Arctic Norway: Tromso & Lyngen Lodge

Fly to Tromso, gateway to the Arctic. Once touched down, you'll take a private taxi transfer to your hotel where you'll settle in to views of the harbour, sprawling fjord and snow-dusted mountains. Then. step out to explore the city, stopping to appreciate Tromso's urban buzz and perhaps brush up on your Arctic history at the Polar Museum.

Back at the hotel, grab a local beer or craft cocktail at the bar. Perhaps you’ll eat at the hotel’s Manhattan-inspired in-house restaurant, or take the chance to eat out at one of the city’s best restaurants; we suggest seafood specialists Fishekompaniet or the excellent Emmas Drømmekjøkken. Let the excitement build ahead of your journey into the Arctic proper.

Start your day with a delicious breakfast buffet before emerging onto the quayside of the Tromso Strait and explore Tromso’s characterful streets on foot. In the afternoon we will arrange for you to be whisked from the city east into the wilderness, where you will arrive at Lyngen Lodge, overlooking a tranquil fjord. Kick off your stay with a stint in the sauna or sink into the outdoor Jacuzzi and drink in the impressive views. Move through to the restaurant in time for dinner and a Nordic feast.

Then, settle down to listen to a talk by an expert on the Northern Lights and learn about the science behind them and the legends associated with them. You will also discover the best way to capture this ethereal phenomenon on film with photography tips from an expert. You might even get the chance to these lessons straight in to practice…

After a deep and comfortable sleep, kick off the day with a hearty breakfast. Then, spend your day dog-sledding in the nearby Reisa Valley. Under the careful supervision of an expert, discover how to drive a dog team and practice mushing, following a path through the open valleys. Pause for lunch, cooked over an open campfire and complete your course. In the afternoon, perhaps you'll sign on to try snowshoeing with a top guide, where you might see moose, lynx or wolverine tracks in the snow, or go cross-country skiing on carefully groomed trails where an expert will help you to master the technique.

Return to the Lodge in time to take afternoon tea. Collapse into oversized armchairs and warm yourself by the large open fireplace in the welcoming social stua. Recovered from your exertions, retire to the bar for a drop of craft beer or something from the well-curated cellar and swap accounts of your adventures. Pull up a blanket, order a spiced wine and wait to see if the Northern Lights appear.

By now you will have fallen into an Arctic routine. Instead of exploring the snowy wilderness with dogs, today take to the countryside on snowmobiles and climb high to a mountainous plateau. Here, set up a tented camp on a frozen lake and make ice holes for fishing; you are after Arctic trout, and whatever you catch will be cooked over a fire on the ice. After the thrill of driving across the frozen ice and deep snow, there is an opportunity to treat yourself to a sea safari on the Lyngenfjord aboard the Lodge’s own Spirit of Lyngen boat.

With a local crew, set sail on a journey to spot dolphins as they play beneath the cliff walls of the Lyngen Alps which plunge into the fjord. Look out too for fish eagles hunting. Along the way, stop on the island of Uløya to witness the historic stockfish drying process being carried out in a traditional manner.

After a final night, hopefully you’ll have tales to tell about spotting the Northern Lights. Having shared memories with the new friends you’ve made, we will arrange for you to return to Tromso, in time to connect with a homeward flight.