I made a similar trip 3 years ago, Dieppe / Nederland / Germany / Danemark /
Sweden / Finland(Lapland) / Russian border / Norway (Nordkapp, Lofoten , Atlantic road) / S / DK / D / NL / F . (7500 miles 3 weeks R1200GSA)
All you need is:
A good bike (got it) , petrol was about the same price as France, maybe a bit dearer and petrol stations are nearly every 200 km as max ( never use my extra 3l can) . Fit new tires before leaving,roads are a bit more abrasive than UK ones.
Worm underwear combine (can be use for sleeping when camping). The temperature can drop very low even in june and some place still have snow on the side of the road (this year winter was late and very snowy)but road are clean and dry (sometimes yes sometimes no).Summer gloves and silk undergloves are usefull (i even took my winter ones so you have allways dry gloves). A very good rainproof suit ( and boots) , in Norway you will not have rain allday (well..) but every day you will have a shower (or 2) . On my way up in Sweden and Finland ,i had sometime 23/24° (c) but in Norway the average was 12/13°(c) during the day .
Food is easy to find ,every village have a small COOP .(If you like fish you can bring a small fishing gear (only in sea water)) . Take a thermos bottle with you.
Cabins are comfortable ,but don't arrive too late at the camp site or you won't get one (or only the more expensive ones will be avaliable).
To prepare my trip i went on "nasjonaleturistveger.no" and download maps and details of the site to visit, very useful .Be ready to take sometime up to 7 ferries in a day with different duration of crossings (10mn to 3 hrs) not too expensive.
I'm sure you'll have a wonderfull trip because it's very very wonderful country .
Ride safe and cool.
Roger

Many thanks for your replies. They are all very useful and informative.

Since starting this thread I have found that the 2018 Pan Gathering is to be held in Norway. While I expect it to be held more in the southern half of Norway - perhaps to include a ride out to the Arctic Circle, but I wouldn't expect anything further North - I have decided that I will ride Norway in 2018, combining it with the Pan Gathering and extend my visit either arriving in the country early or leaving it late and I will ride to Nordkapp during that visit.

In the mean time I have booked up for the 2016 Pan Gathering in Leon, Spain and I am planning a scenic route - taking in the Millau Viaduct - en-route to Leon.

Hi RachelAnne,

This must be a classic case of "two stones with one bird", anytime you are welcome.
Wishing you weatherluck.

Safe travels,

Peter, in Oslo

It is rather, Peter. I'd been keeping an eye on the Pan Gathering as a back-up plan

I too am trying to plan a trip to NordKapp around the same time as you... I will however be taking the overnight freight ferry from Immingham to Brevik and cut out the ride through Denmark and Netherlands...
Perhaps our paths will cross???

Just read your last post so maybe our paths will not cross ;-)

You never know what the future brings - if things were to go really well I could still be there next year as well as doing the Pan Gathering

RachelAnne (and Zedos too if you find it helpful), I've done almost exactly the same trip last year in 20 days starting from Dublin though which doesn't add much to the journey.

It was more than do-able, in fact in Norway I've really enjoyed the ride without being too much in a hurry. Yes the way back was just clocking the miles but it was more about Norway, not the way back.

I took Dublin>Holyhead>Harwich>Hook of Holland>Hirtshals>Kristiansund>(western fjords)>Trondheim>Bodo>Narvik>Alta>Nordkapp>Kirken es>(via Finland to Helsinki)>Stockholm>Malmo>Hamburg>Brussel>Cherbour g where I took a ferry back to Ireland.

If you do decide to do the trip next year will be happy to answer any questions - you're also free to check my blog at rideinwild.com as I described this journey there too!

It is starting to look like I may well be undertaking my Nordkapp trip this year after all.

My plan involves setting out from home on the 1st July and hopefully being back home on the 18th July - certainly by the 20th July (as I'll be back at work on the 21st July. Obviously a trip of some 5000 miles in 18 to 20 days is going to involve a high daily mileage rather than pottering around taking in all the culture, but that is what I like to do.

Anyway, from those 18 days I anticipate landing in Langesund, Norway on the 3rd and taking an overnight ferry from either Turku or Helsinki, Finland to leave me the last 3 days to ride home from Stockholm.

That leaves me 12 days to have a relatively slow ride up through Norway on this (initial) route and back down through Finland on this (initial) route.

I don't want to 'race' the Finland leg so I am thinking 4 days to do that, which leaves me 8 days to do the Norway leg (which is what my trip is all about).

That obviously works out as an average of just over 200 miles/day in Norway.

Is this a reasonably achievable target as I've described it and if I were to choose to have a day (or a couple of half days) off, would it still be achievable?

As I say, I know it's covering a lot of ground, but that is what I like to do.

Yes, no problem.

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HansP
All you wanted to know
about riding in Norway

In June 2013 i made a similar trip from Dieppe (F) via NL D DK S FIN N up to Nordkapp and down along the atlantic road via Lofotens , 1 week up to Nordkapp and 2 weeks back down to Dieppe 11000 km. it's easily achievable, the only problem is now i want to do 3 journeys of 3 weeks each minimum in Norway Sweden and Finland. Have a nice trip in fantastic Scandinavia.
Roger

Thanks Roger, how about doing the route in reverse if you want similar journeys?

I'm lucky because I work a 4 on, 4 off shift so I can have 2 shifts (8 days) off and it gives me 20 clear days

I've now got some route plans and would appreciate it if somebody could tell me if this is still a viable plan please. I am looking at doing the 1745 miles from Langesund to Nordkapp in 7 day (having arrived at Langesund on the 13:30 ferry from Hirtshals.

Day 1 (3rd July)
Day 2 (4th July)
Day 3 (5th July)
Day 4 (6th July)
Day 5 (7th July)
Day 6 (8th July)
Day 7 (9th July)

I am thinking that if this is viable I could reward myself by 2 nights in a hotel at Nordkapp, instead of the camping and cabins of the rest of my trip

Hi RachelAnne,

I'm also planning on riding up through Norway in the latter part of May/June timeframe. I'm an American living in Panama and have ridden Argentina to Alaska, and last year eastern Europe. I left my bike in Frankfurt, and will be leaving from there in the middle of May. I'm not in too much of a rush and like flexibility. I've found that some of my best travels have been to places I never even heard of a few days before.

I generally ride solo, but also enjoy riding with others for some stretches. I think the most important thing in riding with someone else is to be honest about your riding and traveling styles and not be offended if they aren't compatible. If it works... great. If you're too different... have a and part friends.

That being said, if you would like to try to meet up along the route (I'll be heading north in Norway, then back south through Finland) let me know and we can see about arranging it.

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Steve Barnett
Panama City, Panama

Hi Steve, obviously you're going up through Norway a few weeks ahead of me but because I'm looking at travelling fairly quick up through the country our paths may well cross (or even on the return leg through Finland). It would be great to meet up and ride together if mutually convenient

Keep in touch. Dress warm

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Steve Barnett
Panama City, Panama