Andy Marshall
Brought up in Northumberland, Andy developed an early love for the outdoors, travel and adventure. He then pursued his passion and began a career in travel, later joining The Aurora Zone expert team to help those with a wish to see the Northern Lights.
Andy had previously never considered experiencing an Arctic-inspired holiday, but he has now been converted to the joys of winter travel and the thrilling activities on offer.
One of Andy’s favourite Arctic destinations is Luleå in Swedish Lapland. Here, he had the opportunity to drive a dog sled through a forest and onto a large frozen lake with the low sun casting a magical orange glow across the frozen white landscape. This was a truly magical experience. To top this off, after a wonderful dinner spent reflecting on the day’s activity the Northern Lights made a surprise appearance. This certainly was the icing on the cake of an incredible day!
Another stand-out destination for Andy would have to be Greenland. Flying over endless miles of sun-drenched mountains and ice before coming into land over the icebergs of Ilulissat will live long in his memory. He also had the chance to get up close to these majestic ice sculptures during a boat trip out into the mouth of the Ice Fjord. If the icebergs look big from a distance, up close they are staggering and majestic. The trip was topped off with an unusual evening of expressive theatre in the town. Not understanding a word of Greenlandic didn’t really matter. There was dancing, singing, much symbolism of icebergs and even some break-dancing. It was hugely enjoyable and a great insight into the way the community supports each other, thriving in this challenging environment.
Favourite Experiences
- Dashing out after dinner to watch the Northern Lights dance above Luleå in the depths of winter
- Travelling by hovercraft across the frozen Bothnian Sea
- Snowmobiling through the mountains surrounding Ilulissat – a true wilderness
- Learning how to master the art of dog sledding in the destinations he has visited