Our trip to Norway was an unexpected and unpl...

Norway | Dec 26 - Jan 2, 2026

Our trip to Norway was an unexpected and unplanned Christmas revelation - it was merely an extension of another planned trip to Rome. After extensive consulting with our expert who spared no detail in planning our itinerary, Ms. Katie, I realized, we were up for an adventure of a lifetime. She recommended beautiful quaint Tromsø and two sites in Senja (Hamn-Senja and Norwegian Wild) to explore. Not even an unseasonable snowstorm dampened our trip. The polar nights added to the beauty and much needed quietude and stillness to appreciate the raw grandeur of Senja Islands and arctic north. The transportation and accommodations she chose were top notch and comfortable (Hygge is not a buzzword. It is a lifestyle, my friends!). Our cabins in Hamn and Norwegian Wild allowed for expansive views of the natural beauty in the northern Norway and Ånderdalen National Park. The fresh and healthy food were prepared with love (“just like my grandmother served me in childhood”, said our host and proprietor of Norwegian Wild, Hege). We drank the best water from the tap and ate fresh powdery snow! Our winter adventures were capped by the warmth and welcoming Norwegians: our driver from Tromsø, Finn-Åge who we ran into while waiting for Stig to pick us up in Finnsnes, the chefs and bartender and activity coordinator in Hamn-Senja, Franco and Roberto at Norwegian Wild talked to us with excitement about our stay. The piece de resistance: we saw the aurora borealis when the winter clouds parted, while hot tubbing next to our cabin (named Silda)! Silda means herring - our trip was a rarity, much like a red herring!