You are a Guest, please Join now to allow full access to the website and be part of our community. You can register by clicking the "Click Here to create an account" link at the top left of the page under our Logo
My wife Cathy and I have booked to go on the 15 day Norway trip being organised by the Caravan Club in June/July this year. We are taking our Hymer Classic B 584. We would love to hear from anyone else who is intending to take this trip to swap notes, share the excitement etc. We have never been to Norway before although we have often travelled elsewhere on the continent.
Advice from anyone who has toured Norway in the last year or so would also be gratefully received.
Dave
Last edited by driftwood4 on Mon Dec 05, 2005 11:27 pm; edited 1 time in total
The following members of MHF thanked driftwood4 for this posting
It's fairly quiet, so I thought I'd update and post some 'stuff' I've posted elsewhere.
Norway comes highly recommended, we've been three times, once by train and twice by 'van.
Since our first visit, over 20 years ago, the roads have improved tremendously, much investment from oil revenue having put more tunnels in, and made motoring much easier (Tunnels, including the worlds longest near Flam, are all toll-free).
Our last time in Norway (with motorhome) was in 2001, we travelled by Fjiord Line from Newcastle to Bergen, not a cheap trip, but good boat, and it drops you right where you want to be. IMO much better than going overland, as it leaves you fresh for exploring Norway itself.
Norwegians are a friendly race, and English is almost universally spoken (I try the local language if I can, but Norwegian is not easy).
Gas can be the usual continental problem. All sites we stayed on had hook-ups (despite some pretty remote ones), and it is common to find kitchens for camper's use with hot-plates etc that you can use to eke out your gas if you need to (we didn't need to).
If you are touring to any extent, I would suggest that you get hold of the
comprehensive campsite guide from the Norwegian Tourist Office in London (or you can download in PDF Format from the web at
Only registered users can see links on our Forum Join Now or Login
but not a good idea without broadband) and definitely the transport or locale guides which give comprehensive Ferry timetables and prices. (Having access to these is invaluable in planning routes, timings and costs). Ferry prices are very reasonable (in comparison with UK experience) for solo vehicles, and part of the touring experience, but anything over 6 metres long took a big increase (our then van, being just over 6 metres with the bikes on the back, used to breathe in as the attendant looked at it, and we generally got away with the lower price).
Norway is expensive, but not prohibitively so if you self-cater - the
problem is generally anything where service is required (eating or drinking
out can be a mortgage job). The number of supermarkets and the choice of food has grown since we first went, and you should usually be able to get provisions reasonably easily.
Even bottled beer is not too expensive in supermarkets (English rather than French price levels), but wine and spirits are a state monopoly, and much more expensive, so take your allowance in if you're so inclined. (Norway is not EU, so very limited allowance - there were absolutely no customs checks as we got off the ferry at Bergen, but I wouldn't like to rely on it!)
We found acceptance of credit cards patchy (and unpredictable) with some
petrol stations particularly in the North, not able to accept my Visa card even though they had a Visa sign, whilst others could. Similarly, some supermarkets took Visa, some didn't (Co-op was pretty consistent at doing so). ATMs everywhere took my cash card with no problem.
Don't underestimate the distances. We went way beyond the Arctic Circle and Narvik to the Vesteralen last time, a three week round trip. Distances are huge, ferries add delays, and once North of Andalsnes there is real wilderness. Worth it for the experience if you don't mind driving, and the Lofoten Islands and the Vesteralen are stunning.
If you are heading North from Bergen, a good first base is the site at Flam. It is a reasonable drive from Bergen, a generally recommended site, and a good
introduction to (admittedly a bit touristy) Norway. a good centre for a few
tours (Norway in a nutshell by boat, bus and train), and a trip on the spectacular Flam railway. It then gives a jumping-off point for a few different directions.
Exploring for yourself is half the challenge, but we can recommend Andalsnes, Geiranger, Ulvik, Hardanger Fjiord and round about if you don't wish to go too far North.
I've sat on the Fjiord side at Geiranger at 1am reading a paper (no darkness here in summer) watching the QE2 sail past miles and miles from the sea..
Campsites are plentiful, and people do wild-camp, but on our last visit, there were definitely undercurrents against wild-camping, partially to protect the tourist trade, and partially due to the bad behaviour of the minority in dumping rubbish and waste where they shouldn't.
Hope this starts the debate.
The following members of MHF thanked RobinHood for this posting
I concur totally. Oslo is probably my favourite capital (or maybe Vienna), and Norway is specacular, very friendly, and very expensive, although we found campsites good value. Our best site EVER, ANYWHERE, is along the fjord from Brikdalsbreen, with an amazing view of the glacier - Gytri Camping. There is also a spectacular campsite beside (not at the end of) Gerainger Fjord, where you can see the exhaust from the cruise ships lying in layer of still air all day.
Driving is not easy, and tunnels are hairy - because everything is black - no white to reflect, it seems like you're headlights are off. Not a country for US RVs, and the Trollstiggen is quite an adventure (to say the least!)
We were last there in 1999, and plan to go again next August. Asolutely brilliant. But food is pretty poor quality - but you don't go to Norway for the food. We took dried food as a back up, and drank most of booze before we got there, although there were no customs checks at all as we went in
And in the 1970's I had some good runs ashore in Tromso, Bergen and Oslo, despite the cost of alcohol
______________________________________________________________ "A motorhome is for life, not just for holidays."
The following members of MHF thanked Bagshanty for this posting
Did a round trip to Nth Kap via Denmark Sweden Finland and up to Finmark, all the way down the west coast of Norway.
Round trip 11 odd K miles. In 12 weeks
Best time around June July & August. Nth of the Arctic circle you have 24 hour daylight. It take some getting used to drinking G&T in daylight at 0200hrs.
Spent 2 days at Nth Cape 1st day it was shirt sleeve order 12deg C the next -2 so go prepared.
Take loadsa cash all bridges ferries and tunnels are expensive. Make sure your brakes are newish as you do need more than your engine for braking. For example in the long tunnel to Honveg the first few miles are down hill you'll be lucky to kept it in 2nd and braking, after midway you'll be lucky to get out of 2nd gear all uphill. And I do mean uphill.
If you have rechargeable LPG there are only 11 stations in Sweden didn't find any in Norway. I have 2 14KG bottles and filled up in GB by the time we got to Stockholm we only needed 7Ltrs. Our next fillup was some 5K miles later on the road from Prague to Pilzsen it took sub 20 Ltrs to fill, basically one cylinder for cooking heating and Fridge. I was well chuffed.
Load up with booze at Calais ish as it is very expensive up there. Also the local brews at sub 3.5% leave you with the thought you cant wait to get a Black Sheep or a German brew inside you.
Don't forget to add 1 hour going into Finland.
Its worth using the ACSI camp site info plenty of good and well guarded sites, not worth wild camping unless you are in convoy you are too close to the USSR border and there are a lot of dodgy gangs on the way.
It is a experience worth doing.
If you like fish Noway is fab didn't go much on whale though. Felt like eating Tuna on a Elk steak.
Didn't need to tow the car most sites are within a few minutes walk of a community and all shops seem to be very campervan friendly.
Hope this info may be off use
Kind regards
Richard863
The following members of MHF thanked richard863 for this posting
An excellent summary Robinhood and agree with all you say. It is worth adding that there is a 50mph speed limit on the majority of roads which adds to the reasons why travelling long daily distances is not a good idea. June is a good month to go, even so you will still encounter many many motorhomes so take a mechanical hand if you intend to wave to them all.
Have a good trip and I am sure you will enjoy it.
peedee
______________________________________________________________ The best journeys are not always in straight lines
For an account of our journeys click on
Only registered users can see links on our Forum Join Now or Login
The following members of MHF thanked peedee for this posting
have been to Norway with the van three times 2002, 2003 and 2004. It is a marvellous country for motorhoming. Numerous motorhome service points exist, most of them outside of camp sites, e.g. at petrol stations. They are usually free or charge only a nominal fee, are indicated on the Norwegian Road Atlas and usually clearly signposted locally. People are usually very friendly to foreigners and English is frequently spoken.
I envy you, but maybe unnecessarily, because perhaps we will also be back in Norway next summer. My experiences:
Travel time:
June/July is about the ideal travel time, except if you can't sleep without darkness. Depending on how far you go up north the Sun will set at 23:00 or even not at all. In July the Norwegian school holidays start, which means that at least along the South Coast ("Norwegian Riviera" ) camp sites can be cramped. But even at peak season you will always find a good place if you go a little bit away from the coast.
In June you may still hit an occasional snow flake up in the mountains, but roads are all clear.
Prices:
Food prices are certainly above continental standards, but maybe people from UK won't find them too much different from home. Same is valid for Diesel. Exception is all kinds of booze: Everything stronger than beer is only sold in a few state-owned monopoly shops at really daunting prices. Beer is divided in several classes depending on the amount of alcohol and quite expensive as well.
For all kinds of drink cans and bottles there is a nationwide refund system in place, so do not throw them into the dust bins but take them back to the shop.
Dining out will be a challenge for your bank account, but some restaurants provide quite inexpensive lunch menus.
Camp Sites and Wild Camping:
There is no general ban on Wild Camping, though local regulations can be found and should be strictly obeyed. However it is not allowed to go off-road with any kind of motor vehicle, so you have to stay on lay-bys and car parks. Nevertheless, if you keep a low profile, stay away from inhabited houses (or ask the owner for permission if house is closer than about 150 metres) and, most important, do not litter anything, you will have no problem.
On the other hand camp sites are numerous, usually inexpensive and well-kept. More and more cities (like e.g. Oslo, Bergen, Alesund) nowadays also provide official motorhome stopover sites analog to the German Stellplatz system.
Propane Gas:
In our typical Scandinavian vacation one 11-kilograms-bottle of propane lasts about 3 weeks, even though we do a lot of wild camping (with fridge on gas), have our daily hot shower and do a lot of cooking. Nevertheless take sufficient supplies with you, as it is practically impossible to refill or exchange any non-Norwegian gas bottles there.
Safety:
Norway is one of the safest countries in Europe, so except maybe around Oslo and along the E6 road between Oslo and Trondheim theft and burglaries are practically unknown.
Roads and Traffic:
Most main roads are in excellent condition, however minor roads (especially in the mountains) can still have gravel surfaces and quite some pot holes. You will also find single-track roads with passing places (marked with "M"). For some newer stretches of road, especially bridges and tunnels, as well as for private roads, road taxes apply. There are also "city maut" systems (tax to pay for driving into a city) in most of the larger cities, but usually only o
Bookmarks
Watched Topics
In July the Norwegian school holidays start, which means that at least along the South Coast ("Norwegian Riviera" 
) camp sites can be cramped. But even at peak season you will always find a good place if you go a little bit away from the coast.