The North of Norway is best explored with a camper. In addition to magnificent vistes and well developed and attractive streches of road, you can stay overnight wherever you like. And: your flashlight can be left at home - in summer the daylight lasts 24 hours.

I like camping holidays and always enjoy travelling with my family - a kind of freedom on four wheels. At the beginning, many people have reservations about turning around with such a big vehicle and then on Norway's narrow roads. But you quickly get used to the larger dimensions, you drive around the curves in a larger radius and the small jobs that a motorhome entails quickly become routine. And the nice thing about it is that you always have everything with you - kitchen, toilet, bed - and can stay overnight anywhere in Scandinavia.

The best way to start your Northern Norway adventure is in Tromsø. In addition to direct flights - also from Switzerland - you will find a good selection of suitable vehicles here. After a thorough introduction and the first purchase you can get started. My recommendation for Norway: Check the weather app and drive towards the nice weather. So we first decided for the Lofoten archipelago southwest of Tromsø. Via Senja Peninsula and via the archipelago of Vesterålen, where a whale safari is recommended, we reach Lofoten with the capital Svolvaer: Mountains that rise a few hundred metres out of the sea, white sandy beaches like those of the Caribbean and the glittering sea - picture-postcard landscapes.

In the south-western tip of the island lies the small village of Å, a typical Lofot village with its unmistakable fishing cottages, also known as Rorbuer, and the best bakery on the island. The seductive scent of homemade cinnamon snails can only be enjoyed inside the bakery! In the neighbouring village of Reine you can climb the Reinebringen on over 1700 steps and enjoy a fabulous view from above - provided you are in good basic condition.

The ferry takes us from Moskenes back to the mainland. On the way to the North Cape, north of Narvik, there is a detour to the Polar Park, where you can take a close look at the local wildlife. Thus bear, lynx, elk, deer, musk ox and wolf live in the large enclosures. Only the shy Wolfrass does not show up at the moment.
The further north you chug, the fewer vehicles you will encounter and the more idyllic places you will find to spend the night in the great outdoors.

Alta - about 200km south of the North Cape - is known for the sighting of the northern lights - of course during the winter half-year. These have also inspired the graduated architecture of the Northern Lights Cathedral, built in 2013. In the nearby bay you can walk along paths to prehistoric rock paintings, which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

From here it is a good 3 hours by car to the North Cape, this mystical place on 71° northern latitude, where Europe ends and no road leads north anymore, where reindeer graze hundreds in the tundra and where the sun never sets in summer. Stay directly in the Cape car park and enjoy the midnight sun.