 | Home > Expedition & Overland > Arctic Overland: Harwich to Nordkapp 2014 |
 
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| bpman Member Since: 21 May 2008 Location: Oslo Posts: 8069  
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Steve ... you have a PM
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2nd Dec 2013 9:30am |
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| Tjaank110 Member Since: 27 Jan 2014 Location: Santiago Posts: 8  
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To those of you considering a wintertime Arctic Expedition to Norkapp, you may consider to take the Coastal liner (Hurtigruten) from Bergen to Norkapp, then drive back south. I believe Hurtigruten offer promotional pricing for car and driver during low season. If the weather cooperates you can see the Northern Lights once you cross the Arctic circle.
Make sure to visit the beautiful Lofoten islands on your way south. You can catch the ferry from Moskenes to Bodo. From Bodo head south across Saltstraumen, the world's strongest tidal current. Just after crossing the bridge you will have the choice to continue south the coastal road or you can take RV812 to Rognan, Saltdal; then continue south on highway E6, crossing Saltfjellet and the Arctic Circle. If you want to do the trip during the summer months, now is the time to book your tickets with Hurtigruten. Happy travels! MY 2008 SW Defender 110 |
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29th Jan 2014 2:06pm |
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| wyvern Member Since: 14 Dec 2009 Location: Cornwall Posts: 2070  
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As said above - Kris and Steve have said that they arent going to run a trip this year - however my partner desperately wants to photograph the work of Slartibartfast up close and requests more daylight than January/February can offer
So we've booked a trip in May-June to go as far north as possible in 15 days ... (would love to see the Aurora Borealis again, but its not an essential for us this time.  )
Plan is Harwich to Hook of Holland, drive to Hirtshals at the top of Denmark, then ferry over to Bergen, then drive North following the coastal road as much as possible, popping down the side roads & stopping often to take lots of photos ... hoping to get to as far north as Tromso ... but will see how we do. Then take a quicker route back (with more photo stops..  )
The 110 is rigged as a camper so will be self supporting with sleeping and cooking in the vehicle. (plus a couple or so of wine boxes to keep the photographer happy) Steve (BPMan) has been helping with the route and other advice .. so am now in the 'getting exited' phase! 
(we looked at taking the Hurtigruten, but its very costly for the time of year we're travailing - so not this time  )
We drove to Norway before - visiting the East side of the country from Sweden - so are looking forward to the stunning sea views and coast lines 
 Click image to enlarge (note wine box on top shelf - poised for action!! ) Poppy - TDCI (Puma) 110XS 2.2 - Camper conversion - see the build here - https://www.defender2.net/forum/topic56530.html Elgar -TDCI(Puma) 110XS Dormobile - now sold Devon & Cornwall 4x4 Response - DC126 |
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29th Jan 2014 9:45pm |
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| Cold_n_Wet Member Since: 15 Oct 2012 Location: Bergen Posts: 244 
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If you need help in country then don't hesitate to contact us or the norwegians on the Norwegian Land Rover forum
www.lrforum.com/forum Glen "Rafiki" 2007 110 STW - Rolling rebuild. |
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30th Jan 2014 5:30am |
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| bpman Member Since: 21 May 2008 Location: Oslo Posts: 8069
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thanks Glen, we'll be in touch.
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30th Jan 2014 9:02am |
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| Spookytooth Member Since: 19 Jan 2014 Location: Lincolnshire Posts: 202 
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I can't believe you are doing the whole thing for £1250/head. I have just finished booking for a much easier summer trip (end May, first 2 weeks of June) and have just totaled costs up. The ferry alone is £500, even basic huts run out at £50 night, pre booked (sure you might find something sub basic on the run with all the subsequent searching for an overnight stop). Hope everything goes well for 2015, not sure I have the skills for a winter run, see how my solo summer trip goes first!
ps The Harwich Esbjerg ferry charges more for the cabin than the car and driver, with no reduction for solo traveller! 110 SW Aintree Green |
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22nd Feb 2014 11:07am |
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| Phoenix90 Member Since: 04 Mar 2012 Location: Cornwall Posts: 377 
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Hi Spookytooth,
I've just got back (well two weeks ago now actually  ) from trying out the route we propose a trip would take
The price will change slightly from the figure originally discussed, in part because we are looking at taking a different route that uses more ferries, but we're still working on the finer details and hope to get together the information and publish it in the the coming weeks. As you say, it is an expensive trip, but travelling as a group allows for some economy of scale, especially with accommodation and whilst some of the cabins are relatively basic, they are all warm, comfortable, clean and I wouldn't describe any as sub-basic
Some photos from the scouting trip:
Click image to enlarge |
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23rd Feb 2014 12:34am |
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| me@td5.org Member Since: 16 Jan 2011 Location: Warwick Posts: 856 
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Is it possible to do a trip like this in 9 days? I.e. Friday night through to the Sunday. It looks like February is the best time to go but my wife is constrained by the school holidays. www.td5.org
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23rd Feb 2014 8:47am |
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| Phoenix90 Member Since: 04 Mar 2012 Location: Cornwall Posts: 377
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Sadly, no it probably isn't.
In the winter the Harwich Esbjerg ferry tends to run on Wednesdays and Sundays from Harwich, and Tuesdays & Saturdays from Esbjerg which would limit you to four days in Norway/Sweden, by the time you had got there. I think if you were limited to that amount of time, but wanted to visit the region, I would fly into Tromso, stay there for a few days, then hire a car (or use public transport) and go over to Kiruna (stopping at Abisko on the way for a night) and have a couple of days there. You could then fly back to the UK from Kiruna, or drive back and fly out of Tromso. That way you could have a week in the region, which in my experience, is about the right amount of time to be there to give yourself a really good chance to see the aurora. |
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23rd Feb 2014 9:59am |
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| Spookytooth Member Since: 19 Jan 2014 Location: Lincolnshire Posts: 202
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Hi Phoenix90, great pictures. Was not casting any doubt on the standard of cabin you are suggesting, the post was simply marveling at the economies of scale you have made and the great value for money for anyone lucky enough to go with you, Going solo, I am often having to pay the same cost for a cabin regardless of whether there are 1 or 4 persons sharing it 110 SW Aintree Green
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23rd Feb 2014 11:01am |
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| me@td5.org Member Since: 16 Jan 2011 Location: Warwick Posts: 856
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That's what I thought. I'm torn between the fact that we both want to go to the region but I also want to Drive there in my Defender. Would have been nice to be able to do both! www.td5.org |
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23rd Feb 2014 12:57pm |
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| Phoenix90 Member Since: 04 Mar 2012 Location: Cornwall Posts: 377
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This is unfortunately the case in a lot of places, but keep an eye out for the larger sites as they often have 2 man cabins which can be cheaper. They normally don't have bathroom facilities as part of them but the are a lot cheaper and in May they will be fine
I've faced this before and we came up with a plan that might work for you... If you drove up to Tromso (solo or part of a group) then your partner could fly into Tromso and meet you there, spend a couple of nights in Tromos, then move on to Nordkapp and then back down to Kiruna. The day you depart Kiruna (probably around 5 days after arriving into Tromso, depending on how fast you move around), drop your partner at Kiruna airport and they can fly back to the UK. Depending on timings and route that could even be extended so you drop them at Oslo or Copenhagen airport etc... You then carry on for the homeward journey. Most of the 'experience' comes from your time between Tromso and Kiruna, although the other parts are still great, they are mainly concerned with travelling, whereas the 5/6 days in the high north are about being there, going to the cities, Nordkapp, aurora hunting etc.. Just a thought |
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23rd Feb 2014 2:26pm |
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| me@td5.org Member Since: 16 Jan 2011 Location: Warwick Posts: 856
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Cheers! Sounds like it could really work. www.td5.org
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23rd Feb 2014 5:08pm |
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| wyvern Member Since: 14 Dec 2009 Location: Cornwall Posts: 2070
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Right - its only a few days till we go off on our little trip. Weather reports are looking good with mid to high teens 'c and 24hrs sunshine in Tromso. Wagon is all set with new cabin heater, double battery & split charge, new table and top-box fitted, got all the normal stuff to load on (waffle boards, awnings and chairs )and then we are away. Just got to register for the Norwegian toll roads and fit the headlight beam deflectors and then stock up with food (and wine!). My navigator has been looking at the route giving us lots of lovely things to stop and look at, so am now brimming with anticipation!!
Look out Slartibartfast – here we come! (if I can get off work on time next week! ) Poppy - TDCI (Puma) 110XS 2.2 - Camper conversion - see the build here - https://www.defender2.net/forum/topic56530.html
Elgar -TDCI(Puma) 110XS Dormobile - now sold Devon & Cornwall 4x4 Response - DC126 |
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18th May 2014 1:37pm |
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