Bike travel in the north of Scandinavia (looking for general advice)

[free1976]

Hi guys! I hope I'm writing in the right place... I'm using google traslator to see the titles, so I'm not too sure...

I'm spanish girl, about to start a bike trip into the north of Scandinavia. I know your forum from a guy call Pau i amor, we are both in rodadas, a great meeting point for bike travellers in spanish.

On wendsday I'm flying to Lulea, just bought my ticket last saturday, so I haven't really plan my trip at all, well it's true that I never really plan...but I love to make my plan on the way.

Anyway, more or less I have an idea about what I want to cycle, that would be start cycling to the west to cross Sweden and get into Norway, go up through the Feroe Islands and the up and up the north...and then back to Lulea crossing Finland. That would depend on how much time it'll take, and how much time I have left by the time I get to Nordapp...

I'm just writing because I know you have lot of info, and to ask about general advice, places to see, roads to avoid... I usually take little roads and gravel roads, and love wild camping.

I have some experience traveling by bike, and I'm really looking forward to this trip. I loved the midday sun when I travelled in Iceland and can't wait to feel it again.

I'll be doing wild camping most of the time, if someone wants to join me for a while, for me it's always great to share my journey.

Thanks a lot in advance! and sorry to write in English...

[Markku Liitiä]

When you´ve visited Nordkapp, take E6 to Lakselv and Karigasniemi (Finnish border). From Karigasniemi go south along the border/river Teno to Angeli and from there to Inari. From Inari take road 955 to Pokka and Sirkka/Levi. These roads on Finnish side are really peaceful and you'll have plenty possibilities to do wild camping.

BUT, along the roads (except Karigasniemi, Inari and Sirkka/Levi) there are no shops, no restaurants, not anything but forests and swamps. Take enough food and drink, although it's quite safe to drink river/stream water.

[Tyyni]

Is that true - no shops between Inari and Sirkka? I'll be cycling that road myself in a couple weeks.

Free, I've been told that on the Fin/Swe border, the road is better on the Finnish side, which means that trucks drive there. So for a cyclist, the Swedish side is supposedly better. (Hopefully someone with personal experience will confirm or correct me.) Have a great trip!

[Markku Liitiä]

There is one of those legendary Lapland bars called Tieva-Tupa in Pokka, but no shop as far as I know. There might be a village shop in Köngäs, but that's pretty near of Sirkka.

But it's only 202 km from Inari to Sirkka. You can ride it in no time! :D

About Fin/Swe border: The road on Swedish side of river Tornionjoki also has much nicer scenery. I'd prefer that, too.

[Mattia]

About wildcamping. In Finland it`s allowed by law to wild camp almost everywere as long as You use common sense. Don`t litter, don`t disturb others, stay away from courtyards, don`t damage trees or other plants, leave campsite as it was, etc. basic reasonable behavior is demanded. And of course don`t let fire loose :)

In certain areas there are some restrictions for camping. For example in nature conservation areas have some regulations. In those areas You have to camp in spotted places. They are free of charge and in many places there are free cottages or other shelters to make them very tempting camping sites.

[JackOja]

...And of course don`t let fire loose :)...

In summer there can even be long dry periods when making a fire is not allowed.

[Mattia]

In my experience "Tyyni" has got it right about roads in valley of river Tornio. At the Swedish side road goes through little villages and it is quite curvy. So there isn`t too much heavy traffic. Also speed limits are tighter so cars drive abit slower in Sweden.

[Matti Heikkinen]

If you are going to Lofoten,not to Feroe Islands best way is Arvidsjaur-Arjeplog-Fauske in Norway-Bodö-Ferry to Moskones in Lofoten.In Norway take free Travel Guide of Northern Norway,there is almost endless amount local attractions listed.

[free1976]

Un millón de gracias chicos !!!!! Matti, lo siento, Lofoten, Feroe están lejos ..... Es de esa manera vale la pena? o será más agradable para subir a Gallivare y Kiruna más tarde? Sé que es quiete más tiempo, pero también quiero ver bonitas partes de Suecia, además creo que desde aquí, todo es va a ser muy agradable. Gracias de nuevo, acaba de llegar a Lulea :)

[Markku Liitiä]

Edellinen valantehneellä googlekääntäjällä suomeksi:

Milj kiitos kaverit !!!!! Matti, anteeksi, Lofootit, Färsaaret ovat paljon ..... On siis syytä? tai se on kiva päästä Gallivare ja Kiruna myöhemmin? Tiedän, että on quiete kauemmin, mutta myös halua nähdä kauniita puolille Ruotsia, hyvin luulen täältä, kaikki tulee olemaan erittäin mukava. Kiitos vielä kerran, juuri tullut Luulaja

Kolmanneksi kotimaiseksi kääntyy paremmin:

A million thanks guys !!!!! Matti, sorry, Lofoten, Faroe are far ..... It is thus worth? or it will be nice to get on Gallivare and Kiruna later? I know it's quiete longer but also want to see beautiful parts of Sweden, well I think from here, everything is going to be very nice. Thanks again, just come to Lulea

[Matti Heikkinen]

In my opinion Lofoten are worth seeing,going there third time in July,almost every bike traveller i have seen in north from southern Europe have route Lofoten and Norkapp,in my mind Kiruna and Gällivarre are not very important to see,north to Kiruna is lake of Torneå,i like it