Norway trip
 

Hi guys
I am planning a trip to Norway with another friend by motorbike. I request all the gurus to guide me please.

About the number of days required, places and roads that should not be missed cost essential requirements etc. Please tell me about the best ferry routs from Inverness to Norway as well.

Any information is most welcome?

Thanks
Badrakumar

Hi

.... get a guidebook for the sightseeing :D

.... don`t speed :nono:, f******* expensive

.... take a lot of cash with you bier

.... don`t ride the E 6 , very boring :(

.... ride the RV17 :scooter: Kystriksveien - the coastal route - accommodation, activities and attractions along the Nordland coastline in Norway

.... take always the roads which are banned for mobilhomes :funmeteryes:

Norway is a beautiful country

Have fun and happy trails

Thomas

Apparently there are currently no ferry routes between Norway and the UK. There used to be one (Bergen/Stavanger <—> Newcastle), I´ve actually used it in 2005, but it was stopped a couple of years ago. But new lines come and go all the time. Check out: www.ferrylines.com for the current situation.

Hi,
I am doing a pre RTW this summer, and plan to go up through Norway; I'm leaving from Northern Ireland so worse than you.
However, I want to look at Holland and Denmark too, so will just do the boring run down through Engand.
Have all the ferries stopped running from Orkney and Shetland? What a shame.

William.

Here is my tripreport from my trip to Norway.
Jan Krijtenburg homepage (Travel pages)
Maybe you can get some useful information from it.

Norway is a real motorcyclists country. Great roads through beautiful nature and friendly people that often speak good English.
But bring your raingear because the weather is not always good !

Hi!
Here's a tip from a norwegian newspaper, which lists what it claims to be Norway s' best mc-rides.
It's in Norwegian, but you can get a fairly good translation by using google translate. If you have questions, I'll answer if I can :)
The article lists scenic roads from all parts of the country.

Norges beste MC-turer - VG Nett om Bil og trafikk

Enjoy bier

Hi Badrakumar we met about two years ago up at the scottish mini meet on the ride out. I am coming back up to the meet (i hope ) this year. I have toured Scandinavia and Norway top to bottom numerous times and am sure I could give you quite a bit of information if you wanted any help - I can also lend you an excellent set of large scale maps if you want. If your going to the mini meet let me nknow and I can pop my maps in the bag for you. Jake.

All you need to know about riding in Norway here: www.ridenorway.com


Welcome!

Hi
Thanks for remembering. Where and when is the scottish mini meet this year?

Yes any information about norway will help. Please. Thanks.
Badrakumar

Hi Badrakumar, the mini meet is at Cannich campsite Friday 18 May. Informal do camping a few beers and a few faces old and new getting together its been kindly arranged by Bruce and Angus.

I live in Norway and would definately ride up the west coast. You ca easily start from Bergen and just move on upwards. Depends a bit how far up you would go, but here are some ideas.
- Start in Bergen, visit Flåm and Nerøyfjord area
- Keep going north by Stryn and visit Geiranger, take the ferry on the Geirangerfjord
- Visit hotel Union Øye at Øye (google it)
- from hotel Union Øye you can go to Stranda where you take the ferry and do the Trollstigen road (winterclosed till end of May).
- Visit Ålesund and have a nice meal there. From late June there are some nice boat excursions from Ålesund (Especially a RIB excursion to bird sanctuary at Runde)
- Further north through the Atlantic road (Atlanterhavsvegen)
- From there continue north and from Steinkjer or Namsos you should head out to the coast again. Keep in mind that there are lots of ferries and traffic are generally slow and you need more days than you would guess.
- The remote islands of Vega, Træna, Lovund and the Sanna (*) is worth a visit if you have time.
- Near Bodø you will cross Saltstraumen (recommended)
- In Bodø there is a nice aviation museum
- From Bodø you can take the ferry out to Lofoten islands. That is a great area which is a must to see. Depending on how much time you got - think about visiting Verøy at the tip of Lofoten (ferry only one time per day and requires one night there).
- Å, Svolvær, and lots of nice places to visit. If you have time - check out the smaller roads heading to the west coast.
- Lots to see in this area and you need some days in Lofoten, vesterålen area. Whale safaris if you are into wildlife.
- from here and up I am a bit blank till NorthCape which is nice (Except the £20 fee to get in to the cape itself).

Hi Badrakumar

I had a great run through Norway a few years ago. My tips are:
- take a bottle of Bushmills with you. Open it each evening outside your tent and you will make friends for life
- stay in the Hutte (variety of wee huts which come in all shapes and sizes) as it is real fun and they are cozy. If you are going early in the season (June) do a bit of polite haggling - I always got them a bit cheaper than the asking price
- wash in the public loos. They are cleaner than you will believe. I even found one with aftershave (honest). I always felt I had to polish the loo seat before I LEFT!
- buy your grub in the supermarkets. Drink the coffee at the Statoil stations. I met some great folk over a coffee and the further north you go - you will see them again and again (like me you will probably end up eating with a new friend when you reach Nordecape)
- wild camp if your into that. Fresh air was invented in Norway
- remember the Fjiords are salty! On day one I rode a few hundred miles, found a quite siding to stick my tent up, got the kettle on only to find when I went for water at the 'nice lough' there was seaweed on the shore. Dooh!!
Have a great time

GS

Stay healthy and happy. The rest is a bonus.

Technically not a ferry, but it can still get you there ...

DFDS Seaways' Brevik - Immingham freight ferry shipping route - DFDSSeaways.com/Freight

^ Yep, that route is worth noticing. But also to keep in mind, like you said, that it´s not like a regular passenger ferry line, may not be cheap, and has very limited number of cabins (and truck drivers probably will have priority in bookings). So contact the company well in advance.

It's cheaper than the Harwich - Esbjerg ferry.
Freight does have priority but i've not heard of any issues with it.

Ferries - harwich esbjerg shouldn't be too bad with 2 of you if you book well enough in advance - paid about £150 return last june in a group. Worked out cheaper than tunnel + fuel. It's really expensive on board though for food & drink, think £5 a pint.
From Esbjerg go north, various ferry routes to Norway from Fredrikshaven

You can always go Newcastle (north shields) to Amsterdam ( Ijmuiden) Cos its a long miserable ride from Scotland down to Harwich. Wheras at least its a nice ride ( 1 day) from Amsterdam north around the coast of holland to Germany and up into Denmark. Ferries still quite expensive.

We will arrive on June 2nd in Stavanger and start from there all the way up to Hammerfest and then into Finland, Russia etc...

This is our idea of route, after checking with a bunch of really nice Norwegian guys on another forum. Just copy paste the link into google and you should be able to see the route...:

http://www.wanderingsouls.be/allerlei/NORWAY.GPX

We planned on doing this in three weeks, so if anybody is up to it, we will be along this track from June 2 till June 23 something like that, feel free to contact us to hook up!!! We will be two and both driving DRZ's 400E :scooter:

Hi Jake
The mini meet is likely to clash with my other holiday plan. But will get in touch closer to the meet. Inverness is on the way to Cannich.
Regards
Badrakumar

Newcastle to Amsterdam ferry operate convenient hours. You wake up fresh to take the road. Let me sit on the desk and do some planning.
Thanks everybody for all the suggestions

Wife, dog and myself visited Norway with Motor home late August/early September last year. It was very wet in the western fjords. Apparently the Nordkapp had a nice dry summer! Supposedly the wettest summer in living memory.

I plan on returning this year with the bike.

Norway is pretty expensive and the Norwegian Kroner has increased in value against the Euro since we were there, plus fuel has universally increased in price. Last year, diesel was 23% more expensive than in Germany (but diesel in Germany is cheaper than petrol in Germany - unlike in the UK). Top up your fuel in Hirtshals before the Colorline Ferry crossing to Norway.

Food is 2-2.5 times more expensive than in Germany (but German food prices are probably cheaper than in the UK). Buy a mug of coffee at the Statoil station and get free coffee top ups for the year (or as long as your holiday lasts). Take as much of your food and booze with you. Buy fresh foods at the local supermarkets. Tap water is OK to drink. No need for bottled water.

We went Hirtshalls (Denmark) to Larvik (Norway) and would have preferred to return via Christiansand/Hirtshals, but it was fully booked for vehicles.

Don't speed as a speeding fine will seriously damage your wallet and enjoyment of Norway. Speed limit is generally 80km/h (50 mph) except on the motorway, which is usually 100km/h Larvik to Oslo.

Norwegian school holidays start mid June and many Norwegians head south. Road from Larvik to Oslo on Sunday evening was very slow due to the Norwegians returning from their weekend cottages and caravans in the summer.

Scenery is spectacular. Take your time. Many high level passes are closed until beginning June due to snow (especially the fun hairpin roads).

Norwegians all very friendly and most speak good enough English and are very helpful.

If on a bike, you won't pay road tolls or the environmental tolls at the entrance to large cities like Oslo, Stavanger, etc. But you will have to pay a toll for the tunnel to Mageroya (Nordkapp) plus an exhorbitant fee to visit the artificial structures at the 'official' Nordkapp itself for 48hours. The Mageroya toll is due to be removed once the construction costs have been repaid late 2012/2013.

I think there is one other toll for bikes around about Trondheim. You have to pay for ferries of course, but cheaper than cars, etc.

Wild camping is allowed 150m away from the nearest buildings, cropped fields, gardens, etc. for one night. Official camp sites usually have free WiFi included in the price. Showers may or may not be extra.

Great biking roads and scenery. Enjoy.

Grey Beard

Yep, it is popular in season with lots of folks travelling south from Scotland to take this route; I suggest you also check if anyone is running a ferry route between the Firth of Forth and the continent - this has been a "summer only" option in the past - never used it, but I think it has been offered by DFDS (could have been P&O?).

ps Greybeard provides a good summary; Stavanger comes across as even more expensive than the rest of Norway because of its use as a base for the oil industry - about 6 years ago, a steak and chips + 1/4 bottle of wine came in at £86 per head, purchased in a hotel near the harbour.

It looks like I have chosen an expensive destination for my first European trip. But it is a safe country I understand from all of you. Of course plenty of natural beauty. I am also reading Lonely Planet as well.

Recently I changed my Transalph to BMW R1200GS not the adventure version though because of height issues. So to get used to the bike I am planning a trip to Brighton.

Please pour me with more info. Every bit of information I get from this forum is useful.

Thanks
Badrakumar

Brighton.
 

Give me a pm before you get to Brighton and we can meet for a chat, maybe also get some other HU sleepers in Brighton area to join in. I live 5km along the coast. Lindsay.

Thanks for this info. I will explore this option and see if it works out well.
Badrakumar

Yes Love to meet some friends.

I will be leaving Inverness on Saturday the 5th May. Will get in touch closer to the date. Thanks

Mini Meet.
 

Hi, I don't have a diary with me but if you're here on a weekend it could easily be made into a pub mini meet. Cross fingers for the weather!!!!!! Lindsay.

any good fishing where you are Linzi??:blushing:

Literal?
 

Hi Bertrand, if you mean that literally it would seem to be yes. I don't fish, but there are lots of sea fishermen/women who use both the shingle beaches around Newhaven and the pier. Real fun could be had on a hired mackeral boat I suspect. Most fishing in Brighton seems to be more for partners.

Incidentally, my use of a seemingly female username has haunted me ever since I decided to respell my name (Lindsay is a male name in Scotland), so that I wouldn't forget it! That shows some considerable lack of confidence in my own memory. But what am I to do now? A new, more appropriate, username with the lower line stating that "he" used to be "Linzi". I'd just be digging myself in deeper, and I live near Brighton, too much explaining to be done. As they say,"One's born every day". Ciao, Lindsay

ta 4 fishing tip - yes I do like to drop a line in now and then! can't beat free fresh fish!:Beach:
Your username can be changed but only by Grant- drop him a pm with your new chosen name and I am quietly confident he'll sort it-
Just pm your friends re new name- end of!

I am likely to hit brighton on 6th or 7th depending on the weather. I can give you a shout when I am in Brighton. I will be staying in my friends place in shoreham. I have sent you a personal mail too

You can go Immingham to Brevik, Norway.

vette

Met Lindsay at Brighton and just returned yesterday after meeting friends and their family along the way.

Loads of useful information from Lindsay. Thank you very much.

I was able to drive up to 375 miles in a day. But comfortable with 250 to 300 miles on motor-way. Non-motor-way should be less. Understood my physical capacity and bike well.

I am planning to give up doing all the way to Nordkapp as most of the attraction is in southern Norway. There is time constrain this year due to work commitments. So have to plan for next summer.

I think it is going to be difficult to make it to the mini meet. If you are driving via Inverness. Let me know. I will try and meet you. I work monday to friday till 6pm.

I will look at the mini meet thread as well.

scandinavia
 

Hi I did a full tour of finland, norway sweden denmark a few years ago on my goldwing 1500..

Some cheap places to stay ...try the internet hotels .com.......
Mainly stayed in the camping huts. Standards varied but reasonably priced... Very best with ensuite etc cost 50 euro..

Nordkapp is a must.... Midnight sun etc....


PS Its cold in nortern norway even in midsummer. Message me if you want more info. John

scandinavia 2
 

Forgot to say...

Early morning boat to stranraer or carnryan from Larne/ Belfast.

THen dfds boat overnight to Amsterdam from Newcastle. price it out... not cheap but may save you time as well as money compared with dover calais.


John

Hi!
I have ridden some of the recommended trips and they were beautiful. Could certainly tell you more and even translate the report´s most important aspects...
Just be aware of the fact that almost everything is expensive and that it is common to have sheep going freely on the countryside.
Cheers from Sweden, Toby

I hope to make it this year. This route appears suitable. I have spoken to DFDS and they are going to send me a booking form. But the booking will be confirmed only in june. They will start the summer time table in June. So have to wait till that time.

Any better suggestions keeping in mind me from Inverness

Thanks

Dear Indu
I read your site. It is fantastic. It is lonely planet for Motorcycle riders.
Thanks
Badra

Hi Badrakumar
What time of year are you planning on going ?
Would you be interested in company on the trip?

We are planning in August.

You could join us. Where are you coming from? You have to tell me about you.

Unfortunately i'm busy in August, was hoping to go in June.
My name is John & I'm from London born here & lived here all my life (58 years).
Married, 4 kids,3grandkids.
Love riding my BMW R1200RT, I'm a member of the Iron Butt club.
Enjoy touring, done a bit but not that much, don't really like camping but will do it if it's the only option.

Thanks Badrakumar - glad my page is helpful. There's also a Norway page here on HU which contains a majority of the same info - so as always: stay tuned to Horizons Unlimited :)

Hi John
Thanks for the introduction. Sorry, unfortunately my buddy could not take off in June. So we have to stick to August.

Hi pandits

I am an Indian Passport holder and living in UK on Permanent Residency VISA. I do have to take a Norway VISA to travel.

I bought my bike in UK with UK registration and have full UK licence.

I read through the Carnet de Passages en Douane in this site. Just clarify to me if I need a Carnet de Passage for my trip to Norway.

Please opine

Hei Badrakumar,
No Carnet necessary for Scandinavia.
Driving Licence, may be smart to have an International Driving Licence in case you have an accident - it's not mandatory.
Registration docs,
Green Card, proof of valid insurance.
Big smile - gets you everywhere.

Velkommen

Peter, in Oslo

Hi Peter
What is this green card? Could you explain please
Thanks
Badra

Green Card
 

Hei Badrakumar,
Short answer: Green Card (it's green) is the name of the certificate your insurance company issues for travel in european countries confirming that you have adequete cover for any damage you might cause to another person or thing. It used to be free, probably not anymore.

Long answer: International Motor Insurance Card System - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

To your list of documents you should add a couple of standard accident forms - that way you know what you are signing, and have some idea of what your opponent is stating.

Watch out for both wild and domestic animals using the roads, your Green Card and accident report won't help very much if you hit an elk.

Have a good trip

Peter, in Oslo

Peter Thanks

Dear Everybody and friends from Norway
Please look at the link and Tellme if this trip is doable or am I too ambitious for a 2 week trip

Any suggestion will help

https://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?ms...3fcd4dff&msa=0

Thanks Badrakumar

There is some problem in Google maps. It is leaving out some routs when you save it at the end. So I have re done it and a small part of the trip was left out. See the link. below
https://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?ms...5123,19.665527

Everywhere is beautiful in Norway but if you have the time, do consider a detour west between Lom and Dombas via Gerainger and the Trollstigen. Exceptional beauty and great riding.

http://wildmania.smugmug.com/Other/S...DSCF1422-L.jpg

http://wildmania.smugmug.com/Other/S...DSCF1405-L.jpg

http://wildmania.smugmug.com/Other/S...DSCF1404-L.jpg

There's also a cool road called the Friiswegen that cuts across from the 3, just north of Koppang across to Ringebu. Might be a more scenic route to run down the 3 from Alvdal and turn right near Atnmoen then left onto the Frisswegen at Hirmoen. It's a fantastic ride up and across a really scenic plateau. It'll bring you out onto your planned route at Ringebu. There's some pictures and videos if you google "Friiswegen".

My experience in 2010 here. Norway starts on page 3.

Edit: make that all in reverse i.e. from Ringebu to Atnmoen. I was assuming you were travelling in the other direction.

Great suggestion Wildman.
Will incorporate it in the route plan. I have located the position in google maps and put it in list.
Thanks

Trollstigen & Geiranger
https://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?ms...05ac1078&msa=0

Ringebu to Avdal
https://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?ms...85a95db1&msa=0

Hello friend

Your suggested route is not ambitious at all. I think it could be done in 3-4 days in fact.

But since I am a norwegian I take the opportunity to give you some suggestions on other routes.

First of all: At which point do you entry Norway? And from which point do you plan to exit from here?

I see that you dont plan to go further north than Trondheim. That is a pity because you miss the most exiting part of Norway - northern Norway!
You will miss route 17 - kystriksveien - the coastal highway from just north of Trondheim to Bodø. You miss Lofoten, Vesterålen and Senja - concidered one of the most scenic places in Norway - if not the most scenic of them all. They are all islands along the northern coast. You miss the city of Tromsø - also called the Paris of Scandinavia. You miss Nordkapp - Northcape. You miss Finnmark - the northernmost county with sami people and reindeers, you miss Varangerhalvøya - the northeasternmost part of Norway and Finnmark county with exotic places as Kirkenes - the bordertown to Russia, with street signs both in norwegian and russian (kyrilic) script. The town called Vardø - as remote as you can get in Norway (dont miss the Northpole pub...) and the abandoned fishing village of Hamningberg - a real pitoresque place, with road sign: "End of Europe". And you will for sure feel being at the end of Europe when youre there.

There also some missing routes in southern parts of Norway. The road between Oslo area to the city of Stavanger called "Suleskardveien" - a real scenic route and with just a short detour you can reach Lysefjorden, Kjæragplatået - where all the cliffjumpers/basehoppers jump off the cliff with the same name.
Another very scenic route is from the Oslo area crossing the mountainarea of Valdresflya, then through valleys, then through to Geirangerfjorden and further to Trollstigen which Wildmen have posted photos from earlier in the thread. Further on that route you can drive along the Atlantic-ocean road (Atlanterhavsveien) to the town of Kristiansund. From there to Trondheim its just half a days ride.

You can do all this in 2 weeks, if you return through Sweden. The return will only take 2 long days with a little open throttle from northern Norway to southern Sweden.

If you need further advise - feel free to ask.

And please excuse my poor english skills.....:blushing:

Regards from Snakeboy

PS: I live in Oslo and can offer guiding in Oslo and possible accomodation.

Dear Sanke boy
Let me go home and work on your suggesitions on the googlemap and plan the routes over the weekend.

I am thinking of going by ferry to Brevik form UK and return from Brevik.

Thanks for your Suggesitions and will get back to you.

Not quite. This is the Frisswegen:

http://wildmania.smugmug.com/Other/A...5.32.03-XL.png

Thanks Wildman. I have noted this suggestion

Dear Snakeboy
We are planning up to Trondheim. From there Bodo is little more than 700k. My buddy is a beginner. So I do not know how much we can do up north. But will keep the route in mind. I have to be little flexible.
Thanks for the suggestions though

Dear Snakeboy and Wildman and all

Below is the list of places we are planning to driving through. Please give me your suggestions

Brevik
Geilo
Oslo (Skip Oslo?)
Lillehammer
Ringebu Detour to Avdal via Frisswegen 105km (https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?clien...oe=UTF-8&ie=UT F-8&ei=pww9UZuDCO-Q7AbgnYGwBg&ved=0CAsQ_AUoAg)

Roros Consider Kristiansund via Atlanterhavsveien (Atlantic Ocean Road)
Trondheim > Bodo 722KM ?possible, too north, Loften Further north Instead we will include Kristiansund via Atlanterhavsveien
Oppdal
Dombas De tour to Trollstigen and Geiranger (https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?clien...ed=0CAsQ_AUoAg)
Otta
Lom
Ovre Ardal
Bergen
Stavanger > Lysefjorden
Brevik

We are planning Boat from Hull to Brevik via the fright ferry (DFDS)

Hai Peter
I spoke to my Insurance company about green card. For Norway it is not necessary according to them.

Where do I get the "standard accident forms"?

Thx

Hi there Badrakumar

Ok if you choose not to travel northern Norway you really miss a lot. But if you have limited time I can understand you.

Your route seems fine to me.

Brevik - Geilo (why go to Geilo?) is ok.
Geilo - Oslo is ok. If youre not stopping in Oslo for sightseing theres really no nead just to drive through here. But its easy and quite ok just drive through.
Oslo - Lillehammer - Ringebu is ok. The route from Oslo - Lillehammer - Ringebu is on route E6 i presume? Its the main road and just transport...and thus a little boring. - Friisveien - Alvdal - Røros - Trondheim is ok. From Røros to Trondheim there is 3 different routes. The shortest is to drive back south a little to Tynset and then to Ulsberg where you reach route E6 again. The second is via Ålen and then along the river Gaula to Støren - route 30 and then to Trondheim. The third option is really remote - route 705, go east of Røros almost to the Swedish border along lakes, mountains and then the river Nea to the lake Selbu (Selbusjøen) to Stjørdal - a bit north of Trondheim.
Trondheim - Kristiandsund can be nice. The route E139 is ok.
Then drive Kristiandsund - Atlanterhavsveien - Molde - Åndalsnes - then Trollstigen - Geirangerfjorden - Lom.
You mention Otta before Lom but Otta is far further from Lom and will be a meaningless detour as far as I see it....
I suggest you go from Lom and then your planned tour to Øvre Årdal - Bergen.
Bergen - Stavanger - ferry to Lysefjord - then I suggest you drive Suleskardveien to Dalen or Bø and then turn south to Brevik.

standard accident form
 

Same place - your insurance company. Europe and Scandinavia use these forms - where you fill out all the details of the incident, ticking boxes and marking point of impact on little drawings, with a rough map of the situation. Insurance companies use these to assess blame and compensation.
Suprised you don't have them in the UK, they are international, and you can fill it out if you have an english language one, as can the nitwit who knocked you over using their version to translate.
These forms are not mandatory, just very useful if you have cause to use one.
Enough gloom, your route plan looks very well thought out, Norway is best on the roads less travelled, just don't rush. No gaurantees about the weather, you take your chances along with the rest of us. Rain gear and wool underwear for the high areas and shitty weather, even midsommer can be a challenge in one area, and lovely weather in the next valley.
Your boat is very noisy, containers squeeking and banging against eachother, take earplugs. One time we had really bad weather, rolling all over the North Sea, I never left my bunk, but the bike was professionally secured, ask the crew for help.

Have a great trip

Peter, in Oslo

Hello everyone,

I don't mean to be a troll and highjack this discussion, but I am going on a similar trip (mid June - mid July) and there is a lot of good info in here.

I really hope and look forward to bump into some of you up there!

Boat booked.

I am in the final stages of planning. Going from Immingham (Hull, UK) to Brevik in Norway by DFDS freigh ferry. Frem Brevick we will drive to Stavanger.

I am returning via Gotherburg to Keil and drive to Amsterdam to take a passenger ferry to Newcastle.

Stavanger to Bergen It looks lilthe there are several ferry crossings. Do I have to book them in advance? Will that segment take a day to do?

Badrakumar

It depends on your route sir. If you drive route E39, the main route between those cities there is two ferry crossings namelly Halhjem to Sandvikvåg and another Arsvågen to Mortavika.
It will take approx 4-5 hours.
As you can see on the map there are many other roads that can lead you the same destination with several other ferry crossings.
Anyway ferries like that doesnt have to be prebooked.

Thanks Snakeboy for the information. It is very helpful.

Thanks everybody.
We did the Norway trip. The information given by all of you was very useful. I will share my experience in the coming posts one by one to make it useful for other going to Norway.

I thank all the HUBB members for all the guidance once again.

After visiting the Stave Church in Notodden we drove towards Stavanger. On the way we took a deviation to go to Lysebotn via FV 500. It is a spectacular rout for motorcyclists. Near Lysebotn we encountered 27 hairpin bends with in 6kms. Each bend was coming up in a gap of 50 to 75 meters. 25th bend was inside a tunnel. We spent that night there. The next petrole station is in Forsand

Remember there are no frequent ferries from there to Forsand. The last ferry leave at around 6pm. Advance booking is useful. It is worth all the trouble to go to Lysebotn. It is a beautiful spot at one end to Lysefjord. To understand FV 500 read the link below

Lysevegen

and watch this youtube video

Fv500 - Lysebotn - The Lonely Motorcyclist - YouTube

After visiting the Stave Church in Notodden we drove towards Stavanger. On the way we took a deviation to go to Lysebotn via FV 500. It is a spectacular rout for motorcyclists. Near Lysebotn we encountered 27 hairpin bends with in 6kms. Each bend was coming up in a gap of 50 to 75 meters. 25th bend was inside a tunnel. We spent that night there.

Remember there are no frequent ferries from there to Forsand. The last ferry leave at around 6pm. Advance booking is useful. It is worth all the trouble to go to Lysebotn. It is a beautiful spot at one end to Lysefjord. To understand FV 500 read the link below

Lysevegen

and watch this youtube video

Fv500 - Lysebotn - The Lonely Motorcyclist - YouTube

These cairns were built by people who were working on the construction of Tjodan Hydro-electric project. Who knows why?

Most Norwegians I met would call the stone cairns "Troll houses", it must be almost a right of passage to build them.

Did you do the walk upto the Pulpit Rock which overlooks the Lysefjord? Again a spectacular sight - just one of many when you visit Norway though.

Yes we did. Climbed Prekistolen. Unfortunately it rained when I reached the top.

After Prekistolen we drove to Bergen.

That's a shame about the weather, when I visited I got clear skies and could look across the fjord to the spot we wild camped the night before with a couple of German guys on ex German military police bikes - thought we were going to get nicked when they turned up. Great night getting pissed and looking up to the Pulpit Rock and along the fjord.

The walk/climb upto the Rock was amazing with thousands of Norwegians all wanting to get there as well - plenty of the Troll Houses on the way up as well.

Also did the run down to Lysebotn and the 27 bends!! Stopped to watch a bunch of guys base jumping and landing in the campsite at the bottom - and missed the ferry by a bees dick.

A taste of Norwagean pricing. £1 = NoK 9. Soup £10, Beer 250ml £5. Obviously it is not the food capital.

what was the Brevik - Immingham ferry like?

Also, thinking of going to Norway myself this summer .... is it feasible to get to the Bergen and up to the Arctic, taking in the sights in a week?

Many thanks

Andy

Its feasible to ride from southern parts of Norway to Nordkapp and/or the northeastern parts of Finnmark (the northernmost province/county of Norway)
for example Kirkenes or Vardø in 7 days. But then you have to go back again. But its possible to go back through Sweden Route 4 or 45 in to southern part of Sweden or Norway in 2,5-3 days. If you ride many hours pr day....

I would suggest that you got at least 12-14 days for such a trip. It will be a lot of driving pr day and if you meet heavy rain and take a break because of that or have a flat tyre or something similar - you would easily get stressed about your time schedule.

I suggested this route and schedule to another guy that was asking for advice about travelling in Norway in another thread:

"It depends how much time you have to spare. You can drive that distance in 2-3 days non-stop. But as said above - 10 days would be nice and enough to see quite much of Norway.

Kristiandsand to Bergen via Stavanger, 2 days.
Sightseing spots: Lysefjorden, Preikestolen,

Bergen to Trondheim via Geiranger, Åndalsnes, Kristandsund, 2-3 days
Sightseing spots: Geirangerfjorden, Trollstigen, Atlanterhavsveien (The Atlantic-ocean road)

Trondheim to Bodø via Kystriksveien route 17 (The coastal highway) 2 days.
Sightseing spots are many.....

Bodø to Tromsø via the islands of Lofoten, Vesterålen and Senja, 2 days
Sightseing spots are many....

Tromsø to Nordkapp, 1,5-2 days
Sightseing spots are many...

Nordkapp to Vardø, 1 long day.....
Sightseing spots: The abandoned fishing village of Hamningberg (The end of Europe), Nordpol kro in Vardø (The Nortpole pub in Vardø.... ) and more"

many thanks

Not wishing to throw a spanner in the works but I would suggest you can spend a lot longer in Southern Norway and the wonderful Lofoten Islands and never make it to Nordkapp.

I went last summer with the idea of making it up to Nordkapp but didn't get there. We took longer, moving more slowly, seeing the sites and enjoying Norway rather than riding through it at breakneck speed to get to the top. We had over four weeks in scandinavia - two weeks in Norway I think. It's an amazing place and Southern Norway is wonderful. Most bikers speed through to get to the top and tick it off but Nordkapp has very little to commend itself and I'd just ask you to rethink.

Take a look at my blog of last summers trip if you wish. The Dom way round. I'm planning on doing a talk at this summers HUBB in the Uk called " There's more to Norway than Nordkapp". Just a thought - we're all different.

Hi Dom

Really enjoying reading "Gone Riding" BTW

I can now understand why you'd rather spend time enjoying the area rather than rushing to a particular location

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You have a good point there and I also did suggest that one should allow oneself 12-14 days at least to "do Norway". To speed through the country just to reach Nordkapp will be a very poor way to experience Norway indeed.

And Nordkapp itself is only a very commercialised spot with very little to offer. Its not even the northernmost place in Norway either - although all tourists get fooled to think so. I personally would suggest the northeasternmost part of Norway, the places of Vardø and the abandoned fishing village of Hamningberg, thats truly "The End of Europe". And also Kirkenes - the bordertown to Russia and the area around is a interesting place. Then one can head south through Finland and or Sweden.

This is intresting as im going to nkrth nkrway in aug for a rally and very limited for time so i will now def fly to oslo and pick up the bike

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bier Cheers fellow riders!

Heading to Sweden and Norway next month for a week long trip and looking for some recommendations! Me and my buddy will come to Sweden by ferry, so we will start our journey from Stockholm, and will head up to Norway. We are looking for some scenic back roads with not much traffic, and plan to go only 200 - 350km a day. Also we're planning to camp, so our only necessity will be gas stations and grocery stores. Any good advice about what should we know or do will be much appreciated.

Here are some first ideas https://goo.gl/maps/SaKM3vf1Wv12

Sorry for My rusty english! :rolleyes2:

Norway
 

Hi.
You are totally missing the best parts of Norway in your route here. I am sorry to tell you that you need to re-think your plans if you want to see the proper Norway.

The west coast from Stavanger to Kristiansund is very nice. This route will include most of the famous west coast fjords, lots of mountains and lots of nice windy roads like you asked for. The "Helgelandskysten" and Lofoten and Senja are very beautifull when getting further north.
Look up these places:
- Preikestolen
- Lysebotn
- Trolltunga
- Hardanger
- Sognefjorden, Nærøyfjorden
- Sognefjellet
- Norangsdalen
- Tindevegen
- Gamle Strynefjellsvegen
- Stryn and Strynevatnet
- Loen and Lodalsvatnet
- Dalsnibba
- Geiranger and Geirangerfjord
- Hoddevika
- Blåhøe
- Aursjøvegen
- Ålesund
- Trollstigen
- Atlanterhavsvegen
- Grip
And you have more than enough to choose from

Furhter North:
- Helgenslandskysten
- Træna, Sanna
- Værøy
- Lofoten
- Trollfjorden
- Stetind

And you will have some ideas where to make your route... :)

There are also som nice places further east in the country, but not like the west coast!

Sorry for possibly making changes to your plans.

That might be a problem. From Stockholm, 350km will barely get you out of the urban centers. And most of Sweden is flat and boring.

You can get from Stockholm to Lillehammer in a long day's riding - E20/E18 to Karlstadt and then up via Charlottenburg, or north via 66 and E16. The next day you could do the Peer Gynt Vegen and Jotunheimvegen, then follow local roads like 51/53/55 west to the fjords, and ride along those as much as you want.

Thank you both for the answers and tips. bier :thumbup1: They helped a lot. Still planing and will post some updates soon.

:rolleyes2: Plan for now.
https://goo.gl/maps/8Wi4Rg5VM1u
Now i'm thing... is 6 days on the road enaugh?

Well, I've done a very similar route in four days.

Day 1: Stockholm to Lillehammer
Day 2: Lillehammer to Geiranger to Trollstigen to Atlantic Road to Kristiansund
Day 3: Kristiansund to Rättvik
Day 4: Rättvik via Sigtuna to Stockholm

Could have easily made it to Sthlm by the evening of Day 3, but not early enough to catch the 6pm ferry, so Day 4 was a slow sightseeing day.

Some comments on your route:

1) After Lillehammer you can take the route via Espedalen - slower but almost certainly more enjoyable than the E6.

2) You are doing the Geirangerfjord wrong. The southern stretch of Rv63 you're taking, from Dalsnibba, is an incredibly twisty switchback with bad asphalt (unless they repaired it, which I doubt). One single caravan, and your day is ruined. Same with rain. On the other hand you are missing the northern Rv63 stretch, with the Eagle's Nest - that's the good road, the one for which bikers go to Geiranger.

3) In fact I would recommend you do this route counter-clockwise. (Fixing the mistakes I made!) Start in Stockholm, go up the 70/69 - it will be fast and low-trafficked, lowlands but still reasonably pretty. Find some campsite just short of the mountains and Norwegian border.

4) The road from Drevsjö to Innset is awesome. The road from Oppdal to Sunndalsöra is also wonderful - low traffic, long sweeping curves, beautiful mountains.

5) Kristiansund is an industrial-fishing town. You are making a good choice by skipping it: the tunnel from Kristiansund to the Atlantic Road is expensive even for bikers, while the toll roads leading to Rv64 and the Atlantic Road are free for bikers.

6) Then you get to do Trollstigen the correct way: north to south, so that you are going uphill on the switchback section (much more fun than going down switchbacks), and get to stop at the viewing platform on top to look back at what you have accomplished. The southern section leading away from Trollstigen is a long gradual slope, so you will be fine there.

7) You take the Rv63 via the Eagle's Nest down to Geirangerfjord, and then the local car ferry over to Hellesylt and follow Rv60 to 15, then follow 15 until you get to Rv51, take that south and then take the two tourist roads Jotunheimvegen and Peer Gyntvegen as far as Lillehammer.

8) Then get an early start from Lillehammer and you can definitely make Stockholm in a day.

Like this: https://www.google.lv/maps/dir/Stock...59.3293235!3e0

Hi Everyone,

Been a long time reader of this forum but never really posted before. I'm currently in Oslo, hitting the road again tomorrow. The amount of information available here is unbelievable! Hoping the roads will be dry the next few days. Is anyone else around at the moment?

Cheers,

Dave