Solo from Lake Constance to the North Cape

Hey everyone, I’m Chris and I’m 25 years old. In the following lines, I want to tell you about the road trip of my life, which starts in my hometown at Lake Constance and includes the North Cape, 3,500 kilometers away, as one of many highlights.

But before I dive in, here’s a little background. In 2022, I converted a VW Transporter T6 into a camper all by myself. A year later, on my first smaller trip to Norway, I decided that in 2024, I would drive to the North Cape — even if I had to go alone.

On July 29, 2024, I began a journey that will likely shape me for the rest of my life. I traveled through Kassel and Hamburg before reaching Fehmarn, where I stayed at a campsite for a few weeks to truly relax. Then I booked a ferry from Puttgarden to Rødby. After crossing the Øresund Bridge, my first stop in Sweden was its capital, Stockholm. Following Stockholm, I made brief stops along Sweden’s east coast in Uppsala, Örnsköldsvik, and Luleå to get to the North Cape as quickly as possible. From Luleå, I headed toward Kautokeino, a Norwegian town whose name I still don’t really know how to pronounce.

On the drive to this Norwegian village, I took the route through Finland, where I saw my first reindeer ever! To say the least, I was completely hyped! But that day didn’t just end with my first visit to Finland and seeing reindeer. Quite the opposite. The campsite in Kautokeino featured an evening gathering in a wooden cabin by a campfire, topped off by my first sighting of the Northern Lights in Scandinavia.

The next day, I finally reached the big destination: the North Cape. It was an indescribable and amazing feeling to be standing in front of the famous North Cape Globe. I stayed there for one night before heading on to Alta. After Alta, I visited Tromsø, the largest city in northern Norway. The weather was so perfect in Tromsø that I stayed for two nights before catching my ferry from Botnhamn to Brensholmen, a small village on the island of Senja.

Every turn revealed a new “Oh” and “Wow” at the breathtaking scenery. The majestic mountains rising out of the calm fjords were simply mesmerizing. But why did I want to go to Senja? Exactly! Hiking and enjoying nature — nature in a way that, for many, is probably unimaginable. I can’t describe it any other way. On Senja, I did the Hesten and Husfjellet hikes.

Next up was another longer ferry ride from Gryllefjord to Andenes on the Vesterålen Islands. After hiking Mount Måntid on the Vesterålen, I continued heading southwest. The destinations included Reinebringen and Henningsvær in the Lofoten Islands, as well as a few other "must-see" spots.

The Lofoten took my breath away once again. Every single hike, and I repeat, every single hike was a special highlight. But the absolute standout moment was a magical night in mid-September, when the Northern Lights lit up the sky like something out of a picture book. The crowning moment of my time in the Lofoten was a hike near Henningsvær, with a breathtaking view.

Afterward, I took the ferry from Lødingen to Bognes, and so, it was time to say goodbye to the Lofoten. Bodø was waiting for me, but the weather was bad, so I made my way quickly to Mo I Rana, passing through Saltstraumen, the world’s largest tidal current. I had planned to hike near the Svartisen Glacier, but due to the weather, I postponed my glacier visit to southern Norway.

After a quick stop at the Arctic Circle Center, I continued on to Trondheim. Trondheim has now become one of my absolute favorite cities in Norway. Next, as another “must-see” place, I took the route along the Atlantic Ocean Road, which, in my opinion, turned out to be a bit disappointing. The Arctic Road starts near Kristiansand, and to put it bluntly, it’s just a few bridges connecting islands.

But the Geirangerfjord was the complete opposite of a disappointment. Absolutely magnificent! Even driving along the serpentine roads leading to the fjord, the view of the tranquil fjord surrounded by massive rock formations was a dream. The hike was pretty challenging, but the view of the Geirangerfjord was worth it. When I arrived, I was greeted by a cruise ship anchored in the fjord, which definitely added to the experience.

But does something like that really belong there? A massive, polluting object parked in such outstanding natural beauty?

After Geiranger, I headed to the glacier I mentioned earlier — the Nigardsbreen. I had never stood at the snout of a glacier like that in my life. With the glacier lake in the foreground, it was another awe-inspiring view of a natural wonder. After Nigardsbreen, I visited the Borgund Stave Church, making it a short stop before continuing on to Drammen and Larvik.

From Larvik, I caught a ferry to Hirtshals on September 30, 2024. Leaving Norway was emotionally painful. It felt like I was breaking up with someone. I was incredibly grateful for the time this country had given me. Every single moment had been a highlight.

To wrap up my trip, I stopped in Hamburg one last time to take in the view of the Elbe River, the Landungsbrücken, and the city center. With perfect weather, this was definitely the textbook ending to my road trip.

My two months in Scandinavia changed me in unbelievable ways. I’ve matured a lot and become much more confident.