Reaching the top

NORTH CAPE

3 countries, 17 days, 2400 km

Bike: Triumph Street Scrambler -18

Sweden – a nordic icon 

Green forests, kind people, weird food and reindeers on the highway. Sweden is like taken from a Disney-movie. 

Some motorcyclists might tell you that the Swedish east coast on the way up to North Cape is just a distance of transportation, nothing more. They are wrong – and I'll show you how you can make memories of a lifetime on this route!

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Northern Sweden is among the most genuine places I've experienced, here you find the true essence of the north.

favorite towns & stops

01/

STOCKHOLM

The capital of Scandinavia. A green, lively and beautiful city I'm proud to call home.

02/

GAMMELGÅRDEN, MYCKELGENSJÖ

"The old farmyard", one of Sweden's best preserved farmhouses from over 100 years ago. With a cute café where you can enjoy a waffle with typical Swedish cloudberry jam.

03/

UMEÅ

The biggest city in northern Sweden. Perfect for an overnight stop with dinner by the river, or spend a day at the beach by Nydalasjön.

05/

GAMMELSTADS KYRKSTAD, LULEÅ

Visit the amazing UNESCO-heritage Gammelstads Kyrkstad. Travel 500 years back in Swedish history.

06/

PAJALA MARKNAD, PAJALA

So much fun! A little town that normally has around 2.000 citizens gets around 45.000 visitors during this weekend every year. Party, party!

07/

ICEHOTEL, JUKKASJÄRVI

An entire hotel and bar – completely made out of ice. Open all year around thanks to solar panels on the roof. Crazy cool and crazy cold!

04/

HÖGA KUSTEN

The area Höga Kusten was very affected by the ice age, the land rose with more than 300 meters which gave it a unique look that's now on UNESCO's world heritage list. Popular hiking destination.

The ROUTE

STOCKHOLM - SUNDSVALL

Take road 272 from Uppsala and then road 83 to Ånge. This road is called "Tidernas Väg".

More info: www.tidernasvag.se/en/.

SUNDSVALL - ÖRNSKÖLDSVIK

E4. The coolest bridge in Sweden; Höga Kustenbron. 

ÖRNSKÖLDSVIK - MYCKELGENSJÖ

Road 348. If you want to visit "Gammelgården" in Myckelgensjö.

MYCKELGENSJÖ - UMEÅ

I took the small roads through the villages, and stopped at an amazing view point ("Utkiksplats") in Långviksmon, then road 92.

UMEÅ - HAPARANDA

E4 + E20. All the cool cities; Umeå, Skellefteå, Luleå, Kalix and Haparanda.

HAPARANDA - ROVANIEMI

Road 99, 930 + E75. Visit Santa Claus at The Artic Circle, or skip this part and go straight to Kiruna through Pajala.

ROVANIEMI - KIRUNA

Pajala, Lovikka, ICEHOTEL in Jukkasjärvi and the world's biggest iron mine in Kiruna. Roads: 79, 83, 99, 395, E45 + E10.

STOCKHOLM

ÅNGE

MYCKELGENSJÖ

UMEÅ

PITEÅ

KALIX

ROVANIEMI

KIRUNA

JUKKASJÄRVI

LAKSELV

NORTH CAPE

KIRUNA - NORTH CAPE

The best route to North Cape: E10, E45, E8 east, 93, E45, 92, 892 + E69.

HOTELS & 

CAMPING SPOTS

01/

HENNANS CAMPING, HENNAN

Super cozy little spot by a lake. Camping and cottages for rent.

02/

KÄRLEKSVIKEN, UMEÅ

Safe and nice spot for wild camping in Umeå.

03/

FÅRÖN CAMPING, PITEÅ

Cottages, camping and a big conference house where they sometimes rent out rooms for 25€/night.

04/

VALHALL HOTELL, KALIX

Great hotel with everything you wish at the breakfast table. 

05/

ICEHOTEL, JUKKASJÄRVI

Stay in one of the ice rooms in -5 degrees, or if you're not into that you can choose the warm part.

06/

AMAZING SECRET SPOT FOR WILD CAMPING

1h and 40 min from North Cape.

Coordinates: 70°38'60.0"N 25°20'42.1"E

Travel gallery

Click on the pictures to read more about some of the moments from the trip.

Myckelgensjö Lake
Riding on the beach in Myckelgensjö. Had a lot of fun and found out that my mc-sneakers weren't waterproofed. :)

Photo: Oscar Jettman
Esso Nostalgia Station, Järvsö
Beautiful little Esso nostalgia gas station from the past. A part of "Tidernas Väg".
Kärleksviken, Umeå
In the very beginning of my trip. My first breakfast after a night in my tent, what's more romantic than having breakfast by a lake with the thoughts and excitement about 6 weeks of traveling ahead..?
Vittangi "Village of the year 2007"
This little town was named "Village of the year" in 2007, but I was more impressed by that blue Beetle matching the gas station.
ICEHOTEL, Jukkasjärvi
Want to sleep in -5 degrees celsius? Check in on ICEHOTEL, it's open all year round thanks to solar panels on the roof.
Me & Jonna, Grundtjärn
Had the amazing opportunity to meet Jonna Jinton, a big inspiration and fighter for the Swedish countryside.

Photo: Oscar Jettman
Tidernas Väg
The first gas stop! So happy and so excited about being out traveling again. :)

Photo: Oscar Jettman
Hennans Camping, Hennan
Enjoying the midnight sun in Hennan. Wonderful little pearl by "Tidernas Väg". This picture is taken around 11 PM at night.

Photo: Oscar Jettman
Kaiser The Dog
This little fella had his own wagon attached to him. Usually he has his little brother in there, but not today.
Svein and his tractor
19 km/h is his maximum speed in this tractor called "Gråtass", but still Svein had traveled over 2000 km with his tractor.
Skalmsjö
Stayed with the locals in Skalmsjö, and here I'm working in the garden for a bed and meals. Loved every second of it!
Pajala Marknad, Pajala
Freshly baked Sami bread at Pajala Marknad. Delicious! I bought a pack that I put on top of my packing and I ate a little bit every time I stopped... :)
Rovaniemi, Finland
Touch down Arctic Circle in Rovaniemi! A few minutes later I met Santa Claus himself, and ate reindeer.
Somewhere in Finland
On my way to Rovaniemi. I love when I can look down into my GPS and see a straight blue line, then look up and have the real straight road in front of me. It might sound simple, but there's something to it.
Kärleksviken, Umeå
My first night in the tent, couldn't have gotten a better start. I fell asleep with a smile on my face that evening. Woke up in the middle of the night to take out a warming beanie, but slept like a baby for the rest of it.
Tea break
Seriously, I'm always bringing a thermos full of tea. And extra teabags.
Paltzerian, Piteå
You can't pass Piteå without trying the famous pite-palt. Palt is a classic dish for northern Sweden and consists of a potato dough with pork filling, and is eaten together with lingonberry jam, butter and carrots.
Hennan Camping, Hennan
A cozier and calmer place than this little camping is hard to find. They also have cottages for rent.
Show More

CLICK HERE FOR THE REST OF THE ROUTE:

With photos of Oscar Jettman

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© 2019 by Hanna C Johansson

Somewhere in Finland

On my way to Rovaniemi. I love when I can look down into my GPS and see a straight blue line, then look up and have the real straight road in front of me. It might sound simple, but there's something to it.