Tromsø & Kilpisjärvi Arctic Route Experience

Perched on a small island in the heart of a dramatic Arctic archipelago, Tromsø is Norway's most compelling northern city, a place where the mountains plunge to the fjords, the streets hum with a warmth that belies the latitude, and the sky above holds the perpetual promise of the aurora. Settle in and spend the evening exploring this characterful city, perhaps with a drink in one of its cosy bars as the Arctic night closes in around you.

Few experiences distil the spirit of the Arctic quite like a day with the huskies. Head out to a local kennel where you will be introduced to your team before taking the reins yourself and driving your own sled through a landscape of snow-covered forest and open Arctic terrain. Exhilarating, deeply immersive, and surprisingly addictive, this is the kind of day that redefines what adventure means. Back at the kennel, time with the dogs themselves is every bit as rewarding as the journey.

Leave Tromsø behind and travel east through one of the most strikingly remote landscapes in all of Scandinavia, crossing into Finland as you make your way to Kilpisjärvi, a small and wonderfully isolated fell village sitting on the shores of a frozen lake. On arrival, you are welcomed into the world of the Sámi, the indigenous people of the Arctic North, for an insight into their reindeer herding traditions and a way of life shaped over thousands of years by this uncompromising but extraordinary environment.

Out on the frozen surface of one of Kilpisjärvi's lakes, today offers a quieter and more contemplative side of Arctic life. Ice fishing is a deeply rooted tradition in these parts, and with a hole cut through the ice and a line dropped into the dark water below, there is a stillness to the experience that feels like a genuine connection with the landscape around you. Your guides will share the techniques, the stories, and, if fortune smiles, the catch.

Strap on your snowshoes and set out through the Arctic fells towards one of the most unusual points in Europe, the remote spot where Norway, Sweden, and Finland meet at the tripoint of Treriksrøysa. The snowshoe trek through this vast and silent winter landscape is an adventure in itself, and standing at the meeting point of three nations, surrounded by nothing but snow-covered wilderness in every direction, is a genuinely memorable moment.

After a final morning in the fells, make your way back to Tromsø, carrying with you the memories of one of the most immersive Arctic journeys it is possible to take. If you would like to extend your time in Tromsø or continue your Nordic adventure further, we would be delighted to help with ideas.