Exclusive Experiences That Give You Goosebumps
Nordic Countries
In the far north, there’s more to discover than just hygge – luxury takes on a different meaning here. Alongside exceptional hotels, extraordinary experiences take center stage, most of them set in nature. Get ready for a generous dose of Nordic magic!
Exclusive Experiences
Nordic Countries
In the far north, there’s more to discover than just hygge – luxury takes on a different meaning here. Alongside exceptional hotels, extraordinary experiences take center stage, most of them set in nature. Get ready for a generous dose of Nordic magic!
Image: 24Novembers/stock.adobe.com
Fine dining meets a dramatic natural backdrop: Together with Ice Journey, tour operator Loki Travel takes the dinner table to some of Iceland’s most spectacular settings – into an ice cave, a lava cave, to a beach, into the forest, into an igloo (pictured) or right to the edge of a glacier. When the skies are clear, the Northern Lights often dance overhead. The team serves a customized menu featuring Icelandic ingredients, accompanied by matching wines and drinks. From Reykjavík, guests travel with a private guide to wherever conditions are best that evening. The guide also acts as photographer. Optional extras include live music, an astronomer or a Northern Lights photography workshop. Important: Dressing warmly is essential.
Trade Contact: Birkir Einarsson, General Manager
Image: Loki Travel
Image: Vilhelm Gunnarsson
An experience unlike almost any other: With "Inside the Volcano", tour operator 3H Travel takes guests practically to the center of the Earth, deep inside a volcano. The destination is Þríhnúkagígur near Reykjavík, dormant for around 4,500 years, with a magma chamber that visitors can explore. After a roughly 45-minute hike across a lava field, an open cable lift takes guests 120 meters underground. Once at the bottom, adventurers can discover the extraordinary colors and rock formations inside the volcano. Afterward, Icelandic lamb soup and hot drinks await at base camp. The tour takes five to six hours, including transfers from Reykjavík, and is offered from May through the end of October. Private departures are also available. Those who prefer to skip the hike across the lava field can book a helicopter flight to the volcano.
Trade Contact: The Team of 3H Travel
Arctic wilderness by day, Northern Lights hunting by night: The Northern Lights Private Expedition by DMC Norwegian Signature takes solo travelers, families and small groups on a private aurora adventure – around Tromsø, in the Lyngen Alps or in Finnish Lapland. Local guides and photographers use current weather data to plan daily private tours in search of the aurora borealis, taking guests to the best viewing spots in four-wheel-drive vehicles. The usually four- to seven-day journey is individually planned, with accommodations in wilderness lodges, glass igloos or privately booked boutique properties. Dogsledding, snowmobile safaris and fine regional cuisine complete the Arctic experience. Bucket list item!
Trade Contact: Kjetil Hanssen, Chief Sales Officer at Norwegian Signature
Image: Kjetil Hanssen/Kraft Studio
Image: Jussi Silvennoinen
A boat, a local guide and the vast expanse of Lake Saimaa: On a private seal safari departing from Oravi in Finland’s Linnansaari National Park, the boat and guide are reserved exclusively for the group. From May through September, guests explore the vast lake landscape in an open boat. The mission: To spot the rare and endangered Saimaa ringed seals, with only around 500 animals believed to remain. The route is individually chosen depending on weather conditions and wildlife sighting opportunities. For a traditional Finnish coffee break, the guide looks for a quiet spot away from other visitors – on an island or aboard the boat. There is room for up to five guests, or up to twelve in larger, wheelchair-accessible boats.
Trade Contact: The Reservations Team at Saimaa Holiday
Painting the town blue is on the agenda: At the flagship store of world-famous porcelain manufacturer Royal Copenhagen on Amagertorv square in Copenhagen, guests switch from shoppers to artists. Guided by a porcelain painter, they apply the "Blue Mega Ribbed" or "Blue Elements" patterns to selected porcelain pieces, brushstroke by brushstroke. The two-hour workshop can also be booked entirely privately. Instruction is available in English or Danish. On request, bite-sized smørrebrød and bubbles are served. After four to six weeks, the porcelain is ready for pickup or shipping.
Trade Contact: The Team of the Painting School of Royal Kopenhagen
Image: Royal Kopenhagen
Image: Mario Janke
This encounter with reindeer at the Arctic Circle turns into an experience that goes far beyond an ordinary wildlife visit. For the private "Borrat" experience, Anna Kuhmunen of Silba Siida welcomes two to eight guests and invites them into her home. Around the fire in a traditional lávvu, she shares stories of Sámi culture and history. The experience includes a meal cooked over the fire, joik singing and the chance to feed the reindeer. The three-hour experience is available only in winter and should be booked well in advance – for example, through the elegant Villa Äng, which also serves as a private base. It offers five bedrooms for up to ten guests, a private host, local transportation service, a private chef and a sauna in winter.
Trade Contact: Jenny Isaksson, CEO & Founder of Villa Äng
Let's Ask the Industry:
How Well Suited Are the Nordic Countries for Luxury Travel?
"The Nordic countries are a very exciting luxury travel destination for us. What clients are looking for is less about classic round trips and more about individually tailored journeys with plenty of nature, privacy and special experiences. I currently see particularly strong demand for Norway and Sweden, with fjord and coastal journeys, high-end lodges and extraordinary nature experiences. We also clearly felt the impact of the 'coolcation' trend during this hot summer. What makes the Nordics particularly attractive is the combination of quiet, wide-open spaces and high standards of quality. This is exactly what many discerning travelers are looking for. I would definitely say that the Nordics have gained considerable popularity in recent years. Demand is becoming more individual and conscious. Topics such as digital detox, slowing down and longevity are playing an increasingly important role. New hotel openings, including properties from Relais & Châteaux, also show that there is plenty of movement in the luxury segment.
Nordic countries are increasingly attracting a very discerning audience that is not looking for bling-bling luxury, but rather for peace, quality, mindfulness and space for new inspiration. It is less about having the most spectacular experiences and more about activities that appeal to both body and mind. Examples include a sauna ritual with meditation and a dip in the sea, 'Catch and Cook', where guests prepare the catch of the day with a local fisherman, or a private boat trip through a lesser-known fjord. Of course, breathtaking fjord views, dog sledding through snowy winter landscapes and the Northern Lights are also part of the appeal. Above all, our clients expect highly personalized service that makes their trip special. What matters most to them are experiences that cannot simply be booked anywhere or easily replicated: a private dinner on a small island accessible only by boat, a cruise into a rarely visited fjord or a personal encounter with a local host. Luxury in the Nordics is not about 'more of everything'. It is also not about putting luxury on display, but about quality, time, nature and the feeling of being completely at peace with oneself."
Tobias Amthor, Travel Expert for Europe & Latin America at Art of Travel, Germany (Portrait: Art of Travel)
Image: TravelPhotoBloggers/stock.adobe.com