Review: Touring Northernmost Norway With Klattermusen Experiences

A cacophony of barking pierced the quiet Arctic afternoon. The team of dogs lunged in their harnesses in anticipation of running into the wide-open landscape. Before the metal brake was pulled from its hold in the packed snow, I balanced one foot on narrow foot boards of the dogsled and the other on the brake mat.

As soon as the brake was pulled, I eased the full weight of my body off the mat and we were off. An immediate hush fell over our team of six sled dogs. This was what they had been waiting for: running at full speed across the snowy terrain, the absolute quiet broken only by the sounds of their breath, the whoosh of the sled gliding atop the crunchy snow and my shrieks of laughter. 

Running a sled with racing dogs was both exhilarating and terrifying; I had full confidence in the dogs, but my inexperience gave me some pause. As I settled in, though, I began to relax, bending my knees to absorb bumps as if I were skiing, and even taking one hand off the handle to take photos of the breathtaking scene. Our team ran about 12 miles that afternoon, and I couldn’t wait to get back out and have another go the following day.

An Arctic Experience: Northern Lights and More

The dogsledding adventure was part of an inaugural trip in January from Klattermusen Experiences. The seven-day Arctic Experience: Morketid took place north of the Arctic Circle in Finnmark, the northernmost region of Norway that was settled more than 10,000 years ago and still is home for Sami and Kven people. Filled with outdoor winter activities such as ski touring (hiking uphill and skiing backdown), snowshoeing, fat tire biking, dogsledding, spectacular northern lights viewing and stargazing, this region is a must for adventurous clients. 

Klattermusen Experiences made its debut this year in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of Klattermusen, a premium Swedish mountaineering brand that develops outdoor gear with a priority on safety and minimal impact.

Each trip is carefully crafted for guests to fully immerse themselves in our culture and nature — for travelers who want true experiences; to push past the obvious, challenge themselves and find joy in something truly different.

“Our vision is to give travelers a chef’s table seat to our extraordinary world,” said Gonz Ferrero, owner and CEO of Klattermusen. “Each trip is carefully crafted for guests to fully immerse themselves in our culture and nature — for travelers who want true experiences; to push past the obvious, challenge themselves and find joy in something truly different.”

Community-Focused and Sustainable at Heart

Lavan Lodge, a comfortable, Norwegian-style house about an hour west of Alta that overlooks a bay with mountain ranges in the distance, served as our home base. The cozy rooms were perfect for restful nights’ sleep, while the living spaces provided opportunities for developing community with other travelers over exquisite, homemade meals — all dietary concerns and restrictions fully taken into account. There was also an on-site sauna and hot tub.

Not only does the accommodation lend itself to creating a sense of community among the small group of travelers on the trip; seeking out privately owned properties ensures that money stays within the local community. All Klattermusen Experiences, itineraries are designed to minimize a traveler’s environmental footprint and maximize positive impact for local communities.

“Sustainability and mindfulness are in our DNA,” said Yahnny San Luis, CEO of Klattermusen Experiences. “We want these trips to be incredible for the travelers — unforgettable adventures with like-minded people who see the world with us — and for the local communities we are fortunate enough to be part of.”

Travelers don’t need to be hardcore adventurers to enjoy Klattermusen Experiences, but they do need to be ready to go far off the beaten path, commune with nature and be open to new experiences.

Accessible for All

Klattermusen Experiences itineraries are intended to be accessible for everyone — not just in terms of experience, but also physical limitations. For example, I am not a very experienced skier, though I do take a lesson each ski season. 

Knowing my limitations, I opted to go snowshoeing rather than ski touring. While the larger group hiked up the mountain over the first two days of our adventure, their skis in skins, I joined June Antonsen, a Finnmark native with Sami heritage who warmly shared her culture and the region’s history with our smaller group while we glided across the snow and soaked in the stunning views.

Another member of our group who was a wheelchair user didn’t miss out on any fun, either. One of the trip creators who is a well-respected ski-touring instructor enlisted a team of local students to pull the guest up the mountain on his sit-ski. The smile on his face as he glided to the bottom was priceless.

Dogsledding, Stargazing and Biking, Oh My!

Two of our days were spent with Marianne Skjothaug and Arne Karlstrom of Parken Gard Husky. After a brief introduction to the dogs (clients can expect lots of dog kisses and snuggles), Marianne — the world dogsledding champion in 2011 — explained the techniques of driving and handling the dogs. And then, we were off. The first foray into dogsledding takes about an hour or two, but the following day offers a longer journey with a delicious hot lunch served midway.

The final adventure of Klattermusen Experiences’ Arctic Experience: Morketid was fat tire biking along the Alta Rover. Unlike a road or mountain bike, fat tire bikes grip the snow for a smooth ride over hills and through woods. 

There was also an adventure into darkness: Winter in Norway means dark days and nights; the sun doesn't peek over the horizon until late January. But complete darkness by mid-afternoon meant earlier opportunities to spot the northern lights. Our first showing of dazzling green, red and purple lights was at 4:30 in the afternoon. Giddy, after snapping several dozen photos, we quickly changed into our bathing suits to continue watching the show from our hot tub, with a glass of akvavit — a distilled spirit produced in Scandinavia since the 15th century — in hand.