If you want a totally unique experience and go to a region where nature dominates, the land has vast open spaces & is totally breath taking, fly into Lulea & visit Swedish Lapland.
Lulea
I took a SAS flight into Stockholm, followed by a short 1 hour 20 minute flight to Lulea. We were transferred to Brandon where we were provided with warm suits, gloves & helmets. Our next adventure was one of pure exhilaration & fun, as well as taking in the awesome beauty of the landscape. We drove a snowmobile across the frozen Bothnian Bay and all you could see was vast snow & ice. We arrived at the Pine Bay Lodge in Gussovagen after 30 minutes for an overnight stop.
The Pine Bay Lodge was a cosy retreat on the shores of the Furufjarden Lake. It was a tranquil setting and you can be as active or relaxed as you choose. This 9 room guest house offered a superb 3 course meal in the open plan lounge.
The following morning we were up early to start a 4 hour snowmobile excursion. We followed our guide, stopping regularly to witness the bird life such as Sea Eagles and taking in the scenery. For miles around we witnessed a white landscape broken up by small islands and bordered by a seemingly endless field of pack ice. I cannot recommend this highly enough as it was simply the best experience of my life !!
Snowmobile Excursion
We then headed to the Aurora Safari Camp. This can only be reached by snowmobile, meandering through the deep forest. The Lavuu tents can be made as single, double or family rooms. You are equipped with a sub zero sleeping bag & there is a fire which must be maintained throughout the night to keep them warm & cosy. The tents share an Eco toilet. This is an experience that is designed to give guests a taste of life in the wilderness, isolated from the stress & strain of modern life. It is not for those who enjoy the luxuries of a 5 star hotel, but it is a 5 star experience. If incredibly lucky you may witness the Northern Lights…..It was too cloudy when we were there but it didn’t taint our trip at all as there are so many other beautiful things to see & do.
Of course there is no trip to Swedish Lapland without seeing the Reindeer. We went on an excursion to a Sami Village where the family showed us their Reindeer & with the help of a translator we learnt about the Sami culture, history & their way of life. With our trip nearly coming to an end we visited the world famous Treehotel, where each cabin suspends 4-6 metres above the forest floor in amongst the trees. With views that are so beautiful and the tranquillity and wilderness beyond your wildest dreams, it really is a paradise for those wanting total seclusion. The 6 cabins are unique & designed by different architects, each using their own imagination to create this amazing experience. There are plenty of excursions for those that want to get out & about including snowmobile tours, dog sled tours & ice fishing.
Finally the people were so friendly, guides so knowledgeable and an area of a country which has such beauty. On arrival back at Heathrow airport I was already complaining there were too many people around !! All in all I would highly recommend Swedish Lapland & look forward to assisting clients in their trip.
Elaine Burgess
Eton Travel
