Tromsø

We're just back from a cold, but amazing week in Tromsø! As it always been a dream of mine to go and see the Northern Lights, we decided to go all in for this trip. So, due to the not-so-budget nature of the trip, we won't be creating our usual guide, but still wanted to include some details here.

We started our trip on a Monday, landing in Tromsø after a turbulent, but picturesque flight. In order to optimise our opportunities to see the Northern Lights (the main focus of the trip), we headed out that first night on a bus tour. Our tour guide hunts the Northern Lights on a regular basis, so knows all the best spots to try and see them from, as well as being in regular contact with the other tour guides. As soon as one of them reports a sighting, we all had to be ready to hop back on the bus and drive to the location of the sighting.

Unfortunately the activity rate was low and we had to wait until 12pm to get our first glimpse of the Northern Lights. We weren't bored though, the view of the stars was amazing and our tour guide brought tea and coffee and started a fire to keep us warm, whilst we gazed at the night sky. And once the Northern Lights started, it was definitely worth the wait! We got to see a few instances with the naked eye and each one was beautiful and impressive but even clearer through a camera lens so we made sure to get lots of photos.

It was the right decision to go out right away on our first night, even though we were a little travel weary, because the cloud cover and poor weather the rest of the week meant that we didn't get another chance during our trip.

After having had a late night hunting the Northern Lights on Monday, the early start on Tuesday was a bit brutal, but necessary as we had to catch a coach to our day's activity- dog sledding! Will was the 'driver' for the first half of our ride, simply controlling the speed of the dogs by using a foot brake. The dogs already know the route and follow the guide's sled in front, so there was no need to try and steer. At about half way we swapped and I was able to give it a go. Afterwards, we loved spending time playing with all the Alaskan Huskies in our sledding team, Will particularly bonded with a rather naughty one called Rammstein, who had chewed himself free four times during our ride.

Wednesday's activity was another driving experience, only this time it was a snow mobile which we would be driving, instead of a team of dogs! We got suited up and once again Will took the first turn, before swapping at the half way point. The views of the valley were stunning, as we zoomed along admiring the mountains. Our guide told us that the valley is only used for tourists during the winter months because in the summer the Sami people bring their herds of reindeer to graze and live there.

We had a great time and didn't crash once, although another couple in the group managed to flip their snow mobile pretty early on by driving off the edge of the track! Once we'd returned to the camp we were provided with lunch, a smoked fish soup, which was very warming after being out in the cold for a couple of hours.

We were pleased to have a relaxed morning the next day; after a few busy days of activities we were in need of some rest. In the afternoon we joined a tour to meet some Sami People, the indigenous people traditionally living in northern Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia. When we arrived at their camp, we were excited to learn that it was actually national Sami Day and that it was being celebrated all across the country.

We were given the opportunity to feed the reindeer herd that they keep there especially for the tourists (normally they are free to roam and wander further away). Afterwards we were served traditional reindeer stew in a Lavvu (a kind of tent that can be easily transported). After the meal, one of the Sami people taught us some of the history of their people, as well as some words in the Northern Sami language. We learnt that the reindeer are vital to the traditional way of life, but that it's considered rude to ask a Sami person how many reindeer they own (it's a bit like asking someone how much money they have).

On Friday we had decided to try cross country skiing, one of Norway's most popular sports and a main mode of transport for many locals during the winter months. We'd booked ourselves on to a 2hr beginners lesson and turned up on the day to Charlottenlund Recreational Park ready to give a go. After getting our boots, ski's and poles, we learnt how to move along the tracks using different techniques. Once everyone in the group had mastered the basics, we set off along the track to a frozen lake in the park, where we enjoyed the view and caught our breath before heading back to the start point. Even though all the locals we'd seen doing it had made it look so easy, we found it very hard work and had to rest by the time we'd completed the loop! In Will's defense he'd been a little under the weather all week, but I had no excuse for finding it so challenging - hats off to the locals!

We spent our last day in Tromsø just mooching around the town center, popping into a few shops and enjoying the amazing views of the mountains. We'd seen signs for the Troll Museum on our previous visits into the town and our curiosity finally got the better of us this time, so we decided to pay it a visit. The trolls were very amusing and the museum had loads of interactive and augmented reality exhibitions telling the folklore stories involving trolls and traditional Norwegian mythical creatures. My favourite was the Sea Troll, who's best friend is a giant crab that gathers all the underwater gossip to share with the troll.

We spent the evening packing and preparing for our very early flight the next morning. Another amazing trip under our belt and we feel so grateful that we were able to see the Northern Lights, not everyone is so lucky when they visit!

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