Hi Niborn,
I would like to join for as much as I can fit in with my leave. How long do you think the trip will take?
Thanks for opening it up to the members.
Cheers
Steve
Good question Steve and thanks , it’s indeed a pleasure to team up with other members on a trip like this . This isnt of course a short trip and I will make the exact timings shortly .
Meanwhile here is an outline for everybody reading the thread .
The drive up ( and of course back ) is about 38 hours , from Calais, roads won’t be that busy but I think I’ll take my time . Not everyone will need to do that but I’d be happy to go in Convoy , I’ll be leaving from South of France and driving through the google maps route , probably , picking some decent places to stop over hopefully .
The first real ‘team up spot ‘ if people don’t travel up together will be in region of Troms , west of Tromsø , on or week or so after equinox, which is 23rd Sept.
It’s optional just how long people take here ( some may arrive later than others ) , but myself I’ll plan for at least a week, probably a bit more , stay in Troms , leaving for the next leg of the trip around 7th or 9th Oct . There is a lovely camping area in a stunning location it’s Free , nice toilets apparently but no shower , although this place it depends on numbers...only 6 motorhomes are officially allowed there , .so I’m also looking at other options nearby with the benefit of use of a shower etc . Perhaps a rented house to use as a base for us all and also using the Cali’s for accommodation on top Its not very cold that time of year around this area. Of course there are some traditional camping places, but they are not in the best locations for the lights .
After Troms there will be a bit of travelling in far North Lapland , it’s lovely but for some the actual North Cape is a bit of a disappointment, not so much to see , it’s rather like lands end , so if we do that leg , we won’t hang around . Troms is much more scenic and it has great viewing places etc . Tromso is also a nice city , do it’s worth focusing more in this region .
Then we will travel to a place just South of Ivalo , Saariselkä. It’s colder here and I’m organising the Cabins which provide a very comfy base to go out from for viewing the lights from our warm Cali’s . Subject to confirmation tomorrow from the resort I’m booking Cabins there for a week , probably WC 13th October.
These are 120sq m , 4 bed cabins , big lounge , kitchen and nice Sauna room . All very very clean and high level of quality . Each double room has it own toilet and sink and there are 2 real bathrooms . All linen and towels provided . Probable cost for the week for each couple about £125 . its hugely cheaper than the advertised price , those wanting their own totally private accommodation it’s probably also possible, but the cost will be at least triple if I can fix it and much more if I can’t . There is also a pool and SPA / steam etc on site at extra cost . At the moment I’m reserving 6 double rooms , that’s two cabins and it leaves one room in each free so we have plenty of space, I hate the crowded feeling .
I’m taking two double rooms , there's me and a French couple have already asked to join too , so it leaves of this reservation 4 double rooms . Please let me know what you think about having one of these ASAP
To increase chances of seeing the lights we have to go out and stay out from around 7.30 pm to 1 or 2 am . Near where these cabins are there are some excellent viewing spots , one of them is close to the Russian boarder , near the wilderness hotel , it can be very cold , it’s certainly going to be minus something there at night and a warm Cali is going to be the perfect place to wait and watch from .
On the 2Oth October we drive back , via Sweden , just before the snow really starts a few stopovers on the way back too TBC .
That’s about it for now...but I’ll make a far more exact and easy to read step by step guide shortly with precise details of locations and prices etc.
Best wishes
KEY POINTS
HAVING GOT TO LAPLAND THERE ARE THREE WEEK LONG STAGES TO THIS TOUR , ALSO IT WILL TAKE UP TO A WEEK TO DRIVE THERE AND UP TO A WEEK TO DRIVE BACK . MAX TIME FOR WHOLE TRIP 5 WEEKS MINIMUM 3 IF ONLY DOING ONE STAGE .
1) START DATE IN NORTH NORWAY / TROMS , AT
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kvaløya_(Tromsø)
30TH SEPTEMBER TO AROUND 7TH OCTOBER ( I’ll be arriving earlier discuss please if you would like to too - there is some free camping with toilets nearby in a wonderful location )
Ive booked this lodge , LINK BELOW , as a base and the owner has agreed a nice discount and that also some Cali’s can park outside . With the Cali’s who have committed so far the inside is occupied already , I’m checking in the village if we can get some more parking toilet and shower resources .
This village is VERY special and possibly one of the best for viewing the lights on the whole west coast of Norway . You’ll see why when we get there
Here’s the link to the lodge, in the village of Tromvik , it’s apparently where Prince William and Kate went last
https://www.vogue.com.au/celebrity/.../news-story/9605c9f05acc33dc9d52ce50bc54d687? ( they apparently stayed at the more expensive of the only two lodges there , we could book that one if we want to triple the budget ...lol )
Here’s the one I’ve booked , it has 5 rooms and will sleep 8.
It will be an option to stay in the Cali or the house .
https://www.airbnb.co.uk/rooms/20054099
2) TOURING NORTH LAPLAND TO NORTH CAPE 7TH TO 13TH OCTOBER
PROBABLE STOPS IN LYNGEN, ALTA , NORTH CAPE
3.5 hours drive away a place as a base again , use the Cali or simple cabins for facilities . It’s extremely good value by Norwegian standards .
https://www.booking.com/hotel/no/hi...53e36b;dist=0;sb_price_type=total;type=total&
3 hours drive away , here you can use just the camping or a cabin .
https://www.booking.com/hotel/no/alta-river-camping-alta.en-gb.html?label=gen173nr-1DCAEoggJCAlhYSDNYBGhNiAEDmAEuuAEHyAEN2AED6AEBkgIBeagCAw;sid=52d8003508377579e1ba5b817b44ef5a;all_sr_blocks=138200603_103483334_4_0_0,138200602_103483334_4_0_0,138200604_103483334_4_0_0;checkin=2018-10-09;checkout=2018-10-10;dest_id=6168266;dest_type=city;dist=0;group_adults=12;group_children=0;hapos=1;highlighted_blocks=138200603_103483334_4_0_0,138200604_103483334_4_0_0,138200602_103483334_4_0_0;no_rooms=1;req_adults=12;req_children=0;room1=A,A,A,A,A,A,A,A,A,A,A,A;sb_price_type=total;srepoch=1516817321;srfid=ac2587885ba7a7bbb5ba2772afc7e450844d5874X1;srpvid=f7547f93eddd00ba;type=total;ucfs=1&
3.5 hours drive away and the famous North Cape base , again simple cabins , stay in the cabins or the Cali and use the cabin facilities.
https://www.booking.com/hotel/no/mi...53e36b;dist=0;sb_price_type=total;type=total&
4 hours drive , booked a large chalet and cabin , fabulously low prices for excellent location, again use the facilities and stay in Cali or cabin .
https://www.booking.com/hotel/fi/yo...53e36b;dist=0;sb_price_type=total;type=total&
3) FINISH DATE IN FINLAND / SAARISELKÄ , ARRIVE 13TH OCTOBER DEPART 20 TH OCTOBER
This leg (3) is booked now , 6 double rooms booked , that’s two of these cabins ....but there are just 2 Cali places (two doubles rooms left ) as I’ve recieved several confirmations today .
If anyone wants these places please let me know quickly . £125 for thé week each double room for two people all inclusive of bedding and fully equipped cabin . It’s a great base for the area .
Details here , the cabin is normally 1500 Euro for the week !
https://store.holidayclubresorts.co...g8xOxZpPTzP7isvLuMP6uCg40AcGQH5BoCN0QQAvD_BwE
Hi everyone, 
Depends on length and timings with work etc, but add me to the list please! 
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