Reader, Happy Spring! Hope everyone is feeling some sunshine wherever you are. We’re certainly appreciating the warmth, after doubling down on winter this year and spending it in Scandinavia and the Baltic States. It was chilly, but soooo worth it for the snowy adventures, northern lights, and lack of tourists as we traveled from Swedish Lapland to Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Germany. To make this 3,000-km, 7-country journey even more interesting, we did it all by train, getting to see each country’s beautiful landscapes and vibrant capitals.

By March, we were longing for sunny days and campervan living, so we headed south for an Iberian Peninsula road trip! We adore Spain and Portugal, and having the freedom to explore their lesser-known regions by camper made us love them even more!

In this newsletter, we’re excited to share our favorite European experiences from chasing the Arctic Circle auroras to strolling the Algarve seacliffs. So, however and wherever you’d like to travel in Europe, we’ve got some solid tips and inspiration for your journey in this new HoneyTrek dispatch!​
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Glamping Sweden

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The inspiration for this Sweden trip was to find out how one of the world’s most sustainable countries does glamping. Turns out, when a hotel celebrates locals and the environment, everybody's a happy camper!

Granö Beckasin, with its cozy cabins and pristine wilderness, was built with the idea of saving its dwindling village through community-based eco-tourism. Today, this riverside hamlet is a destination for adventure, relaxation, art, entrepreneurship, and a beacon of hope for more rural communities. Don’t miss this gallery for more on this heart-warming place and all our frosty adventures.

Heading deeper into Lapland, we found that the tiny village of Gunnarsbyn has attracted artists, adventurers, and entrepreneurs from 24 nationalities because here, anything feels possible. Have a talent? Share it. A big idea? Go for it. That’s why, when husband-and-wife team Jonas and Naila made the unlikely move from Kenya to Sweden to start their next safari camp, this inviting outpost seemed like the perfect place. See this gallery for all the Aurora Safaris magic, from watching Northern Lights in bed to wild foraging with a Sami culinary expert.

The Legendary Treehotel Commissioning Scandinavia’s leading architects, this family-run inn reimagined the simple treehouse into accommodations that have swept the travel awards and celebrity circles. See what it’s like to stay at one of the world’s most creative eco-retreats. Sleep in the Trees

Brrr-eautiful Arctic Bath Would you get into 3°C water…if it was this gorgeous and you knew there was a cedar sauna and a hot tub to warm you up? This video might change your mind. Next Level Ice Baths

Happiest Country in the World

A country that’s 75% covered in forest, surrounded by 50,000 islands, and home to more saunas than cars, Finland consistently ranks No.1 in the World Happiness Report by Oxford’s Wellbeing Research Center. To feel the merry vibes, we headed to Rovaniemi, the official hometown of Santa Claus, with its elf workshop, reindeer sleighs, Mrs. Claus bakery, and a post office that receives over 500,000 wish lists each year from kids around the world.

Our Finland exploration continued via the Santa Express train all the way to Helsinki. We hopped out at Central Station, designed by the world-famous Finn, Eero Saarinen, and it set the tone for Helsinki’s modern charms and this fine-tuned nation. See our gallery for Finland’s impressive architecture, unique character, and perhaps its secret to happiness.

Riding the EU Rails

Sure, taking a plane from Swedish Lapland to Berlin would have been faster, but where’s the fun in that? Getting a Eurail pass offered us a chance to see a new part of the world…eastern Scandinavia, the Baltic States, plus our beloved Poland, and had us arriving in Germany with more memories (and a much lower carbon footprint) than we’d ever get from a flight.

Staying a few nights in each country’s capital, we got a taste of their national history, culture, architecture, cuisine, and cosmopolitan living. While we always wanted to visit Tallinn, Estonia (one of the best preserved medieval cities in Europe), we might have never visited the fabulous cities of Riga, Latvia, or Vilnius, Lithuania and probably never seen the Baltic countryside if it wasn’t for this train route….and we’re so glad we did! Watch this video of our 7-country, 3,000km train adventure, with highlights from Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Germany.

Iberian Peninsula Camper Trip

Who doesn’t love the Iberian Peninsula, with its UNESCO cities, stunning beaches, charming countryside, and vibrant culture? Having lived in Spain and Portugal, and traveled there extensively, we can now say this region is even more incredible as a campervan trip!

We rented a house on wheels from roadsurfer’s Madrid office and headed south for Andalucia and the Algarve. With the freedom to take the backroads at our own pace, we discovered so many incredible places and met lovely locals along the way. When it came to finding campsites each night, we’d open the handy roadsurfer Spots app and find such unique places to stay! Like Alqueria De Los Lentos, a 16th-century grain mill at the foot of the Sierra Nevada Mountains with friendly horses and a hot tub…or Global Tribe, an eco-living community and biodynamic farm, who hosted a women’s circle that got me to dance, cry, and laugh with ladies I now call friends. So much more immersive than renting a car and staying at city hotels, this camper trip was full of unforgettable moments and off-the-beaten-track places we know you’ll love.

📣DEAL ALERT! To score your own camper for a Europe or North America road trip, use the code “HONEYTREK” to get 12% off (you can travel anytime this year, just submit your roadsurfer booking before May 31)​

Next Up? Africa!

Our global glamping journey continues to Africa–from top to bottom! We just landed in Morocco to check out a Berber camp that is setting new standards for sustainability in the Sahara. We have no doubt it will be fabulous, as will the cinematic town of Ait Ben Haddou (where films from Indiana Jones to the new Gladiator were filmed), and the dynamic Marrakesh. From there, we head to Kenya’s legendary Maasai Mara, and have plans in the works to overland from Namibia -> Botswana -> Zambia -> Zimbabwe -> South Africa. If you have any tips on any of the aforementioned countries, just reply to this email. We always love hearing from you!

Travel with love,
Mike & Anne