Fancy doing norway, Sweden and surrounding area this August...Anyone been that way before and have views on best way round? Quite fancy the northern lights too...Ill prob just take the 2 weeks off work, so have to factor in any ferries etc.

Thanks
HB

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The biggest problem is getting to Norway quickly. There is no direct ferry anymore so 2 options are open to you. There is the Harwich-Esjberg ferry (UK-Denmark) or a channel crossing. If you're riding something that eats up autoroutes then it'll take 2 or 3 days to get as far as Oslo in the south of Norway. From there I'd head up to Lillehammer and up onto the plateau. You can ride the Peer Gynt Veggen, which is a nice gravel road heading north. Then I'd head west to explore the Fjords. There is a lot of amazing scenery to see in and around this area and personally I wouldn't go much further north than Andalsnes on a 2 week trip, especially as it's your first time in Norway. You'll be stopping every 2 minutes to take another stunning photo! Heading out of Andalsnes you ride the Troll Stiggen on your way to Geiranger Fjord. On the road out of Geiranger, the 63 I think, you can stop at the highest point, Dalsnibba, for some great views down into Geiranger fjord. Then just ride around on some of the most amazing roads in Europe, it's all good. I envy you seeing it for the first time you'll be blown away!

Check this site for the weather in Norway...

Weather forecast for Norway – yr.no


If you're lucky and there is a stable high pressure between Iceland and Norway you can have some amazing weather. Otherwise it will rain. From my experience usually in the afternoon, if you're in the Fjords. Get on the road early and camp early. Don't let a bit of rain put you off though. You should get some good days in August.

Buy your in supermarkets. Get used to living on coffee and hotdogs from the petrol stations and you'll have a great time!

PS: you'll be about 5 or 6 months too late for the northern lights. You need to be up in Tromso in February for that action.

Flyingdoctor, Thanks very much for the insight...Again, the ferries to the most interesting places take up alot of the time and thats a pain when only taking 2 weks off.

Its still top of the list for places this year...was considering the balklands area to see how things have changed since my army days, but may save that for next year on a longer trip.

suppose i best get planning a route....

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I'm doing UK to Norway in two weeks holiday from work.

Leave Saturday- Harwich to Esjberg (DK) Ferry
Sunday PM: Ride through Denmark: Esjberg(DK) to Hirtshals (DK)
Monday AM- Hirtshals to Kristiansand (NO) Ferry
10 full days in Norway, going as far north as Trondheim, but if you were into mile munching, possible to do Nordcapp.
Following Thursday: Kristiansand to Hirtshals ferry
Fri-Sun Hirtshals to Germany, then Hook of Holland to Harwich. There is a ferry from Esjberg to Harwich on the Friday, that gets in for Saturday.

Monday: back to reality.

Hi HB,

I'm going back in June!

Harwich - Esjberg then across Denmark, up through Sweden to Norway, a week to reach Nordkapp and then return through Finland & Sweden. 3 weeks at around 200 - 250 miles a day.

Top tip, fill up at Statoil stations, buy a Statiol coffe mug for a few quid then it's free coffee at all other Statoils. Fuel stations are great places to get good, hot inexpensive food. Forget about dining in restaurants, and really is £9 a pint!

Nice gravel road through Grimsdalen just south of Dombas.

Midnight Sun in August so you'll not see the Northern Lights. If they're on
your bucket list, go Nov - Feb, fly into Tromso for 4 days for your best chance of seeing the spectacle.

Happy trails,

Jojo

Happy trails,

Jojo

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Not in my experience. I don't consider $23 for a hotdog inexpensive.

When in Norway, do as the Norwegians do and live on canned fish.

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Bon appetit
Peter

I found the quickest way to northern Norway was to go up through Sweden, Stockholm Umea Pitea etc. Dennis Mays

???? I've never paid $23 for a hotdog, it's more like NOK 23,-. Never paid £9 for a pint either, you must have visited some real touristy places. I'm not saying Norway isn't expensive, it is. But not that bad. A tourist trap is a tourist trap. You wouldn't judge the prices of Italy by the prices in central Venezia? And I don't know anyone who's main diet is canned fish...

That said, the questions that keep popping up here about North Cape (what is the big deal with that tourist trap?), UK ferries and camping have all been answered in extensio over at [url=http://www.ukgser.com]UKGSer

The last two weeks (19 days actually) of July this year:



Bit of a challenge I know, but no adventure if no challenge. I fully except that we will cut this route short. In particular the Baltics may be chopped off, but maybe everything from Nordcapp!!

That was at Karasjok in July '08 Thor - my first meal in Norway and the first and last time I ate at servos and paid NOK120 for the privilege.

The comment re canned fish was only a bit of a joke because I know how important the fishing industry is in Norway. Seriously though, if one does want to eat cheap then the best value food bar none is canned sardines - healthy, easily stored and non-perishable. I know many people don't like them but I always carry half a dozen cans with me on all my rides and then just buy bread rolls at the local bakeries/supermarkets.

If it wasn't for sardines I probably would never have gotten through the sahara - I don't know what it is like now but in the late '70s bread and sardines were just about the only foods available in Tamanrasset.

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You're nuts, but that you already know? ;-) It's probably no use telling you that you should spend all your time on the SW coast of Norway, or at least not go further North than Lofoten. Or that Nordkapp is the worst tourist trap? But at least let me suggest that you take the time to go the coastal RV17 from Trondheim to Bodø:
Kystriksveien Reiseliv

E6 is to be avoided at all cost. (That pretty much goes for anything E...) And coming down, you can speed through Sweden.

I'm in the process of planning a trip from Oslo to Lofoten in July myself, feel free to get in touch if you'd like a copy of my Garmin file or feedback on your own.

Anyway, hope you'll have a great trip in the sunshine, and that you're not fleeced too badly by the hot dog vendors!

Norway becomes ever more fantastic once you get a few hours North of Oslo and you start getting up into the mountains.

Sweden is very boring for a rider - it is very flat and they lack both the magnificent mountain ranges, windy roads and spectacular fjords and shore lines that Norway has. Rural policies also means that there are fewer villages, farms and built up areas

Finland is extremely boring - it is all pine trees and islands - the latter would be good if you were sailing, and the first is just dreary for a rider.

Denmark is very flat and heavily populated. It is a nice country to visit throughout, but not so much fun riding in.

In other words, you should prioritize Norway (Jotunheimen, Rondane, Western Norway, Arctic Highway). There is a book called Norway's Arctic Highway by John Douglas - you should get it, it will tell you everything you need to know.

On your liason to and from Norway you should ride for as fast and long as you can manage so that you can experience Norway.

As for the Northern Lights in August - forget it. Norhern Lights are mostly visible in the North, but you need it to be dark. The sun does not set in August that far North, not for a minute

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