One of the many wonderful experiences visitors to the Nordic areas love about spring and summer is witnessing the most extraordinary landscapes. The melting snow creates natural waterfalls everywhere, together with blooming flowers and the first sights of returning wildlife.

During late spring and summer, visitors can expect comfortable temperatures, ranging 50–75 degrees Fahrenheit, with cooler temperatures in the late evening. The sun stays out 14–16 hours a day, warming the land after a dark and cold winter. Booknordics.com offers many experiences showcasing the absolute best of the Nordics during spring and summer (and winter, as well).

© Ingolfur Ragnar Axelsson Troll Expeditions

The fjords are distinctively known for being one of Norway’s greatest features. In late May and early June, fruit trees bloom by them and the climate in the mountains creates the perfect temperatures for growing apples and cherries. If travelers head to the Sognefjord area, they can sample last year’s blossoming of Norway’s famous tasty Eplemost (pure apple juice) by buying  homemade cider directly from locals.

Visitors can also leave the mainland and head out on to breathtaking Alta Fjord for a splendid evening cruise enjoying food and drinks while witnessing the low mountains and rugged coastlines dotted with typical Norwegian towns as you sit back and relax, watching the golden sunset on the horizon. A splendid Alta Fjord tour is designed to leave guests speechless.

© Icecube of Aurora

Traveling from the city of Bergen to Flåm allows visitors to discover Norway’s higher  mountains, towering waterfalls and deep fjords along the way, or venture to the famous Myrdalsberget area and bike down through 21 hairpin turns toward the Flåm River before embarking on an exhilarating RIB Safari on the Aurlandsfjord and Nærøyfjord, spotting diverse wildlife nestling there. Complete your summer day by capturing the most stunning scenery on the world-famous Flåm Railway.

In Iceland, when the warmer spring and summer weather starts to unfold, the charismatic birds known as Arctic Puffins begin to return to their nesting grounds and get comfortable for the summer. The areas have been quiet after their previous migration, so a visit in summer grants you a great chance to experience their exciting arrival.

The entertaining puffins arriving on the Icelandic shores at the beginning of spring every year make up 60 percent of their entire population. By boarding a ship in northern Iceland, visitors can cruise around Puffin Island, home to thousands of puffins. On the way back, keep your eyes peeled for minke whales, humpback whales, white-beaked dolphins and harbor porpoises.

© North Sailing

Another Nordic experience is visiting an authentic sauna retreat in Finland, sitting back in a lakeside wooden sauna and engulfing yourself in the warming steam. A Finnish sauna experience is not complete without a jump into the cold waters of the Arctic lake. Visitors should make sure they enjoy the use of the vita (a birch whisk used to massage the body), taste traditional reindeer sausages around the open fire and sip the local blueberry tea for a complete Finnish experience.

A scenic canoeing adventure on the rivers and lakes of Rovaniemi is a great way to combine sports and being outdoors, while being close to the wild nature of Lapland. A guide instructs and demonstrates the correct technique of paddling. You will be able to make stops by the shore of the river along the way to relax and admire amazing views, all while the guide handles everything, including transfers and canoeing equipment. No canoeing experience is necessary.

© Guided Fjord Tours

Kayaking in Sweden, within Stockholm’s beautiful archipelago, provides stunning views of the waters of this Nordic region. Travelers can start their summer adventure by experiencing a one-day kayaking tour among the islands and islets of the scenic Stockholm archipelago and witness the rugged land once used during the Viking age. With the sun on your back, wind in your hair and the simple silence of the calm waters, there is no better environment for a kayaking experience.