The Artisan Blog

That was the cry in the late 1890’s which sparked one of the greatest human stampedes in history. The rumour mill was rife and, motivated by tales of nuggets as big as a fist just waiting to be picked up off the ground, a wave of humanity headed towards the vast northern wilderness. In those days there was no TV, no internet and no mobile phones so the news slowly filtered down to Seattle and San Francisco from where it spread like a gathering wildfire across North America and further afield.

From all corners of the world, it is estimated that at least 100,000 wildly optimistic would-be miners set out for the north with absolutely no knowledge of what lay ahead. They had no inkling of the long bitter winters that awaited them nor did they know of the huge distances to be negotiated across the vast, untamed and largely uncharted wilderness that lay ahead. From the UK, Europe, Australasia and elsewhere they came; lawyers, dentists, factory workers, teachers, newspapermen, conmen, farmers simply gave up their work and headed north in search of the Promised Land.

Norway is a first-class year-round destination, but have you ever considered travelling there in the summer? We’ve selected our top three breaks to Norway to enjoy in summer 2022.

With its world-famous fjords, plus home to the Midnight Sun over the summer, there are plenty of experiences that can be checked off your bucket-list.

Missed our 10 day destination quiz on our social media platforms? We have included all of our riddles and answers below. Challenge your family and friends to guess which one of our destinations the photo represents. Let us know your score in the comment section below!  

Famed for its aromatic botanical gardens, volcanic landscape and plentiful marine life, it’s no surprise that Madeira has been voted Best European Island Destination for 6 years in a row by the World Travel Awards. What’s more, when you take a closer look at Madeira’s cultural scene, you’ll soon see why they are reigning champions. 

With the turn of the new decade, we think there is no better time to start taking a serious look at your bucket list, which is why we’re celebrating 2020 by bringing you 20 unforgettable bucket list experiences!

The two stunning Atlantic archipelagos of Madeira and the Azores are favourites amongst our Artisan Travel Experts, but with so much in common it can be difficult to tell them apart! That’s why we’ve decided to pit these two fantastic archipelagos against each other, to help you discover the best place for your next getaway.

There is nothing more Finnish than coming in from the snowy wilderness and heading to the sauna. The Finns invented this relaxing experience and it is simply a must-do during any visit to this wonderful country. 

"A Night at the Theatre", art suite designed by Jonathan Green and Marnie Green 

When the plans for this winter's ICEHOTEL® were revealed in September, we couldn’t wait to see the finished Art Suites. The good news is that the wait is finally over!

Let’s face it, trying to find that perfect way to ring in the New Year can be more stress than it’s worth. Often, the occasion is a little lacklustre and it can be difficult to find something to memorably mark the start of the New Year.

It might still feel very much like autumn here in the UK but the snow has most definitely arrived in the Arctic Circle! The onset of the new winter season is something that we get very excited about here at Artisan Travel. Not only do the winter months allow for a whole range of exciting Arctic activities such as dog sledding, snowmobiling and snowshoeing, but they also give our clients some of the first opportunities to go in search of the Northern Lights!