Alpinia Travel

Welcome to this new blog post! In this blog post I will take you on an adventure to the far north – to the Arctic!

A dream comes true

I always had a great desire to travel to the Arctic. In December 2024, this wish became reality. I spent a week in the north – and it was a special adventure. I didn’t let snowstorms, icy arctic winds and low temperatures stop me from exploring the area. It was definitely one of the greatest adventures of my life!

The Arctic Circle

The Arctic Circle is the northern polar circle. The northernmost part of Norway lies in this area, along with parts of Greenland, Canada, Alaska (USA), Russia, Finland and Sweden. It is a unique experience to get to know this part of the world.

Paris of the North – Tromsø

The most famous city in the Arctic is Tromsø. The city has a magical atmosphere, especially in the weeks before Christmas. The city is located on an island, which is connected to the mainland by bridges in the west and east. Buses run regularly (even in snowstorms and when the roads are snowy), punctually and regularly within the city and also to the mainland.

There is nothing more beautiful than walking through the atmospherically lit streets in the snow and feeling like you are in a winter wonderland. There are particularly good views from the harbor area in the east of the city. There is also a beautiful wooden church and a Sami shop not far from the harbor. The Sami are the indigenous population of this northern region. They have a fascinating culture that you can learn more about in the city and its surroundings.

Troll Museum

In Norway, there are many stories and legends about trolls. They are an important part of Norwegian culture and you can find statues and souvenirs of them all over the country.

In the Troll Museum in Tromsø you can find everything from small and large trolls to funny-looking ones and even scary trolls. You will find out where the trolls of Norway lurk and what you should watch out for when encountering a troll. In addition, you will learn where the legends about these creatures originate. It is a relatively small museum, but very creatively designed and definitely worth a visit!

Polar Museum

Not far from the Troll Museum is the Polar Museum. It is a little larger and shows various Arctic expeditions, as well as background stories about famous polar explorers such as Roald Amundsen. This Norwegian sailor was the first to sail through the Northwest Passage and also the first person to reach the southernmost point on earth in Antarctica. You can find out more about his expeditions and the exploration of the Arctic in the Polar Museum.

Telegrafbukta

If you want a nice view of the mountains to the south of the city, I recommend visiting Telegrafbukta beach. There are regular buses to that place, but you can also easily walk from the city center. A park with free toilets is right next to the beach. Right at the shore are some piers from which you can take great photos.

Reindeer

High on the list of Arctic travelers is seeing reindeer. In fact, they are common in the Tromsø region, especially on the island of Kvaløya. However, to see wild reindeer, you also need to be lucky and be in the right place at the right time.

If you want to give your luck a boost, you can visit a Sami reindeer farm. There are many offers for this activity online. At the reindeer farms, you can ride in a reindeer sleigh, feed the animals, learn more about Sami culture and enjoy a traditional meal. However, this option is relatively expensive – prices start at around 150 USD per person – and the activity takes about 3-4 hours.

To save money and avoid large tourist groups, I recommend going to the University of Tromsø. On the University grounds there are large fenced areas where they keep reindeer.

Tromsdalen

A part of Tromsø (Tromsdalen) is located on the mainland and is connected to the center by a bridge (Tromsøbrua). On this side of the city is the famous Arctic Cathedral and the well-known Tromsø Viewpoint.

The Arctic Cathedral has become famous all over the world due to its architectural splendor. The triangular design was inspired by the Arctic landscape. The cathedral also features colorful glass mosaic windows. The Arctic Cathedral is the landmark of the city.

To get one of the most famous views of Tromsø , you can visit the Tromsø Viewpoint. You have two options: either you take the cable car up, which is not very cheap, or you climb the steps for free. If you want to climb the steps in winter, spikes are recommended, as it can be slippery. There is also a Panorama Cafe at the top of the viewing platform.

Buses run regularly between Tromsdalen and the city center, but you should definitely take a walk across the Tromsøbrua at least once to get a beautiful view of both parts of the city. It looks particularly impressive in the late afternoon when it is dark and Tromsø is ablaze with bright lights. The walk across the bridge only takes about 15 minutes.

Håkøya

Håkøya is an island located west of Tromsø. It is connected to the large island of Kvaløya by a bridge (Håkøybrua). Håkøya is forested, with houses, cottages and farms along the coast.

The Tirpitz Monument is also located on the small island. During the Second World War, the German battleship Tirpitz was sunk there on November 12, 1944. At the small monument you can read interesting details about it.

Ersfjordbotn

Let’s now turn to sights outside of Tromsø. Ersfjordbotn is a small village between two fjords (Ersfjorden and Kaldfjorden) on the island of Kvaløya. The distance to Tromsø is about 15 kilometers. However, not many buses run outside of Tromsø. So you should plan a trip on Kvaløya well. If have enough time, it is also possible to hike between Ersfjordbotn and Eidkjosen. From Eidkjosen, buses run regularly to the city. You can read more about the best way to travel on Kvaløya below.

Ersfjordbotn is relatively small, but still has some great sights. First of all, there is a large waterfall that can be viewed from a bridge. In the cold months it is partially frozen, which is why it is called the „frozen“ Arctic waterfall.

If you follow the road on the other side of the bridge, a few minutes later you will reach a dead end, but from there you have a beautiful view over the fjord and Ersfjordbotn.

A nice cafe called Bryggejentene is located in the village that also has a gift shop where you can browse around and also warm up with a Norwegian cinnamon roll and a cup of hot chocolate.

Arctic landscapes

It is worth walking down to the shore of the fjord in Ersfjordbotn (there is also a small beach next to Cafe Bryggejentene) to get a great view of the Ersfjorden. Further up on the hill behind the village there is a viewpoint (Ersfjord Utsiktspunkt) where you can get a stunning 360° panoramic view of the Arctic landscape.

At dawn, the colors in the sky create a breathtaking contrast to the landscape covered in a white blanket of snow. It is an indescribable feeling to stand in the Arctic between snow-capped mountains and fjords with azure blue water, overlooking the small villages with colorful wooden houses and realizing that it is not just a dream.

Grøtfjord and Sommarøy

If you rent a car for at least a day (the bus schedule is not that well developed here either), you should definitely visit Grøtfjord and Sommarøy. Both places are also located on the island of Kvaløya.

Grøtfjord is a village consisting of only a few houses, but in a great location. There is a beautiful beach with a view of the wide ocean. Already on the way to Grøtfjord you drive through a beautiful snowy, mountainous landscape. Above Grøtfjord you can find a parking lot from which you have an almost better view than from below.

Sommarøy is located on the southwest side of Kvaløya and consists of several small islands that are connected by bridges. The incredible thing is that the water is turquoise blue in places, like in the Caribbean. In front of the main bridge to Sommarøy there is a small rest area (Rørvikneset), from where you can take nice photos of the bridge and the surrounding area. The islands of Sommarøy offer plenty of inspiration for photos. The turquoise water, the colorful houses and the snow-covered landscape all around are the perfect photo subjects.

Kvaløya

The island of Kvaløya has already been mentioned several times in this blog post. It is actually the fifth largest island in Norway. Kvaløya is connected to the mainland by a tunnel in the southeast and the bridge to Tromsø in the northeast. There are also ferry connections to other islands, such as the neighboring island of Senja in the south.

There are also very few roads on Kvaløya and not many buses. If you want to travel the whole island, you will have no choice but to rent a car. But it is definitely worth it! Just driving along the roads is a great experience. The southern road leads along the water and the upper road runs along a beautiful valley.

Tips for traveling

• For bus travel: The Tromsø region has its own app („Svipper“) where you can buy bus tickets. You just have to scan the QR code from the purchased ticket on the ticket scanner when you get on the bus.
• Rent a car: As buses outside of Tromsø run very irregularly, it is advisable to rent a car for such trips. The easiest way is to book online and pick up the car at the airport. Pick up the car early enough, as long lines can quickly form at the car pick-up station. In winter, I recommend a car with four-wheel drive, as this reduces the risk of getting stuck in the snow or on icy roads.
• Buy spikes: Spikes for shoes can be bought in any sports shop. There are different models in different price ranges. They are even useful in the city, as it is very easy to slip anywhere.
• Less daylight: When planning your trip, keep in mind that in the Arctic it is only light between about 10 AM and 3 PM during the winter months. Tromsø and the surrounding area are very well lit even in the dark, so there is no oppressive atmosphere. However, if you are travelling to remote areas, you should always have flashlights and reflectors with you.
• Bring binoculars: It is always good to have a pair of binoculars with you at lookout points or when looking for wild reindeer.
• Speaking of reindeer – there are wild reindeer living on Kvaløya. However, they are shy and not easy to spot. There are many rocks in the landscape of Kvaløya which look from the distance almost identical to reindeer. With a bit of luck, you can at least find their tracks in the snow. If you encounter reindeer, respect nature and keep a sufficient distance from them.

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Thank you for reading this blog post! I wish you a nice day and see you soon!

Zsofia