A road trip to discover a sublime Norway.
Starting from Bodø, this route takes bridges, underwater tunnels, ferries and ferries, to cross large wild spaces, between land and sea. It is common to come across whales, seals, sea birds, eagles, reindeer, etc., during sea excursions, kayaking, fishing trips, hiking or cycling.
By car we also stroll on 5 national panoramic roads (the country has 18) where the design of structures, belvederes, etc., invite themselves in this breathtaking landscape of natural nuggets.
Read also: Video: discovering Norway, our program
Km 0 - Take to the open sea in Bodø
Midnight sun on the ferry leaving Bodø, heading for the Lofoten Islands.
Tommy Andreassen / Northern Norway Tourism Board
Welcome to the Arctic Circle, where the famous Norwegian High North begins. Starting point of this road trip,
Bodø
was razed in 1940 by the German air force, then rebuilt after the war in a functional modernist style. The European Capital of Culture 2024 is a large port, administrative and university city, which also has a
NATO base
since the Cold War. An era evoked in the astonishing and rich Norwegian Aviation Museum
.
Another curiosity: a few kilometers to the south, one observes one of the strongest tidal currents on the planet, forming an incredible maelstrom in the thin Saltstraumen Strait. And without wasting any more time, we embark the car on a ferry, heading for the Lofoten Islands!
Km 100 - The wild beauty of the Lofoten Islands
The village Nusfjord in Lofoten.
Hallvard Kolltveit / Northern Norway Tourist_Board
The crossing lasts 3 hours and 15 minutes to the village of
Moskenes
,
the southernmost port of the famous archipelago. There begins an astonishing journey, swept by an often harsh weather, but embellished by a few rays of sun diffusing a curious golden light. The archipelago has several elongated islands, connected with bridges and crisscrossed by a National Panoramic Route going north over 230 km in sublime wild landscapes: vertiginous mountains with snow-capped peaks tumbling into the sea, jagged coasts with white sandy beaches, green sheep pastures, sparse groves and then this myriad of fishing villages with red wooden houses - the traditional
rorbuer
- flanked by fish driers.
At the southern end of Lofoten,
Å
is a charming village at the end of the world, nestled in an authentic juice, between sea and mountains. There, two interesting museums evoke cod fishing, a secular activity of the archipelago. Further north, with sea kayaking enthusiasts, taste the charms of Reine, another village nestled at the bottom of a fjord and overlooked by the highest mountains of the archipelago and climb the steep Reinebringen trail for a breathtaking view ! Still driving north,
Hamnøy
and
Sund
are two small postcard ports, while
Flakstad
beach
, a surf and paddle board spot, is a dream of white sand bathed in water at 10 ° C! The red cabins of the Nusfjord ecomuseum then immerse us in the life of a 19th century fishing village, lost at the bottom of a cove. And the Viking Museum in Bøstad recreates the home of a Viking chieftain on top of a hill overlooking the central Lofoten countryside.
Again white sand beaches with turquoise waters in
Utakleiv
and
Unstad
, well known to “wetsuit surfers” because they are washed down by the spray of the North Atlantic.
Then the hamlet of Eggum, at the foot of a vertiginous mountain, is bordered by another paradisiacal beach.
Henningsvær
then emerges
, the largest fishing town in Lofoten, anchored in the scent of dried fish and tar.
Next comes
Kabelvåg
, home to the beautiful 19th century wooden 'Lofoten Cathedral', not far from the Lofoten Museum
,
dedicated to fishing and old life.
Km 445 - Vesterålen, whale sanctuary
See whales on the Vesterålen Islands.
Marten BrilNorthern / Norway Tourist Board
The modern port of
Svolvær
marks the northern end of Lofoten, bordering the Vesterålen Islands, less extraordinary but not very touristy. Accessible by car (115 km and 1h45 by road), this archipelago remains a bastion of ancestral and distinctive whaling, reestablished with quotas in 1993 and arousing heated international controversy. While in summer whale steak is on the menu of Norwegian restaurants, here we marvel at these formidable cetaceans
.
While waiting for the opening in 2023 of The Whale museum, spectacular and design, aiming to inspire the sustainable protection of whales and their environment.
The Vesterålen also has a national scenic road that runs along the west coast of the island of Andøya, crosses fishing towns in sublime coastal landscapes, dotted with white sand beaches where seals and seabirds bask.
To be continued...
Travel diary - Roadbook
GO
When to go
: the best season for this road trip is summer, the temperatures fluctuate between 10 and 20 ° C during the day.
Entry formalities
: even if Norway is not part of Europe, it belongs to the Schengen area.
Check the latest health entry and travel conditions imposed by the Covid-19.
By plane:
Regular flights to Bodø from France, with a stopover at Oslo International Airport.
Bodø is also the northern terminus of the Norwegian rail network.
L
'
airport of Bodo is the front door of this roadtrip.
Car rental:
at Bodø airport.
On the way back, we leave the car at Alta airport
,
closest to the North Cape, to take a flight to Oslo, then France.
Information:
from the Tourist Office of Northern Norway and on visitnorway.fr
Cruise:
aboard the Hurtigruten Coastal Express
Norway's 18 scenic routes:
nasjonaleturistveger.no
WHERE TO SLEEP - WHERE TO EAT
Bodø - before taking the ferry to Lofoten Islands
Hotel
Clarion Collection Hotel Grand Bodø
:
beautiful, warm and comfortable rooms.
Clarion Collection Hotel Grand Bodø Storgata 3. Tel.
: + 47-75546100.
Double room from 130 €.
Good food
LystPa
: A
true institution in the center of Bodø, this restaurant serves inspired and tasty Nordic cuisine, in direct contact with the tide and the local terroir.
LystPa Storgata 7A.
Phone.
: + 47-75527070.
Price: à la carte from 40 to 70 €.
Information:
from the Bodø tourist office
.
Lofoten Islands - 3 nights
Hotel
A room at the Nusfjord Arctic Resort.
Hallvard Kolltveit / Northern Norway Tourist Board
Nusfjord Arctic Resort
:
beautiful charming rooms furnished with taste and all Scandinavian comforts in several authentic
rorbuer,
these traditional wooden cabins sown in a former fishing hamlet, on the edge of a picturesque micro-port.
Spa, excellent refined table,
Karoline
, with inspired arctic specialties.
Nusfjord Artic Resort, Ramberg.
Phone.
: + 47-76093020.
Price: double room from 265 €.
Good food
Kjoekknet:
fine cuisine from the Far North without fuss, simmered with choice ingredients and served at the water's edge, in an authentic, very cozy fisherman's hut.
Kjoekknet Lamholmen 1, in Svolvær;
Phone.
: + 47-76066480.
A la carte price from 45 to 70 €.
Information:
from the Lofoten Islands tourist office
Museums in the region:
museumnord.no
Vesterålen Islands - 1 night
Hotel
Scandic Sortland:
beautiful modern hotel located on the active port of Sortland.
Cozy and warm rooms, in a fairly neutral Scandinavian style, some equipped with kitchens.
Panoramic restaurant bar.
Scandic Sortland, Havnegata 3. Tel.
: + 47-76110602.
Price: double room from 130 €.
Good food
Nyksund Ekspedisjonen:
the safe
bet
of the archipelago, installed in a wooden house, with a terrace on this charming little port at the end of the world.
Delicious arctic dishes, fresh and well cared for.
Nyksund.
Phone.
: + 47-48118068.
A la carte price from 25 to 50 €.
Information:
from the Vesterålen Islands Tourist Office
.