Breakfast was a gods send, a full English Scandinavian style. Having settled the hunger, we retreated to the Sami lounge where Ian welcomed us to his hotel and gave us a bit of history. The lounge we were sat is was named after the native Sami’s, who are Europe’s northernmost and the Nordic countries’ only officially indigenous people.

A Sami family in Norway around 1900

Having been welcomed to the Davvi Arctic Lodge, our holiday guide, Greta, lead us down to fetch out thermal snow outfits. Neither of us were expecting the sheer extent of the sub zero temperatures. It was minus 26 out and my nostril hairs instantly turned to ice. After just 5 minutes I had lost feeling in my hands, feet and ears. That will teach me for going outside in nothing more than jeans and a rugby shirt!

Abbey enjoying her thermal suit!

We spent the rest of the afternoon dressed like Michelin men, layered up to the neck exploring the Davvi Artic Lodge and it’s surroundings. You could hear a pin drop it was quite surreal how quite it was, there was not a human, bird or vehicle in sight. We trekked up to the top of the hill and through the woods to discover a gleaming full moon surrounded by a bed of purple and pinks. Although by 5pm the night is drawing in we were too early to see the northern lights so we took a look around and made our way back to the lodge for dinner.

A night spent gazing at the stars

The food here was fantastic, warm hearty food full of nutrients and protein. Flavorsome soups to start, roasted or stewed meats for main and rich sweet deserts. The beer was pretty good too, I’m not a massive larger drinker in the UK as I find it usually tastes of chemicals, but when on the continent I enjoy a good bottle or two of the local brew, this one of which was called Koff, which the most popular of beers in Finland.

Tonight was the night in the Igloo, sleeping among the stars and spirits of the Arctic Circle under a thick wall of ice. Abbey was not looking for to it, she gets cold under her 3 large quilts and full PJs when it’s not even in the minuses at home so not sure how she will cope in the igloo.

It’s been a steady -24 degrees for most of the day, with temperatures dropping to around minus 30 in the evening. We were reassured it would be a warmer -5 in side the igloo, so with our full Artcic thermal gear on, including 3 pairs of socks, 2 pairs of long John’s and 10 other layers covering everything else we made our way into the igloo. A candle lit snow trail awaited us guiding us to our front door. We were passed our hot chocolates and climbed into our arctic sleeping bags resting on the ice mattress. I felt rather snug inside, my body heat slowly warmed the sleeping bag and felt safe in the knowledge I was warm. Abbey on the other hand, didn’t feel the same reassurance. She was shivering from the word go, I could just about see two eyes poking through the thermal layers.

Our bed for the night!

So on that note, its time to snuggle up & get warm or face another sleepness night.

Hyvää yötä!