No Tour Buses Here! Only The Best Local Guides and Trip Planning!! *Prepare yourself for a lengthy, detailed review!*
My husband and I were looking for a holiday experience away from big groups... read more*Prepare yourself for a lengthy, detailed review!*
My husband and I were looking for a holiday experience away from big groups and crowds, and we knew we wanted to spend Christmas somewhere with cold and off the beaten path. When I googled the best place to see the Northern Lights, Norway and Finland were the first hit. I contacted Adventure by design because I love supporting local businesses and they will know the area better than a large tour company in the big city. I am really glad that I did!! I told them the length of the trip that I wanted, my budget, and the city that I would fly in and out of (Tromso, Norway), and they took care of the rest! I didn't have to worry about a single thing. They booked all of our hotels in each city that we wanted to visit and all of our tours. I even contacted them a few months before the trip and asked to add a stay at an ice hotel and in a glass igloo. They knew just the places for us! Elina and Gareth were extremely responsive before and during our trip. A few weeks before our trip, they sent us our itinerary which included the best that Scandanavia has to offer. It was better than anything I could have ever put together for us! It was jammed-packed with dog sledding, the ice hotel, snow shoeing, and the most incredible experience to a reindeer farm. Since they are local, they are looped in with all of the “hidden gems,” and are able plan experiences for their guests that big companies do not have the connections with.
The first two days of our journey took us into Tromso and then to the Tromso Ice Domes for an evening and overnight stay (see my separate review for Tromso Ice Domes). The next morning, Tumi (I apologize if I misspell any names here!) picked us up for a private transfer to Kilpisjarvi where we spent the majority of our wintery holiday. Once we arrived at our little apartment, Santa's Chalets Rakka, Elina and Amanda immediately greeted us with a care basket full of the essentials we would need for cooking and comfort. They whisked us to the nearby market and helped us interpret all of the food labels. They made us immediately feel welcome and at home. I have never run across any company that would go to such great lengths to make their guests feel so comfortable and welcome.
The first night we were there, Amanda and Valtteri picked us up, and brought us to the shop for a lesson on the Aurora and a workshop on camera settings. This enabled us to set up our camera ahead of time in order to capture the best photos possible. You don’t want to be fumbling with your camera when it’s -16 deg C outside, and you can be enjoying the Aurora and snapping photos along the way instead. After, they took us across the border to Norway where we waited for our chance to view the Aurora. They expertly made a campfire, and we enjoyed some warm drinks and snacks. We were the only guests that evening, so we got a chance to know them and chat about their experiences.
The next evening Amanda asked if we would like to join her on a snowshoeing adventure. You can tell that Amanda is passionate about the wilderness and spending time outdoors. She was very excited to take us and another couple up onto one of the local fjells for some snowshoeing fun and a campfire. We even got to venture off the trail a bit and practice our snowshoeing skills! Don’t fret though, she made sure that we were safe and comfortable the entire time.
The next day, we were up for a challenge. Amanda planned a day hike up Saana, Finland’s second tallest mountain. I was impressed that Amanda had decided to choose this hike. She was able to determine the best activities based on our fitness and the kinds of adventure we were looking for. If you have children, they will certainly accommodate activities that the entire family will enjoy. We snowshoed our way up with Amanda leading the way. Halfway up we stopped and enjoyed a delicious lunch that Amanda had provided. The timing was perfect, and the scant sunlight provided us with the perfect lighting for photos. The air was clear, so we were able to see Finland, Norway, and Sweden from our lunch perch.
Gareth and Elina set up the most fabulous Christmas evening experience for us and a few other guests! They took us across the border into Norway, and went off the beaten path to transform a snow-covered area into a comfortable campsite to enjoy dinner, festivities, and even the Northern Lights! Elina, Gareth, and crew made the most exquisite Christmas dinner! They even made accommodations for my vegan preferences. It can be a challenge finding vegan options when travelling, but Elina made sure that I was taken care of! The food was delicious, and we washed it down with traditional gloog and another type of Christmas drink (the name escapes me though). After dinner, we were lucky enough to have clear skies and a perfect Aurora Borealis show! The evening could not have been planned in a better way.
On our last day, Gareth personally drove us to our next stop on our journey, Lyngenfjord. We did some sightseeing along the way, and stopped to take pictures and view and outdoor museum. Gareth made sure that we were settled in with our new host at Lyngen North before continuing on.
I can’t sing enough praises about Elina, Gareth, Amanda, and the whole Adventure by Design crew! If you are looking for a company that caters to you on an individual level, then you need to book with them! You won’t find any tour buses or large groups here! They will make sure that your experience is personalized and tailored to your activity level preference!! You feel more like family than a tourist. We can’t wait to bring our friends here in the future! I know they will adore the boutique experience that Elina and Gareth provide! read less
