The Ultimate Arctic Circle Adventure in Norway

I loved everything about this trip. The activities were all incredible and the lodging was absolutely the coolest way to experience the Arctic. Staff was super chill and very kind/helpful.

Amazing how much rest and adventure this trip packs into just a few days! While there were a few hiccups—the triple igloo is jam-packed and one person ends up on a cot, the fat bikes only come in one size (RIP to the shorter girls), and it would be nice to have a dedicated guide throughout the weekend—these didn’t take away from the overall fun of snowmobiling, dog sledding, snowshoeing, and all the great food we shared. It was nice to go in March for the longer days and milder cold. However, to get the full snowy adventure, I definitely recommend going in January or February. This trip is a lot of fun and feels like much more than just a long weekend.

I’ve rated this review based on the trip itself, which was truly exceptional! I had the trip of a lifetime, especially due to such a wonderful group of people, who gelled really well together and were all so supportive and friendly, with the trip filled with lots of laughter! GLØD were great local hosts and the dome accommodation was fabulous. The little touches, including a morning coffee delivered to the dome and welcome fizz on arrival, also added to the experience. The dome is surprisingly spacious, heated and has its own toilet, and whilst the showers being in a separate building is a little bit inconvenient, this was not a big issue. The food overall was really good quality, especially the welcome dinner and the lunch provided whilst ice fishing, with only one day where the food was a bit hit and miss. The activities were amazing and what made this such an unforgettable trip; each one was well organised and truly memorable once in a lifetime experiences, especially the mushing/dog sledding and snowmobiling. The ice hotel was an enjoyable addition to the trip and we were also lucky enough to see the northern lights. However, I would highlight that there was only one night of ‘Aurora hunting’, which took place on our second night. Unfortunately, we were not lucky in seeing them, which left only one night to try again. Had this been arranged on the first night, it would have offered more opportunity to try and see the lights. As only one night of aurora hunting is included, some of us chose to pay for a further tour on the final night, and this was successful, finishing the trip on a high! Although I have given the trip itself 5 stars, the trip for me started on a disappointing low note, due to correspondence from MBA a few days before I was due to depart, advising that they had not booked enough domes for the group. There were suggestions that I could be provided with alternative accommodation across two locations, move to another trip or have a refund. After ongoing correspondence, the issue was resolved and the trip went ahead as planned, with a goodwill gesture provided by MBA, however, this added unnecessary stress to the trip, and took away a lot of the initial excitement in the days leading up to this. This is the second time I have encountered accommodation issues through MBA, and I do feel that this element of their trips does not feel particularly well organised or thought out, especially for solo travellers, and requires better attention. Whilst this does make me reticent about booking trips with MBA, both trips I have been on have been great whilst there, which has ultimately swayed me to give them another go, and resulted in the 5 star review for this trip itself!

Can't recommend this trip enough. The overall organisation was excellent and everything worked so well. All of the activities were fantastic, not too strenuous at all. A special shout out to Juliette on our ice fishing who was so enthusiastic and fun. Thermal oversuits and boots were provided for dog sledding and snowmobiles, you can easily wear 2-3 of your own layers underneath and you'll be very warm. Mittens, hats etc. are also provided if you want to use theirs or you forget your own. I was OK with waterproof hiking boots for the rest of the activities, plus insulated trousers and 3-4 upper body layers, although it was apparently unseasonably warm at around -2 while we were there (early March). Warm socks an absolute must, consider those thermal pouch things as well, particularly for northern lights viewing in the evening as there's a lot of standing around in the cold! 100% worth it though, the team were excellent at taking us to the right place to find clear skies and an excellent showing of the lights. The domes are really warm and comfortable. Consider bringing an eye mask as it can get bright quite early in the morning (went in March). The shower facilities in the main building are really good. Towels, hairdryer and even shampoo/conditioner were provided. Food was excellent and plentiful, allergies were known by the staff and taken into account. Note pretty much all meals had fish at some point, so if you're not a fan maybe let them know when booking so something else can be prepared. The ice hotel optional extra was c£30, and I thought it was worth it to see. There's some down time built into the itinerary so you can go for a walk around the base, visit Alta, use the sauna, read or just relax.

I mainly chose this trip because I wanted to stay in a glass dome (without a single supplement) and have fun activities in the day, plus a good location for seeing the Northern Lights. The accommodation was great - very cosy and I loved the touch of a hot drink brought to you in the morning. The beds were so comfortable, with electric blankets to keep you perfectly warm (the ensuite toilet/washroom was also warm, thankfully). The food was excellent. I enjoyed the activities more than I expected, especially the snow mobiles. Whilst the trip may appear expensive for 3 nights (well, it is Norway), when you price up the cost of doing the activities individually plus the domes/food etc. it's reasonably priced (unless you don't like the cold, in which case this trip is not for you). I wish I had taken baby wipes because there is only 1 private shower in the main building (plus gender separated shared showers by the sauna) and you can't be late for the activities, so it's easier to plan to shower during the day when there are breaks between activities (it worked out fine though). They have a hairdryer in the shared bathroom and plenty of towels.

Unforgettable trip with many first time experiences from dogsledding to fat tire biking to snowmobiling to snowshoeing, and, of course, seeing the aurora. We had an amazing, supportive group of people who laughed our way through all these new adventures. We all came to Norway to see the Northern Lights, but for most of us, by the time we left that wasn’t even the highlight of the trip. We made some friends for life through and incredible trip.

For anyone wanting to experience something exceptional this is a 'must do' trip. The combination of fun and unusual activities packed into 4 days was highly memorable. A particular stand out was the hands on experience of harnessing and driving (mushing) a dog sled as dusk was falling. Organisation, accommodation and catering were outstanding. Thank you Trigve and your highly capable team for a magical experience.

The Arctic Domes are glamping in style, with a wood burning stove and very warm, even without the wood burner going. A bonus to get a nice hot drink brought to your dome at 8am before a delicious breakfast in the building at 8. 30am. Showers are in the main building, but no problem to walk the short distance for a shower. Food was excellent (fantastic chef). On our first night, as the sky was clear, the group went out to look for the aurora after dinner (success!). Juliette (at GLØD) was so helpful and prepared some thermos flasks for us to make a hot drink, which was so thoughtful. Every activity was something new that you would not get a chance to do at home; fat-biking, snowmobiling and husky sledging were so much fun, and the snowshoe walk to the ice-fishing with lunch there in the beautiful scenery was super too. Though an optional extra after the snowmobile, we would recommend paying to go into the ice hotel and downing a blue vodka shot! Warms you up and the ice hotel spectacular to see and so much fun (the ice slide!). It was a truly memorable holiday (with the added bonus of sharing with a fantastic group of fellow travellers) and we would highly recommend this trip.

Don’t hesitate just book it… one of the best experiences ever. The accommodation was so unique, the team in Norway have thought of everything and clearly love what they do. Jam packed with one fantastic adventure after another and great food to keep you going. Driving your own dogsled across a frozen lake in the dark has to be up there with one of my best life experiences

I just want to express my sincere thanks for what was truly an exceptional Arctic experience. Every part of the trip felt thoughtfully planned and beautifully delivered, from the Northern Lights to the huskies, ice fishing, and snowmobiling. We were wonderfully kept busy, and every activity felt meaningful and memorable. The accommodation was absolutely beautiful. I would even describe it as exquisite, and it made the whole experience feel both comfortable and special. A special thank you to everyone from GLØD for your effort, care, and professionalism. You helped create something that was not just a trip, but a life experience I will carry with me forever. Thank you again for making my time in the Arctic so unforgettable.