Itinerary
- Day 1
Tromsø
You'll arrive in Tromsø and pick up your rental car for the drive to your hotel. The city sits right on the Arctic Ocean and serves as the natural capital of the Arctic. There's plenty to do depending on what interests you. Walk through the charming wooden houses in the city center, or head to the Polar Museum to learn about famous polar expeditions. The Tromsø Museum covers Sami history if that appeals to you. You can also take the Fjellheisen cable car up Storstein mountain for views across the region. From September onwards, timing might work out to catch the Northern Lights, though that depends on weather and activity levels.
Optional Activities
- Visit the Polar Museum to learn about famous polar expeditions
- Visit the Tromsø Museum to explore Sami history and culture
- Take the Fjellheisen cable car up Storstein mountain (420 meters) for views of the island and mountains
- Watch the Northern Lights (September onwards, weather dependent)
Landmarks Polar Museum Tromsø Museum Storstein Mountain - Day 2
Tromsø to Alta
You'll drive north toward the North Cape, following some of the Arctic Ocean's most scenic coastlines. The route passes the Lyngen Alps and leads to Alta, which is known for its prehistoric rock carvings (a UNESCO World Heritage site). Along the way you'll see the dramatic Arctic landscape unfold. You'll spend two nights in Alta, so you'll have time to settle in and explore the area at a relaxed pace.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Explore the scenic coastline of the Arctic Ocean
- View the Lyngen Alps
Landmarks Lyngen Alps Alta Fjord - Day 3
Alta
Spend this day exploring Alta at your own pace. A boat tour through the Alta Canyon works well if you want to see the largest canyon in Northern Europe. Alternatively, the Alta Museum is worth a visit, with its famous stone carvings displayed along a circular viewing route that offers views over Alta Fjord. The museum also has indoor exhibitions about Arctic life, both historical and current.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Boat tour through Alta Canyon, the largest canyon in Northern Europe
- Visit the Alta Museum with UNESCO World Heritage rock carvings
- Walk the circular route viewing the stone carvings with views over Alta Fjord
- Explore indoor exhibitions about Arctic life past and present
Landmarks Alta Canyon Alta Museum Alta Fjord - Day 4
Alta to Honningsvåg
You'll drive to Honningsvåg, the northernmost town in the world with city rights. From there, cross the sea tunnel to Magerøya island and drive across its bare plateau to reach the North Cape, which is officially Europe's northernmost point. At the North Cape plateau visitor center, you'll find restaurants, exhibitions, a chapel, cinema and gift shop. Try the Arctic cuisine and watch the panoramic film. On clear days from June to August, you might experience the midnight sun if you're traveling during that time.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Visit the North Cape plateau visitor center with restaurants and exhibitions
- Watch the spectacular panoramic film at North Cape
- Visit the globe at the edge of the North Cape plateau
- Experience the midnight sun (seasonal, June to August weather dependent)
Landmarks North Cape Magerøya Island - Day 5
Honningsvåg to Kirkenes
You'll drive toward Kirkenes along the scenic coastal route, which passes through sand dunes to Vadso (connected to mainland by sea tunnel) and continues to Hamningsberg, a settlement surrounded by rock formations on the Arctic Ocean. You'll stay two nights in a warm cabin at Snowhotel Kirkenes, which gives you a chance to experience the region without rushing through it.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Take the scenic coastal route along the Arctic Ocean through sand dunes to Vadso
- Explore Hamningsberg, a coastal settlement with natural rock formations
Landmarks Varangerfjord Vadso Hamningsberg - Day 6
Kirkenes
This is a leisure day in Kirkenes. Walk through town and climb to the Storfjell viewpoint for views over the fjord. Kirkenes sits at the fascinating border triangle where Russia, Finland and Norway meet, so the location itself is worth exploring just to understand the geography and see how these three countries come together.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Explore the town of Kirkenes
- Visit Storfjell viewpoint for views over the fjord
Landmarks Storfjell Viewpoint - Day 7
Kirkenes to Inari
You'll cross from Norwegian Finnmark into Finnish Lapland. The drive takes you through a lake district across Lake Inari to its wooded shores. Stop in Sevettjärvi for a picnic on the sandy beach and keep an eye out for reindeer. Later, visit the Sami Museum in Inari to learn more about the region's indigenous culture. You'll have one night in Inari, so you can arrive without too much pressure.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Picnic at the sandy beach in Sevettjärvi
- Watch for reindeer in the landscape
- Visit the Sami Museum in Inari
Landmarks Lake Inari Sevettjärvi Sami Museum Inari - Day 8
Inari to Enontekiö
You'll experience typical Lapland landscapes as you drive past Lemmenjoki National Park through reindeer pastureland and gravel roads. Continue to Pallastunturi National Park, a mountain massif that rises from the plain. One option is to take an alternative route via Karasjok (a Sami center in Norway), passing through tundra landscape along riverbanks to Kautokeino. If you go that way, visit Juhl's silversmith workshop, a well-known artisan workshop run by a German couple that deserves at least 2 hours of your time. You'll end the day in Enontekiö, Finland.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Visit Lemmenjoki National Park
- View Pallastunturi National Park
- Take the alternative route via Karasjok, a Sami center in Norway
- Visit Juhl's silversmith workshop in Kautokeino (recommended 2+ hours)
Landmarks Lemmenjoki National Park Pallastunturi National Park Karasjok Juhl's Silversmith Workshop - Day 9
Enontekiö to Kiruna
You'll drive through varied Northern Calotte landscapes. Reach Muonio on the Swedish border where the Torneälv river, one of Europe's last unstraightened rivers, forms the border. Continue through the heath and steppe landscapes of Swedish Lapland passing Sami settlements and the Lainio River. You'll arrive in Kiruna, which is known for its ore mining. The ice hotel in Jukkasjarvi is remarkable and maintains sections year-round that can be visited in summer. You'll stay one night in Kiruna.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Visit Muonio and see the Torneälv river
- View Swedish Lapland Sami settlements
- Visit the ice hotel in Jukkasjarvi (summer visits available)
Landmarks Muonio Torneälv River Lainio River Kiruna Jukkasjarvi Ice Hotel - Day 10
Kiruna to Svolvær
You'll head into the Scandinavian mountains passing Lake Torneträsk with its alpine views. Pass Abisko, Europe's oldest national park, and see the distinctive Lapporten mountain massif from Björkliden. Drive through the Rombakksfjord toward Narvik, then follow the scenic Vestfjord route passing the striking mountain Stetind. You'll take two ferries during this leg, from Skarberget to Bognes and from Bognes to Lødingen. After that, drive to Hinnsya (Norway's largest island) via the dramatic Lofast road and Svolvær. Two nights in Svolvær on the Lofoten Islands.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- View Abisko National Park
- See Lapporten mountain massif
- View Stetind mountain from Vestfjord route
- Experience the scenic Lofast road
Landmarks Lake Torneträsk Abisko National Park Lapporten Mountain Massif Rombakksfjord Stetind Mountain Hinnøya Island Svolvær - Day 11
Svolvær (Lofoten Islands)
You'll explore the Lofoten archipelago, which stretches about 110 km from the island of Røst to Raftsund. The islands rise dramatically from the sea with jagged peaks that have inspired many artists who've set up galleries and studios in towns like Kabelvåg, Svolvær and Henningsvær. Visit the Magic Ice Bar for ice art exhibitions. Check out fishing villages like Henningsvær or Nusfjord (the oldest fishing village), drive to Reine with its mountain-sea views, visit the sandy beaches of Offeroy, or see Viking settlement excavations at Borg museum.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Explore the charming wooden town of Svolvær, a trading center since the 17th century
- Visit galleries and artist studios in Kåbelvaag, Svolvær and Henningsvær
- Explore the Magic Ice Bar for ice art exhibition
- Visit cafes and restaurants at the market
- Visit the fishing village of Henningsvær
- Visit Nusfjord, the oldest fishing village
- Drive to Reine for mountain-sea panorama views
- Visit the sandy beaches of Offeroy
- See Viking settlement excavations at Borg museum
Landmarks Lofoten Islands Røst Island Raftsund Kåbelvaag Henningsvær Magic Ice Bar Nusfjord Reine Offeroy Borg Viking Settlement Museum - Day 12
Svolvær to Sortland
You'll drive through eastern Lofoten Islands to Hadsel island and the Senja Panorama Road, reaching Andøya, the northernmost island of Vesterålen. Visit the fishing village of Laukvik and see the Laukviköyene archipelago. Continue on coastal roads through Austvaagfjord to Fiskebøl, then take a ferry to Melbu on Hadsel island. In Stokmarknes, explore the Hurtigruten Museum to learn about the famous mail boat route founded by Richard With. You'll spend two nights in Sortland on Vesterålen.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Visit the fishing village of Laukvik
- Explore the Laukviköyene archipelago
- Visit Stokmarknes, birthplace of the Hurtigruten mail boat route
- Explore the Hurtigruten Museum (for a fee)
Landmarks Hadsel Island Senja Panorama Road Andøya Island Laukvik Laukviköyene Archipelago Austvaagfjord Fiskebøl Stokmarknes Hurtigruten Museum - Day 13
Sortland
This is a leisure day in Sortland. The town is a work of art in itself, with houses and lighting in different shades of blue, a concept created in 1998 by artist Bjørn Elvenes who envisioned the center as a three-dimensional blue painting. Explore the Kulturfabrikken culture house with its museum, cinema, library and café. If you're interested in art, visit the Vesterålen Artists' House and Gallery, or check out Jennestad Handelssted, an arena for culture and art. Alternatively, you can experience a whale safari in search of sperm whales and other marine life.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Explore Sortland's unique blue architecture and design
- Visit Kulturfabrikken culture house with museum, cinema, library and café
- Visit the Vesterålen Artists' House and Gallery
- Explore Jennestad Handelssted cultural and art arena
- Participate in a whale safari to see sperm whales, pilot whales, minke whales, orcas and humpback whales
Landmarks Sortland Kulturfabrikken Vesterålen Artists' House and Gallery Jennestad Handelssted Bleik Underwater Canyon - Day 14
Sortland to Tromsø
You'll drive south along the scenic 'whale route' via the panoramic roads of Senja and Qualøya along the North Atlantic coast, heading back to Tromsø. Take a ferry from Andenes to Gryllesfjord on Senja island, where the coastal road is a highlight of northern Norway. Stop at Senjahopen viewpoint for scenic views. Board another ferry from Botnhamn to Brentholmen on Qualøya island, passing beautiful sandy beaches around Sommeroy. You'll arrive in Tromsø and can end your Arctic adventure with a gondola ride up the viewing mountain or visit the world's northernmost brewery (Mack). One night in Tromsø.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Watch for whales from the 'whale route'
- Stop at Senjahopen viewpoint for scenic views
- Ride the gondola up the viewing mountain in Tromsø for Arctic city views
- Visit Mack, the world's northernmost brewery
- Enjoy dinner at restaurants and bars in Tromsø
Landmarks Senja Island Senjahopen Viewpoint Gryllesfjord Qualøya Island Sommeroy Mack Brewery - Day 15
Tromsø
You'll depart Tromsø this morning. Return your rental car and head to Tromsø Airport for your flight home.
- Meals
- Breakfast
