Norway, Husky Safari & Snowmobile Safari

Travelling to Norway on an adventure holiday with huskies and snowmobiles through remote towns and Russian borders like some sort of secret agent 007 wanna be, wasn't what I had in mind when my wife said to me. "Guess what kind of holiday I booked?" Boy was I in for a surprise!

OK now I am not the most adventurous type of holiday taker. My idea of a good holiday was going to Malta and relaxing on a warm cosy beach soaking up the sun like a giant basking crocodile, with the odd cheese cake, pasty and cold tin of Sprite to pass the time, as I watch the kids bury each other and build castles with their 99p buckets and spades from the Tesco's

She handed me the brochure from the travel agents. I was expecting a nice few days in Oslo exploring the capital region's potpourri of sites: the centre of the modern city, Akershus Slott, a castle whose fortifications date from the 13th century and so on.

What I got was an Arctic Discovery holiday with an image of a Giant glacier with crystal blue skies and perfect white blanketed mountains, and a team of huskies. But fear had already taken its vice like grip on my brain and distorted the image to an icy grave yard with a team of drooling hell hounds being driven by a giant Viking breathing fire from his nostrils, as he burnt down the small villages on his quest to revenge the death of his dearly departed pet gerbil called Vivian. Why I knew the name of the Gerbil is still beyond me.

By now the wife had realised that I has lapsed into a frenzied state of pure panic, dreading the thought of being eaten alive by a fire breathing Viking named Edger Sven Waltheof the Horrid. "It's going to fun sweetheart, trust me." She said in a half hearted can't be bothered to deal with this big softy kind of way.

As the weeks went on the dreaded holiday came closer and closer, as though it was being lead by the Four Apocalyptic horsemen, with a single purpose of bringing total fear to the pit of my stomach. I mean, who wants to go on a holiday in sub zero conditions with teams of flea bitten huskies with Giant Nordic men, eating a roasted pig leg while carrying a stone Obelisk, making you feel about as small as a small thing with no legs.

Christmas came and went. New Years came and went. I had picked a good amount of weight from all the turkey and roast beef, and of course the millions of mince pies one has to ram down your neck while drinking insane amounts of liquors and cheap beers, while trying to keep a straight face as your uncle makes a complete idiot of himself by trying to dance on the table.

It's time. January the 14th. The day we fly to Norway. The day I meet my maker. The day I face death himself and run away screaming. The Holiday!

We board the plane at mid-day, and I must say I was pleasantly surprised at the length of time it took to get there from the UK. That was my first nice surprise, and defiantly not the last one in store for me on this Adventure Holiday.

Day 1: We arrive at Tromsc airport, and we are picked up by taxi as part of the whole package. Once again, it was a nice surprise not having to stress about being picked up or where you're going next. Although I still have that knot in the pit of my stomach stressing about the whole Adventure part of this holiday. I keep thinking to myself "give me sunshine and 30 degrees plus". We arrive at the hotel, and we are told the rest of the day is free to see the city centre at our own leisure. I have had blinkers on since we left the airport, expecting to be driven to a small desolate town with a broken down hut and an old lady called Inga at the desk, asking if we wanted boiled cows snot or roasted pig tongue for tea. While she patted down the straw beds and pushed out the cattle from the room. Leaving a half melted bounty bar on the pillow, because she had heard somewhere that the tourist form the UK liked room service and sweets on their pillows. (I must admit, she wouldn't have been wrong there).

Instead, I was greeted by a delightful steward at the Radisson SAS hotel, and handed a map of the area and told to enjoy my day.

I walked outside hand in hand with my wife, who had a smirk on her face because she knew exactly what was going through my mind, to be greeted by a view of pure perfection. Perfect blue skies over a delightful Arctic city, surrounded by giant glacier-carved mountain peaks. I wasn't too sure if it was the crisp clean air or the sight that was in front of me, but it took my breath away.

Later that day I was told that it was time to meet the team of huskies that were going to take us on an evening husky safari through the mountains. As you can imagine by now, I was on my third set of thermal underwear and down to the bone on the tips of my fingers. Visions of being lost in the wilds, having to eat the poor huskies to survive in sub zero fjords, while having to look out for the Abominable Snowman that was spotted by some toothless local yesterday as he walked his yak through the forest.

Needless to say, Edger the Horrible was actually a nice chap, and he spoke English, and the hell hounds were cute, well groomed Huskies waiting for us, and they were happy to pull us through this amazing clear evening. Not long into the ride we saw a sight that I can only describe as completely mind numbing. We saw the phenomenon known as the Northern Lights. The colours and the size of the spectacle is just simply amazing, and it gives you a sense of peace as you sit there with your team of huskies and thermal gear on, thinking "Wow, this is exactly what they saw thousands of years ago". Well, to say the least, it was a very peaceful and relaxing husky ride, although it was a bit demanding sometimes when you got to drive the huskies yourself, but it was 100% well worth the effort.

After that husky tour, we were treated to some cake and coffee in a lavvo, which I later found out was a traditional S mi tent, and then we were escorted back to the hotel where we spent the evening in a deep sleep.

Day 2 : What could possibly top day one I thought, as we tucked into our breakfast. I looked across to the wife who knew all to well what today had in store for us, as she sat there eating her cereal with a grin on her face. I tried for at least 15 minutes to pry it out of her, but all she would say is that it is going be good, and I need to pack light.

That afternoon we spent the day touring around the city, and we went on a cable car ride up the Storsteinen Mountain, which once again had spectacular views, but I still didn't know why we had packed a small suitcase, as so far we hadn't been too far from the hotel, and she wasn't giving anything away.

Then she told me to drive to a port not too far off, and there it was. We were going on a coastal cruise. I felt like a kid in a candy store, and I didn't know which way to turn. My excitement was starting to get the better of me, as I jumped up and down like a kid who has just been given an Xbox with all the trimmings for no reason whatsoever.

We got settled on-board, packed our things into the cupboards and went for a walk on the deck. I almost wanted to do the cheesiest thing ever, and go to the front of the boat with the wife and do the Titanic scene with Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet (you know the one I mean, don't even pretend you haven't seen the film).

As the ship sailed north towards Honningsv g, the scenery took on a magical feel as night fell. We spent a romantic evening watching the coast line change colours as we sailed into the night.

If you're an early riser day 3 will give you a special start, as you can watch the boat sail out of the harbour of Hammerfest, the northern most town in Europe, as you continue on your voyage to Honningsv g.

Once in port we took a bus ride to Europe's most northern point, North Cape. We stood on a cliff face looking over the Atlantic Ocean, with a 400 foot sheer drop into water and ice. Standing there you get the feeling you are standing at the end of the world, just as they would have thought thousands of years ago.

I have never been so humbled in all my life. I had no idea this kind of place actually existed other than on telly. The sights, the food, the atmosphere and the whole feel that you are somewhere that hasn't changed much in thousands of years is quiet inspiring.

Day 4: Something wasn't right. The wife was more excited than usual today. What on earth could be in store today? Hundreds of ideas were popping into my head, some scary and some rather boring, like a slow walk down to the local museum to see the history of cheese making. What amazed me was that the scary and dangerous ones were actually getting me excited too. What has she done to me? I have become a monster!! I wanted more, I wanted adventure, I wanted it all!

After breakfast we were greeted by a chap wearing a helmet. Confused, I followed them to a set of snowmobiles. Oh my god! Snowmobiles! I was excited and petrified at the same time, as the thought of whizzing through the mountains on a snowmobile took hold of me.

The snowmobiles were easier than I thought to control, and you get the hang of it very quickly. After a few miles we were greeted by another sight which ranks up there with the Northern lights. It was a hotel made totally out of Ice and Snow. The Alta Ice Igloo. Complete amazement and awe as you see sculptures and rooms made out of nothing but ice.

Day 4 would be our last day here in Norway, as we went back to the hotel and chatted about the last 4 days events and sights, and thinking about heading home was a rather depressing thought, but then the wife put another leaflet in front of me.

Oh dear. It was an African Safari Adventure Tour. I felt the hair on the back of my neck stand up, as thoughts of man eating lions and monstrous elephants crushing your tent as you sat there wafting away the mosquitoes and other weird insects awaiting us.

Oh boy! I can't wait! Bring on the Adventures!

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