Self Drive Holidays - Lofoten & Swedish Lapland | Luleå Travel

Self Drive holiday

Lofoten, Senja and North Sweden (13 days / 12 nights)

This self drive holiday covers the Lofoten and Senja Island in Norway and the Northern most part of Sweden, Swedish Lapland. In 13 days you will drive through some of the world’s most unique landscapes. Following well-researched routes and having pre- booked accommodation on the end of each day.

Self drive holiday: Lofoten, Senja and North Sweden

This Self Drive holiday features the dramatic scenery of the Lofoten, Vesteralan and Senja Islands in Norway and the Northern most part of Sweden `Swedish Lapland´. In less then 2 weeks you will experience both Sámi and Viking culture, get familiarised with the Swedish Alpines region, national parks, and breathtaking Norwegian fjords. The route guides you along the ancient Silver Road from Sweden to Norway crossing the Vestfjord by ferry to the Lofoten and Senja Islands. You will drive through the fjords, fishing villages and Viking heritages in Lofoten. If you want, you can even join a Viking feast!

Senja Island

The package also includes the hidden gem Senja Island, the second largest island of Norway. Senja isn’t really on the tourist trail in Norway; you won’t run into any cruise ships or many coach tour groups. This is still a part of Norway that feels a bit undiscovered by mass tourism. Along the Senja National Tourist Route, you’ll find a lot of stunning viewpoints and picnic spots to wild beaches and picturesque fishing villages.

After Senja the route leads back to Sweden, passing the national border in the mountains and ending the day in Abisko. A small village north of the Arctic Circle and near the Abisko National Park. Surrounded by mountains, it shelters lemmings and reindeer, plus the Lapp orchid.

In 13 days you will explore the most memorable scenery and landscapes of Lofoten, Senja and Swedish Lapland. By the end of the journey, you will be rejuvenated by your wilderness involvement like berries picking, short hikes, fishing, kayaking and picnics in either the never-set Midnight Sun or golden Autumn forest. We are ready to welcome you, are you ready?

Highlights

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  • Period

    May – October

  • Price

    SEK 27900

  • Includes
    • Personal meet and greed at Luleå Airport or train station
    • Rental car, Hertz standard; Volvo V40 or similar. Navigation, unlimited kilometres, extra driver, supercover excess elimination.
    • Car insurance
    • Cross Border fee
    • Map of the region and detailed personal itinerary
    • 12-night accommodation with daily breakfast
  • Accommodation

    Combination of 4-star hotels and fishermen cabins (Rorbuer)

  • Groupsize

    2-4 persons

  • Details
    • Excluding flights
    • Prices based on availability and 2 people sharing a standard double/twin hotel room or higher
    • Rental car pickup and delivery at Luleå Airport or train station
    • Total driving distance around 2000km
    • Minimum age 18 and European B driving license
  • Optional

    Upgrade to a design room of the Treehotel or stay in a floating Cabin of Arctic Bath instead of Treehotel.

     

ITINERARY

Self Drive holiday | Lofoten, Senja and North Sweden| 13 days / 12 nights

Lofoten, Senja and North Sweden, 2000 km in 13 days

ARRIVAL DAY – THE BIGGEST CITY OF NORTHERN SWEDEN (driving distance: 9km)

Arrival at Luleå airport. Our local guide will greet you and assist with getting your one of the latest models of Volvo rental car at the airport. Leaving the airport, you will be welcomed by the impressive Luleå River.

Today you may spend the time according your wishes. Explore the Luleå archipelago while joining a day cruise on a ferry. Choose from short or longer hikes in the nearby nature reserves, meet the King of the forest at the moose park Cape Wild.  Tasting local food and drinks by one the many good quality restaurants in the city, or just unwind by enjoying the midnight sun. Spend the night in Luleå city center (In case you wish to explore more the Luleå city in the beginning of the trip, we can tailor extend the itinerary with extra nights in Luleå).

Accommodation at a 4-star hotel in Luleå.

DAY 2 FROM NORRBOTTEN TO VÄSTERBOTTEN (driving distance: 131km)

After breakfast, you drive towards the West to Västerbotten County, passing by Piteå and arriving Skellefteå. Take this chance to visit Bonnstan Church Town, one of the best-preserved heritages dates back its history to 1600’s. It is well preserved pretty much the same as in the period 1830-1840. Your accommodation for the night is located at the centre of Skellefteå’s oldest cultural area. Along the river within walking distance of the town.

Accommodation at a 4-star hotel in Skellefteå.

DAY 3 MIDNIGHT SUN AT THE SILVER ROAD (driving distance: 218 km)

To discover the Swedish wilderness, you will follow the ancient Silver Road to the mountains to the mountainous archipelago, Arjeplog. Here you can visit the Silver Museum to learn the Arjeplog’s Sámi hunter-gatherer traditions and the high-tech car manufacturing industry, you can also explore the wildlife area in the midnight sun during summer!

Accommodation at a 4-star hotel in Arjeplog.

DAY 4 UNTAMED BUT STUNNING LOFOTEN (driving distance: 283km + ferry)

Continue through the ancient Silver Road from Arjeplog to Bodø, across the Norwegian Sea by boat in late afternoon, you will reach the Lofoten Islands and be amazed by the majestic landscape and wild nature! In summer time, you can go hiking, fishing, ocean rafting, scuba diving, surfing in the Arctic Circle as well as bathing in the midnight sun. Tonight you will stay in a fishermen cabin around Reine to feel the fishing culture of Lofoten.

Accommodation at a fishermen cabin (Rorbuer) or similar to a 4-star hotel in Reine.

 DAY 5 EXPLORE BEAUTIFUL REINE (driving distance: subject to your plan of the day)

Today you won’t change accommodation. You can spend the time according your wishes and have time to explore the beautiful Lofoten Islands around Reine. Reine is an administrative center and fishing port of Moskenes. Its natural beauty is always used in tourist brochures. One of the must-go attractions is to the mountain Reinebringen, where you can bird view the amazed scenery of Reine. Previously it was difficult to access because of its steep and muddy paths, however in 2019 a stone staircase was built up so now it is easily accessible.

Accommodation at a fishermen cabin (Rorbuer) or similar to a 4-star hotel in Reine.

DAY 6 MEET THE VIKINGS (driving distance: 114km)

After breakfast, you will proceed to Borg, where Archaeologists founded the world’s largest Viking longhouse. Here you can meet the Vikings at Lofotr Viking Museum, and not to forget joining the evening feast of the Viking Age!

Accommodation at a fishermen cabin (Rorbuer) or similar to a 3/4-star hotel in Henningsvær

DAY 7 LANDING THE SECOND LARGEST NORWEGIAN ISLAND (driving distance: 375km)

After breakfast, you will drive northward to Senja Island, the second largest island of Norway. The west of Senja is mountainous and has a lot of wild nature areas. Yet, most of the residents live in the east side of Senja with Silsand as the largest urban area on the island. The north of Senja faces the Norwegian Sea with the beautiful Malagen Fjord as one of the attractions of the island.

Accommodation at a 4-star hotel in Senja.

DAY 8 HIDDEN GEMS OF SENJA (driving distance: subject to your plan of the day)

Today you can have a relax morning and take your time to explore Senja Island. Tonight you will stay in the same accommodation. There are numerous of activities provided by your local host and viewpoints along the Senja roads. To get to know this beautiful wild island properly, you can simply take a short hike to discover some hidden gems. Senja is packed with mountain tops, but each of them will give you a different perspective of the island and the winding coastline.

Accommodation at a 4-star hotel in Senja.

DAY 9 APPROACHING ABISKO NATIONAL PARK (driving distance: 228km)

Your journey of today will cross the border back to Sweden. You first proceed to Narvik, one of the important Norwegian iron ore export ports. Later you will enter Sweden at Riksgränsen. Going forward, you will reach the enchanting Swedish Alpine region, Abisko.

Accommodation at a mountain station (hotel style room) or similar to a 4-star hotel in Abisko.

DAY 10 ABISKO NATIONAL PARK (driving distance: subject to your plan of the day)

Today you can spend the day according your wishes. You don’t change accommodation. There is a lot to discover in the Abisko National Park. You can choose between short and longer walking tours in the area. At the Naturum Abisko you find exhibitions and staff who can inform you about the national park. Walk up to the Mount Nuolja, or you may choose to take the chairlift. Nuolja is an excellent starting point for hiking in the Abisko National Park, where you can discover the rich arctic flora and fauna. You may also savour a cup of boiled coffee in the Aurora Sky Station, 900 meter above sea level, while you are bird-viewing the magnificent scenes.

Accommodation at a mountain station (hotel style room) or similar to a 4-star hotel in Abisko.

DAY 11 JOKKMOKK AND THE MINING CITY (driving distance: 320km)

Today you drive through Abiskodalen Valley to the mining city Kiruna and the world famous ICEHOTEL in the village of Jukkasjärvi. The ICEHOTEL is an art exhibition made of ice and snow, it is reborn in a new guise every winter. In 2016 a whole new ice experience was launched. ICEHOTEL 365 – a permanent structure including rooms sculptured by selected artists. As well as a large ice bar and ice gallery. This ice experience can be visited year-round and is cooled by solar panels during the summer months.

Your destination for today will be in the village of Jokkmokk. Jokkmokk is a natural meeting place for Sámi people from all over Swedish Lapland. Since 1606 – for more than four hundred years – the colourful Jokkmokk market has been celebrated annually, starting on the first Thursday in February.

We recommend visiting the Ájtte Museum, the Sámi centre or visit local handcraft shops for products that have been made by Sami people according to long-standing traditions.

Accommodation at 4-star Hotel in Jokkmokk

DAY 12 – BREATHTAKING STORFORSEN AND TREEHOTEL (driving distance: 160km)

Let yourself be carried away by the thundering river in nature reserve Storforsen. The Pite River is one of the four unharnessed National Rivers of Sweden and the rapids are one of the biggest unrestricted water rapids in Europe. The river is stretching 400 kilometres from its glacial source to the sea. It’s an easily accessible nature reserve that fits all. There are information signs, hiking trails and picnic areas.

In the midday your journey continues to the world famous Treehotel. The Treehotel and its friendly guesthouse offer a unique hotel experience. While in the homely guesthouse you are welcomed by the warmest Scandinavian hospitality, the Treerooms with contemporary design let you indulge yourself in the middle of unspoiled nature. Each Treeroom is a unique creation by Scandinavia’s leading architects.

 Accommodation at Treehotel guestroom – double bed room with bathroom. Optional upgrade to Design Tree Rooms with supplement from SEK4,500 per room.  Optional stay in a River Cabin of Arctic Bath instead of Treehotel with supplement SEK4,550 per room.

DAY 13 – BRING YOUR MEMORY HOME (driving distance: 98km)

Before flying back, you may have a short visit to Boden, where is the Swedish military stronghold housing the largest base of the Swedish Army. During the two World Wars and the Cold War, the fortress was known as the “Lock of the North” and was held top secret.

Towards Luleå, it is highly recommended to visit the UNESCO word heritage site Gammelstad Church Town before getting to the airport. The old church town is more than 400 years old and is located about 10 km more inland then Luleå. It is the districts’ main cultural symbol which it keeps the same style as a few hundred years ago.

Return your rental car at the airport prior to your return flight. Have a safe journey home!

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