The Nordic countries are majestic and ethereal, immersed in a beauty we believe to be peerless. Having pioneered unforgettable trips on behalf of exceptional individuals for over a two decades, we now bring you a honed couture travel experience, crafted with flair and finesse entirely around your dreams.
Scandinavia is a great place for unexpectedly luxurious travel experiences, with some of the world’s best restaurants, elegantly designed hotels and some jaw-dropping wilderness landscapes.
ICELAND
A perfectly-sized island lost in the icy Atlantic can realize the dreams of the most seasoned of travellers. Maybe it’s chasing the Northern Lights in soulful volcanic scenery with no light or air pollution. Or driving across centuries-old glaciers and majestic volcanoes in robust super-jeeps, stopping for a sensational photographic moment next to thundering waterfalls, or steaming geysers. Or why not explore the extra-terrestrial topography of Iceland on board a private helicopter poised to land next to a remote local restaurant where humar, the local lobster, is served in abundance? From design hotels in eclectic Reykjavik- where you will experience the fine and fashionable Nordic lifestyle- to luxury expeditions and mobile-tented camps built on ice-blue glaciers, Iceland has it all.
An oasis of wellness and design, floating in the heart of Swedish Lapland. Situated under the northern lights in winter, and the midnight sun during the summer months, Arctic Bath is a unique hotel and spa experience that welcomes guests to immerse themselves in the elements while leaving a minimal environmental footprint behind.
Discovering Sweden, you may experience the special sensation of going back to the roots- or essence- of a place. Take for example Fika, the Swedish art of drinking coffee: a social institution that also means the simple joy of taking a break, meeting friends and enjoying a good coffee with a delicious pastry. You will find the same artful simplicity in Stockholm when exploring its creative districts, and interesting design and fashion boutiques. Sail away from this elegant capital to the islands outside the city, and the tranquility continues. In winter, head for Jamtland to practice your skiing skills, and stay in cosy resorts like Are and Riksgransen, just north of the Arctic Circle. Connect with nature at the iconic Tree Hotel, or take a special Aurora Borealis flight above Swedish Lapland. In summer, you can go on a sea safari in the west of Sweden, and relax on tiny, car-free islands where local restaurants serve amazing seafood and freshly caught fish.
When sledging through a winter wonderland of sculptured, snowy-white birch trees, and frozen, glistening lakes, you could easily imagine yourself in a different world. This is Finnish Lapland, where elegant villas and roaring open fires await you after a perishing day outside. Finland is a country of contrasts, from the cold high north to the sparkling coastal areas in the south; the dark winter to the midnight sun. This well-organised Nordic country is verdant in summer, covered with deep forests accented with beautiful lakes and charming towns. Travellers seeking privacy can escape to the Aland archipelago consisting of 6,500 islands, or the southernmost inhabited island of Uto, that drifts in the Baltic Sea. In addition to nature’s replenishment and the welcome of the charismatic Sami people, Finland has a wealth of artistic offerings. Design lovers may indulge themselves exploring Helsinki, its distinctive and charming capital, peppered with cutting-edge shops, studios, art galleries, and a thriving restaurant and bar scene.
As the Norwegian painter Edvard Munch once said, “Nature is not only all that is visible to the eye; it also includes the inner pictures of the soul.” Appropriately, his homeland happens to be one of the most stunning countries in the world, where unspoiled nature comes with a capital N, and is a matter of national pride. There are numerous ways to enjoy it: skiing from summit to fjord in the Norwegian Alps while staying in luxury lodges and authentic wood cabins; intense expeditions around the islands of Svalbard, exploring the coastal fjords on private yachts, or the UNESCO-protected Vega Islands close to the Arctic Circle. Go in search of the Northern Lights in winter, and enjoy the energising midnight sun in summer before the luminescent white mantle of winter returns. You will experience the profound love Norwegian people have for their environment, even in their culture-rich capital Oslo, where exalted standards of urban living reign.
If you are interested in visiting any of the Nordic countries please contact Honeymoon Islands so we can custom design your itinerary today.