A Slow film about the people (and huskies!) behind one of our very special winter holidays in Arctic Norway.
Together with her family, Trine Danielson Beddari runs BIRK Husky, a dog-sledding resort located on the banks of the Pasvik river that divides Norway and Russia. Trine and her team take intrepid travellers across frozen lakes, through silent forests and magical winter landscapes straight from films like Doctor Zhivago. An exhilarating, thrilling, and bumpily beautiful ride like no other! You can visit Trine and her huskies on several of our Slow holidays to Norway, while staying at a family-run guesthouse in nearby Sollia: www.inntravel.co.uk/holidays/...
In this film, she tells us how her huskies seem quite literally born to run - from the moment they are first harnessed to the sleds, new puppies tug at the leads, ready to set off! They have an amazing energy, and it is wonderful to see how much fun the dogs have pulling the sleds through the snow. The close-knit ‘family’ also includes Benjamin, a Pyrenean Mountain Dog, who protects the kennels from brown bears in the summer, and enjoys a well-earned rest in the winter while the bears are in hibernation. Trine explains how she feels a strong emotional connection to this beautiful and remote corner of Arctic Norway, that has been her family home for generations. With only her parents and Russia for neighbours, she is surrounded by a remarkable expanse of wild untouched beauty.
Why not make a husky safari part of the ultimate winter holiday on our 15-night Arctic Adventure? The journey from Bergen to the Russian border on the famous Hurtigruten coastal steamer has often been described as ‘the world’s most beautiful voyage’, and as you travel along Norway’s dramatic fjord-indented coastline, you will soon see why. Docking at some of the region’s most iconic ports, you have time to get to know their distinctive characters and visit the uniquely Nordic attractions. Wonder at the splendid cathedral in Trondheim, before crossing the Arctic Circle to the astonishing Lofoten Islands, where you spend several nights in a rorbu (a traditional fisherman’s cabin) blissfully removed from the whirl of modern life. Your next stop - the enthralling island of Senja, a former fishing hamlet - is a wonderful base for trying out some thrilling winter activities. Hike into the nearby pine forests on a guided snowshoe excursion, or take to the water and try ocean body rafting. The wildlife safari is an absolute must - white-tailed sea eagles, dolphins and whales are all common sights. Farther up the coast, captivating Tromsø awaits with its brightly painted old wooden buildings, the world’s northernmost brewery and university, two cathedrals and some intriguing museums. If you can tear yourself away from the city, head out across the tundra on cross-country skis, try your hand at ice-fishing or enjoy a reindeer safari. When you finally sail around North Cape to Konsgfjord and Sollia, Trine and her team of huskies will be waiting to take you out on a magical sled ride.
Or if you only have a few nights to spare, escape to Sollia on our Northern Lights break. The guesthouse’s wilderness camp provides the perfect retreat from everyday life, and is also the ideal environment for hunting the elusive Lights. The sight of the ethereal Aurora swirling across the night skies is a very special experience - one that you will never forget.
Find out more about our holidays to Arctic Norway, and our many Slow Travel experiences, here: www.inntravel.co.uk/