Here we go. Everything is packed, we’ve passed our driver's licences, and off we go. Pure adrenaline and so much anticipation. We’re off on the journey that we've been dreaming about for a long time!

In Leutkirch in Allgäu, we swap Emil, our old VW bus, for a camper van for three weeks. After taking care of provisions, we make it nearly to Hamburg, where we spend our first night in our mobile home.

After a fun day in Hamburg with good food and an extended walk, we continue north the next morning. In Denmark, we come across an idyllic lake, perfect for a refreshing break. In the evening, we take the ferry from Hirtshals to Larvik. Arriving in Norway feels surreal. We stumble upon a great spot to park, set up for the night and go to sleep, overwhelmed with excitement.

Exploring Oslo

After driving the last few kilometers to Oslo, we find an amazing parking spot, right next to a sailing school and by the sea. To balance out all the driving, we explore Oslo on foot, strolling through its trendy neighborhoods and cozy cafés. We end the day with Indian food at sunset and treat ourselves to ice cream on the way back to the bus.

The next day, a long drive to Trondheim awaits us, but we make it easier by watching the Olympics and enjoying some good snacks. Trondheim – a city to fall in love with –immediately captivates us. In the evening, we take a short trip into the city centre, but hunger soon draws us back to our home on four wheels, where we cook our own meal.

Crossing the Arctic Circle & Heading to Bodø

Day 6 is marked by delicious cinnamon buns – the first of the trip! – for breakfast, stocking up on supplies, and another long drive in our camper van towards Bodø. Crossing the Arctic Circle is breathtaking. The atmosphere, the lights… it’s hard to put into words. We try to sleep there, but a storm rolls in behind us, making the van shake in the wind. We end up moving to a more sheltered spot in the forest, next to a beautiful lake, where we finally get some rest.

After a few more hours of sleep, we do a round of yoga before setting off on the last few kilometres to Bodø. Once we arrived, we face a brief dilemma with the ferry to the Lofoten Islands, as we haven’t booked it in advance – something we would highly recommend doing. So, we have line up and hope to get a spot on one of the ferries running that day.

Lofoten: A Dream Come True

After queuing up for the ferry and cooking some pasta, we finally board. Emotions run high—visiting Lofoten has been a dream for so long, and now it’s finally happening!

By the time we arrive in Moskenes, it’s almost completely dark, but the magic is undeniable. We drive a little further and find a perfect camping spot for our first night in Lofoten. A quick teeth-brushing session and a bit of freshening up, and we happily fall into bed.

Waking up to the most incredible view and the first rays of sunshine, we quickly have breakfast, put on our Café du Cycliste hiking gear and set out for the famous Reinebringen hike. The trail leads up the mountain of the same name, standing at 484 metres. The view from the top is unbelievable – the sea, fjords, and the small village of Reine – even more stunning than any picture.

Camping, Sauna & Cycling Adventures

Back in the village, we stop for some groceries, enjoy coffee in the cutest little shop, and soak up the sun. We set out to find our first official campsite, and the journey there is breathtaking. A proper shower is much needed after all the adventures so far! We’re exhausted and fall into bed immediately.

The next morning, we take things a bit slower. Clara goes for a solo mountain hike, and we both jump into the sea before Clara relaxes in a stunningly located sauna. Refreshed and recharged, it’s time for some action: our first cycling tour! In our Café du Cycliste cycling gear, we embark on Lola’s first cycling tour, from Hamnøy to Å and back. Of course, a short break with a local cinnamon bun is a must.

Back in the camper van, we drive further north to visit the mountain lake Clara discovered the day before. The beauty of the lake invites us for a refreshing swim, and on the way down, we snack on wild blueberries. In the evening, we visit Nusfjord, one of the most authentic villages in the Lofoten, where we cook and fall asleep right by the water.

We wake up to our first real bad weather day. Still, we don’t want to skip a hike, so we put on our semi-waterproof gear and set off – this time to Ryten, which is said to have an incredibly beautiful viewpoint. Unfortunately, due to all the rain, clouds, and fog, we don’t see much of it, so we turn back after a few kilometers. After warming up in the van, we make our way to Henningsvær, where we see our first moose and spend the night…

The next morning, we rise early to make the most of the good weather with the first hike of the day. This trail is quite popular, and for good reason. From the top, you can enjoy the fantastic topography of Henningsvær. The path is very steep and exhausting, so once back down in the little town, we treat ourselves to two well-deserved burgers at the climbing café.

Still craving more nature, we decide on a sunset hike on the western side of the peninsula. It is definitely worth pulling out our hiking gear again and climbing some extra altitude. At the top, we get to enjoy the longest sunset of our lives, take photos, soak in the view and pick blueberries. By the time we make it back down, it’s already quite late –11 PM – and the sky is still an incredible display of colours.

During the night, which we spend parked by a quiet roadside near the forest, we are suddenly woken up. At first, fear creeps in – is someone knocking on the van? Or maybe an elk scratching its massive antlers against the side? But when Clara finally dares to peek out of the window, we realise it is just a couple of sheep rubbing themselves against the van. Smiling, we drift back to sleep and even manage to sleep in the next morning.

In the early morning, Lola feels motivated to turn the blueberries we gathered the day before into delicious blueberry pancakes – a fantastic idea! The day passes in a relaxed manner. We find a campsite where we can shower, do the dishes, and recharge, then spend the rest of the day basking in the sun.

The next day is far more demanding. We have an 80-kilometre bike ride ahead of us. For Lola, a beginner on a road bike, it is a real challenge. By the halfway point, she is already pushing her limits, hoping that the route is as flat as the way out. Spoiler: it wasn’t. By the time we make it back to the van, she is completely exhausted.

After our well-earned meal, the night is once again restless and stormy. We have to change our parking spot in the middle of the night just to get some sleep. The next morning greets us with yet another rainy day. We decide to cut our trip on the Lofoten short and start making our way back to the mainland earlier than planned. After one last stop for supplies, we set off for the ferry.

After a hearty meal, another restless and stormy night follows, forcing us to change our parking spot once again just to get some sleep. When the next day turns out to be rainy again, we decide to return to the mainland earlier than planned. After one last stop for supplies, we head to the ferry.

At the harbour, we aren’t as lucky as on the way in: the ship only has space for us around midnight. And it isn’t just the timing that was bad – the weather is miserable too. The sky is pitch black, the seas are rough, and many passengers get seasick and feel anxious. But thanks to Lola’s storytelling and the company of a kind elderly man, who keeps us entertained on deck, the time passes quickly. Wildly energised yet completely exhausted, we finally arrive in Bodø after three hours at sea. Clara still has just enough motivation to push on and cover another stretch of the long journey south.

After a full day of driving and an adventurous night in the wilderness, by midday we find ourselves strolling through the streets of Stockholm. We’re fascinated by the city’s diversity and the differences compared to the other places we’ve visited on this trip. A delicious traditional Swedish meal and a leisurely walk later, we are back in the van, searching for a place to spend the night. Clara finds the perfect spot, not far from the Danish border, right by a serene lake.

The next morning starts with a bit of exercise, a quick dip in the lake, and packing up before we hit the road toward Copenhagen. Once there, we are blown away by the architecture and the city’s unique vibe. Everything just feels right! After one and a half days filled with pure Copenhagen indulgence – great food, amazing cafés, and stylishly dressed people – we find ourselves boarding another ferry, this time bound for Germany, one step closer to home.

The last two days of our journey are mostly spent in the van, listening to podcasts, reminiscing about this incredible adventure and already planning the next trip.