pulled along by Siberian huskies on frozen lakes and through snowy forests is one you'll never forget. This experience is best paired with a stay at the famous Ice Hotel in Jukkasjarvi, just a 20-minute drive from Kiruna International Airport, where you'll stay in (literally) icy rooms, albeit in the cosiest bed sheets you can imagine.
Snowmobiling
Snowmobiling - a Scandinavian adventure holiday classic. From chasing the Northern Lights in Swedish Lapland and exploring Iceland's Golden Circle, to searching for polar bear tracks and spotting seals in Svalbard - Scandinavia's most northernly point - snowmobiling is an utterly thrilling winter adventure (and in the seriously snowy places, the preferred mode of transport). Pair your snowmobiling shenanigans with a stay at the welcoming Funken Lodge in Svalbard - an excellent base when touring this northern hotspot which, hard as it is to believe, is technically classed as a desert due to its extremely low humidity.
Northern Lights Chasing
One of main reasons people visit the seriously cool Scandinavian region is to see the Northern Lights. A bucket-list-worthy experience, see the aurora borealis create stunning nighttime landscapes that are otherworldly in their beauty. We recommend combining a Northern Lights hunt with snowshoeing, snowmobiling or an evening polar drive to get the full experience.
Arctic Cruise
Feast on an Arctic tapas dinner while scouring the landscape (and under it) for wildlife on this no-pollution cruise aboard the Brimm Explorer (we mean it, not even sound is generated). Cruises take you around the coast of Tromso, a city in northern Norway famous for its Northern Lights spotting. You can also discover the Lofoten Islands on the cruise, making base at a traditional wooden fishing hut - as if your holiday couldn't get any more unique.
Ice Cave Explorations
It would be criminal to write a blog about Scandinavian winter activities without mentioning ice caves, so before you sit down with your warm cup of cocoa and Swedish meatballs, you simply must make a visit to them. These natural formations - curated by millions of years of erosion on some of Scandinavia's most famous glaciers - offer a picturesque experience like no other and if you're in Iceland or Norway, it's an absolute must-do.
Want to know more about Scandinavian adventure holidays? Get in touch and we'll be happy to help.