Finland

A twig snaps in the distance and birds begin to circle ominously overhead. I hold my breath, keeping my eyes peeled for a flash of fur. We are in prime brown bear territory in Kainnu, Finland's northern-most region, just 2km from the Russian border.  There are only two inhabitants per square kilometre in Kainnu, which is the size Belgium. The plan is to spot more bears than people.

Forget climbing to Everest Base Camp or mountain biking down Bolivia’s Death Road.  Go adventuring off the beaten track with our list of This year’s adventure travel destinations, and you’ll easily be the backpackers with the best story at the bar.  From sandboarding the world’s biggest dunes to climbing inside a volcano, here are the top ten adventurer’s travel destinations.

There are many things that Finland does well - saunas, vodka, the hippo-like Moomins - but arguably it's the country's wild landscape that shine brightest. Nicknamed the 'land of a thousand lakes' (although it would be more accurate to say 188,000 lakes), Finland is blessed with natural good looks. Saimaa, the largest of the country's lakes, lies to the east while to the north is Lapland (more on that later), a winter wonderland high above the Arctic Circle.

What are you doing this evening? Bet they won't be as memorable as catching a glimpse of the magical Northern Lights after a day cross-country skiing through stunning scenery or after tackling a World Cup slalom in a frozen forest.  Unlike the Alps, Scandinavian countries can add more to your winter experience.  The snow here last for up to six months, and it offers more than a day on the piste, with some amazing adventures.

An unmissable new feature has been recently added to Helsinki’s skyline.  Like the London Eye there is the Finnair Sky Wheel that ferries passengers 40 metres above the city from the Market Square pier and offers a bird’s eye view of all the capital’s landmark such as Helsinki Cathedral and the imposing Parliament House.  Also on view is Helsinki’s coastline, which weaves in and out of harbours with sailing boats, pleasure yachts and winter-ready icebreakers jostling for space.

Forget the rivers of Venice, the city of Paris and Germany and go somewhere where the temperature forces you to be closer to each other. Hotel Kakslauttanen in Finland offers this unique experience with their Glass Igloos rooms and other ice experiences.  The Kakslauttanen Hotel in Saariselka, Lapland, has crafted deluxe, window-roofed igloos in which couples can fall asleep or in love beneath the Northern Lights.