One Epic Detour
With our circular adventure in Swedish Lapland complete, it was time to push on to Narvik and start the ‘P’. 80% of the P’s route would take place above the Arctic Circle and we couldn’t wait to get exploring! As the van travelled further and further north, the sense of adventure moved up a gear.
The route
Whilst camping on the way up, we met a fellow traveller who recommended going to Narvik via the Lofoten Islands. Despite constituting a fairly significant detour, Katy and I were instantly sold by her description of the landscape and winding roads. Decision made, we set off for Bodo where we would catch the Bodø-Moskenes ferry. Once at Moskenes, I would drive along the entire chain before reaching Narvik and firing up the GPS to start the ‘P’.
The detour to Narvik…
The Lofoten Islands
Lofoten Islands on the horizon
We docked at 22:30, disembarked, and hit the road. Despite the time, Katy and I were full of energy and raring to go. The Arctic’s ‘midnight sun’ meant we could squeeze in an hour of exploring before finding a spot for the evening. We decided to head straight to Å, a tiny village at the southernmost tip of the archipelago. This is where the island chain’s only major road starts/finishes (depending on which way you’re travelling). For us, it marked the start of an incredible journey back to the mainland. On arrival in Å, we parked up and immediately set off down a coastal path…
The road to Å
Views from the coastal path
Camping spot for the night
Driving Lofoten's E10
The next day, fuelled by a 3 egg omelette and beans, we set off along the archipelago. Every kilometre of this drive was special. There are insane views from start to finish. Spectacular peaks, impressive bridges, white sandy beaches and picturesque villages are just a few of the treats along the way. If you’re lucky enough to find yourself in Norway with a van, this drive is a must. Hopefully these pictures will do a better job of conveying Lofoten’s beauty than my prose:
Beautiful Villages
Our ‘campsite’ from a different angle
Hamnoy Bridge from above
Views from Hamnoy Bridge
The road to Narvik
Rorvika Beach
After 10 hours of driving and exploring, we finally reached Bjerkvik (near Narvik). Completely exhausted but absolutely buzzing, we reflected that this has to be one of the most stunning detours ever taken. A huge thanks to our mysterious traveller for the recommendation – a perfect example of the vanlife community in action.
Harbour near Hamnoy Village
Islands as far as the eye can see
Amazing 😀