aussieR

Has anybody any feedback on the G***** Arctic Circle tour, and any offers of good advice relating to this particular tour. Is there any risk of large mosquitoes in Finland in June? I would especially like to know if anyone that may have done this tour can recall if there was a rest stop in the town of Linkoping in Sweden and how long the stop was. I would very much appreciate any feedback at all.

aussieR

ira

Hi A,

>Is there any risk of large mosquitoes in Finland in June? <

Up in Lapland, about 100%

aussieR

Hi ira,

Thanks for the reply, looks as though we better pack a very strong repellent for Lapland can you offer any other defence, apart from staying in the coach which would mean not seeing anything. Other than your 'good news'(NOT!)is it really worth visiting Lapland?

Regards,

aussieR

ira

Hi A,

I know several folks who have been there in the Summer.

They found it a unique experience.

I think that there are hats with mosquito nets that you can buy.

aussieR

Hi ira,

Thanks again for the info.

Interesting you have heard the Lapland description as 'unique'. I have also heard the word 'intriguing' used as well. I have been more or less talked into it but maybe it will be something different it is always good to have a different experience.

Our famous Aussie trademark is the 'bushie's' hat with the net around it, brand name Akubra.

aussieR

ira

Hi A,

>Interesting you have heard the Lapland description as 'unique'. I have also heard the word 'intriguing' used as well.<

That's what people say when they have gone somewhere that they will never return to, but don't want to admit that they should have gone somewhere else, eg, "Our tour of the Gulag Archipelago was unique and intriguing".

aussieR

Hi Ira,

Yikes!! Very funny but with a 'ring' of truth, but I really did not need to hear that, I am trying to reason why I am going there. I have always avoided 'regional' experiences because I absolutely love cities I am a 'city' person.

aussieR

elina

The amount of mosquitoes depends on the what the weather has been like. If the trip is in the beginning of June there are no mosquitoes because it is too cold for them. Heat/rain combination adds to the amount. I think local repellents always work best for local insects. And then there is the mosquito hat already mentioned.

Whether you like it or not depends on you. Usually people who turn into Lapland Crazies (yes, that is the name those get who cannot live without their yearly doze) are outdoors/nature types. They go there to hike for days on the fells, skiing, and more and more each year – fishing. There is an Israeli man who returns every year for salmon rivers. And there are types like a Dutchman who now lives there and has his own tourist business. And a Frenchwoman who came 15 years ago and never left. She got a job and during the years she became a nature guide.

aussieR

Hi Elina,

Thankyou for the information I found it quite enlightening to read. After Copenhagen and Stockholm we leave Helsinki on the 6th June to travel the Arctic Circle part of the tour and then finish in Oslo on the 17th June so that is the duration of the Arctic Circle tour. We are on a coach tour so obviously we will not be doing any of the outdoor activities you mention. It is a good suggestion re, suitable local repellent/hat suggestion. Everywhere you travel depends on yourself and how you feel about it but if it is new to you, well, who knows everyone is different and I always travel with an open mind. I have a copy of Fodors book on Scandinavia which is very helpful. Any other tips, suggestions are warmly welcomed.

aussieR

elina

Since it is a coach trip I think you cannot very much plan your doings yourself. I suppose they have a planned itinerary. I wonder if you just stop at the Arctic Circle and then head back down? That is really not Lapland yet, you would have to go further north to experience how the coach sits there an hour just waiting that the reindeer herd is nice enough and gets off the road. Without going further north I don´t really understand the point, after all Arctic Circle is just an invisible line.

It will be a VERY long coach trip, and you will see LOTS of trees, since both Finland and Sweden north of Stockholm are basically forest.

And if you don´t go north of the Arctic Circle you can forget the hat. That is really not something people wear unless they are out hiking or fishing or canoeing.

aussieR

Hi Elina,

Thankyou for your very frank reply I really do prefer to receive the information and obviously you know what you are talking about. I presume you are from the area.

For your further advice and help I will type in the list of places we will be visiting once leaving Stockholm and please do not hesitate to let me know if you believe it will still be the same as you state in your last reply.

From Helsinki we travel through Lahti to Kuopio for an overnight stay, then on to Rovaniemi for 2 nights, then Saariselka for 1 night, then Honningsvag one night, stop at North Cape, Alta 1 night, Narvik 1 night, Mo 1 night, Trondheim 1 night, Dombas 1 night, through to Oslo.

I take your point about the very long coach trip, lots of trees etc, I know you are right because I have heard that before.

After looking at the Itinerary please do not hesitate to give me your view whether it is the same or not because it is important to me as I have been lacking interest in that part of the tour before I posted for the info. My original intention was just to visit Sweden, Copenhagen and Norway so I do respect your opinion.

I look forward to your reply.

Regards,

Rita

ira

Hi Rita,

My feeling is that you are concerned aboutlocking yourself into a tour that doesn't really interest you.

In that case, don't do it.

Even in Oslo, in June the sun rises at 04:00 and sets around 23:00.

I have spoken with folks who had great difficulty with the very long days.

elina

Long days are wonderful. Sleeping is easier if you for example throw a dark T-shirt over your eyes (or a heavy dark silk scarf, silk feels good). And I guess that the sun that does not set at all like in Lapland is an experience.

It is not the destination but the amount of coaching that concerns me. I usually fly to Lapland.

No, Rita, I don´t live on the area, I live near Helsinki. But I visit quite often for hiking and the serene feeling that I always get there, and also for my favourite nephew who some years ago became Lapland Crazy during a totally ordinary skiing vacation. Now he lives there permanently.

You really whisk through Finland. And the main roads are not cut for scenery, they are cut for efficiency. But if you are in Kuopio while the old market hall is still open, go there and try a Kuopio speciality, fish baked inside a rye crust. In Rovaniemi visit Arktikum, a center for Lapland´s lifesryle and culture.That is good. I would not bother with Santa things.

If you had more time in Saariselkä I would suggest a little hike on the fells, and a pampering spa day (you could use one after all that bussing).

While you are on the northern coast you have to try Kamschatka crab. It is a man-size giant that spread from Russian seas and saved the livelihood of northern fishing villages. Too bad there is no time on Lofoten islands, they are great. Also too bad that Bergen is left out. It is much nicer that Oslo. But you will have a lot of great scenery, particularly on the northern coast.

aussieR

Hi Ira,

You are absolutely 'spot on' you read me very well. I really cannot seem to devoid myself of the feeling that travelling to that particular part of Scandanavia is not for me beautiful as it may be. Copenhagen, Stockholm & Oslo are appealing enough to me especially as I want to do the Flam Railway which I checked out online last night, I adore trains and the scenery looks stunningly beautiful. I am grateful for the advice I am receiving. I really thank you very much.

aussieR

Hi Elina,

I would agree with you that long days could be possibly great for sleeping, but I am a person that does not require lengthy sleeps although with all those one night hotel stops I would probably be exhausted (I prefer a two night stay).

I agree, it is the coaching that worries me too I have heard there is a long time on the coach.

From what you say about your favourite nephew, my son would absolutely love it because he is a snowboarder and adores Canada for the same reason. All the stuff you mention he would be right into especially as he is an Ice Hockey player and has requested me to buy a Finnish Ice Hockey jumper (if I go). It does appear to be ideal for the 'outdoorsy' kind of person.

Bergen is included in an alternative tour I am now looking at and so is Odense.

I am a non meat eater and only eat seafood and the dish you mention sounds really appealing but I have read that food generally throughout Scandinavia is rather good. I would not like to be in the path of that wonderful 'man-sized' crab, I have only actually tasted crab once that was a very long time ago.

A hike would be good and relaxing but there may not be time to do it on the Itinerary. This discussion has given me a lot of valuable information about the area, I will post my eventual decision if you are interested, whatever I do any information is always welcome.

Very best regards,

Rita

Maudie

aussieR,
Have you given the Norwegian Coastal Voyage (Hurtigruten) any thought? We are also Aussies and are thinking of including the voyage (or parts of) in a trip we are planning to Scandanavia. You can check it out at hurtigruten.com. Bentours also do lots of tours in this region, it might be worth a look - bentours.com.au and you can request an booklet online.
Best of luck.

aussieR

Hi Maudie,

Thank you for the information and your good wishes, most appreciated.

I have not heard of the tour you mention but I know of Bentours so will have a look at their website.

Good luck to you also, I think the Coastal voyage will be great and you should definitely include it.

elina

It is something like 3000 kilometres. And the roads are not 4-lane motorways (except Helsinki-Lahti), although in good condition. And in Norway the road is very windy in some places.

It is like I would step in a bus and then end up in southern Spain.

aussieR

Elina,

Could you possibly elaborate as to what you are referring to in your last post re, the four lane highways etc, I am not sure if you are explaining something to me about the long coach drive. I am interested in what you mean.

aussieR

Elina,

I have re-read your post and I think I do understand what you are saying about length of journey, roads etc.

Thanks again.