Pictured left to right outside the new store are: Paul Hardwick, Fred. Olsen Travel Agents Director of Retail; Emma Bailey, Fred. Olsen Travel Agents; Tutti Taylor, Fred. Olsen Travel Agents; Councillor Candy Vaughan, Mayor of Eastbourne; Trevor Ridler, Fred. Olsen Travel Agents Business Development Manager; and Shirley Waters, Fred. Olsen Travel Agents..
Two of our Trainee Travel Consultants, Rosie from Framlingham and Lucy from Woodbridge, were lucky enough to visit Lapland this December with specialist tour operator, Transun. With over 40 years’ experience in delivering captivating breaks in true Lapland, away from larger tourist resorts, their trips are packed with activities and themed around either spotting the Northern Lights; enjoying Santa’s Lapland, or for Rosie & Lucy – the Snowmobile Voyager. Imagine zipping along frozen rivers, weaving across the Arctic tundra, and viewing pristine snow scenes as far as the eye can see – the perfect backdrop for a wintry snowmobile adventure.
A huge benefit of Transun becomes apparent before you even leave the country – they offer regional flights from 20 UK airports. “We flew from Norwich with Enter Air,” says Lucy, “which is great as it’s a lovely small airport, within easy reach.” Rosie continues, “We flew into Enontekio which is a tiny local airport in Finland, with only a couple of flights going in and out a day. Therefore, luggage collection and passport control were quick and easy to get through here too.”
Lucy was impressed with the inflight service from Enter Air, “They provided free water, juice, tea and coffee throughout the flight, with the option of buying premium drinks and snacks. They provided a hot meal both there and back, and gave children a colouring pack - this and the staff wearing Santa hats were lovely little extras that created added excitement for their Santa’s Lapland holiday! Everything was so well organised, with representatives from Transun on hand when you land to direct you to the right group for your particular trip.”
The Snowmobile Voyager is based at Kilpisjarvi which is a 2 hour transfer from the airport, situated at the foot of the snow-capped Lyngen Alps and perched on the edge of Lake Kilpis. This charming resort is the perfect base to explore True Lapland, nestled in an unspoilt wintery wonderland and here less light pollution means more chances to spot the spectacular Northern Lights. “Our hotel was in a remote village with only 150 people living there,” confirms Rosie, “So the experience felt very authentic and traditional, staying right in the heart of Lapland.”
Lucy was charmed with the hotel from the outset, “When we first arrived at Hotel Rakka, we could see the stunning dining area, where the glass walls show twinkly lights inside, giving a gorgeous warm glow. It was all decorated beautifully with light-up wooden sleighs at the reception door. Behind the bar was a cosy sitting area with blankets, warm lights and glass windows, and this was the ideal place to sit and enjoy a drink, read a book and unwind whilst taking in the stunning view. They have a little balcony area and if you wrapped up warm it was a lovely spot to try and catch the northern lights. It wasn’t a big hotel at all, only 42 rooms, and for adults only. There was this lovely calm and friendly atmosphere that suited the environment - everything around you felt very gentle and still. If your room was at the back of the hotel you had a great view of the amazing Saana Fell which is a spectacular landscape.”
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“Our room was beautiful,” says Rosie, “The hotel only opened in 2023 so everything is very modern with Nordic influences. We had a superior room on the 1st floor, featuring floor to ceiling windows which allowed us to see the Northern lights!”
“I found the staff very friendly,” says Lucy, “It was nice to be able to ask questions and get an engaged response back - such a different experience compared to day to day living in the UK. They happily answered our questions about the polar nights, the cold and just how they live, and this was really appreciated because just getting 3 hours of sunlight a day seems so bizarre, and it’s fascinating hearing about it from a local, especially with the dramatic change to then having almost 24 hours of light in the summer!”
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Each Transun break has a programme of activities included, and Rosie & Lucy started off with snowmobiling through a snowy woodland. “Our trip took us up to a lookout point where you could see the sun just sitting on the horizon, creating this bright orange glow,” says Lucy, “We turned our snowmobiles off and enjoyed a glass of hot juice whilst taking in the surroundings.” To drive the snowmobile, you must be aged 17+ and hold a valid driving licence, with two passengers per snowmobile who can share the driving if they wish. “I really enjoyed the snowmobiling,” says Rosie, “It’s easy to drive one, but I struggled a little with turning as you have to lean to the side to turn, like you’re on a motorbike!”
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The second excursion was Lucy’s favourite, “We headed down to spend the morning with the local Sami people and their reindeers. This was such an insightful and interesting morning, we sat in one of their huts around an open firepit whilst watching a presentation all about the different seasons in Lapland and how this influences the reindeer’s working life. One of the Sami people then spoke a bit more about their culture, their origins, their clothing and the issues they face in modern society. We then met the reindeer, which was an amazing experience - to be able to get that close, stroke and feed them. On the walk back Rosie and I went off to visit the other two Transun hotels in the area, the Tundra and the Cahkal Hotel. The Tundra was a selection of lodge-type accommodation which looked great for a group holiday and then the Cahkal Hotel was absolutely stunning with suite and studio rooms available.”
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The final highlight of this tour was venturing out by snowmobile to the ‘three borders’ point, “We journeyed across a frozen lake which took us over the borders of Norway, Sweden and Finland, spanning three countries in about 30 seconds - this was an amazing experience!” says Lucy, “The staff were incredible and taking photos of us all and regularly stopping to check we were all getting on ok with driving.”
“There were a few optional excursions to add into your free time, bookable either in the UK or once there, depending on the weather and availability,” advises Lucy, “These included Arctic fishing, a northern lights snowshoe walk, or an overnight stay in a glass cabin. About a 5-minute walk from the hotel there is a gift shop, supermarket, alcohol shop, café and a small equipment shop. There are walks around the area, with one taking you up to a waterfall, and lots of people were quite happy to take a walk to soak up the magical landscape, especially in the evening when there was the chance of seeing the northern lights.”
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“Reindeer dishes were available, though I will admit I wasn’t up for giving these a try!” says Rosie, “Glogg is a warm red berries drink we had, which you can have either non-alcoholic or alcoholic - it was lovely, and very refreshing whilst out snowmobiling!”
“They use a lot of fresh produce,” confirms Lucy, “You could definitely tell that in their fish, it was full of flavour and tasted so light. Carbs were quite a big thing at dinner, it is so cold and you’re so active that you need to make sure you are fueling up with carbohydrates. Every night they had these amazing, crushed potatoes with paprika and spices on them - something I want to recreate at home!”
Initially Rosie hadn’t been sure that a winter break would be as relaxing as a summer one, “I’ve never done a winter holiday, so was unsure of what to expect as I don’t do very well in the cold weather!” Her fears were unfounded, “I absolutely loved my time in Lapland and felt like I was able to have a proper break, and even though this wasn’t a summer holiday, I still came home feeling rejuvenated and relaxed.” It seems that the old adage ‘a change is as good as a rest’ is true!
Lucy had thought that the short Arctic Days may need some adjusting to before she travelled, “I had heard of the polar nights season but had never experienced it and wasn’t sure what to expect.” This worry was unfounded though, “I was surprised at how quickly you got accustomed to it. I think although the sun wasn’t up for long, there was surprisingly still quite a lot of light for a few hours after it set, and the locals are just so used to it that when it gets dark they are well-equipped and just continue with their day-to-day lives.”
Rosie sums up her trip’s unique charms, “Transun focus on giving customers an authentic Lapland experience, and Kilpisjarvi is a charming tiny village - staying here gives you the chance to go snowmobiling across the 3 borders and, due to minimal light pollution in this remote area, there is a great probability of seeing the Northern Lights, weather permitting. We had the chance to see them 2 out of the 3 nights we were there!” For Lucy, what made the trip was the unique Nordic winter, “For me the highlight was experiencing the climate and the polar nights, when they have 3 hours of daylight, and the sun just sits on the horizon creating a glow. When it sets the area is just so blue and crisp. It’s incredible and really is breath taking. Within seconds of going outside your eyelashes were freezing and your hair turned white. It is such a fun experience!”
Rosie & Lucy’s Top Tips for similar trips:
If you would like to book a Transun trip to Lapland please contact your local branch
You can find Rosie at Framlingham and Lucy at Woodbridge.
