Sweden was to be my next destination and I had a mission - I was going in search of the Northern Lights – I couldn’t wait!
People say you should never work with children and animals – well I think that natural phenomena should also be added to that list because on this trip the Northern Lights did elude me but that did not in anyway detract from the trip itself and I do feel that if you do see them it is a bonus!
Ice Hotel
On arrival in Sweden the first port of call was the famous Ice Hotel. I have seen my fair share of castles, lodges, and hotels made from snow and ice but the Ice Hotel was really quite beautiful. The art work and design were particularly innovative and not only do you get to visit all the rooms during the day, you also learn how the hotel is created which is really interesting. I loved the Vodka Bar – who wouldn’t? – even if Vodka isn’t your tipple it is nice to have a drink and sit on ice chairs covered with reindeer skins. Each of the bedroom suites was better than the one before – I think I must have photographed all 30!
Night Snowmobiling
This was another activity worthy of a mention – speeding through the winter wonderland on a snowmobile is quite something – eerie and exciting all at the same time!
We stopped at a small kota (traditional wooden tepee) and by the time I had taken off my helmet and mittens, the guide had lit a fire and was busy preparing dinner - a veritable feast created out of almost nothing!
Once fed and watered, it was time to return to civilisation on my trusty snowmobile. I didn't catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights - however I did get the next best thing – it was snowing!
Ice Fishing Cabins
I was sitting on a sled pulled by a snowmobile as I crossed the frozen lake – I couldn’t believe my eyes as in the distance I could see several small cabins sitting on the frozen expanse of water. Each heated cabin was designed to sleep 3 people and they had a hole in the base so that you could fish if you wanted without even venturing outside!
There was a larger cabin where a 3 course dinner with wine would be served to the group and also a sauna – a great way to relax after a busy day outside.
They can even bring a hot tub out on to the ice so you can watch the Northern Lights as you chill out in the warm water. Now that’s what I call service!
Chair Lift to the Northern Lights
Well this activity was the final one of my trip – if the Northern Lights weren’t going to come to me then I was going up to find them!
Dinner was served in a local restaurant where I got to know the rest of the group and compared notes on who had seen the elusive lights during their stay – no one had been lucky so far but this didn’t dampen our spirits in the slightest. After 3 courses and a few glasses of wine, we ventured out into the cool evening air for the short walk to the chairlift.
We were given thermal clothing to wear and a blanket covered our legs as we started the 15 minute journey on the chairlift to the mountain lodge 500 metres above. It was a strange sensation going up on a chairlift in complete darkness but it really added to the experience. Once at the top, we entered the mountain lodge which was illuminated only by candles, it created the perfect ambience for our evening.
Our time in the Lodge passed very quickly. There was a small information centre to look around and our guide, whose levels of optimism even surpassed mine, was also very knowledgable. There were hot drinks available to warm you up after time outside on the observation terrace. After 3 hours we returned to the hotel using the chairlift. Even during the descent I kept thinking wouldn’t it be amazing to be on the chairlift when the Northern Lights appeared! I was an optimist until the very end but I was unlucky this time.
What I learned
They say that it isn’t the arrival that is important but the journey itself and I think that this best describes my search for the Northern Lights.
Not seeing them was a shame but did it detract from the activities I took part in?
Certainly not!
The activities are all amazing in their own right and seeing the Northern Lights would have merely been the bonus. It also gives me a reason to return to try again and hopefully next time I will be a lucky optimist!
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