Norway is a stunning country that I have wanted to visit for most of my life. Seeing arctic foxes, the Fjords, and experiencing dog sledging is something I’ve always wanted. Not to mention the magnificent Northern lights that only appear at certain times of the year. It is also a very balanced nightlife and culture that I’ve always wanted to be a part of, even if it is for a short period.
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My First Night In Norway – Oslo
Oslo is a beautiful city that is well looked after and very welcoming. With clean streets, calm waters and an effortless sense of style. Upon my arrival, I didn’t want to do something straight away, so I checked into my hotel, put on my boots and spent the evening wandering the capital’s streets.
I wandered around the Oslofjord waterfront that had modern architecture, looking over at the serene, icy blue water. After that, I headed towards the Oslo Opera House so I could see the panoramic views of the city from the marble slate roof.
Once the sun sets, Oslo becomes very lively. I headed towards the hub of the city, Grünerløkka, where you can enjoy cocktail bars, craft beers and intimate clubs.
Day 2 – Exploring The Culture, Fjords & a Taste of Escape
The next day, I arose bright and early to start my day of visiting the country’s cultural heavyweights. First stop was the fascinating Vigeland Sculpture Park, where I planned to wander around whilst taking in the pinks, blues, and purples that the morning sun welcomed. At first I was skeptical that the park would feature a few simple statues, but I was wrong. The beautiful Italian-style gardens were filled with ornate and unique statues made out of bronze, stone, and iron.
After a few hours of adventuring around the gardens, visiting over 200 expressive stones and collecting many photos of the statues to post on my Instagram story later, I decided it was time to visit my next attraction, the Fram Museum.
The Fram Museum is home to the legendary polar exploration ship, located on the peninsula of Bygdoy. Here I learned about the Fram ship, which is the strongest wooden ship ever built and has also obtained records for sailing the furthest north and the furthest south.
The museum was both extremely informative, as I had no prior knowledge of this great vessel and also interactive, as I had the opportunity to board the ship and get transported back in time to the first Arctic and Atlantic expeditions and even an immersive flight simulator.
To finish off a long day of exploring and learning, I had worked up quite the appetite and decided to try some local delicacies at the port. The Brunost, which is a caramel-sweet brown cheese, and freshly caught salmon went down a treat and filled me nicely for a much-needed night’s sleep before the flight the next day.
Day 3 – Flying North To Tromso
An early flight to Tromso, what a sight to behold. The short, gorgeous journey takes you above the Arctic Circle, where the landscape changes dramatically, with the sharp and snow-covered mountains turning into an icy tundra surrounded by a bright blue ocean. If you looked hard enough, you could see little white specs, which must have been polar bears. The whole scene felt otherworldly, especially in the light of the early morning.
Once I landed, I went straight to my hotel to drop off my belongings and rushed straight out of the door, eager to start the day. First port of call was the Arctic Cathedral, located in the compact centre of Tromso. The flat panes that I saw from the plane window were no longer and had returned to become icy peaks one more. The steeples of the Arctic church mirrored the surrounding peaks to form an impressive sight as the Arctic light shone through the intricate glass window to form a pattern on the fresh, snowy floor.
However, the evening was not over yet, the main event was just about to begin, the world-famous aurora that I planned to view whilst dining on the northern lights dinner cruise. As night fell, I headed over to the port, ready to watch the show, wrapped up in my warmest winter gear, head tilted upwards. I stood outside the cruise after my delicious 3-course meal, apprehensively waiting for the lights to begin. As it has been a dream of mine for many, many years, this moment felt so special, and I couldn’t risk missing it.
Finally, after an hour of waiting, the lights started to light up the sky with their rich chartreuse and indigo colours. As the colours danced, ribboned and rippled around the sky, I watched in awe. Its silence was not only humbling, but it was also unforgettable. After an hour of watching the lights and snapping a few shots for memory, the cruise returned to port, and I slept that night full, physically and emotionally.
Day 4 – Dog Sledging & Arctic Evenings
Day 4 was about pure article magic. After a breakfast of whole grain bread and cured meats with a piping hot coffee to wash them down with, I headed out towards the local farm for a dog sledding excursion through the snowy mountains of Tromso. As soon as I saw the huskies, I could tell that they were just as eager as I to start the adventure into the wilderness as they pulled at the static sledges attached to a lurching tree.
The day consisted of in-depth lessons on the basics of dog sledding, including mushing and the technical terms that come along with the tradition. Gliding through the frozen valleys of the city, I appreciated the sheer silence, the only noises being the sound of the runners slicing the snow and the excited panting of the dogs as they weaved through the trees and the harsh tundra. My stomach went up and down as the dogs flew over the bumps in the snow, giving me an adrenaline rush.
After an hour and a half of this rapid adventure, the sled came to a halt, and it was time to head back to the city for my flight home. I grabbed my bag and my Nicopods that had become dislodged during the journey and started trekking through the snow, happy with my experience overall.
When I returned to my accommodation, I packed my things into my suitcase and headed to the airport, through the snow, disappointed that my experience was over, but content with all that I had experienced and seen during my adventure.
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