ANC2603 - Adventure North Cape
Here we are—the final riding day of our incredible Nordkapp adventure! Leaving Alta this morning felt a bit surreal, knowing this was our last leg together. The route down to Tromsø is an absolute stunner, winding along spectacular fjords with the majestic Lyngen Alps looming in the distance. We settled into a perfect rhythm today, soaking in every last curve and sweeping coastal view. Arriving in Tromsø was a fantastic mix of joy and that classic end-of-tour nostalgia. We've parked up safely, and soon it'll be time to load the bikes onto the trailer for the long haul back to Mieming. But tonight, it’s all about celebrating an unforgettable journey with an amazing group.
We begin our North Cape tour in Ålesund, and the very first day already has plenty in store for us. Along the fjords, we first head towards Stordal, where we stop at the Rose Church. This small wooden church dates back to 1789 and is especially known for its colorful rose-painted interior. From there, we continue through the impressive landscape of Romsdalen. At Gudbrandsjuvet, the river rushes through a narrow gorge before we reach Trollstigen. We drive down the famous mountain road – eleven hairpin bends take us through a truly spectacular alpine landscape. Once at the bottom, we continue to Trollveggen, the highest vertical rock face in Europe. The route then takes us across the Vistdalsheia, where the landscape opens up again and we cover the final stretch towards Oppdal. A pretty intense first day – lots of impressions, plenty of kilometers, and a really strong start to the days ahead.
Today is a much shorter riding day. From Oppdal, we follow quiet country roads through the varied landscapes of Trøndelag towards Trondheim. Forests, open countryside and small lakes alternate along the way before we gradually approach the Trondheim Fjord. The road follows the fjord for a while before we reach Trondheim. In the afternoon, there is time to explore the city. Trondheim became an important political and religious center of Norway during the Middle Ages and was once the country's capital. The city is dominated by the impressive Nidaros Cathedral, built over the tomb of Saint Olav and still an important pilgrimage site today. After the many kilometers of the first day, today gives us a little more time for the city, some history, and a bit of relaxation.
Another day, another incredible stretch of Norway behind us! Today we left Trondheim in the rearview mirror and aimed our front wheels toward Overhalla. The route gave us a brilliant taste of what riding in this country is all about. We traded the city streets for those sweeping, rhythmic Norwegian roads that just beg to be ridden. We tackled our first ferry crossing of the trip today, too—a perfect little break to stretch our legs and take in the water views. We spent a good portion of the day carving through the landscape, making a few stops to just stand there and take in the sheer scale of the nature around us. The riding was fantastic, the group is really finding its groove, and rolling into Overhalla this evening felt like a solid day's work. Can't wait to see what the road brings tomorrow!
Today, we really put our rain gear to the ultimate test. The moment we climbed onto our motorcycles after a delicious and filling breakfast, the drops started falling from the sky. Why are the angels crying so much up here? They must be tears of joy — because the scenery is simply breathtaking. Even in the rain! The mountains and cliffs hide behind a mystical curtain of mist, while their silhouettes are reflected in the calm waters of the fjords. Today, there is water everywhere. We ride along narrow sounds and majestic fjords, with dramatic waterfalls tumbling down the sheer rock faces. And, well… then there’s the rain, slowly but surely finding its way down our necks — or turning our hands the exact same colour as our gloves. Nevertheless, there are smiles everywhere. With Rain Mode activated, even riding through the rain is great fun! At our lunch stop, hot coffee warms our cold fingers, while a hairdryer is passed around the table like a highly valuable piece of equipment. Everyone gets their turn! In the evening, we reach the beautiful coastal town of Sandnessjøen. And if your rain jacket isn’t quite living up to its promises, there’s always the local sports outlet to come to the rescue. After a delicious — and very entertaining — dinner, it’s time to call it a day and head to bed. Tomorrow, a very special day awaits us: we’re crossing the Arctic Circle!
After spending most of yesterday surrounded by water, today takes us a little further inland. Beautiful landscapes are waiting for us. We start our journey surrounded by wonderful forests before making a coffee stop in the small town of Mo i Rana. And even though we spend quite a bit of time on larger roads today, riding is still an absolute pleasure. Just before we reach the highlight of the day, the trees begin to disappear. The landscape opens up into a wild and impressive world of bare rocks, and then… there it is! The Arctic Circle! The Arctic Circle is an imaginary line around the Earth at approximately 66.5° north, marking the southernmost point where the sun can remain above the horizon for 24 hours in summer — and below it for 24 hours in winter. Of course, we can’t resist stopping at the Arctic Circle Center, exploring the place and picking up a few souvenirs. After all, you don’t cross the Arctic Circle every day! In the afternoon, another spectacular natural phenomenon is waiting for us: **Saltstraumen**. Saltstraumen is one of the world’s strongest tidal currents, where enormous amounts of seawater rush through a narrow strait every few hours, creating powerful whirlpools and swirling currents. Later in the afternoon, Felix gives us a cheerful welcome at the Wood Hotel in Bodø. Some of us head straight for the rooftop spa. In any case, we all enjoy dinner with a fantastic view. A pretty perfect way to end the day! What a day! But now, off to bed — because tomorrow we’ll be getting up early. The ferry to the Lofoten Islands is waiting for us in the morning!
From Bodø, we take the ferry to Moskenes. As soon as we leave the ferry, we are right in the typical Lofoten landscape: steep mountains, deep blue fjords and small fishing villages. We pass Reine and Reinebringen and continue along the road through this impressive scenery. In Ramberg, we take a walk along the beach before continuing towards Haukland. Lunch is waiting for us there, with a view of the beach not a bad place for a break. In the afternoon, we take a walk through Henningsvær. The small fishing village is spread across several islands connected by bridges. From there, we continue to our destination for the day, Svolvær. Another varied day with plenty of Lofoten scenery, great roads, fjords and, of course, plenty of impressions.
Today we left the stunning peaks of Svolvær behind and set our sights on Harstad. Riding through this part of Norway is an absolute dream! The roads wind beautifully right along the edges of the fjords, with massive, rugged mountains rising straight out of the water next to us. We spent the day essentially island hopping, crossing some spectacular bridges that connect this incredible coastal landscape. It’s pure joy to just roll on the throttle and find the perfect rhythm on these sweeping coastal roads. We’ve safely parked the bikes in Harstad for the night, feeling great and knowing we just took another big step closer to the Nordkapp. Time for a well-deserved dinner with the group!
Today brought a massive change in scenery as we left the Norwegian fjords behind and crossed the border into Sweden! The transition is absolutely spectacular. After riding up through the mountains near Riksgränsen, the landscape opened up into the vast, wild expanses of Swedish Lapland. It’s a completely different style of riding here. We traded the tight coastal curves for long, sweeping roads that cut through endless forests and run alongside massive lakes like Torneträsk. The group quickly settled into a great, relaxed cruising rhythm, taking in the sheer scale of the wilderness around us. We’ve just rolled into the famous mining town of Kiruna, the bikes are resting, and we're ready to see what a Swedish evening has to offer!
Today we leave Kiruna behind and continue through the vast landscapes of Lapland. The roads lead through endless forests, past countless lakes and across wide, almost empty landscapes. Reindeer have by now become a familiar sight – we keep seeing them along the roadside, making a little extra attention essential. Along the way, Jim provides us with a short treasure hunt after losing his phone somewhere in the middle of nowhere. Almost given up as lost, we actually manage to find it with some technical remote assistance from Felix. The closer we get to Finland, the more the landscape changes. Around Muonio, we enter the Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park, with its rolling, forest-covered hills and extensive wetlands. We continue through this quiet and wide-open landscape towards Enontekiö – a day where the vastness of Lapland is very much the main attraction.
From Enontekiö, we continue towards Norway. Forests and countless lakes accompany us through the vast landscapes of Lapland. The roads are quiet, traffic is sparse, and the landscape becomes increasingly remote. Along the way, we stop at a silver workshop and gallery. A short guided tour gives us an insight into the traditional craftsmanship before we warm up with a coffee. We then make a short detour across the border into Finland once again for lunch before returning to Norway. A special visit awaits us afterwards with a Sámi host, who gives us an insight into his way of life, reindeer herding and Sámi culture. He also explains how people adapt to the harsh winter conditions, including traditional shelter building and surviving in this remote environment. An interesting glimpse into a way of life closely connected to nature. In the afternoon, we continue towards Lakselv – one step closer to the North Cape.
Today is the day we’ve all been waiting for! (Although, to be fair, every other day has been breathtaking too.) After a delicious breakfast, we set off once again, always heading north. The clouds are already hanging low when we leave the hotel. Following a quick coffee stop, we climb higher, crossing bridges and passing through tunnels until we finally reach the island of Magerøya—home to the North Cape at its northernmost tip! All around us are rugged cliffs and the sea. Not that we can see any of it: the fog is so thick that we can barely make out the rider ahead of us. Then, just a few meters before the car park, something almost unbelievable happens. The sky clears, the sun breaks through—and there it is: THE NORTH CAPE! What an incredible feeling. Eleven wonderful days on the road have brought us all the way from Ålesund to this spectacular place. And we’re not the only ones who have reached their destination. Around us, fellow motorcyclists, cyclists and hikers are celebrating their arrival too. The air around the famous globe is buzzing with joy, excitement and pride.