Scan Magazine | Hotel of the Month | Norway
Many have shed tears encountering the northern lights at Uløy.
Hotel of the Month, Norway
Warm encounters up north For a chance of an unforgettable date with the enigmatic aurora borealis, it is said that one should travel north. And if you travel all the way to 69 degrees north, to Arctic Panorama Lodge in Uløybukt by Lyngenfjorden in Troms, you get both a warm meeting with the locals and fellow travellers and an unforgettable encounter with the wild. By Andrea Bærland | Photos: Arctic Panorama Lodge
The lodge is family owned and run by husband and wife Aud Sole Haugen and Svein Jakobsen, who focus on offering warm and personal service. “We want to give our guests ‘the lodge feeling’, a feeling of visiting old friends. Around the communal dinner table, guests, whether they come alone or in groups, engage in lively conversation, and many leave us with newfound friends,” Jakobsen says.
Northern Norwegian fare Sole Haugen is in charge in the kitchen, and at Arctic Panorama Lodge, 90 | Issue 84 | January 2016
traditional northern Norwegian food is central. Reindeer meat and arctic cod are frequently served, but the kitchen is flexible and used to cater to international guests who may not be used to such a heavy fare. Any allergies or intolerances are also taken into consideration. The lodge’s dining room and common area are decorated in a homely style, but the panoramic windows also provide guests with an extraordinary living room view. With Lyngenfjorden and the Lyngen Alps right outside, guests frequently have
the opportunity to witness the northern lights or a hawk diving for food from the comfort of the couch. However, to really experience the spectacular nature of Uløy, you have to venture outside. At Arctic Panorama they have made sure nobody is going to freeze, offering proper arctic attire such as snow boots, coats and gloves as part of their standard package. Once properly dressed, guests are guided by Arctic Panorama on a real adventure in the wilderness. The people at the lodge are just as focused on offering personal experiences in the great outdoors as within the four walls of the house, and offer a variety of outings by foot, snow shoes, horseback or boat for groups of about six people. “Of course, if people are travelling in groups of ten, we’re not