For me the turn of the year is always the time for planning the coming year, and especially the travels to come. Travel dreams turn into concrete plans, bucket lists become “to do” lists and my credit card suffers slightly from the many purchases of flight tickets.

This year for us the start of the year sees mainly local travel here in Scandinavia with a quick visit to Berlin in March, while we are trying to decide what will be the “big one” for this year. Even though both me and my husband travel a lot due to the nature of our work and our passion for outdoors and kayaking, in the last two years we have had our feet firmly planted in Europe. Now it’s time to brake free from the mold and dream and plan BIG.

While not all of the destinations on my dream list are that far away from us here in Norway, what they all have in common is that you can experience something truly unique and that there’s plenty to do around. Some places may be a tad more adventurous than others, but bringing children along should be no problem to any of these destinations. And to make the dreams one step more concrete, I also chose one place to stay for each destination. Now the only thing that I need to do is to get that credit card out, find flights and make the bookings. Exciting! But which one(s) will it be….?

What destinations do you have on your dream list for 2013 and do you plan to make those dreams come true this year?

For the Adrenaline Junkie: Queenstown, New Zealand

Why: As the adventure capital of the world, this resort town in New Zealand offers stunning lake-meets-mountain scenery and exhilarating activities such as canyoning, bungee jumping, fly-fishing, river rafting and kayaking. Queenstown is also the perfect base for exploring the South Island in more detail, and I could see us touring the region in a camper van for a week or so and then returning back to the city for a more luxurious stay. Resting might be difficult though with the abundance of exciting activities available!

Where to stay: Azur (a member of Preferred Boutique) provides unparalleled views of Lake Wakatipu, The Remarkables, and Cecil & Walter Peaks. Each of the luxury lodge’s nine villas features a gas fireplace and a private deck with lounge area designed for guests to absorb incredible views and relax between excursions. If a break from sporty activities is in place, then relaxing in the hotel’s spa, or participating on a private local area winery tour could be the perfect thing to do to rewind.

For the Sun Seeker: Guadeloupe Islands

Why: Guadeloupe Islands market themselves as the “Lands of all Adventures” and this is easy to believe when you look at the range of activities you can do on these five islands. Surfing, scuba diving, hiking and canyoning from the summit of La Soufriere volcano in the National Park or discovering the Cousteau Reserve from a sea kayak will all easily keep you busy for some weeks. What I also love about Guadeloupe is that ecotourism has been the key to the tourism development of the destination.

Where to stay: La Creole Beach Hotel & Spa which is situated at the heart of a tropical garden, among palm trees, hibiscuses and bougainvillea and close to a beautiful beach of white sand. Located Between Basse- Terre and Grand- Terre the hotel is an ideal starting point for both active sporty holidays and relaxing by the sea while enjoying the refined Creole cuisine.

For the Ecotourist: Mata de Sao Joao, Brazil

Why go: Home to Brazil’s top ecotourism projects, this fishing village provides opportunities to learn about sea turtle conservation at Tamar Project, trek through the 600-acre Sapiranga Ecological Reserve, and drive down the famed Linha Verde.

Where to stay: In the nearby fishing town of Praia do Forte, luxury travel and environmental sustainability merge at the 292-room Tivoli Ecoresort (a member of Preferred Hotels & Resorts), where guests can connect with the lush surroundings during several ecological tours or relax and enjoy treatments at the on-site Thalasso Spa. There’s also a fully packed program of activities available for the guests from yoga to water aerobics and beach volleyball, or you could take a class in capoeira. What better place to do that than in the birth country of this Brazilian martial art!

For Unforgettable Experiences: Lofoten, Norway

Why: Lofoten is a stunning archipelago in northern Norway just inside the arctic circle. The islands are known for their small quaint fishing villages, beautiful scenery, whale safaris and nature-based activities from rock climbing to hiking and skiing. Being located so far north, Lofoten is also a great spot in the winter time for northern lights viewing.

Where to stay: Anker Brygge is a member of The Historic Hotels and Restaurants of Norway and it offers traditional style “rorbu” accommodation with a modern twist. Rorbu is a traditional seasonal cabin used by fishermen, and while the buildings are built on land, one end of the building typically rests on poles that reach up from the water. The oldest rorbu in Anker Brygge dates back to 1850, but all the rorbus are modernized to today’s standards.

For Country Charm: County Clare, Ireland

Why: I feel like I’m cheating with this one as I visited County Clare in the autumn of 2012, but there was so much more left to see and do that I’m aching to go back. Hence this region could not be omitted from my dream list. County Clare is situated on the west coast of Ireland and it offers amazing natural attractions in the form of sheer cliff faces of the Cliffs of Moher and the mysterious barren landscape of the Burren. When it comes to activities anything from surfing to hiking and biking goes, and evenings can be enjoyed in one of the many charming atmospheric local pubs.

Where to stay: Dromoland Castle Hotel (a member of Preferred Hotels & Resorts), located within a historical 16th Century castle is a luxury hotel with exceptional service and sophisticated amenities. The castle’s 99 rooms each have their own unique style and flair and the hotel blends classic elements of the past with modern touches.

And before I sign off, Happy New Year everyone!! I hope you found some inspiration from these destinations, I for sure got quite excited about every each and one of them…

Photos, New Zealand: Tourism New Zealand / Fraser Clements /Glacier Southern Lakes Helicopters

Photos, Lofoten: Bård Løken, www.nordnorge.com, Moskenes /Terje Rakke, Nordic Life, www.nordnorge.com, Moskenes / Espen Mortensen, esmofoto.no, www.nordnorge.com, Moskenes

Photo, Anker Brygge: Morten Moe

Photos, Ireland: Shannon Development / Brian Morrison 2010 / Nutan

I previously mentioned that after a few nomadic years of traveling around Europe and further afield, my husband and I finally settled down happily ever after in Norway in the autumn of 2010. And what a two years it has been!

Norway is one of those places that just captivates you. The summers are full of light. The winters have none or very little of it depending on how north you go. And the autumn and springtime are somewhere in between, sometimes grey and miserable and at other times full of light, colors and general good feeling.

This for sure will not be my last post on Norway as it’s kind a hard to fit it all in. The midsummer sun. Northern lights. Fjords. Whale safaris. Waterfalls everywhere. But to give you a glimpse of our home, here is a brief introduction to Norway and some of the amazing things you can see and do there. Even though as you may have heard, this beautiful country does come with an expensive price tag.

When to Travel to Norway

As said, Norway is an all year round destination depending on what you want to do. The summers are mild with temperatures somewhere round 68F (20C) on warm sunny days. The winters can be harsh with temperatures dropping way below -4F (-20C), but you really never know. As a rule of thumb, on the coast it is generally warmer than inland, even when you travel all the way past the Arctic Circle.

The key is to prepare for bit of everything. Layering is the best way to go both in the summer and winter, and light water- and windproof clothing is good to have handy from spring to autumn. I always have something warm with me; even the summer evenings may be chilly, especially if you are up in the mountains.

Getting around in Norway

If you want to experience Norway independently, this is easy to do with very well organized and run public transport or by hiring a car. Getting from place to place does take time though as the roads can be very windy and in the coast you need to take ferries to cut some of the distance when traversing the fjords. If you want to see the country from south to north, train or bus is a good option. But if you are limited with time, I would recommend flying, and picking the sights and things that interest you the most.

Some useful links for transportation in Norway:

• NSB, state owned railway company
• NOR-WAY Bussekspress, largest express coach provider in Norway
• Fjord1, largest ferry company in Norway
• Widerøe, extensive network of internal flights within Norway
• Norwegian, another great option for internal, and also international flights to and from Norway

Winter Activities in Norway

Winter in Norway is quite magical especially up at north. Imagine a ride on a sledge pulled by huskies in the darkness of the early afternoon, with the lights of the Tromsø town shimmering in the distance and northern lights lighting up the sky. This for sure has been one of my most memorable experiences, even though there is lot of other things you can do also. Family friendly ski resorts and a vast amount of cross-country ski paths gather for all winter activity lovers.

Summer Activities in Norway

If you are not a big fan of the winter and coldness, summer really is a good time to visit Norway. With the midsummer sun, the days are long or endless really, giving you all the time you want to explore the cities and countryside. While Norway is an outdoor lover’s paradise with amazing opportunities to do hiking, biking, fishing and watersports around every corner, you don’t need to be an adrenaline junkie to come here. The views alone are worth the trip. And the small “koselig”, a very widely used term in Norway meaning cozy, towns. And the folklore and traditions including trolls and other forest creatures. And the long history with vikings and stave churches. The list goes on.

Unforgettable Experiences in Norway

I think unforgettable experiences is what Norway is all about. You don’t need to win the lotto to come to Norway and do something unforgettable. You can just do a small hike from the valley floor and end up with amazing views. Or drive along the coastline shattered by fjords, big and small, and stop for a picnic and just look around in amazement.

Of course, if you have bit of money to spare there are so many organised activities to do. The Hurtigruten coastal ferry is absolutely amazing experience, even if you just do little part of it, like we did last year and jumped in from Honningsvåg to Harstad, approximately a 24h journey. Or you can experience whale-safari in Vesterålen, king-crab safari in Honningsvåg or dog sledding during the winter in Tromsø.

The only problem is how to fit it all in on just one visit!? We clearly gave in and decided to stay. This way at least we have the chance to experience it day and night, from summer to winter and with spring and autumn between.

For more inspiration and information see the Visit Norway website.

Are there any other Norway fans out there and what are your favorites? Any places you would like to visit or things you would like to experience out here? Or do you have your own magical destination you return to year after year?

Top Adventure Travel places in the world

How to define adventure? For some it might mean extreme sports in demanding conditions, for others, following narrow paths deep into the forest for a picnic on a family day out. On this list I have gathered some of my favorites, some more “adventurous” than others. You could say that few obvious ones are missing. No matter how much I dream I still haven’t made it to New Zealand. Nor anywhere on the South American continent. But these are the ones I return to time after time for more fun and games. As ranking these ten destinations in order is practically impossible because of their uniqueness, here they are in an alphabetical order.

1. Devon, UK

Nestled in the southwest corner of the UK you will find one of the most picturesque counties in the kingdom. Made up of acres of national park inhabited by (almost) wild ponies and criss-crossed by small rivers and creeks, beautiful coastline, buzzing historical towns and cosy villages, this county will keep you going visit after visit. Here you can try anything from watersports (surfing, sailing, rafting, kayaking) to hiking and biking. You can find activities suitable for the whole family in this area.

More information: www.visitdevon.co.uk

2. Interlaken, Switzerland

This is one of the more obvious adventure destinations, or how could it not be for a town that once called itself the adventure capital of the world? The steep mountain cliffs and rolling valleys provide activities from summer to winter, whether it is climbing, rafting, skiing or hiking.

More information: www.interlaken.ch

3. Jinja, Uganda

For myself travelling to Africa is an adventure in itself. But to get those adrenalin levels up, take a stop in the country’s 2nd largest city in the south-eastern parts of Uganda, hop on a raft and experience the source of the Nile from the water. Note: Not for the faint-hearted!

More information: www.visituganda.com

4. Nepal

I think the whole country reserves a mention. Again, this is one of the places to which travelling itself is an adventure. However, in Nepal you are never far away from active adventures. Located right on the foot of the Himalayas, trekking is the number one activity for foreigners visiting the mountains. Note: for many of the hikes you do need to have sufficient fitness levels.

More information: welcomenepal.com/promotional

5. Ruunaa, Finland

OK, I might be biased here, this is my home country after all. But Ruunaa, which is situated in the very eastern part of Finland, right by the Russian border, has always been kind of a haven for me. While this is the place for kayakers practising their freestyle moves, it is also great for enjoying a relaxed long weekend with the family, doing easy hikes or bike rides, picking berries, fishing, or just enjoying the heat of the sauna and dips in the cool lake water in the midnight sun.

More information: www.ruunaa.fi

6. Sjoa valley, Norway

It is not easy to locate the small hamlet of Sjoa on a map, yet this valley is conveniently located close to both Rondane and Jotunheimen national parks. The Sjoa River is the main attraction in the valley with suitable rafting sections for children and adults alike. There are several professional rafting companies to choose from, and also a kayak school for those who want to experience white water fun more independently.

More information: www.visitnorway.com

7. Soča, Slovenia

Imagine clear, turquoise water, karst rock gorges and beautiful mountain scenery bathing in the sunlight and you have the Soča River Valley. Besides watersports, hiking, biking and paragliding in the summertime, the surrounding mountains are also ideal for affordable winter family adventures in one of the small-medium sized ski resorts. Due to Slovenia’s small size you are never far away from other attractions, whether you want to combine your adventure packed holiday with a city stay in Ljubljana or Venice, sunbathe on a beach, or sip wine in one of Slovenia’s vineyards.

More information: www.slovenia.info

8. Valsesia, Italy

This is a small narrow valley surrounded by sharp, high peaks and finishing up at the “Freeride Paradise”, the ski centre in Alagna in Italy’s Piedmont region. Besides amazing skiing on both sides of the Italian-Swiss border in the winter time, from early spring on you can once again hop on a raft for some water based adventures or just enjoy a glass of local fizzy wine in the sunshine. Valsesia is also a traditional place of pilgrimage for whitewater kayakers from all around the world in May/June.

More information: www.piemonteitalia.eu /  www.alagna.it

9. Vancouver, Canada

I always wondered why so many of my friends in Europe wanted to move to Vancouver. No offence, for me it is just too far away from the cultural diversity of Europe. Or so I though until I visited this city. A perfect mixture of city life and outdoors, you can easily do pretty much any outdoor based activity right out of your doorstep while enjoying the conveniences and attractions of the life in the city. This was definitely love at first sight…

More information: www.tourismvancouver.com

10. Voss, Norway

Last but not least – where else could you observe, try out and compete in this wide a range of extreme sports as at the Voss Ekstersportveko? This is probably one of world’s largest and diverse adventure sports events and the dates for next summer’s festival are out now. Book your accommodation and travels soon for June 26th to July 3rd!

More information: www.ekstremsportveko.com

Written by Satu Vänskä-Westgarth, Skimbaco’s Adventure & European lifestyle expert. In the early 2009 Satu decided to take a year off the regular nine to five lifestyle in Finland and launched on an adventurous year on the road, sometimes travelling with her kayak, bike or skis and sometimes without. One year has turned to next and she is still enjoying the life out there living her dream. Together in her journey is the not so British entrepreneur husband from Britain, who seems to spend more time outside the borders of his homeland than within. With background in marketing management and communications Satu is figuring out the next step in her life and career, while planning the travels to come. For more stories from the road, visit Satu’s blog Destination Unknown (in Finnish) and Skimbaco Travel where she will be our travel reporter in Europe.

Besseggen, Norway – Views from one of Norway’s most popular mountain hikes on the Besseggen mountain ridge in the Jotunheimen national park. The hike takes five to seven hours and the trail’s highest point reaches 1,732 meters.