Veronika’s trip to Tromsø
Veronika recently visited Tromso and Svalbard – here is part one of her trip report with part two to follow soon
Having landed on the 26th of February, I was greeted by Gøril Ovesen and a representative from the Visit Tromsø team. I then transferred from the airport to Tromsø. Tromsø is an exotic city a mere 2,000 km from the North Pole. It boasts an eclectic cultural scene. There is the opportunity to experience the beauty of the Northern Lights and the serenity of Polar weather on cold quiet evenings. On arrival in the city, which is nicknamed ‘the Paris of the North’, I checked in at the beautiful Rica Ishavshotel. From my room I had incredible views over the harbour.
That evening gave me a chance to try some seafood at Arctandria. They serve a variety of different locally sourced fish as well as Reindeer steak, which is a must try for visitors to the area. That evening I went on a cruise on the Soroya Havcruise, sailing through the sheltered waters only city centre to enjoy a fantastic home-made dinner of fresh fish and vegetables and to enjoy a stunning dance of Northern Lights. After the cruise I took a walk through the centre of the town to take in some of the nightlife, which is not to be missed at this time of year due to the Northern Lights Festival.
The next day I took a look at two hotels in the morning. Lauklines Kystferie is made up of shoreline cabins. They’re made up of two storeys and fully equipped boasting great vistas over the surrounding area. Ersfjordbotn Kystferie was similar in that it offered cabin accommodation but there was also the choice of an apartment. The cabins were quaint and family friendly and would be perfect for nature loving aficionados as they are in a quiet and secluded area. After this I visited the Tromsø Villmarkssenter, from here you could take dog sled rides across this beautiful area of land. A trip here would make for a fun family friendly day out whilst taking in some fantastic natural sights. After lunch I went on a dog-sledding trip with Arctic Adventure Tours. They also offer kayaking, fishing, hunting, hiking, skiing and sailing, all of which would be amazing ways to take in the natural scenery. After the sledding
I went back to the hotel and then went for a walk into town to see the ‘Verdensteateret’ cinema. They put on a variety of films in various different language and they put on a variety of other cultural activities such as concerts and recitals. From here I then went to a concert at the Northern Lights Festival. It was called ‘Emigrant Blues’ by Elena Yakovleva, it covered various different musical genres, from classical to dance and was a wonderful experience to say the least. After another amazing dinner I went in search of the Northern Lights again with Tromsø Safari. They have devised a system involving their four base camps from which they measure the weather conditions and can then suggest the best place to experience the lights; the guides are also very well trained and offered a great deal of information on everything from the lights to the local area.
I checked out the next morning and got on a bus headed for Lyngen. I looked at the Svensby Tursenter hotel, which was again made of picturesque, fully-furnished, two-bedroom cabins. The hotel is the perfect base from which to go out and explore the natural wonders of the Lyngen peninsula. I then went to see what was on offer from Lyngenalps. They offer the opportunity to try a variety of outdoor activities including, kick sledding, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and riding. I had lunch in a lavvo, which is a traditional Sami tent. I boarded another bus and headed towards my next hotel, the beautiful boutique Lyngen Lodge. The hotel boasts luxurious accommodation and great food as well as exciting outdoor adventures from its great position in a quiet wood above Lyngen fjord. I spent the evening in the outdoor Jacuzzi looking up at the Northern Lights.
For today I had to wear my full outdoor gear. I visited Boreal Adventure, an adventure company that offer you the chance to either spend a day on the ice where you can go on a snowmobile safari and to try out ice fishing, or you can go dog-sledding to Røyelen Camp. They are very professional in their organising of activities and you will be sure to have a great time whatever you choose to do. I had lunch at the Røyelen Camp, which was amazing as I was surrounded by raw nature in a remote part of the country. Over the course of the afternoon I made my way back to Tromsø on Hurtigruten ship, where I tried delicious local dishes and was delighted by the light of the passing by cities whilst relaxing in the comfortable lobby with a live music .
The next day I checked out and went to inspect a selection of hotels which may interest you. The Radisson BLU hotel in Tromsø proved to be a stylish and well-equipped hotel offering a fine selection of rooms and amenities. The Quality Hotel Saga offered a crisp and clean aesthetic and a wide selection of rooms. The Rica Grand Hotel Tromsø offered a basic hotel package with a standard selection of rooms with basic amenities and a restaurant.
Thereafter I watched some presentations from alternative activity providers. The Arctic Guide Service offers a trip to see the Northern Lights. They also offer Northern Lights portraits, a professional portrait with the lights in the background. Lyngsford adventures offer trips into the Northern wild no matter whether you have had any previous experience in such adventuring before or not, they provide a caring and professional experience. The Arctic Polar service provide equipment and clothing for excursions into the cold, a great choice of service for the novice and the experienced adventurer. They also provide guided tours. The Sørøya Havcruise offer fishing trips, they guarantee an action packed day on the MB Havcruise, which is a fully equipped catamaran. The catamaran also provides a platform for hunting, diving and skiing trips. The area is renowned for its incredible sea fishing potential.
