Journeys with Space to Breathe
In a world shaped by speed and constant connectivity, many travellers are seeking something quieter. Not isolation for its own sake, but space. Space to think, to walk without urgency, to sit beside a fjord or tundra and simply observe.
In a world defined by constant movement and connectivity, many travellers are seeking something quieter. Not isolation for its own sake, but space. Space to breathe, to observe, to move at a more natural rhythm.
Across the Nordic region and the North Atlantic, there are still places where landscapes feel expansive, communities remain deeply rooted, and nature quietly sets the pace. Some are genuinely remote, with sparse populations and vast wilderness. Others are iconic destinations where the scale of the scenery creates a powerful sense of openness, even if they are well connected.
Below, we explore seven destinations that offer room to breathe, travel more intentionally and experience the North at its most spacious.
1. Swedish Lapland: Northern Lights, Arctic Adventures and Distinctive Stays
Swedish Lapland is a place of wide horizons and quiet forests, where winter light shapes the rhythm of each day. Though easily reached by flight or rail, much of the region remains sparsely populated and deeply connected to Sámi culture and Arctic tradition.
Here, travel unfolds gently. Days are guided by natural light and snow-covered landscapes. You might glide across a frozen river behind a team of huskies, warm your hands around a fire beneath a sky streaked with green, or step from a floating spa into crisp Arctic air. Experiences are small-scale and thoughtfully designed, allowing the landscape to take centre stage.
Suggested journeys:
5-Day Swedish Aurora Glamping and Arctic Wellness
This carefully curated winter escape combines two of Scandinavia’s most distinctive stays: Aurora Safari Camp and Arctic Bath. Travel through pristine Arctic terrain by dogsled, then settle into days of wellness and contemporary Nordic design, floating quietly on a forest-fringed river. Evenings bring campfire dining and, when conditions allow, the Northern Lights overhead.
5-Day Swedish Winter Adventure Tour
Deep in the forests 150 km above the Arctic Circle, Lapland Guesthouse offers a warm and personal introduction to Swedish Lapland. Run by Johan and Eva Stenevad, this family-owned retreat blends rustic comfort with genuine hospitality. Snow-based adventures fill the days, while evenings are spent in quiet conversation beneath Arctic skies.
2. Alta: Arctic Culture and Wilderness in Northern Norway
Alta sits where river valleys meet open tundra, offering a compelling blend of wilderness and cultural depth. While it functions as a regional centre, the surrounding landscapes remain expansive and quietly powerful.
Known for its UNESCO-listed rock carvings and strong Sámi heritage, Alta is shaped by Arctic tradition. Seasonal stays at boutique wilderness lodges and the sculptural Sorrisniva Igloo Hotel place you close to nature without losing a sense of comfort and calm.
Suggested journeys:
5-Day Autumn Tranquility in Alta
Autumn in Alta brings shifting light and rich colours across the tundra. This retreat begins at a premium wilderness lodge near the Alta River, where days combine cultural insight with outdoor exploration. Enjoy a King Crab experience, learn about Sámi traditions and explore Alta Canyon, before returning to evenings of stillness in the lodge.
5-Day Festive Adventure in Norway
Celebrate the festive season in Arctic Norway with a journey that balances adventure and tradition. Based at a wilderness lodge by the Alta River, days include snowmobiling, husky sledding and reindeer encounters. One night is spent at the Sorrisniva Igloo Hotel, where carved ice rooms and seasonal celebrations create a memorable Arctic Christmas setting.
3. Kilpisjärvi: A Quiet Corner of Finnish Lapland
In the far northwest of Finnish Lapland, Kilpisjärvi lies close to the meeting point of Finland, Sweden and Norway. With fewer than one hundred permanent residents, it offers one of the most peaceful winter settings in the Nordic region.
Fells rise gently from frozen lakes, and protected wilderness areas stretch towards the horizon. Accommodation remains small-scale, and winter softens the landscape into stillness. The atmosphere is intimate and unhurried, particularly under dark Arctic skies.
Suggested journeys:
7-Day Arctic Wilderness and Auroras with Local Sámi Experience
This independent journey combines Tromsø with a secluded Sámi reindeer ranch in Kilpisjärvi. Just four glass igloos sit along the lakeshore, creating an intimate setting for experiencing Arctic nature. Days are spent in close connection with the land and local Sámi traditions, while nights offer uninterrupted views of the sky.
6-Day Northern Lights in the Arctic
Set 400 kilometres above the Arctic Circle, this relaxed winter stay at boutique Hotel Cahkal combines comfort with pristine wilderness surroundings. Designed as an independent escape, it allows time to enjoy the Arctic landscape and watch for the Aurora in one of Finland’s quietest regions.
4. Iceland: Remote Regions and Iconic Landscapes
Iceland offers both genuine remoteness and some of the North Atlantic’s most recognisable scenery. Depending on where you travel, the experience can feel isolated and windswept or dramatic and easily accessible.
Westfjords – Iceland’s Quiet Frontier
The Westfjords remain one of Iceland’s least visited regions. Long fjords, empty roads and small fishing communities define this rugged peninsula. Travel here feels expansive and shaped by distance, where waterfalls like Dynjandi and the bird cliffs of Látrabjarg sit far from busier routes.
South Iceland – Iconic Nature at Grand Scale
South Iceland is not off the beaten path, yet its waterfalls, glaciers and volcanic plains create a powerful sense of openness. Within manageable reach of Reykjavík, the region offers striking natural highlights without extended travel times.
Suggested journeys:
11-Day Iceland Westfjords Self Drive Tour
An independent journey through Iceland’s sparsely populated Westfjords, exploring wind-swept coastlines, cascading waterfalls and quiet fishing harbours at your own pace.
6-Day Gems of South Iceland and Reykjavik
A small group journey through South Iceland’s dramatic landscapes, including glaciers, volcanic terrain and geothermal waters, balanced with time in Reykjavík.
5. The Faroe Islands: Rugged North Atlantic Beauty
Set between Iceland and Norway, the Faroe Islands offer dramatic cliffs, grass-roofed villages and a close-knit island culture. Infrastructure remains small-scale, and travel here often feels quiet and immersive.
Self-drive journeys allow flexibility, encouraging travellers to linger in villages and follow winding coastal roads at their own pace.
Suggested journeys:
9-Day Treasures of the Faroe Islands - Self Drive
An independent exploration of bird cliffs, fjords and colourful settlements, revealing the archipelago’s layered history and natural beauty.
7-Day Local Secrets of the Faroe Islands
An itinerary enriched with local encounters, from Tórshavn’s harbour to intimate family-hosted dinners, set against dramatic coastal backdrops.
6. Greenland: True Arctic Scale
Greenland represents genuine remoteness. Vast distances, limited road networks and small coastal communities shape every journey. Travel often involves boats or small aircraft, reinforcing the sense of scale.
Icebergs drift slowly through Disko Bay, and remote camps offer access to hiking, kayaking and glacier watching in extraordinary silence.
Suggested journeys:
6-Day Greenland Ilulissat Adventure
A stay at Saqqaq Camp, reached by boat along one of the world’s oldest fjords, combining outdoor exploration with intimate wilderness comfort.
4-Day Greenland Adventure Break
A remote glamping retreat near Nuuk, blending rib boat transfers, guided hikes and moments of relaxation in Arctic surroundings.
7. Svalbard: High Arctic Wilderness
High in the Arctic Ocean, Svalbard delivers one of the Nordic region’s most distinctive wilderness settings. Outside Longyearbyen, nature dominates, from glaciers and fjords to Arctic wildlife.
Whether beneath winter darkness or summer’s midnight sun, the scale and clarity of the landscape create a powerful sense of place.
Suggested journeys:
4-Day Spitsbergen Arctic Summer
A summer expedition combining fjord safaris, glacier excursions and wildlife encounters in dramatic Arctic scenery.
An independent boutique stay at Isfjord Radio, reached by boat through coastal wilderness, blending guided exploration with refined comfort in a remote setting.
Travelling with Intention
Remote and spacious destinations are not only defined by geography. They are shaped by pace, scale and design. Multi-night stays, small lodges, locally guided experiences and time outdoors all contribute to journeys that feel considered rather than rushed.
Whether you are drawn to the stillness of Kilpisjärvi, the dramatic coastlines of the Faroe Islands, the ice-filled fjords of Greenland or the vast scenery of Iceland, each of these destinations offers something increasingly rare in modern travel: room to breathe.
If you would like guidance in choosing the destination that best matches your pace, interests and season of travel, our Destination Specialists are here to help.