Graham's blog posts

There is nothing more Finnish than coming in from the snowy wilderness and heading to the sauna. The Finns invented this relaxing experience and it is simply a must-do during any visit to this wonderful country. 

Let’s face it, trying to find that perfect way to ring in the New Year can be more stress than it’s worth. Often, the occasion is a little lacklustre and it can be difficult to find something to memorably mark the start of the New Year.

"A Night at the Theatre", art suite created by Jonathan Green and Marnie Green 

Summer might be drawing to a close but that doesn't mean it is time to pack up your passport just yet! Here at Artisan Travel we think there is plenty to get excited about when it comes to the winter months. Not only are there thrilling Arctic adventures to look forward to but equally as exciting is the fact that Sweden’s world-famous ICEHOTEL® has released its plans for this year as they celebrate their 30^th birthday!

Whether you want to make a grand gesture to treat your special someone, or you’re simply looking for an excuse to go travelling with your partner, Valentine’s Day is the perfect time to experience some of Europe’s most romantic spots!

However, with less than a month to go until the big day we thought we would help you plan your dream romantic break by recommending a few of our favourite holidays to help inspire you.

No matter where you choose to go, we are sure that you and your partner will enjoy a Valentine’s Day holiday to remember!

As we enter the winter months, it can be tempting to simply wrap ourselves in a blanket and curl up in front of the television. But here at Artisan Travel, we believe that winter is a great season to get out and explore some incredible destinations and experience some wonderful bucket list activities.

Snowmobiles are a valuable form of transport in many of our winter holiday destinations. Not only are they used regularly by local people to help connect communities, but they’re also an extremely enjoyable way to explore the stunning snowy surroundings of the Arctic Circle.

These impressive machines give you the chance to enjoy some amazing vantage points that would be impossible to reach by foot. We offer many different snowmobiling adventures to get you out enjoying the best of the landscape, from short daytime safaris to more specialised overnight escapes that let you travel hundreds of kilometres a day as you explore the Arctic landscape.

As the summer sun begins to fade and the dark nights start to return, some travellers might be tempted to pack their passport away for another year. However, we believe there are plenty of reasons to be excited about the arrival of the winter months.

Now don’t get us wrong we love sunny escapes to places such as Croatia, Madeira and the Azores and there are still plenty of opportunities to enjoy some of the last of the summer sun if you want. However, what these destinations can’t offer, as excellent as they may be, is the chance to enjoy some truly great bucket list, Arctic experiences.

After hearing the many beautiful tales of Lapland and seeing some incredible photos of the Aurora Borealis and the winter landscapes of Finland, I thought, “there is no way it can actually look like that surely?”. But as we descended through the clouds into Rovaniemi, with the sun rising past a blanket of snow, I could not believe my eyes – it was just like the photos! The incredible snow that hung from every branch of every tree was such a breath-taking sight.

“What is there to do in my free time?” is a question that many of our clients ask us, and one that is difficult to answer unless you have experienced a destination yourself, so I was eager to find out just exactly Luosto had to offer.

Despite having travelled to Finland several times by myself, I had never given my parents the chance to experience its wonders for themselves. However, in January they got to experience a holiday to Torassieppi in Finnish Lapland for the first time. Read on to find out what they made of their experience to the Arctic North!

Day Three:

To say we were apprehensive about going on a 25km Snowmobile safari is a drastic understatement.  The closer to the activity we got the quieter Jorie and I became. However, when it was time for the activity we went along, watched the briefing video and before long we were being swept along on a snowmobile!

Despite being a fairly seasoned traveller to Finland myself, my parents had never experienced the delights of the Arctic North. However, in January they got to experience a holiday to Torassieppi in Finnish Lapland for themselves. Read on to find out how they got on! 

Day One:

Flying into Finland, we could see the vast spread of snow, frozen lakes and trees reaching out across the horizon and only as the plane touched down did we see just how deep the snow was on each side of the runway. An early flight meant that we landed in Kittilä around lunchtime, but it was on the drive to Torassieppi that we began to grasp the immensity of the wilderness in this fabulous country.

Despite having been lucky enough to experience the delights of Finland numerous times for myself, my parents had never had the opportunity to visit this amazing country for themselves. With my dad having a very special birthday coming up, I decided that I would give him and my mum the chance to experience this beautiful Arctic gem for themselves. Here's what happened from their point of view!

We know husky sledding is high on a lot of people’s bucket list, but when you’re there in the moment, it can be quite a scary experience for the first time. Here are our top tips for husky sledding beginners:

Here are our top tips for husky sledding beginners: