Has the winter all but gone with the family bonding time of snowball fights, snowman building and epic sledging wipe-outs failing to materialise? Hmmm, we thought so. Fear not, Sandgrouse Travel & Expeditions can help you out.

Here in Scotland and even across much of Europe, people have struggled to find the winter conditions of old. There is still a place however where the winter...

On booking your tailor-made holiday with Sandgrouse Travel & Expeditions you will receive a personal discount code to use in-store or online. We love the idea of giving you the chance to make sure you are properly kitted out with the best gear before your adventure.

At Nordic Outdoor you...

Every now and again in life an opportunity presents itself that should be grabbed with both hands. Our latest luxury adventure offering, which sees you on expedition in the high Arctic with some of the best guides in the world is one of those unique chances not to...

Below are a series of diary extracts, written by our Polar and Scandinavian travel expert, Jonny, whilst he was back at basecamp in Longyearbyen after what he descibes as "an unforgettable multi-day dog sledding expedition into the heart of the wild". 

We at Sandgrouse Travel & Expeditions find ourselves being called back to magical parts of the world in a reoccuring cycle. From here at home in Scotland and within the UK, to remote corners of world such as Scandinavia and Africa we go in search of our 'fix'. These callings lurk within us all and if neglected they become almost nagging desires. It is this same emotion that is essentially the driving force behind people booking a holiday (or two or three) each year.

People need...

Our excellent method for dressing in cold conditions is hardly rocket science, nor does it involve the use of some ground breaking new technology. It is in fact far more simple than those and yet can easily be overlooked or forgotten, especially by visitors new to cold, winter or Nordic environments. The 'multi-layer principle' can help you avoid being uncomfortable and enable you to take the most from your next winter holiday. 

For us to be able to enjoy spending time outdoors...

Winter heaven – “Standing motionless staring out across the frozen seas; peaceful, meditative thoughts overcame me in this wonderful sub-arctic land – I took a moment to breathe in the pure, crisp, ultra-clean air, this must be a glimpse of winter heaven”

Our recent visit to Swedish Lapland opened my eyes to a winter getaway of tranquillity and beauty. A land of pristine wilderness, unspoilt and so different to the UK. For the adventurous amongst us, this environment can be enjoyed...

Fly as far north as you possibly can by scheduled flight and step into a pristine Arctic wilderness. Untouched by man these breathtaking landscapes coupled with beautiful wildlife will surely leave you spellbound. You will travel silently on skis or by dog sled through the tundra surrounded by a backdrop of pure white mountains. See with your own eyes wildlife such as polar bears, arctic fox, Svalbard reindeer and seals. Out at sea you will find numerous species of whales and...

If you have been looking at your calendar lately filled with dread at the onset of our darker and mostly wetter winter months that are now ominously looming, don’t be. Instead start to get excited about them. As they say in the hit TV show Game Of Thrones, ‘winter is coming’ and with it an amazing opportunity to experience something you’ve always dreamed of, the magic of the Northern Lights. It may...

"Captivated by the pristine beauty of all that lay before me, I stood motionless. Time slowed in what were a few brief moments of magic; I was spellbound and oblivious to the day's fast fading light."

When Sandgrouse Travel & Expeditions asked me if I would be interested in going out to explore Iceland's wild and rugged landscapes with my camera, I didn't have to think twice about it.

Iceland is a photographer's dream destination and somewhere I had always wanted to visit with...