I'm planning a trip up into the Arctic Circle and thinking of using the Channel Tunnel then ride to Keil and take the ferry to Oslo and ride up through Norway, returning via Sweden & Denmark and ferry back to the UK. We have 3 weeks for this trip and the bikes are a Bandit 650s, CBF 1000 & a VFR800. My partner will be riding pillion so i dont want to load up with loads of camping gear. Now my question is will that time frame be long enough (want to limit the riding to about 4 - 5 hrs a day) and do some sightseeing and what would be the best route to take through Norway. Best places for stopover's?

If you are going as far as the edge of the Arctic Circle you should be able to do this round trip in about 4000 miles so in 3 weeks that's an average of about 200 miles per day (if you travel every day). Travel through Sweden is a bit boring if you ask me - long straight roads, lakes, trees and more lakes and more trees. The scenery and roads in Norway are, in my opinion, much more exciting. I would also highly recommend that you take your own stock of booze as Norway is really expensive and when I say really expensive I really do mean so expensive that it will make your eyes water to part with your krone for a pint.
Just a pity that DFDS no longer does its crossings to Sweden and Norway but at least you should get to cross the bridge between Copenhagen and Malmo - just a bit strange being out in the middle of the sea on a bridge.

If you count in time from the channel tunnel to denmark (two days minimum each way then at least one or two more days each way to reach Norway via Sweden -depending on how long you ride) (even the ride upto copenhagen from Keil is the best part of your 5 hour allowance) I think + fuel, food and sleepovers etc _it may be worth considering the DFDS ferry to Esberg (Denmark - Overnight) then travel to the northern tip of Denmark (4/8 hours depending how you ride and if you stop off - but while your here its worth stopping off a few places and stay a night) and ferry accross to Kristiansand (a few hours) - this then puts you straight into the best place to travel directly North through the Fjords (the best bit of Norway) There are numerous routes which if your interested I can suggest to you depending on time of year travelled etc etc). From here to the Arctic circle -I presume you mean the Arctic circle centre can be done return in 7 to 8 days but if you want to really take your time and ride only 4 or 5 hours a day I would allow 10 days. Distances in Norway are huge the roads slow and the stops Numerous (to look at the scenery) As a general rule of thumb if you ride 200 mile in the uk in 5 hours on A roads then in Norway I would think at best 150 mile is your distance in that time probably less - factoring in the roads, speedlimits stop offs and waiting for fjord hopper ferries. Once north of the Fjords on the E6 progress is much quicker but to be honest if your going to the Arctic circle it really is worth pushing on to Bodo and get a ferry to 'A' on the Lofotens take a day or two driving through the Lofotens and cross over to Narvic then back down to the south.
PS if by the Arctic circle you actually meant Northcape - a different place all together then you will need three weeks minimum for your journey - as that would be a lot further.(two weeks in Norway - again factoring in your mileage allowance) If you need any more advice on travelling in Norway PM me - but there will be plenty of people who can help. Look up Indu's guide to Norway on this site.

Your timing is fine.

I'd suggest crossing the Copenhagen-Sweden bridge, it's less hassle than ferries and an engineering marvel. A good short cut into Germany is the Puttgarten-Rodby ferry.

BTW, fit new tyres, Scandanavian roads are built for long life not low tyre wear. BMW Trondheim carried a decent selection, but it wasn't how I'd planned to spend the afternoon

Andy

Threewheel bonnie I thought about the Puttgarten ferry also - another good route but I came over that way last summer and there was a lot of major road works and diversions starting they were building a new motorway upto Puttgarten from the Hamburg direction - dont know if its built or being extended even more but going was pretty slow -maybe its completed now -knowing the German road-meisters.

Hello,
Strimstrum is right in saying the run up to the north will be boring if you are going to run up through Sweden.
Just so much more to see in Norway.
You could always use the Sweden run home when you have got to your northerly destination, through Norway.
Consider this route, Dover Calais, or similar, then ride to Fredrikshaven, which is almost the north tip of Denmark.
Then DFDS ferry direct to Oslo, this leaves around 17:30h and arrives in Oslo 09:00 i'sh next morning.
Feeling nicly refreshed, you can decide which way you want to head.
Now either hit the E6 there and then heading north, or shoot over to Stavanger or Bergen, then shoot north.
Heading north to Trondheim, onto Bodo, Narvik, Tromso, as far north as you like.
From the ferry at Oslo to Tromso, is 1000 miles.
I would work on an average speed of say 45mp/h, 70km/h, so driving speed would be about 50mp/h or 80km/h
The riding time is interuppted so many times, by the fact that you end up stopping so many times because it is so beautiful.
It is difficult not to stop, and simply ride on by.
Decent roads, and so much variety.

Sure Norway is expensive, but well worth a ride to the top.
Just cut down on the , at £6.00 a pint, it won't taste that good! fuel is around the same price as in UK. perhaps just 5p ¬ 10p a liter more, not too much though.


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'vette

Forget about paying £6 a pint just buy 500ml cans from the supermarket at about £1 a pop. Also if you're in a "big" city like Bergen check out when happy hour is, they give the stuff away! It's the price of meat that kills you. Frankfurters for 3 weeks for me! It's amazing how many ways you can cook them. Unless you're a millionaire you'll be camping or stopping in cabins. That's no problem though as they have some of the best camping anywhere. Most cabins have bunk beds and you'll just need your sleeping bag. A fridge and hotplate will be there too along with a lovely warm heater to dry all your kit. I'd take a cheap tent though in case you can't get a cabin. They're very popular at the weekend and are often pre-booked. Have a great trip.

Thanks for the replies, Now have some ideas to work with. Must admit i have been finding route planning in Norway tuff due to the distances involved. Im sure to have some more questions for you guys as i go along.

Hi Rob,
Any time you have the urge for questions, there are loads of people here in Norway, who will be only to happy to give whatever advice they can, , , , not meanung that you have to follow it though

Robbo, you may find this site useful...

Information about yr.no - English - yr.no

Yes,

yr.no is the best for weather info,

Here for Oslo.

Has good animations.

Weather forecast for Oslo – yr.no

Sorry, I believe you have been drinking non-alcohol ...

Lots of good info on Norway here: Norway and Scandinavia - ::. UKGSer.com .:: and here: Minutes of a Motorcycle Addict - Two wheels good trip. Four wheels bad trip.

Best riding is the west coast up to Ålesund. Stay away from E18 and E6. E39 has some really nice parts. Enjoy!