Saija Kokkonen
Hailing from a small city in central Finland, travel – and Scandinavia – has always been close to Saija’s heart. Indeed, she’s been lucky enough to have lived all over the world, including Ecuador, Mallorca and Malaysia, before settling in London. As a Finn, nature, sauna and silence are the things she misses most about her homeland, and being away has made her appreciate the true simplicity of Nordic culture. For her, it’s something perhaps best tasted in the food; nothing beats a hearty meal of Karelian stew cooked in the fireplace and served with mash potatoes on a crisp winter day. So, it won’t surprise you to hear that Saija’s ideal holiday is a trip to the lands of the Northern Lights, filled with plenty of active fun, something she experienced first hand on a recent trip to Tromso and Malangen Resort in Norway, and at Spitsbergen in the remote Svalbard archipelago.
My Articles
An alternative introduction to Svalbard
By Saija Kokkonen 20 Oct 2019 Svalbard is a superb place to see the Northern Lights, as well as being home to roaming polar bears and some of the best-preserved wilderness in the world. At 78 degrees north, it's a true Arctic hideaway.
The best places to see the Northern Lights this winter
By Saija Kokkonen 31 May 2019 Northern Lights holidays can be tricky to plan, but we have compiled the best spots where you'll be able to get a viewing this winter, as well as the best times to visit.