In my role at All Nordics, I spend a lot of time planning meaningful, often once-in-a-lifetime trips for our agents and their clients. Quite often, we are asked to design something special for a mother and daughter, or a family wanting to reconnect and experience something different together.
This March, I got to live one of those itineraries myself.
My mum came to visit from Germany, and for the first time, I was able to show her not just the destinations I work with every day, but the lifestyle that sits behind them.
Sharing Life in the North
We spent time in Luleå, where I live, and it felt important to show her the reality of winter here. Not just the activities, but the pace of life.
Winter in the Nordics is not about rushing from one thing to the next. It is about slowing down, getting outside, and appreciating the small moments. We wrapped up warm, spent time outdoors, and made space for simple things like fika in the fresh air. Coffee, something sweet, and time to just be present together.
It was special to see her settle into that rhythm and understand why this way of life means so much to me.
A Day on the Trail
One of the highlights of her visit was dog sledding with Northern Soul Journeys.
Jeremias and his team took us out on their Beaver Creek Trail tour, and it was one of those experiences that reminds you why people travel here in the first place. Moving through the forest with the dogs, surrounded by silence and snow, feelsboth exhilarating and calming at the same time.
After the sledding, we gathered around the fire for lunch. We were served grilled cheese sandwiches, vegan of course, along with carrot and ginger soup, coffee, and banana boats, grilled bananas with chocolate. Sitting there together, warming up by the fire, felt simple but incredibly meaningful.
These are the kinds of moments we try to build into every itinerary.
A Night at the Arctic Safari Camp
The following day, we stayed at the Arctic Safari Camp, and it quickly became one of my mum’s favourite parts of the trip.
It was her first time ever experiencing a sauna, which felt like a milestone moment to share. At first, she was unsure, but she completely embraced it and absolutely loved it by the end. It is such a core part of life here, and seeing her experience it for the first time made it even more special.
She also really connected with the camp itself. The setting, the stillness, and the level of personal service made a big impression. What stood out most were the stories shared by the founder, which added so much depth to the experience. It did not feel like just a place to stay, but something much more personal and thoughtfully created.
The accommodation itself is unlike anywhere else. Unique, intimate, and completely in tune with the surroundings. It is exactly the kind of place we love to include in our itineraries, somewhere that guests would never find on their own, but remember long after they return home.
When Work Becomes Personal
At All Nordics, we often talk about creating trips that are more than just travel. Trips that feel personal, thoughtful, and rooted in the destination.
This time, it was personal for me.
Planning journeys for others is one thing, but experiencing it with my own mum gave me a completely different perspective. I understood even more clearly what makes these trips so special. It is not just the activities, but the time spent together, the shared experiences, and the feeling you take home with you.
Being able to live this, rather than just design it, made it all the more meaningful.
And it is exactly what I want every client we work with to experience too.
Annika Hallwaß
