Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Autumn & Winter Experiences in Norway
Hunting the light
By Maria Lanza Knudsen / Line Elise Svanevik | Photos: Dan Steinbakk
Chasing the northern lights is one of the most quintessential arctic adventures in Norway. But how do you get the best experience? As autumn and winter approach and darkness falls, northern Norway awaits nature’s own festive lights, the aurora borealis. These multi-coloured streams of light decorate the sky and attract people from afar. Dan Steinbakk, the owner of touring company Arctic Experience, runs tours from Tromsø from September to April. He prides himself on offering personalised tours for groups of up to eight people. The knowledgeable guide, who grew up under the northern lights, guarantees the comfort of each guest by providing appropriate clothing and the enjoyment of the lights around a bonfire. “You can experience four seasons and landscapes in one trip – from forests and the tundra to arctic snow-capped mountains and the ocean,” says Steinbakk. “There really is something magical about the landscape, especially with the autumn colours in addition to the beautiful colours in the sky!”
Arctic Experience’s focus on small groups allows Steinbakk to tailor the tour and ensure that guests get the best viewing of the beautiful lights, and his company has now received TripAdvisor’s Certificate of Excellence three years in a row. In addition to showcasing the magic in the sky, Arctic Experience has a unique handheld radio
called a VLF receiver that allows you to listen to the spectacular natural phenomenon. To capture the moment, Steinbakk always takes professional-quality photographs for guests to take home. Indeed, for avid photographers he even provides instructions on how best to capture the lights. Let the chase begin! Web: www.arcticx.no
Sustainable thinking for a sustainable future Tromsø Friluftsenter was among the very first tourism providers in town when they started in 2004. Since then, the family business has offered authentic experiences portraying the very best of Northern Norway through guided whale safaris and northern lights excursions. By Pernille Johnsen | Photos: Tromsø Friluftsenter
Central to Tromsø Friluftsenter is the core value of sustainable thinking for a sustainable future, something that has been internationally recognised. Tromsø Friluftsenter was the first tourism agency in Norway to carry the illustrious blue flag, known worldwide for substantial knowledge about the environmental implications of tourism and ways to combat them on a daily basis. The family business is run by the fatherand-daughter duo, Alf and Trine Risvik. The pair does a great deal of the guided tours and direct customer interaction assuring that each visitor leaves with the genuine and special experience you get when you visit a spectacular place, organised and presented to you by people who truly care 86 | Issue 104 | September 2017
about the location. They keep the tourist groups small and intimate, avoiding big crowds. These efforts were highlighted in the TV-series Jakten på Nordlyset, produced by the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK). Rave reviews also feature on TripAdvisor, and it is evident that the personal touch team Risvik brings to each excursion provides sustainable memories for tourists wishing to explore Norway throughout the year. Web: www.tromso-friluftsenter.no Facebook: www.facebook.com/ tromsofriluftsenter