Lappland Trip

The five-day Lapland trip was organized by ISA. On our first day we made a trip around the frozen sjön (lake) to the ICE hotel. Except for the sound of the engine from the snowmobile, everything around Gabrialla and me was completely silent. The white puffy snow sprinkled into the air as we rode by. All the trees around us were covered in at least half a meter of snow. The clear sky allowed the morning sunlight to shine onto it turning the landscaping into a twinkling fairyland. It was breath taking. Getting used to the way the snowmobile responded to driving over different surfaces was a bit tricky at first. On the way back though from the Ice hotel Gabrialla and I worked as a team and nailed it. Leaning our bodies into every corner and speeding up whenever there was a long straight path. It was exhilarating.

Having warm clothes in these temperatures is key to enjoying nature when you are out all day. I was so happy for the waterproof overalls

we got provided with. It gives you warmth and the freedom to move around without worrying about getting wet or dirty. Sitting perfectly still on the ground I got a rain deer to eat out of my hand. It was so worth the long wait.

The northern lights were better than any movie or photo you have ever seen. It was a light show that you could not predict where it will go, what colours it will show and how long it will last. It was mesmerising and you forgot everything around you for a few seconds. The sense of self was not there anymore. It was just the lights in the dark sky.

“Beautiful places like this are very sensitive to weather,” the tour guide told us as we were driving back to the airport on the fifth day. So, depending on the weather and especially the hours of sunlight you have will really affect your experience. We stayed at Camp Alta over our five-day trip. If you want to travel without ISN the bigger the group, the more discounts you can get. For a student pre-night, it was around 20 euros which is rather a low prize for Swedish norms. There are different sized cabin you can stay in. Seven of us ended up in an 8 people cabin which was perfect. I would really not miss out in taking this trip. It is so worth it.