With stunning landscapes offering the perfect setting for a host of outdoor activities and adventures, a summer holiday in Scandinavia is a refreshing alternative to the traditional Mediterranean beach break.
Specialist tour operator Best Served Scandinavia has a selection of holidays for those looking to make the most of this fabulous region in the summer months. Adventures include lake swimming in the beauty of Finnish Lakeland, immersive nature hikes in Sweden’s cultural heartland Dalarna, Iceland’s natural glaciers and volcanoes, and off-the-beaten-track adventures beneath the glow of the Midnight Sun in Svalbard.
Explore Dalarna: the essence of Sweden
Dalarna is pure Sweden – rich in nature and culture. Best Served Scandinavia is opening up the destination to UK customers with a new itinerary offering the chance to experience a traditional Swedish lifestyle including cabin and farm stays. Embark on immersive nature hikes and a guided mine tour to Lake Siljan and its surrounding villages. A whole range of adventurous activities are on offer on this eight-day itinerary including stand-up paddleboarding and a kick bike tour with huskies. Dog lovers are really in for a treat – a visit to a local husky farm is an option and perhaps even try your hand at walking a husky whilst soaking up the forest, mountains and flower-filled meadows.
Kicking off with a night in Stockholm, a train journey through the picturesque countryside then takes guests to Falun, deep in Dalarna, and home to the historic Falun mine which once produced over two-thirds of Europe’s copper. Visit the small town of Rattvik, the home of Sweden’s first tourist hotel in 1894, a beautiful spot on a calm bay. Weave through pretty villages with typical red painted cottages before a cabin stay on a traditional farm where there’s an included cinnamon bun workshop. The final day and night is spent in Fryksas, with its lush green setting and lake, perfect for a cooling dip.
How to book: Best Served Scandinavia offers this eight-day tailor-made holiday from £3,410 per person including flights, one night in Stockholm on a bed and breakfast basis, six nights in Dalarna, five days car hire, train to Falun from Stockholm, and tours and excursions; best-served.co.uk
Wellness and Wilderness Escape at Kuru Resort
This new itinerary combines Finland’s capital Helsinki with a stay at the new Kuru Resort in Saimaa – an adult-only resort with 16 villas surrounded by pine forests in the middle of the country’s lake region.
After two nights at the Lilla Roberts boutique hotel, a perfect base for exploring Helsinki, a relaxing scenic train journey takes guests north to the heart of Finland’s lake region. At Kuru Resort enjoy two full days and three nights dedicated to relaxation.
Each contemporary villa overlooks the lake with floor-to-ceiling windows and a patio to make the most of the natural setting. And in true Finnish style there’s even a private spa with its own sauna. There are a variety of stress-relieving and relaxing activities available, including yoga, breathwork classes, meditation and sound-bowl sessions. A relaxation programme and daily guided lessons are all included.
The itinerary includes a boat trip through Linnansaari National Park and the Saimaa Archipelago, with time to hike and a Ringed Seal Safari through the lake searching for this endangered species which only lives in Lake Saimaa. Throughout kayaks, canoes, e-fat bikes and SUP boards are available to rent. A hearty seasonal breakfast is delivered to the villa every morning and on the final night, savour the six-course chef’s menu dinner at Solitary Restaurant with a focus on naturally sourced seasonal ingredients.
How to book: Best Served Scandinavia offers this six-day Wellness & Wilderness Escape from £1,170 per person including flights, two nights at Lilla Roberts on a bed and breakfast basis, train transfers, three nights at Kuru Resort in a nature villa on a bed and breakfast basis, a daily wellness class, a boat trip, Ringed Seal Safari, lakeside sauna and a six-course chef’s menu dinner; best-served.co.uk
Midnight sun in Finnish Lakeland
With nearly 24 hours of daylight, visitors to Finland in the summer can make the most of every minute of the day. Return feeling energised, with the chance to take evening nature walks in the national park at midnight, or perhaps an early morning yoga session. Home of sauna “culture”, some of the most unique saunas can be found in Finnish Lakeland, with endless lakes for cooling off afterwards.
Best of Finnish Lakeland self-drive
Take in the beauty of a Scandinavian summer in the Finnish Lake District and the vibrant city of Helsinki on this self-drive tour. It begins with a stay in the design-conscious Finnish capital with its eclectic neighbourhoods and vibrant arts scene. Venture to the heart of Finnish Lakeland and make the most of the long summer days with plenty of time for cycling, swimming, fishing and canoeing, before retiring to historic lakeside manor houses and a boutique hideaway on the pretty shores of Lake Saimaa.
This itinerary includes an upgrade option to the Elsanranta Villas at the charming Sahanlahti Resort, perched on the shores of Lake Saimaa. Featuring ten cosy rooms, the boutique hotel boasts beautiful views of the lake. These new luxurious villas offer contemporary interiors with an unobstructed view over Lake Saimaa, featuring your own plunge pool, sauna and terrace.
How to book: Best Served Scandinavia offers this Best of Finnish Lakeland self-drive nine-day itinerary from £1,730 per person including flights, two nights in Helsinki, six nights in manor houses, both on a bed and breakfast basis, seven-day car hire, two lunches, excursions and a sightseeing cruise; best-served.co.uk
Under the Midnight Sun at Arctic Wilderness Lodge
Embark on an action packed summer adventure at Arctic Wilderness Lodge on the banks of the Alta River in northern Norway. Combining modern Scandinavia design and natural wood interiors with stunning river views from the floor-to-ceiling windows and private decks of every room, it’s the perfect base for hiking, boating and exploring the surrounding remote wilderness. Make the most of the endless summer days with a king crab fishing experience, guided walks and hikes, river boat excursions, outdoor saunas and Jacuzzis.
How to book: Best Served Scandinavia offers this five-day holiday from £2,875 per person including flights, five nights at the Arctic Wilderness Lodge on a bed and breakfast basis, excursions and lunches as per itinerary and fine fine dining experiences; best-served.co.uk
Svalbard Summer Adventure
At the more active end of the spectrum is a four-day Svalbard Summer Adventure. There’s opportunities for glacier hikes or a fjord kayak expedition between mighty glaciers in a remote spot, with the chance to sight polar bears and walruses. For something completely different, you can also try summertime dogsledding on wheels or an electric fat bike trip.
How to book: prices with Best Served Scandinavia start from £1,915 per person including flights and three nights on a bed and breakfast basis; best-served.co.uk
Best of South Iceland
Nature lovers will marvel at this summertime self-drive itinerary which kicks off with two nights in Iceland’s capital Reykjavik before heading out to discover the magnificent southern region – a natural wonderland of geysers, glaciers, beaches and stunning waterfalls.
Highlights include the geysers of the Golden Circle – best explored by SuperJeep and the iceberg-studded lagoons of the volcanic south coast. From Hella, there’s a full range of summer excursions to choose from including a hike to a sunken volcano or snorkel between two tectonic plates in Silfra.
Spend a night at the countryside Hotel Katla which offers one of the most spectacular locations in Iceland, surrounded by snowcapped mountain ranges, great glaciers, sea cliffs and the famous black sand beaches of the southern coast. The final day is spent at the Blue Lagoon relaxing in the mineral-rich waters of Iceland’s best-known spa. In summer, the lagoon is open until midnight offering plenty of time to enjoy its waters.
How to book: Best Served Scandinavia offers this seven-day self-drive itinerary start from £1,470 per person including flights, transfer, six nights on a bed and breakfast basis, four days car hire and entry to the Blue Lagoon; best-served.co.uk
Top image: lakes and landscape near Kuru Resort in Finland (Credit: Best Served Scandinavia)