An adventure story including tips and insights. Pictures of steep mountains, deep fjords and the midnight sun have made people want to drop everything and book a ticket to the archipelago located far above the Arctic Circle. If you’re planning a visit to the North Pole, you’ll have to consider the time you decide to visit carefully.The Arctic Ocean's icy waters are open for a short period between June and July, making it the only possible time to travel on a cruise to this remote destination. Leaving Trondheim in our rear-view we started to wonder what the next few hours held in store. The park also has a unique collection of Sami cultural heritage sites. By late morning we reached the outskirts of Trondheim and stopped for some snacks and a quick power nap. At this point we were running on pure adrenaline and we were relived when we emerged from the ravine road out into the Arctic wilderness and were met with our first Arctic Circle sign: we were 2 kilometres from the Arctic Circle! It was amazing to feel the power of the ocean as it relentlessly pounded and the wind howled around the small islands and structures supporting the Atlantic Road itself. There are two places in Helgeland where you can easily cross the Arctic Circle your self, by the mainroad, and by the costal road north from Mo i Rana. Watching whales and porpoises at 2am in the morning was very unique. Driving to the Arctic circle in Norway. For more Norway adventures check our our Norway page here! Your email address will not be published. Most populated areas above the Arctic Circle are in Russia, Norway, and Finland. Cross the Arctic Circle and hunt the Northern Lights in winter, or enjoy 24 hours of daylight under the Midnight Sun in summer Spring and Autumn voyages showcase the brilliant colours, magical light and fascinating culture of Arctic Norway You can also get your own Arctic Circle certificate. It was sad saying goodbye to our incredible fjord views but we were ecstatic to have finally ticked the Arctic Circle off our bucket list. The polar night and the midnight sun phenomena can be observed to the north of the Arctic Circle. The Saltfjellet-Svartisen National Park, with its varied and unspoiled nature, provides a wealth of opportunities for outdoor recreation. Because of the Arctic’s extremely cold climate, lack of human habitation, and underdeveloped infrastructure, you will need to take special precautions before traveling via car, regardless of where you are or what time of year it is. The scenery did change but it was for the better and we passed many picturesque villages and houses as we cruised on northwards. The highlight of the drive was the road itself. a quick 12 hour detour to the UNESCO inscribed Vega Islands, a 12 hour detour to the Vega Islands archipelago, ALL IMAGES AND CONTENT ON THIS WEBSITE ARE SUBJECT TO COPYRIGHT © BY THEWHOLEWORLDISAPLAYGROUND.COM. Like all return journeys the trip back to our cabin in Mo I Rana felt so much quicker. The Arctic Circle one of the who polar circles on the globe and is located at 66°33' North, and referes to where the sun doesn't set mid summer and doesn't rise mid winter. After a caffeine fuelled 14 hour drive from Bud to Mo I Rana we finally reached our campsite at around 9 pm that evening. Find more info in our disclosure policy. A final destination of the Arctic Circle! The plan was to take shifts of driving, swapping when the other got tired and repeating this system until we made it to the Arctic Circle. The relentless twists of the road meant we had to take frequent breaks to rest and snack but we continued on for the afternoon. We were aiming to reach the town of Mo I Rana, just south of the Arctic circle, by early evening and arrange a cabin for the night. My “bucket list” drive to the Arctic Circle from Oslo, Norway began so sluggishly that for the first two hours on the road I was convinced I had made a horrible mistake and regretted the attempt. 24 hour brightness and the chance to stand in the Arctic were too great a temptation and, before we knew it, a visit to the Arctic Circle was penciled into our Norway route. Arriving back in Oslo three days later we were finally able to take time to appreciate what we’d accomplished. In additio… We seem to be standing at the Arctic Circle! How did that happen? It is the longest rail line in Norway, with 44 stations, 293 bridges and 154 tunnels. Our route took us from Bud in the Northern Fjordland region of Norway, across the magnificent Atlantic Road, through Trondheim and then up the long and winding road north to the Arctic Circle. The trip is just as beautiful in winter as in summer, and It takes approximately 20h 47m to drive from Bergen to Arctic Circle. This one most definitely led to an amazing adventure! We explored the area around the centre in the crisp midnight air and were amazed at how bright it still was. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. However, you can take the bus to Narvik bussterminal, take the bus to Fauske stasjon, then take the drive to Arctic Circle Centre. by David | Sep 14, 2016 | Blog, Europe, Latest Posts, Norway, Road Trips. It was great visiting the the northernmost tip of continental Norway and experiencing 24 hour long days. Our GPS was predicting a 14 hour drive including some sightseeing stops. It’s worth setting aside a few hours to marvel at this amazing structure which was voted Norway’s engineering feat of the century! Enjoy a guided motorcycle tour across Norway and Sweden to the arctic circle, find your inner Viking with us on this 21 day tour of Scandinavia. Terje Rakke, Nordic Life - Visit Helgeland, 66°33' North, and referes to where the sun doesn't set mid summer and doesn't rise mid winter. Of course that didn’t turn out to be the case! Discover all you need to cruise to Arctic Circle (Cruising), Norway. Marvel at stunning scenery and picturesque open roads on this self drive across Finland, Norway and Sweden, bathed in the midnight sun. A short video with video and stills. Since leaving Bud four days previous we had driven over 2,000 km, visited the Arctic Circle, seen two amazing and lesser known UNESCO World Heritage sights and had a crazy amount of fun. If you take the FV17 road (Coastal Route), you will cross the Arctic Circle on board the ferry between Kilboghamn and Jektvik. Saying goodbye to the Arctic Circle latitude line! At the Arctic Circle it can be seen for about a month, whereas at the North Pole itself, the sun can be seen continuously for 6 months, weather permitting. Having your own car gives you the flexibility to travel at your own pace through the Fjord lands and see places that are simply not possible on group tours or public transport. Arctic Norway (Norwegian: Det arktiske Norge) comprises the northernmost parts of Norway that lie above the Arctic circle.Norway, being one of the most stretched-out countries in the world, reaches from approximately 58 N to 81 N, so large parts lie north of the Arctic circle at 66 33′. Great article, wife and plan to do similar. Now it makes me want to see more of the Arctic Circle. It was great visiting the the northernmost tip of continental Norway and experiencing 24 hour long days. Yes, the driving distance between Bergen to Arctic Circle is 1470 km. To put it simply, it’s just an imaginary line that goes around the northernmost part of the world. 2am at our cabin in Mo I Rana. Visit royalcaribbean.com to get information on Arctic Circle (Cruising), Norway cruises, including things to do, dining, ports of call, cruise ships, shore excursions The surroundings became more barren with the countryside becoming noticeably less green. A quick search revealed that the Arctic Circle Centre, located in the Saltfjellet mountains just inside the Arctic Circle itself, was almost 800km from our cabin in Bud. Because of the harsh climate, areas above the Arctic Circle are low-populated, with the majority of people living along ice-free coastal areas. In general, modifications to your car such as snow tires and other cold-weather adaptations are necessary in order to ensure your safety. The center is 50 miles north of the small city of Mo i Rana. We'll send you our newsletter with lots of tips, travel and inspiration as we make our way around the globe! In addition to the world-famous Lofoten, Northern Norway is home to several other photogenic destinations – … Although tired and weary, once we discovered the gorgeous Ranfjorden views from our cabin balcony we completely forgot about the long drive earlier. A warm bed, hot water and a balcony affording us panoramic views across the fjord and we were all set for the evening! You will then come to the Arctic Circle Centre, at 650 metres (2,100 feet) above sea level, which has exhibitions, a souvenir shop and cafeteria. The Svartisen glacier covers about a fifth of the national park, and is Norway's second biggest glacier. It’s one of the highest places you can visit – not just in Europe but in the world, so much so that it’s in the Arctic circle! In its cinema, you can watch the multimedia show 'Welcome to the Arctic', which presents fantastic images and music from the Arctic Circle region. As we sat down to relax and chat about the day’s events I leaned over to Elaine and jokingly told her of my conversation with the campsite owner. ‘You know the Arctic circle is only 90 minutes from here….we could definitely go tonight’ The stunning fjord views must have given us a renewed energy as, despite the long day and feeling depleted just minutes earlier, we grabbed some snacks and jumped in the car with one goal in mind. Norway is planning to expand oil drilling in previously untouched areas of the Arctic, a move campaigners say threatens the fragile ecosystem … Cutting through the middle of Nordland, the road runs the length of Norway and we were on this road for the majority of our final 3 days in Norway! The cabin owner had told us that, although there would be no mid-night sun due the time of year the entire drive would still be bathed in a long sunset. The drive from Mo I Rana to the Arctic Circle was a trip we’ll never forget. Copyright © 2020 ALL IMAGES AND CONTENT ON THIS WEBSITE ARE SUBJECT TO COPYRIGHT © BY THEWHOLEWORLDISAPLAYGROUND.COM. Take the fly drive tour. Onboard the Arctic Circle Train, you will journey from the Swedish mountains to the awe-inspiring fjords in Norway. What is the Arctic Circle anyway? The Northern Lights and Polar Night The areas where we find the midnight sun in the summer are also characterised by polar night in the winter, where the period of darkness there is equivalent to the period of daylight during the summer. Book your car now with RentalCars.com, where you will find the best rental car prices, Click here for the best rental car prices. Here, you will embark on two dedicated Northern Lights … Arctic Fjords & Coastal Highlights Extensive Cruise package, with 4 nights Hurtigruten cruise from Tromso to Bergen, the Trollfjord, land excursion across the Lofoten Islands, the spectacular Helgeland coast, land excursion across the amazing Atlantic Ocean road, the Norway in a Nutshell trip from Bergen to Oslo, with Fjord cruise on the UNESCO Naeroyfjord, Flam railway and Bergen line. You will then come to the Arctic Circle Centre, at 650 metres (2,100 feet) above sea level, which has exhibitions, a souvenir shop and cafeteria. From May through the beginning of October, you can also visit the famous Arctic Circle Centre by traveling on the E6 highway and exiting at the town of Saltfjellet. A line of rock pillars stretched into the horizon on either side marking the invisible Arctic Circle line of latitude. 2021 Midnight Sun Season Rates: May 21 - June 17, 2021 - $179 / person June 18 - August 20, 2021 - $199 / person August 21 - September 18, 2021 - $219 page. The Arctic Circle Monument at Vikingen, north of Tonnes in Rodøy municipality, is a well-known navigational aid for marine traffic along the shipping lane, and is very visible and well lit up. Experience the best of Lapland under the light nights of the Arctic summer on this comprehensive exploration of lakes, fjords, waterways, national parks and more, and get a true feel for this Sami heartland. Our fave is 39 pics of an epic roadtrip! When is the best time to visit the North Pole and Arctic Circle? You can cross the Arctic Circle at Saltfjellet in Rana municipality, by following the E6 from Mo i Rana for about 80 kilometres (50 miles). There is no direct connection from Tromsø to Arctic Circle Centre. 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