Top 5 Places to Visit in Egypt

Egypt has been drawing travellers for thousands of years, and it’s easy to see why. From colossal pyramids rising out of the desert to temples where sunlight still performs tricks carved into stone millennia ago, this is a country where ancient history feels startlingly alive. If you’re planning a trip to Egypt, here are the five places that deserve a spot on your itinerary.

1. The Pyramids of Giza and the Great Sphinx

No list of Egypt’s top attractions could start anywhere else. The Pyramids of Giza, just outside Cairo, are the last surviving Wonder of the Ancient World, and standing beneath the Great Pyramid of Khufu is an experience that photographs simply cannot prepare you for. Alongside the pyramids sits the Great Sphinx, its weathered limestone face gazing east across the Giza plateau. Visit at sunrise or sunset for softer light, smaller crowds, and some of the most spectacular views in Egypt.

2. Luxor: The Valley of the Kings and Karnak Temple

Often described as the world’s greatest open-air museum, Luxor sits on the site of ancient Thebes and is packed with monuments. On the west bank, the Valley of the Kings holds the tombs of pharaohs including Tutankhamun, their walls still vivid with colour and hieroglyphs. On the east bank, Karnak Temple’s forest of towering columns is one of the largest religious complexes ever built. A hot air balloon ride over Luxor at dawn, with the Nile and temple ruins spread out below, is an unmissable way to take it all in.

3. Abu Simbel and its Sun Festival

Carved directly into a mountainside by Ramesses II, the twin temples of Abu Simbel are among Egypt’s most awe-inspiring sights, all the more remarkable for having been relocated stone by stone in the 1960s to save them from the rising waters of Lake Nasser. Twice a year, on 22 February and 22 October, sunlight aligns perfectly with the temple’s inner sanctuary to illuminate the statues within, in a phenomenon known as the Abu Simbel Sun Festival. It’s an extraordinary display of ancient engineering and astronomical precision, and one well worth timing a trip around.

4. Aswan and the Nile

Aswan is Egypt at its most relaxed. Sail past Nubian villages and granite islands on a traditional felucca, browse the colourful Nubian markets, or visit the elegant Philae Temple, set on its own island in the Nile. Aswan is also the perfect base for day trips to Abu Simbel and a peaceful contrast to the busier sites further north. A Nile cruise between Aswan and Luxor is one of the most scenic ways to see Egypt, drifting past riverside villages, date palms, and temples that have barely changed in appearance for thousands of years.

5. Cairo and the Egyptian Museum

Egypt’s sprawling capital deserves more than a fleeting stopover. The Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square houses an extraordinary collection of antiquities, including much of Tutankhamun’s treasure, while the winding lanes of Islamic Cairo and the historic Khan el-Khalili bazaar offer a completely different side of the country, full of colour, spice, and noise. Cairo is chaotic, atmospheric, and unmistakably Egyptian.

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See it all for yourself

Reading about these five places is one thing, seeing them in person, at the right moment, is another entirely. That’s why we’ve put together a one-off, seven-night Egyptian Pyramids & Sunset Experience, departing 19th October 2027 and timed precisely to include the extraordinary Abu Simbel Sun Festival. It’s a rare chance to combine Egypt’s greatest sights with one of its most spectacular ancient phenomena, on a small-group trip designed for travellers who want to go beyond the ordinary.

Spaces are limited and this departure won’t run again. Get in touch to secure your place → info@untravelledpaths.com.

Written by James Chisnall

The post Top 5 Places to Visit in Egypt appeared first on Untravelled Paths.

from Untravelled Paths https://blog.untravelledpaths.com/blog/top-5-places-to-visit-in-egypt/

Sleep in an Ice Hotel: The Ultimate Once-in-a-Lifetime Winter Experience

There are a handful of experiences in life that genuinely earn the label “once in a lifetime,” and sleeping in an Ice Hotel is one of them. Picture walls carved entirely from ice and snow, sculpted into intricate designs that catch the light, a bed of solid ice softened with reindeer skins and a proper sleeping bag, and a silence so complete you can hear your own breath. Add the very real chance of the Northern Lights dancing overhead, and you have a night unlike any other on earth.

It’s cold, yes, but it’s also warm in all the ways that matter, glowing ice-carved interiors, thick furs, and the kind of story you’ll be telling for years. Several of our winter experiences offer exactly this, whether as the centrepiece of the trip or a special add-on. Here’s where you can find it.

The Adventure Lapland Experience

Our Adventure Lapland Experience is built for travellers who want Finnish Lapland at its most active and immersive, husky sledding, snowmobiling, and days spent deep in the Arctic wilderness. As part of the trip, you’ll spend one night in an Ice Igloo, swapping your usual room for a chamber of carved ice and thermal sleeping bags.

Why go: it’s the complete Arctic adventure, huskies, snowmobiles, frozen landscapes, and a genuine chance of the Northern Lights.
The Ice Igloo element: one full night in an Ice Igloo is built directly into the itinerary, no add-on required.

Explore the Adventure Lapland Experience →

The Lapland Experience

The Magical Lapland Experience is our classic introduction to Finnish Lapland, reindeer sleigh rides, a visit to Santa’s official hometown of Rovaniemi, and the magic of the Arctic Circle in winter. While standard accommodation is included as part of the trip, you can upgrade your first night to Ice Hotel accommodation, or add an extra night in Rovaniemi to experience an Ice Hotel stay alongside the rest of the itinerary.

Why go: it’s the perfect balance of festive Lapland charm and genuine Arctic wonder, ideal for first-time visitors.
The Ice Igloo element: optional, either switch your first night to Ice Hotel accommodation or add an extra night in Rovaniemi.

Explore the Lapland Experience →

The Winter Transylvania Experience

Away from Scandinavia, our Winter Transylvania Experience brings the Ice Igloo experience to the fairy tale forests and mountains of Romania. Explore snow-covered medieval towns, castles steeped in legend, and dramatic Carpathian scenery, with the choice, each night, between warm, characterful accommodation and a night in an Ice Igloo.

Why go: it’s winter Europe at its most atmospheric, medieval towns, mountain scenery, and centuries of folklore, all without the Arctic price tag.
The Ice Igloo element: entirely optional, choose an Ice Igloo instead of standard warm accommodation for as many nights as you like.

Explore the Winter Transylvania Experience →

The Swedish Ice Hotel Experience

For the purists, our special Swedish Ice Hotel Experience includes a night in the original and world-famous ICEHOTEL in Jukkasjärvi, the hotel that started it all and is rebuilt from scratch, by hand, every winter. This is a limited, selected-dates experience, with departures starting from 17th December.

Why go: it’s the original, the benchmark every other Ice Hotel is measured against, and a genuinely world-famous experience.
The Ice Igloo element: a full night in the world-famous ICEHOTEL itself, with only selected dates available.

Explore the Swedish Ice Hotel Experience →

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Ready to sleep somewhere truly unforgettable?

Whether you want the full Arctic adventure, a fairy tale escape through Transylvania, or a night in the original ICEHOTEL itself, we’ve got a winter experience with your name on it. Spaces on our Ice Hotel departures are limited, so get in touch and let’s find the right one for you. Also, let’s not forget, our September offer, 15% off standard prices and 10% off discounted prices on all trips between November 2026 and the end of March 2027, won’t last forever. Head to our website to check availability, or get in touch with our team today to start planning your next unforgettable adventure.

Get in touch to start planning → info@untravelledpaths.com.

Written by James Chisnall

The post Sleep in an Ice Hotel: The Ultimate Once-in-a-Lifetime Winter Experience appeared first on Untravelled Paths.

from Untravelled Paths https://blog.untravelledpaths.com/blog/sleep-in-an-ice-hotel-winter-experience/

Untravelled Paths’ Top Adventures This Winter

There is something rather wonderful about winter travel. The crowds thin out, the light turns golden and soft, and destinations that feel ordinary in summer suddenly become extraordinary, think ice hotels, husky trails, glass igloos under the aurora, and Christmas markets glowing in the snow. At Untravelled Paths, winter is when some of our very best small-group experiences come into their own, and we have pulled together our top picks to help you find your perfect cold-weather escape.

Better still, if you book in September you can make it happen for less. For a limited time, we’re offering 15% off all standard prices and 10% off already discounted prices, on any trip dates between November 2026 and the end of March 2027. Whether you have been dreaming of the Northern Lights, a Sahara sunset, or mulled wine in a medieval square, now is the moment to turn it into a booking. Read on for our favourite winter adventures, then get in touch before the offer disappears.

Winter Wonderlands

If you want snow-dusted towns, fairy-tale scenery and a proper sense of winter magic, start here.

The Winter Transylvania Experience is a firm favourite, and it is easy to see why. Over seven nights you will wander Brasov’s snowy cobbled streets, visit the eerie Bran Castle (better known as Dracula’s Castle), and try your hand at husky sledding through the Szekely land. The trip’s undisputed highlight is a night at the Hotel of Ice on Balea Lake, complete with an ice bar, dinner “on ice” and a cosy sleeping bag to keep you warm until morning. If you are short on time, the Transylvania Husky Experience packs the essentials, Bucharest, Brasov, husky sledding and Bran Castle, into a punchier four-night version.

For something a little different, The Mini Winter Slovenia Experience combines Ljubljana’s festive charm with the fairy-tale beauty of Lake Bled, a scenic train ride through the snow-covered Julian Alps, and a stay in a luxury spa hotel in the tranquil Logar Valley. It is the perfect mix of adventure and relaxation.

Travelling as a family? The Family Lapland Experience ticks every box, from a night in Santa Claus Village to husky and reindeer encounters, a snowmobile chase for the Northern Lights, a magical night in a snow igloo, and a day on the slopes at Pyhä. Arctic adventure that works for grown-ups and little ones alike.

Winter Adventure

For those who like their winter holidays with a dash more adrenaline.

The Mini Winter Iceland Experience crams glaciers, ice caves, the milky-blue Blue Lagoon, the glittering Diamond Beach and thundering waterfalls into just four nights, with the Northern Lights making a bonus appearance if the skies play ball. It is Iceland’s winter magic distilled into a short, unforgettable break.

The Adventure Lapland Experience is Lapland at its most active: husky sledding through the forest, a snowmobile hunt for the aurora, a traditional sauna and ice plunge, and a night spent in a snow igloo under the stars. Three nights of proper Arctic adventure.

And for something that sounds almost too surreal to be true, The Morocco Skiing Experience lets you barter in Marrakech’s souks one day and carve down Africa’s highest piste the next, with a donkey on hand to carry your skis. The scenery through the Atlas Mountains alone is worth the trip.

Into Wild

Two experiences for wildlife lovers who fancy tracking some of Europe’s most elusive creatures.

The Iberian Lynx Experience pairs the colour and culture of Seville and Cordoba, tapas, flamenco and stunning architecture included, with days spent searching for the rare Iberian lynx in the Sierra de Andujar National Park during its winter mating season, when sightings are at their best.

Meanwhile, The Grey Wolf Experience takes you deep into the Carpathian forests from a cosy wooden cabin, tracking the aloof and mysterious grey wolf alongside the chance to spot lynx and brown bears too. Patience, a warm coat and a sense of adventure are all you will need.

Once In a Lifetime

Some trips simply deserve the title.

The Lapland Experience is our ultimate Arctic escape, with nights spent in glass-roofed accommodation so you can watch for the Northern Lights from the comfort of your bed. Add husky sledding, a hot tub, an ice restaurant, a Lappish sauna and ice plunge, and optional skiing at Finland’s premier resort, Levi, and you have a genuinely once-in-a-lifetime winter break.

For heat rather than cold, The Sahara Desert Experience takes you from the mayhem of Marrakech, via the extraordinary kasbah of Ait Benhaddou, to a camel ride across the dunes as the sun sets over the Sahara. Dinner under a blanket of stars follows, in one of travel’s most magical settings. Before finishing with some relax and relaxation in the foothills of the Atlas Mountains. For those pushed for time then you might want to consider our 4-night Mini Sahara Experience.

Epic Journeys

For those with a little more time, these longer adventures are built for exploring in depth.

The Costa Rica Experience takes in nine nights of extraordinary biodiversity, from the jungle canals of Tortuguero and the rumbling Arenal Volcano to the surf and sunsets of the Pacific coast and the misty magic of Monteverde’s cloud forest.

The Guatemala Experience is seven nights of colour and history, wandering the UNESCO streets of Antigua, boating across Lake Atitlán’s volcano-ringed villages, browsing the legendary Chichicastenango market and standing beneath the ancient temples of Tikal.

And The Western Cape Safari Experience brings together the very best of South Africa: Cape Town and Table Mountain, wine tasting in Franschhoek, penguins at Boulders Beach, an elephant sanctuary in Plettenberg Bay and, as the grand finale, a private reserve safari in search of the Big Five.

Ultimate Christmas Markets

If it is festive cheer you are after, look no further than The Transylvania Christmas Markets Experience. Over three nights you will take in the twinkling lights of Bucharest, Brasov’s beautifully decorated Christmas tree, and Sibiu’s medieval market square, complete with mulled wine and an ice rink, all rounded off with a visit to Bran Castle. It is Transylvania at its most magical and festive.

Ready to Book Your Winter Escape?

However you like to spend your winter, whether that is chasing the aurora, tracking wildlife through the snow, or sipping mulled wine in a Christmas market, there is an Untravelled Paths experience with your name on it. Remember, our September offer, 15% off standard prices and 10% off discounted prices on all trips between November 2026 and the end of March 2027, won’t last forever, in fact it expires on the 30th September 2026. So head to our website to check availability, or get in touch with our team today to start planning your next unforgettable adventure.

Written by James Chisnall

The post Untravelled Paths’ Top Adventures This Winter appeared first on Untravelled Paths.

from Untravelled Paths https://blog.untravelledpaths.com/blog/untravelled-paths-top-adventures-this-winter/

Halloween Party at Dracula’s Castle: Why 2026 Is the Year to Go

There’s fancy dress, and then there’s dancing beneath eight-hundred-year-old battlements while a Transylvanian storm rattles the shutters. If you’ve ever fancied swapping the usual pub crawl for something a little more gothic, the Halloween Party at Bran Castle, better known the world over as Dracula’s Castle, should be firmly on your radar this year.

This Year, the Timing Couldn’t Be Better

Most years, the famous Bran Castle Halloween party lands on the closest convenient weekend to 31 October. Not this time. In 2026, the party falls on Halloween night itself — the 31st, plain and simple. There’s something rather fitting about raising a glass of mulled wine in Vlad the Impaler’s old stomping ground on the one night of the year that actually belongs to the spooky and the supernatural. If you’ve been on the fence about booking, consider this your sign: the stars (and the calendar) have properly aligned.

Why Bran Castle, Of All Places?

Perched on a rocky outcrop between Transylvania and Wallachia, Bran Castle has been fuelling nightmares and imaginations since Bram Stoker borrowed its silhouette for his novel Dracula. Whether or not Vlad III ever actually slept within its walls is still argued over by historians, but that hardly matters once you’re standing in the candlelit courtyard as darkness falls. Turrets, secret staircases, and a fair few creaking floorboards do the rest of the work for you.

For one night only, the castle throws open its doors for an evening of:

• Live music and DJs echoing through the courtyard and inner chambers
• A costume competition — and trust us, Transylvania takes fancy dress seriously
• Themed cocktails and local Romanian wine, served up by candlelight
• Storytelling and legends of Vlad the Impaler, told by guides who clearly relish the material
• After-dark access to rooms most daytime visitors never get to see

It’s atmospheric without tipping into naff, and it’s one of those genuinely bucket-list nights that photographs don’t quite do justice.

Make a Trip of It

Bran Castle sits close to the medieval city of Brașov, one of Transylvania’s most charming bases, with cobbled old towns, excellent food, and easy access to the wider Carpathian countryside. Many of our travellers use the Halloween party as the centrepiece of a longer Romania itinerary, pairing it with hiking in the Piatra Craiului mountains, a wander around Sighișoara’s old town, or a few days exploring Bucharest before or after.

As a UK-based small-group specialist with genuine on-the-ground expertise in Romania, we can build the whole 4-night Halloween Dracula Experience the party – transport, accommodation, and all the local knowledge that turns a good holiday into a properly memorable one.

Practical Bits to Know Before You Book

• The party is genuinely popular, and with Halloween falling on the night itself this year, we’d expect tickets and accommodation in Brașov to go quickly
• Fancy dress is very much encouraged, though not compulsory
• Layers are your friend – Transylvanian nights in late October have a proper autumn bite to them
• It’s a fair way from the UK, so factor in travel time either side

Ready to Spend Halloween With Dracula?

Get in touch with the Untravelled Paths team and we’ll help you plan a trip to Bran Castle you won’t stop talking about. Drop us a line at info@untravelledpaths.com or get in touch through our website to check availability for this year’s party.

Written by James Chisnall

The post Halloween Party at Dracula’s Castle: Why 2026 Is the Year to Go appeared first on Untravelled Paths.

from Untravelled Paths https://blog.untravelledpaths.com/blog/halloween-party-at-draculas-castle-why-2026-is-the-year-to-go/

Introducing Wonders of the World Experiences: Once-in-a-Lifetime Adventures with Untravelled Paths

For eighteen years, Untravelled Paths has been taking small groups off the beaten track, to the places most tour operators overlook. Now, we’re doing something a little different — and we couldn’t be more excited to share it with you.

Say hello to Wonders of the World Experiences, the newest addition to our Explorer range. These are one-off trips to some of the most iconic destinations on the planet, running through late 2027. Unlike the rest of our line-up, which tends to steer well clear of the crowds, these journeys take you straight to the world’s most celebrated sights — but always with the Untravelled Paths touch.

That means expert planning from a team who’ve travelled to and fallen in love with these destinations ourselves, small-group departures that never feel like a coach tour, and the local, immersive experiences we’re known for woven in throughout. You’ll see the wonders everyone talks about, in the best way possible, and then go beneath the surface to discover the culture, food and communities that surround them. It’s the bucket-list moment and the real story behind it, in one trip.

Whether you’ve dreamed of watching the sun rise over Machu Picchu, standing before the Pyramids of Giza, or seeing the Taj Mahal glow at dusk, this is your chance to experience it properly — with people who know the destination inside out, and a small group of fellow travellers who share your sense of adventure.

Here’s a first look at what’s coming.

The Machu Picchu Peru Experience

When: August | Country: Peru | Duration: 14 nights | Airport: Lima

Peru’s Explorer trip is built around one of the world’s most extraordinary sights, reached either via a one-day hike or the scenic train — whichever suits your style of travel best. From there, the trip opens out into a wider journey through the country’s landscapes, flavours and history. Expect a guided tour of the Sacred Valley, an introduction to the Amazon Jungle, and hands-on food experiences including a local cooking class and a Lima food tour. All internal flights are included, so the logistics are taken care of and you can simply enjoy the journey. For those wanting to add even more, optional extras such as Huacachina, a pisco tasting experience and Rainbow Mountain let you tailor the adventure further.

Interested in Peru? Sign up below to be the first to hear more.

The Egyptian Pyramids & Sunrise Experience

When: October | Country: Egypt | Duration: 7 nights | Airport: Cairo

Egypt’s Explorer trip brings together the country’s most legendary sights over seven unforgettable nights. You’ll spend a full day touring the Pyramids of Giza, explore the Valley of the Kings and Luxor, and take in the treasures of the newly opened Grand Egyptian Museum, before cruising the Nile in style. The real showstopper, though, is our Abu Simbel Sunrise Excursion — a genuinely rare moment when the sun aligns perfectly with the temple’s inner sanctuary, an event that only happens twice a year. It’s the reason this particular October departure is so special, and not something you’ll easily arrange elsewhere. Add in a hands-on Egyptian cooking class, and this is a trip that blends the truly iconic with the truly local. For those wanting to add even more, a hot air balloon experience is available as an optional extra for a bird’s-eye view over the Nile Valley.

Keen to explore Egypt with us? Register your interest today.

The Taj Mahal India Experience

When: November | Country: India | Duration: 9–14 nights | Airport: Delhi

India’s Explorer trip pairs one of the world’s most beautiful buildings, seen at both sunrise and sunset, with the colour, energy and warmth India is famous for. Along the way, expect a local food market tour, a traditional dance class, and a night of desert camp glamping complete with a camel ride. Wildlife lovers will be in their element with a tiger safari, while a local cooking class and time exploring the vibrant city of Jaipur round out the cultural side of the trip. It’s a journey that moves between the iconic and the intimate in equal measure, over a flexible 9–14 nights.

Ready to discover India? Let us know you’d like more details.

Your Next Unforgettable Adventure Starts Here

These three trips are just the beginning of our Wonders of the World Experiences, and each one is designed to give you the best of both worlds: the sights you’ve always dreamed of seeing, and the authentic, local experiences only Untravelled Paths can offer. As these are one-off departures, spaces will be limited, so we’d encourage you to register your interest early to avoid missing out.

Got your eye on a different Wonder of the World that isn’t listed here? We’d love to hear from you. Get in touch and let us know which wonder you’d most like us to add to the range — your suggestion could shape where we go next.

However you’d like to explore the world, we’re here to help you do it properly. Get in touch with the Untravelled Paths team today, and let’s start planning your next once-in-a-lifetime adventure.

Written by James Chisnall

The post Introducing Wonders of the World Experiences: Once-in-a-Lifetime Adventures with Untravelled Paths appeared first on Untravelled Paths.

from Untravelled Paths https://blog.untravelledpaths.com/blog/wonders-of-the-world-experiences/

Ending a Christmas in July: Still Thinking About My Trip to Lapland

Today is, by the calendar’s own logic, the single worst day of the year to be thinking about Christmas. The 31st of July sits almost exactly six months from the 25th of December, the furthest point from it you can possibly be. And yet here I am, sitting in a British heatwave, scrolling back through photos of the trip that made me feel more Christmas than any actual December ever has.

In December 2023, my best friend Doug and I booked a trip to Finland with one hope pinned to the whole thing: seeing the Northern Lights. We’re both big kids at heart, so we went all in and what we got back was, without exaggeration, the most unexpected, incredible trip of my life.

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Helsinki Felt Like Walking Into a Film

We started in Helsinki, and the timing couldn’t have been better. The Christmas markets were in full swing in the main square, mulled wine, fairy lights, the whole city wrapped up against the cold and clearly enjoying it. It felt, genuinely, like walking onto a film set. Neither of us had really clocked how good Helsinki is at Christmas until we were standing in the middle of it.

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The Overnight Train North

Because we’re both big kids, there was only one way we were getting to Rovaniemi: the Santa Claus Express, the overnight sleeper train that runs straight up through Finland while you sleep. We boarded in Helsinki in the evening and woke up, somewhere past the Arctic Circle, right as dawn was breaking over Rovaniemi. Waking up on a moving train to a landscape that’s gone from ordinary to properly Arctic overnight is one of those small, brilliant travel moments that’s hard to explain to anyone who wasn’t there.

First order of business once we’d arrived? Breakfast at the world’s northernmost McDonald’s. Was it necessary? No. Did we do it anyway, purely because we could? Absolutely.

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Meeting Santa, and Meaning It

Santa Claus Village is touristy and there’s no getting around that but it’s touristy in a way that’s hard to be cynical about once you’re actually there. Watching the genuine, wide-eyed energy of the kids around us, all of them absolutely certain they were meeting the real thing, was infectious. We met Santa ourselves, wandered the village, and left grinning like idiots. Sometimes “touristy” and “genuinely special” aren’t opposites, this was one of those times.

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Out to the Ranch Near Pyhä

From Rovaniemi we travelled out to a beautiful accommodation called Lucky Ranch in Pyhä, and this is where the trip really opened up. Over the next few days we went reindeer sledding and husky sledding, took a snowmobile out through the alpine forest, and even helped build the ice igloo we’d end up sleeping in that night, which, it turns out, gives you a whole new respect for the people who build them properly.

That igloo, by the way, gave me the best night’s sleep of my life. I went in expecting to lie awake shivering and counting down the hours. Instead there was something about the total silence, the insulated cold, the reindeer skins underneath us, I was out within minutes and slept straight through until morning. I still don’t fully understand how a room made of ice managed that, but I’m not arguing with it.

We also did a proper Finnish sauna followed by a cold plunge, which is every bit as brutal and every bit as brilliant as everyone says. There’s a very specific kind of euphoria that hits about ten seconds after you get out of the cold water, and no amount of being told about it beforehand actually prepares you for it.

The Lights, When We Least Expected Them

Here’s the part I still can’t quite believe. The forecast that night gave us a 2% chance of seeing the aurora. Two per cent. We’d more or less made peace with not seeing them at all, which, when the entire trip had been built around the hope of it, felt like a proper gut punch.

Then, late that night, I stepped out of our ice igloo for a toilet break, about as unglamorous a moment as travel offers, looked up out of habit, and there they were. Green light, moving, right over our heads, on the 2% night nobody expected anything from. I stood there in the cold for a good few minutes before I even thought to go back in and get Doug.

You can plan a trip around the Northern Lights all you like. In the end, ours found us in the middle of snow at 1am, mid-toilet-run, on the night the odds said don’t bother looking up.

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Why I’m Already Planning to Go Back

It’s the 31st of July. It’s warm. Christmas is, on paper, about as far away as it’s possible to be. And I’m sitting here thinking that if I book now, in the quiet, un-festive middle of summer, I’ll get the trip dates I actually want before everyone else starts thinking about Christmas in, well, December. And I loved it that much, I am planning to bring my whole family over from Australia next winter.

That’s really what this is: not nostalgia, but a nudge. If Lapland’s been on your list, the best time to book your winter trip is right now, while everyone else is thinking about beaches instead of the aurora. The amazing thing about Lapland, that christmas charm, is the whole period through the winter, with all these experiences being most prominent from start of December to end of February.

Have you been? I’d love to know what stuck with you most!

Trips like this one aren’t something you do twice a year, or even twice a decade, they’re the once-in-a-lifetime kind, and they deserve to be done properly. That’s why we’ve put together three ways into Lapland, depending on what kind of trip you’re after:

• The Premium Experience — a night in a glass igloo, watching the aurora from your bed the way I watched it from a car park at 1am, minus the toilet run.
• The Family Lapland Experience — Santa Claus Village, reindeer, and all the wide-eyed magic that made Doug and me feel like kids again, built for travelling with your own. With the option of the day on the ski slopes.
• The Adventure Lapland Experience — husky sledding, snowmobiling and everything else that had us out in the snow rather than looking at it through a window.

Take a look at our Lapland tours and find the version of this trip that’s yours, we can get you under that sky before December ever arrives.

Explore the world differently with Untravelled Paths. Small groups, big experiences, and places you won’t find in the brochures.

Written by Jackson Cornish

The post Ending a Christmas in July: Still Thinking About My Trip to Lapland appeared first on Untravelled Paths.

from Untravelled Paths https://blog.untravelledpaths.com/blog/christmas-lapland-end-of-year/