|
Norway and the Baltic (Revised to June-July 2012)
I had planned to do this trip this summer but that pesky work stuff got in the way so only managed Southern Europe. Anyway the general idea is to leave the UK and head for Nordkapp then drop down the far side of the Baltic through Estonia etc before heading back to the UK. The exact route isn't finalised and, if anyone is interested, could be varied to suit. Looks like around 5,400 miles so something like 5 weeks duration.
When planning these sort of trips I aim to ride 4 days then have a day off. I tend to travel at between 60 and 70 mph speed limits permitting and do around 200 miles/day to give time to have a look round places on route. Usually camp but sometimes have cheap(ish) hotel for days off. Again specifics will depend on when and where. If anyone is interested for all or part then let me know. Currently planning to leave around 25th August 2012 returning around the end of September. |
Did this route in early summer 2011.
A couple of friends and I did a "Lap of the Baltic" in late June and most of July this year. Have a look here at our route and feel free to ask any questions you might have.
Rick www.horizonsunlimited.com/tstories/rickmcd |
This one could fit into my plan which looks like:
Up the Norwegian coastline (very scenic to Trondheim), then up to North Cape, then to Kirkenes and into Russia, then Murmansk - St. Petersburg and eventually flip over to Finland - Sweden - South Norway or the Baltic states and back via Germany. I have yet to decide the exact time next year but I am very flexible and will undertake the tour, so it would be great to join. Ridden lots of tours in demanding places both on and offroad, currently on a Tiger 800 XC and furthermore speak and comprehend all the Scandinavian languages, also manage enough Russian to survive on the road. Cheers |
I am interested in a "short" trip around the Baltic at the back end of August next year. Presently in Chile but heading North so keep me updated please. Ride safe.
|
Update on plans
RickMcD - Will take a look at your stuff - thanks.
Bard - sounds like we might have some travelling in common. I too want to go to the Trondheim area after seeing picks of the great island hoping roads. Like the idea of Murmansk and St Petersburg. Follow that with Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland etc and that would make a great circuit. Hadn't originally planned on Russia to avoid having to sort visas but no real problem. Dates wise I have 11th June through to the 21st July or as originally stated around the 29th of August to mid October. |
Hitting North Cape in September could (most likely) include the surprise of ice on the road, as the median temperature in the area is +5,5 centigrades at that time and below +4 you get ice on tarmac, the temperatures is normally max +9 deg C min -2 deg C. You will also miss the midnight sun which ends the 29th July at North Cape, However it's also a pretty dry month in the area so I could join you then as well, no prob.
The ideal would be June - July dates as temperatures is higher and also the midnight sun is up, so there is a lot of wow factor included. My hope was to do the the tour then either end it with the 5-8th July HU meet in Derbyshire, or do the tour right after, but as I state I am 100% flexible. So if you are keen on the scenic route I can join whichever of the two date ranges fits you. It will be an awesome tour :thumbup1: Russia is not a big problem for Visa, you don't need a Carnet and if your insurance company issue a green card it's fully valid there. So it's actually not very hard. Visa a travel company does for you, just bring that, the green card and an IDP and go, it also makes the trip far more exiting as some places you travel 50 years back in time, furthermore experience excellent Russian hospitality. So Russia will add a lot of flair of adventure you would otherwise miss. When you hit the Polar Circle (66,6 Degrees North)and think wow almost there, the shortest distance to North Cape (71,2 degrees North) is 1173km or about 729 miles (almost same as a ride from Eastbourne England to Thurso Scotland), and the scenic route is estimated 1524km or about 947 miles... As the name implies North Cape is really far North, further North than most imagine. A rough estimate for a nice scenic tour would be Derbyshire - North Cape 3000 miles, then another 3500 miles back when riding Baltic states. So roughly between 6000 - 7000 mile journey. You can as many do, skip all the scenic routes and just go for North Cape through Sweden then back via Finland to Poland and autobahn back, but that is go to get there and back, and that's it really and then I won't go. |
Russian Border Docs.
Read my blog about our 8 hour adventure at the Russian border. Since we were on rental bikes and the company had given us COPIES of the bike registrations, it was quite an adventure. BE SURE you have a VISA, GREEN CARD (specifically for your bike. We had "general" company green cards, another problem), and importantly, ORIGINALS of your title/registration. St Petersburg was wonderful, especially after our border adventure. :thumbup1:
|
Dates and stuff
Sounds like June/July is the better plan.
Can't see the H-U meeting being possible. Assume you would be starting from Stavanger so we would meet up at either Leira or Lillehammer depending on route to Trondheim. I can get a ferry to Esbjerg on the 10th or the 12th of June then 2 days from there. Equally assume we would split in Germany for you to head home. |
Sounds like a plan with June and July, and HU is off this year as nothing beats a good ride. If you like I can setup a far more scenic route up Norway following more suited to motorcycle roads including trollstigen. Cheapest transport from Denmark to Norway is Hirtsals to Kristiansand with ferry. I can easily ride down to Kristiansand and meet you there. Honestly the inland route is not very nice in Norway. Following E6 is quite boring on a bike.
We would split in Germany as you suggest. This is just a suggestion; if we ride Kristiansand, via Røldal, Trollstigen, Trondheim and up you will have a ride you never forget and total from start to North Cape is 2723 kilometers, a bit longer than straight up but far more rewarding. Here is a link to the ride one could make it even more interesting, but then it would dig into the time bank. It is a very good ride and away from the mainstream. Please see below what you hit and see on this route instead of E6 highway from South of Norway inland to Trondheim. Cheers Bard Idea of Røldal http://www.visitnorway.com/ProductIm...3_72_large.jpg Idea of Geiranger fjord http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WXugEZPRsC...angerfjord.jpg Idea of Trollstigen http://www.trollstigen.com/grafikk/b...rollstigen.jpg |
I could make the June/July start if it is for the scenic route and St Petersburgh and the Winter Palace on the way back. Have to get a trailer for the beer on the way up tho'. Ride safe.
|
Routes and stuff
Would much prefer a more scenic route myself. As long as we can incorporate the Atlantic Highway (Atlanterhavsveien) then happy to leave the route through Norway to someone who knows.
Will take a look at the the ferry to Kristiansand. Anywhere specific on rest of route. Round Murmansk will be interesting, St Petersburg is somewhere I have wanted to go for years. Heard good things about Helsinki (although expensive), Tallin and Riga. A few places I would like to go in Poland but maybe best to see how the time is going before deciding. I will do a rough plan for people to look at and change. Maja - personally don't drink very much myself so I won't need a trailer. Hope proposed dates and routes are of interest lets see how this plan evolves. |
Cool I can help setting up the route, Atlanterhavsveien is very close to trollstigen so that is no problem. Here is a helpful link of famous roads in Norway Atlanterhavsvegen - www.nasjonaleturistveger.no
What we would hit is (from that site) 1.Ryfylke (Røldal) 2. Aurlandsfjellet 3. Sognefjellet 4. Gamle Strynefjellsvegen 5. Geiranger - Trollstigen 6. Atlanterhavsvegen 7. Helgelandskysten Sør 8. Helgelandskysten Nord 9. Senja 10. Havøysund Time permitting we could do Varanger and perhaps more on the way up (but that would be more time consuming), but the above list is a fully realistic and a very scenic ride to North Cape. You could call it the Scenic way North if you like... |
Throughts
Hi both,
Any thoughts - some places (*) are just because they are on route? Tuesday 12/06 - Ferry to Esbjerg arrive 13/06 Wednesday 13/06 - Late ferry to Kristiansand arrive 14/06 - meet bard Trondheim by Sunday - day off Monday (18/06) Nordkapp by Saturday - day off Sunday (24/06) Murmansk by Tuesday - day off Wednesday (27/06) St Petersburg by Sunday - day off Monday (02/07) Tallin 03/07 Riga 04/07 Kalvarija (Latvia) (*) 05/07 Walsaw 06/07 - day off Saturday (07/07) Auschwitz 08/07 Olomouc (Czech Rep) 09/07 Prague 10/07 - day off Wednesday (11/07) Halle (Germany) 12/07 (*) - bard splits for home Soest (Germany) 13/07 (*) Ghent (Belgium) 14/07 (*) Calais (France) 15/07 and then on to home By this rough schedule I would still have 6 days available as I need to arrive back no later than Saturday the 21/07. So obviously we can add extra days into the above as required. No point in getting back early! |
Give me a wave if you pass me on the road, I'll probably be on an Enfield! I am considering this trip after the IOM TT so that will be mid June, and if time/miles on the road are not against me I will try to be in Northern Italy for the Stella Alpina rally.
Stella Alpina Motociclistica Internazionale |
That looks like a good schedule, should be no problem to do this at all.
I assume camping in Norway on the way up to not break the bank? Right now I am working offshore but will be home next week, then I will go through some maps and suggest a route up. As soon as I hit land I will send PM to both of you to work out a more detailed route/plans. |
Would it not be quicker to ride from Denmark across to Kristiansand? That is if motos can use the bridge. Whoops, wrong Kristiansand.
|
Ferry
Only trouble with the ferry is the timings really but sure we can work something out. I had originally intended to ride up to Norway via Sweden but it does add quite a few more miles.
When does the Chile trip finish - and is organised or solo? |
Solo and it finishes when I want it to but not until I've had a ride round Brazil which is one of the few aims of this trip. Ride safe.
|
Ferry
There is at least 5 ferries daily from Hirtsals to Kristansand, 3 by Fjordline which takes 2 hours and 15 minutes and 2 by Color Line which takes 3 hours and 15 minutes in June.'
If you have the time riding round Denmark and Sweden is no problem, it adds 1117km to the ride though, mostly on boring highway. Cheers Bard |
Looks like an interesting trip. I am planning a trip something similar, but was excluding Russia and Czech Republic. I live near Hamburg so would go Hitshals to Christiansand and then North (starting beginning June). I was in Norway this year (late August-early September) with wife and dog in a motor home (just as well because of the rain!). Only ventured as far north as Alesund. I want to do some walking in Lysefjord area and at the Nordkapp area plus Reisa National Park, plus take in the Lofoton Islands. I will watch this thread as it may be of interest to join you near the Nordkapp or at Kirkenes or somewhere near. (I swore I would not pay for the tourist trap at the Nordkapp, but will walk into the point a little further north on Mageroya Island for the midnight sun).
I had also planned the Baltic States and a visit to Auschwitz before heading home, but Czech Rep sounds good also. I had discounted Russia, but if there is a group with someone who can get by in Russian, that could be an opportunity. Grey Beard |
Would be great to meet up Grey Beard, bets time to go to North Cape for some photos is midnight, almost no people, well with the exception of a few bikers taking midnight photos in peace.
Lysebotn, that is a great ride. There is 2 death traps on the road, and if you want I can send you the points. That is the infamous "ferist" there are two placed in blind corners on the road, besides that it's a beautiful ride. If you want to do a stroll to Kjerag, do NOT park at the eagle nest, park a few hundred meters above for free instead. Also do not eat at the eagle nest, overpriced and crap food. If you want a perfect ride you come to the area via Suleskard veien, 987 then hit 986 to 500, (Do the walk to Kjerag) then take a boat from Lysebotn to Moen, ride 661 to E13 and ride towards Jørpeland then hit 529 from there you can walk to the Pulpit rock. After these amazing experiences, ride E13 to (one ferry on the way) Sand then take the ferry to Ropeid, turn towards Sauda on 520 and ride to Håra then I personally would ride 134 up Røldal to the lake Votna and camped out there. Well after this continue North towards North Cape, but the above ride would give you a heap of great riding and experiences. Cheers Bard |
Quote:
Thanks for the tips. Yes, the Kjeragbolten is the walk I plan to do at Lysefjord. We walked up to Pulpit Rock/Preikestolen in September, so don't plan to repeat that one. Nearly broke my ankle coming down from that walk (could have sworn I heard something break!) but it seems more or less OK now. Yes, please send me the relevant links about the death traps (fore warned, fore armed, etc). I guess this is on the hairpin road down to Lysefjord? I will have a look at your suggested route, etc. I will walk in to the northerly point west of the Nordkapp rather than the Nordkapp Centre, perhaps with some finest Cragganmore Whisky jeiger to celebrate the midnight sun, hopefully it won't be too misty. As I said, I don't plan on visiting the Nordkapp Centre/Hall unless I was able to bypass the toll control, by walking cross country. Would only be interested is seeing the sculpture of the 5 coins and take the obligatory photo of the iron sphere sculpture, not the visitor centre and it isn't the most northerly point anyway. I will probably do a 2 day walk at Mehamn Adventure Centre to the most northerly point on the Mainland (since Mageroya is an island). The Reisa National Park is a two day through walk of 50km in Troms Region, so would overnight en route. Trying to get public transport info from the Norwegian Tourist Board, but this is not forthcoming so far. After these walks I would perhaps meet up (south of Mehamn or near Kirkenes) and follow your planned schedule to Russia, Baltic States, Poland, Czech Republic and then return to Germany. I was going to go via Finland, but I've never been to Russia and imagine it will be an eye opener, so I'm game for that. Re the Russian VISA, I know it is easier with an invite from within Russia, but a Travel Agent can handle all that. What sort of cost and time does it require? I have a UK Passport. Cheers Grey Beard |
Visas and stuff
I found somewhere on here a last week which was saying where to get the invite from but can't spot it just now. My understanding is it is better to have at least one hotel where we plan to stay in Russia and get an invite based on that (assume we will be a hotel in St Petersburg anyway). For those with UK passports I think it is then a case of taking them to the embassy in London along with the relevant docs. I know you can pay to get this done but guess it is much cheaper if you do it yourselves. Happy to take and collect passports for visas from anyone on UK passport. I would guess we should plan to get the visa applications in mid April but will do some further research.
|
Mid April may be a bit tight for getting my PP down to London but we shall see. Ref. accommodation, thought about backpackers and hostals, also room sharing tends to lower the price per person significantly being normally a solo traveller accomm. is the major part of my expenditure. Just finishing b'fast in sunny Mendoza Arg. before setting out for a saunter. Ride safe.
|
Visas for Russia
Hi found this - sure we can do it cheaper but just so we know.
Russia - Visas They charge £115 all in and turn in round in 8 days.They will also just provide the invitation for £14. Least we have an order of magnitude. |
Like Bard. I favour camping, certainly in Norway (sometimes official/commercial and sometimes wild camping, but given the time of year, it could be very cold and/or wet in the far north (and wet in the western fjords around Bergen and the jet stream normal position). If conditions get too unpleasant, then the hyttes would be the alternative option. You can get hyttes from 2 to maybe 6 persons, so in a group and early season would be OK price wise. Heating and electricity to dry things out and warm up. I don't like to think what the cost of hotel or even B&B would be in Norway. Camping (wife and self) plus motor home and electricity hookup cost on AVERAGE €30/night. Oslo (Bogstad) was the most expensive NOK330/night and Larvik was the cheapest NOK150 (end of season). For one person & motor cycle without electricity, it would be a lot cheaper. Showers were normally NOK10 for 6 minutes but they were sometimes included in the camping price. Many camp sites had WiFi included, but you really had to be close to the antenna location, usually on the Admin building. If not included, WiFi was generally prohibitively expensive, but you could buy a Norwegian data SIM card and stick that in your PC or use a WiFi Dongle or maybe if you have a smart phone couple your phone with Norwegian SIM Card to your PC, etc. The camp site at Preikestolen/Pulpit Rock was overpriced, unhelpful and unfriendly and justified it's exorbitant prices by it's location and certainly not by it's service!
In the cities within Russia, Baltic States Poland & Czech Republic, I guess basic hotel accommodation with secure overnight parking would be in order. I think the costs are likely to be reasonable. I am guessing Russia prices are reasonable but have no experience or knowledge of these of course. Grey Beard |
Quote:
Will have to make some enquiries here in Germany, as don't want to send passport over to UK in possible. I expect they require a minimum of 6 months left on the passport as well. EDIT: Just read the link and the info about multiple entry Russian VISA !!!! Guess that will be single entry then! Grey Beard |
If only a single entry Russian visa is obtained then that would mean going around Kaliningrad wouldn't it?
|
Further info on backpackers, HI and Bug Norway are OK sites but made easier I would think if you had a map to hand but generally speaking dorm accom with breakfast, hotshowers, sometimes wi-fi and a kitchen seems to work out about £15.00 pppn especially in the crowded south getting more expensive as you get further north. If I was wanting to make faster progress on the less entertaining bits I would go for hostals as not having to put up and down a tent gives more riding time and also a reliable dry start counts for a lot. Finally, is the Newcastle-Stavanger ferry viable? Just going out to watch the girls on the paseo then off to an all you can eat parrilla, on the down side I will propbobly feel quite ill tomorrow. Ride safe.
|
Visa and stuff
I think the single entry visa is fine, multi-entry being more expensive.
Current planned mileages aren't too great so I think camping most nights and then a b&b , hostal etc every third or fourth night would make a good basis. Obviously depending where we are may influence that. Looks like bard and me meeting in Kristiansand and then joining up with Grey Beard around/after Nordkapp. You planning to start from the UK maja? If so guess we could meet at the ferry in Harwich or at my house in the midlands? |
I will be heading home to Scotland before setting off to the North Cape so it would be feasable to pop into your place on the way north after I pick up the moto which will probably be at Manchester which as we all know is in the deep south. Give me a PM or an e-mail to majanderson44 at hotmail dot com Ride safe.
|
Quote:
The Newcaste Stavanger ferry is closed down unfortunately, there is a ferry from UK to Denmark now, then ride a wee bit, new ferry and into Kristiansand. Visa, I just use a lokal travel agent here, it's fast and relatively cheap versus the hassle. Hotels in Norway are deadly expensive, and I normally go with camping. The best places to camp is in the nature close to a stream, however the comfort of a hot shower, camping sites are great and as Grey Beard state the hyttes is actually not a bad deal in case weather turns rough. Cheers Bard |
Hi Guys
This summer I used DFDS cargo ferry to gothenborg from UK. It was half the price of the normal ferry and just as good, ( imho better). The huts are really good to use for accomodation especially if you're pissed off with being wet. Some I found were really cheap, but you need to stay away from the big caravan sites for this. Watch out for reindeer in the tunnels when you get up North. Rudolf wanted to have a fight with me this year!!!!!! Regards |
Now Christmas is over
Thanks for that Dave O, will take a look at this ferry option.
Looks like the four for the North Cape and Russia then. |
| All times are GMT +1. The time now is 15:23. |