A brief insight into how the ideas for our trips are developed via a text conversation in February of 2019 (a full year before the trip)...
Me: I'm starting to plan our next Racay.
Rachel: What is it?
Me: I'm thinking a Nordic trip.
Rachel: Yes! Could we do Sweden on that trip too?
Me: Yeah! I think a long layover in Iceland then go do Sweden/Norway.
And alas, a vacation was born. We proceeded to decide it would be a February or March trip and discussed nothing else until thirty minutes later when I sent her the link to Holmen Husky Lodge in Alta (one of the northernmost cities in Norway) which had dog sledding and accommodations rolled into one beautiful package. I honestly couldn't even tell you how I stumbled upon it but we were hands down both in. The price tag was high, but we usually allow ourselves to make one big splurge on each trip.
Then just as quickly as we fell in love with the idea, it was forgotten. We started looking at other sledding experiences in Sweden and found an igloo to stay in another night rather than do a package. We had a whole route decided on until one day I reached the point of frustration (as I usually do at some stage in planning) because nothing was lining up the way I wanted it to. Rental cars weren't available where we were going, the flight was crazy expensive, and some of the dates weren't open for accommodations. And then seven months after first talking about it, I resent the Holmen Husky Lodge link to Rachel and said "I remember coming across this a long while ago. What if we did this instead?"
She agreed and that was that. Booked.
On every trip that we take, we each have a part that we're looking forward to the most. Sometimes we have different highlights, sometimes it's the same. For our trip to Scandinavia, our highlight was shared and it was this. And let me just say, I'm so so very glad that I couldn't figure out how to make that original itinerary work because this experience was INCREDIBLE and worth every single penny. They have multiple packages to choose from but we ended up with the one-night package which included not only the unique opportunity to drive our own dog sled, but also accommodations in a cozy tipi, delicious locally-sourced food, lots of playtime with the doggies, and time to warm up in the jacuzzi and sauna.
There will be a longer, more in-depth blog post and video coming where we discuss all the amazing aspects of the experience (like the fact that we practically had the entire place to ourselves which made it that much more special!). Until then, enjoy the look at our stay at Holmen Husky Lodge in Norway in the attached video and we'll be back with more, including all the reasons we will recommend this experience to anyone and everyone, over and over again!
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