“I am sitting at the resting area of this amazing sauna with a lake view, between a sip of beer my thoughts go on how everything started: I always wished to come to Lapland for an adventure with my family, but sleeping in huts in the national park really doesn’t fit for my style. I am so happy that I can sleep every night in my own place and wake up every morning for a different adventure!

Yesterday, when we arrived at the airport we were easily transported to the hotel where we made the check in and already went for a ride with fat bikes, very handy for the amount of snow on the tracks. When we were riding the bike, I could feel very clean air through my lungs … they say it is the purest air in the whole world and I don’t doubt. We stoped by a kota, a very cozy wood fire place, to have coffee and some buns … while we were eating, our guide already explained a few things about the region and what to expect on the coming days. The ride was not long… enough to stretch the legs after some long flight hours. For the night, we decided to have a nice dinner and not chase northern lights, since weather was not promising.

This morning, when we woke up, the colors of the sky were absolutely stunning, although the sun was not up yet. After breakfast our ride arrived, we were moving for a cross country ski session. I was nervous in the beginning, since I have never done this before, but I got the movements pretty well and soon we were all moving through this winter wonderland surrounded by Finnish forest. In the middle of the way we suddenly stopped in a very cozy cabin, when you open the door the smell of fresh food reminds you that is lunch time. I had this warm smoked reindeer soup, with bread and a non-alcohol local beer and for dessert coffee and munkki, a local donuts. Full of energy we completed the whole round and moved to the location that I am in now: a beautiful sauna in front of the lake.

Our guide starts his process of the sauna with a dip in the frozen lake. My family members and I were a bit skeptical about this and we decided to go directly to sauna. They keep the temperature around 80 degrees celsius and from time to time someone pour some water in the rocks on the top of the oven … that makes the feeling of the sauna warmer, but the moisture helps to relax the body even more. From the sauna I stare over the lake and start to make my mind to go for a dip. It is super warm inside the sauna and I can stand anymore, so I walk outside in the direction of the lake … without hesitation I dip into the water, at first it seems that one thousand needles are getting into my skin, I leave the lake, suddenly I realize that is not cold anymore, actually I feel warm. I look around and realize how beautiful is the landscape … I never felt so alive!!

My beer is almost over, time to go back to sauna and start the process again. It’s funny that my mind is craving for another jump in the frozen lake … they say it is due to endorphin levels in your body … well, I feel very relaxed, soon we will have an amazing dinner and chase northern lights tonight. It seems they will dance this night at the sky.

I still have ahead 3 more days, my family seems pretty happy with the program and we still have for the coming days: husky safaris, ice fishing, snowshoes trip and snowmobile tour before we take the airplane back home … I will be back completely fresh for my daily routine…”