The Treasures of the Earth

The earth holds spectacles that take your breath away and surpass imagination: from a road that seems to float across the ocean to icebergs that literally break apart before your eyes. These four destinations prove that the finest luxury is sometimes simply nature itself.

Riding over water

The Atlantic Road in Norway, stretching just over eight kilometres, is one of the most beautiful routes in the world. The road runs from island to island, crossing eight bridges and sharp bends, with continuous views of the Atlantic Ocean. With some luck you might spot whales or seals. It is easy to park the car and explore on foot, climbing over rocks to spots with the finest views. The most famous and highest bridge, and symbol of the Atlantic Road, is Storseisundbrug. It is remarkable not only for its height, but also for the impressive diagonal curve it makes. Almost a roller-coaster experience.

Silent fairy-tale forest

For a true winter, with snowflakes that glisten like Swarovski crystals and temperatures well below freezing, you must go to Finnish Lapland. The beauty, the pristine wilderness. Travel with a husky team, snowmobile or on skis and explore the landscape painted in brilliant white. Young trees bent forward under the weight of snow, transforming into snow sculptures, the sky tinged pink by the low-hanging sun. Speechless in this silent fairy-tale forest. And then the night arrives, with the chance of seeing the northern lights.

Kayaking among the icebergs

Now it is still possible. Ice floes are still drifting. For now. Kayaking in Greenland, in Ilulissat, near the Ice Fjord. Given the temperature (far below zero), the waves (wind) and the risk (the sea is deep and freezing cold), paddling out onto the water is quite a challenge. Keep your hands on the paddle, the eyes upon the waves. And it is not easy to focus solely on staying upright, there is plenty of distraction: in front of my frozen nose a chunk of iceberg breaks off and crashes into the sea with a roar. And moments later a humpback whale surfaces twenty metres away, snorting behind me. I feel its warm breath on my neck. And that is rather pleasant.