Sommarøy Arctic Hotel
Sommarøy, paradise found on the “Summer Island” of the Arctic!
The island, with a population of 300 people, is so small that you can walk around it in a couple of hours. Sommarøy is one of the busiest fishing villages in the county of Troms and is a hot spot when it comes to exploring the north of Norway. Sommarøy is among the last pieces of land before you reach the open ocean and there is nothing blocking for the view of the mountains, the islands, all the beautiful white beaches and the turquoise sea. Believe me, once you arrive at Sommarøy, you don´t want to leave!
If you ask me where to sleep when you visit Sommarøy, my answer is in one of the new rooms or cabins at Sommarøy Arctic Hotel.
LOCATION
You can reach Sommarøy within one hour drive from Tromsø or by ferry from Senja. For the ferry make sure to check out that it´s running as it´s seasonal.
Like it´s name indicates, the location of Sommarøy Arctic Hotel is on an island (øy) and you have to drive over a one-way bridge, high over the ocean below to get here. Driving to Sommarøy is like driving into a fairytale.
The location of Sommarøy Arctic Hotel Tromsø is a few steps from coral beaches and the turquoise, clear and clean ocean. Speaking of beaches, they are better looking than the ones of the Caribbean. Sommarøy Arctic Hotel is built around a small bay with easy access to the beach and the Norwegian sea. When it comes to sea temperature, the Caribbean wins but don´t worry the hotel has a jacuzzi.
From mid May to mid July the sun is never ending and you can see the sun setting and rising again without ever touching the horizon, to do this you have to climb a small hill close to the hotel.
If you visit spring and fall you are rewarded with this special light that you only get up north and in winter the contrast of the turquoise ocean and the snow is breathtaking. From early September to late March, the northern lights are right there on your doorstep if you are lucky and the sky is clear. The remote location of the hotel allows you to see the northern light without having to leave the hotel.
CHARME & STYLE
The main building and the new hotel cabins are modern. There are also some older Fisherman´s cabins that belong to the hotel. I was lucky to stay in one of the new and very comfortable cabins.
I lost my heart to the wine lounge with the wonderful view of the bay and could truly imagine myself sitting here for the northern light show.
ROOMS
Sommarøy Arctic Hotel offers a great variety of accommodations options from standard hotel rooms in the main building to seaside cabins, fishermen´s cottages and apartments. The new cabins and rooms are spacious, bright, modern and they all have a great view of the bay.
SERVICE & FACILITIES
A wine lounge with a jewel of a fireplace. A sauna, outdoor jacuzzi and a seaside bath house are some of the facilities. The hotel has a fitnessroom and plenty of paths for hiking outdoors if that suits you better.
Nordic Light hunts is one of the reasons to visit Norway in the winter, at Sommarøy Arctic there is a heated small cabin on the pier for keeping warm when you wait for the sky to turn all green. Sommarøy is all about outdoor activities and in addition to the midnight sun and the northern lights there are plenty of tours to go on for fishing, kayaking and whale safari.
FOOD & DRINKS
Home-made fresh food from local sources. Breakfast was delicious with a variation from fresh fruits to eggs and bacon. There is a cafe with bakery goods, sandwiches, pastries and snacks open all day. The hotel has a full bar and high quality organic wine specially imported from a vineyard near Verona.
One of the best features of the hotel is the location - so beautiful and peaceful. If the weather gods are with you, you can see the nordic light from the hotel without having to go far.
My stay was mid september. I would love to return to see the midnightsun, to see the nordic light and to walk to some of the peaks surrounding the hotel to see alle the beauty from above. Thank you Sommarøy, I will be back!
Photos by Sommarøy Arctic Resort and World with a Suitcase. For more info and link to Sommarøy Arctic Resort - click learn more.
