Lighthouse and Whale Museum in Andenes
Ahead of the storm to Andenes: the beach at Bleik, rockets and research stations on Andøya, a whale museum with skeletons and a storm over the sea.
146 posts from 10 countries, mostly written the same evening: road trips, city breaks, hikes, northern lights and what we learned along the way.
New Norway · 28 September 2026 Lighthouse and Whale Museum in Andenes Ahead of the storm to Andenes: the beach at Bleik, rockets and research stations on Andøya, a whale museum with skeletons and a storm over the sea. Ahead of the storm to Andenes: the beach at Bleik, rockets and research stations on Andøya, a whale museum with skeletons and a storm over the sea.
In the rain from Sandtorg to Andøya, a drone flight over reddish brown moorland, two charging stops including a Tesla Supercharger and a photographer's Airbnb.
A long travel day: pizza and aubergines in Henningsvær, a burning lorry, veggie burgers at a petrol station and a hotel in western style.
Sleeping in after the northern lights night, an antique shop and the ochre rorbuer of Sakrisøy in the rain, then a fire, leftovers and packing.
In sunshine up 1976 steps to Reinebringen, cinnamon buns in Sakrisøy, evening light on Rambergstranda and at night northern lights right by our Airbnb.
Up Offersøykammen in drizzle, autumn colours on the road to Nusfjord, and in the evening red light over the beaches of Flakstad and Ramberg.
Through mud and wind to the view over Kvalvika Beach, red berries in orange autumn, then a stormy afternoon in the cabin and two gratins for dinner.
A rainy day in the Lofoten with lots of rainbows: cinnamon buns and carrot cake in Nusfjord, a rainbow over the beach at Fredvang and Rummikub in the evening.
By electric Ford Explorer and ferry to Moskenes, then to the end of the world in Å and in the evening to our most beautiful Airbnb yet, near Ramberg.
The alarm goes off at 4 am and we fly to Bodø via Frankfurt. In the afternoon we walk around the harbour in the sun, in the evening we have pizza at LystPå.
A day hike from Sörenberg: cows on the path, a swim in the cold Eisee and, at the top, the improbably blue Lake Brienz.
Two days on the Great Aletsch Glacier: roped up across firn and bare ice, 550 steps up to the Konkordia Hut and on to Märjelensee the next morning.
From Bangkok to Zurich: a very calm night flight without sleep, the Alps in the morning light above the clouds and the train back to Basel.
From Lombok via Jakarta to Bangkok: a false Flightradar alarm, fried bananas, Thai Airways and spicy curry sauces on the journey home.
By scooter to Bukit Merese near Kuta Lombok: monkeys, empty beaches, bruschetta at the villa and a private cooking class for Nasi Goreng.
From the crowded surfer beach Selong Belanak to a secluded beach in South Lombok: dirt path, water buffalos, a Bindenwaran, drone flight and Nasi Goreng.
Hotel change to South Lombok, with tobacco plantations, a weaving village where Annina sits at the loom herself, mango, jackfruit and sunset at the new hotel.
Snorkelling at Gili Meno and Gili Air with three big sea turtles, then fresh coconuts, a sunset in front of Mount Agung and good food.
By scooter to the Turtle Sanctuary at Nipah Beach, six turtles while snorkelling, starfish on the hotel reef and a fisherman in the evening light.
By car from Ubud to Padang Bai, by fast ferry via Gili Trawangan to Lombok, and in Medana to the most beautiful hotel with an infinity pool on the beach.
A day at the hotel near Ubud: breakfast, garden, pool, gym, good food, reading and editing photos, with a partly cloudy sky and 29 degrees.
Breakfast at the hotel, the Monkey Forest with a macaque in a tree, Annina shopping in pouring rain and dinner back at the hotel.
In a yellow car from Amed to Ubud: Bakpao on the way, a coffee plantation with Luwak, a tangle of cables on a pole and a hotel in Tegallalang like a dream.
Snorkelling with locals in Amed: sea turtles, corals, lots of fish and an underwater temple, then a beer at the locals' home.
Sunrise at Mount Agung, the water palace Tirta Gangga with a forgotten scooter key, the Maha Ganga Valley and bruschetta for dinner.
We learn to make silver rings, eat fried banana at the rice terraces and take our scooter up a wild road for sunset.
Arriving on Bali: from I Gusti Ngurah Rai airport we drive to Amed by car, past rice fields, and our first hotel has a pool waiting for us.
Suitcases packed, take-off in Zurich and landing in Doha at 38 degrees: the first travel day to Bali leads via a stopover in Qatar.
Shovelling out the car at 6 am, a ferry into the sunrise and two calm flights later: our Nordic winter adventure ends with pizza in Basel.
2.5 hours of sunrise photography, a failed kayak plan and golden light in Å, where the Lofoten and the E10 both come to an end.
Blue hour at Hamnøy, frozen sand formations at Rambergstranda and moving into the cute mini-villa opposite Sakrisøy's orange rorbuer.
Cinnamon buns for breakfast, a viewpoint over Reine and a cosy anniversary evening in Sakrisøy with rosé, apéro and spaghetti.
A near-lost drone in Nusfjord's storm gusts, and then the surprise of the trip: two young moose right beside the road, closer than ever before.
Wind-driven snow slithering across the roads like snakes, frozen beaches at Ramberg and a free museum visit thanks to Annina's Lofoten headband.
A seal at breakfast, the classic photo spots of Hamnøy and Sakrisøy in winter dress, and at night the aurora app sounds the alarm.
Fresh snow in Bodø, a rental car that spins even on spikes, and a rocking car ferry to Moskenes, we're back in the Lofoten!
-33 °C at the petrol pump, a cancelled flight and two de-icing stations later: a whole day of travelling for a route a direct flight would do in an hour.
Full-body overalls, a Lynx Adventure LX and 30 kilometres through frozen forests and lakes, an arctic adventure ending with warm food in a snow tipi.
A second hike up Riisitunturi rewards us with a surreal pink spectacle: fog, setting sun and frozen eyelashes at -25 °C.
Hand-feeding reindeer their lichen dessert at -25 °C, then hiking through Riisitunturi's candle spruces, a day that feels like another planet.
Powder-snow forests, the old Myllykoski mill and a sunset drive home, followed by a faint but real northern lights show over our cabin in Finland.
A snowshoe trail through wintry forests, lunch in Ruka and a modern cabin with a glass front, sauna and forest view, plus another night waiting for the aurora.
Snowshoeing past a reindeer and husky farm, cosy hours in the glass igloo, and a frantic search across Ruka and Kuusamo for the very last tripod in town.
First-ever Edelweiss flight to Kuusamo, spike tyres on the rental car and a first night in a glass igloo at Magical Ponds, our Finland winter trip begins.
The Scotland trip ends royally: Doune Castle from Game of Thrones and Monty Python, imposing Stirling Castle, and our last 14.43 pounds spent at the airport.
A day in the Skyfall valley: recreating the Bond and M film photo, the narrow road through Glen Etive, and a farm in Auchtubh with a gift of Canasta.
The Jacobite Steam Train, the Hogwarts Express, steaming across the Glenfinnan Viaduct, plus Loch Shiel aka The Black Lake and the return run at dusk.
The picture-book castle of Eilean Donan, a clipped wing mirror on the way, and the windy hike to the Old Man of Storr on the Isle of Skye.
Oldshoremore Beach raging in the wind, single-track roads to Stoer Lighthouse with a truck ahead and a sheep behind, and an aperitif in Ullapool.
A marathon through Scotland's far north: Dunrobin Castle, the Whaligoe Steps, John o' Groats and the cliffs of Duncansby, with neither orcas nor puffins.
Dunnottar Castle on its cliffs, Highland cows by the roadside, and a hunt for a sharp photo of Nessie that ends in the tourist trap of Urquhart Castle.
Edinburgh with pubs, stone houses and bagpipers, then the first nervous kilometres driving on the left and the 3000-year-old Standing Stones of Lundin.
The Scotland trip begins with an evening flight, the castle lit above the city, local beer, two single malts and a pub where everyone ends up dancing.
Stockholm at speed: Drottninggatan, Gamla Stan, the changing of the guard by chance, and an evening on Djurgården with dumplings and a boat ride home.
The first-class train to Stockholm, and an evening that becomes legendary when the Indian food we had given up on arrives just as the pizza does.
A day for friendship: vegan breakfast with Salome and Lucas, Lake Nydalasjön, the Umeå campus, frisbee in the park and cocktails at GP's.
Seven and a half hours by train through Lapland with photo editing and Monopoly, a delay survived in Boden, and a late welcome in Umeå.
Our last day on Senja is the most spectacular: a scramble up Hesten's steep rock face to the iconic Segla, then 3.5 hours of misty lakes towards Narvik.
The easiest hike we've done in Norway: 15 minutes up Knuten for a view over Mefjordvær, the sea and misty mountains, then red curry and photo editing.
Fifteen minutes turn into a two-hour loop around Senja: shopping in Finnsnes, perfect reflections at Tungeneset and a lighthouse we never reach.
A grey day taken slowly: the lighthouse on the tiny island of Husøy, the spectacular single-lane drive to Fjordgård, and an evening of curry and Monopoly.
The silent electric boat into the narrow Trollfjord, with sea eagles and an underwater drone, then 5.5 hours to Senja and northern lights over our beach.
Farewell to Sakrisøy, then our favourite Lofoten hike up Offersøykammen with its 360-degree panorama, and at night a northern lights explosion at Rystad.
Up Ryten to look down on turquoise Kvalvika Beach, the obligatory shot on the overhanging rock, and at night northern lights over Skagsanden until past 2.
Reachable only by boat: over the pass from Vindstad to deserted Bunes Beach, an ice-cold swim, barefoot sand and a beach full of seashells on the way back.
Drone stops on the way to the fishing village of Nusfjord, beach-hopping at Skagsanden and Ramberg, and at midnight northern lights over Sakrisøy.
The classic: up the sherpa stone steps to Reinebringen for the view over Reine, the fjords and the mountains, with the weather holding just long enough.
The car ferry from Bodø to Moskenes, the drive to the end of the E10 at Å, and a mini-villa overlooking the orange houses of Sakrisøy and Hamnøy.
Almost ten hours by train from Trondheim to Bodø in premium class, past forests, fjords and waterfalls, with a few moose and a punctual arrival.
The Atlantic Ocean Road in moody fog, then Trondheim: colourful warehouses on the Nidelva, the 11th-century Nidaros Cathedral and a very good Thai dinner.
Coastal trails at Bud and Farstad in drizzle, then the clouds break over the Atlantic Ocean Road and we race back for one of the finest sunsets we've seen.
A hike through Innerdalen, Norway's supposedly finest high valley, with sheep begging for our sandwiches, then a rainbow over the lake on Litlefjellet.
By replacement bus and train to Trondheim with two moose beside the tracks, then on by rental car to a cabin on the fjord in Ålvund, sunset included.
A pure travel day by train from Copenhagen via Gothenburg and Oslo to Hamar, where swarming mosquitoes end our planned dinner by the Viking ship.
One day for Copenhagen: pastries at Nyhavn, the Little Mermaid, the changing of the guard, the Marble Church and the freetown of Christiania.
Planten un Blomen, the Chilehaus and the Speicherstadt, then chaos: a bicycle race closes the centre, the taxi never comes, and we just catch our train.
Interrail north, first stop Hamburg: a harbour street food festival, the Elbphilharmonie, the Speicherstadt and an evening boat tour with a drone show.
Back to the north of the Lofoten via Henningsvær and Svolvær to Kasfjord near Harstad, with rainbows, two moose and the last evening before the flight.
Rain, hail and rainbows, photo stops in Sakrisøy, Reine and Hamnøy, a visit to the Lofoten waterfall and faint northern lights over the sea in the evening.
A steep hike up Offersøykammen with views of fjords, mountains and sea, a summit picnic, forgotten drone batteries and rain on our return.
Second attempt at Kvalvika Beach in sunshine: a climb in T-shirts, a picnic on the most beautiful beach in the Lofoten and evening light at the Twin-Bridges.
Climbing Mannen above Hauklandstranda, a seal in front of our cabin and, at night, the northern lights for the second time in the Lofoten.
Checking out, sea eagles in Å, a rainbow before the next downpour and moving into our new accommodation near Ramberg, the Lofoten Cabins Kåkern.
Rain on Nubben, turning back in the mud, then the hike to Kvalvika Beach with a picnic in the wind and sea eagles in Lofotodden National Park.
Nusfjord in better weather: harbour and rorbuer, cinnamon treats with a view, a short hike to two lakes, then the yellow house in Sakrisøy.
Rain, wind and fog on the Lofoten: photo stops in Fredvang, Reine and Sakrisøy, plus rice with red wine sauce and hungry seagulls outside the window.
A rainy day on the Lofoten: the red cabin at Rambergstranda, photo stops on the drive south, a Kanelsnurrer in Sakrisøy and an afternoon in our little cabin.
Climbing the 448 metre high Reinebringen via 1566 steps, then the drive to Å at the end of the E10 and back to our little fishing cabin in Hamnøy.
From Rystad to Hamnøy: rainbows over sandy beaches, sea eagles, a fishing cabin in the old fishing village and northern lights over the harbour at night.
A rainy day in the Lofoten: the beach Rørvikstranda, the football pitch of Henningsvær with the drone and the church of Gimsøy, plus tomato spaghetti.
An early flight from Oslo to Harstad/Narvik, a Toyota RAV4 as our rental car and three hours of coastal roads to our first accommodation in Rystad.
By ferry to the Folk Museum with the stave church, the Viking Ship Museum, lunch at the opera house and packing for the early flight to the Lofoten.
The Fram Museum, Maritim Museum and Kon-Tiki Museum on Bygdøy, then the City Hall, Akershus Fortress and the Royal Palace in Oslo.
By train to Zurich, a direct flight to Oslo, the City Box Hotel and on Sunday afternoon to the waterfront promenade by the opera house.
Last day in Vienna with breakfast in the Burggarten, a concert at the Karlskirche, Sachertorte at the Sacher Café and the journey back to Basel.
Breakfast in the Burggarten, the Naschmarkt, Schönbrunn Palace with the Gloriette and Rosarium, and the 343 steps up the south tower of the Stephansdom.
Sisi Museum, Silver Collection and state rooms, a film shoot in Vienna's old town, Belvedere Palace and vegan schnitzel at Figlmüller in the evening.
Apple strudel for breakfast, then on foot through Vienna's centre: Palace of Justice, Hundertwasser House, St. Stephen's Cathedral, dumplings in the evening.
Last morning in Budapest with sunrise at Fisherman's Bastion, then the direct train to Vienna for 9 euros and a thunderstorm on arrival.
The Buda Castle area, a free walking tour on Hungarian history and a sunset with an approaching thunderstorm at Fisherman's Bastion in the evening.
Sunrise long exposures opposite the Parliament, Margaret Island, iced coffee in the hotel garden and a boat trip on the Danube in the evening.
Shoes on the Danube bank, the old tram to the Adidas outlet, a boat across to the Buda side and an evening at Fisherman's Bastion in Budapest.
Budapest on foot: the Parliament building on the Danube, breakfast at Caffee Brios, the ruin bar Szimpla Kert and sunset on the Ferris wheel.
Flight from Basel to Budapest, check-in at a boutique hotel on the Pest side, shopping in 35 degrees and an evening at St. Stephen's Basilica.
Throat-swab Covid test, takeaway in the city park, Gamla Stan and Stadhuset: our last day in Stockholm ends with Uber Eats and bar games.
Cactus park in Norrköping, a hectic drive into the Stockholm area and our last stay at the Scandic Hotel in Kista, with a trial pack in the evening.
From the sun terrace near Norrköping to the abandoned mines of Sätragruvan, where sulphur ore was mined in the First World War, and an evening by the lake.
From the Airbnb with sauna to Tiveden National Park: a hike along the reddish-coloured lakes, then on to a cottage by a lake near Norrköping.
Sightseeing around Götene: the Silverfallet waterfalls, the forest ruins of the Oljekoken Gössätter oil-cooking plant and the woods of Munkängarna Kinnekulle.
A rainy day in the loft in Götene: planning the journey home, shopping in Linköping, a sauna and an aperitif with non-alcoholic sparkling wine and ginger beer.
From Hindås to Götene: a visit to the baroque Läckö Slott on Lake Vänern, a picnic on a jetty and an evening in a loft with its own sauna.
Wind as the keyword: Tjolöholms Slott south of Göteborg with a garden by the sea, then the Näsbokrok nature reserve with strong wind and waves.
A rest day in Hindås: a walk through the forest to the sandy beach by the lake, calls with family and friends and an aperitif on the balcony with a lake view.
The fishing villages of Hälleviksstrand and Mollösund, vegetable pizza at Fröken Trulls with antiques and a nursery, then the loft in Hindås near Göteborg.
The colourful fishing huts of Smögenbryggan, Bronze Age rock carvings in Brastad, the Stångehuvud nature reserve and a ferry ride to Orust.
An abandoned car cemetery in the forest near the Norwegian border, then on to Åmål on Lake Vänern with a view of a lighthouse.
From Orsa a good two and a half hours south: shopping at an ICA Maxi, a storm with hail and a cottage on a farm with cows and a calf.
We visit the Orsa Rovdjurspark with bears, lynx, wolverine and birds of prey, and in the evening watch geese with their young from the bird-watching jetty.
From Rätan to Orsa: hikes through the bog landscape of Hamra National Park, the Helvetesfallet with its suspension bridge and an Airbnb with a lake view.
We leave Huså, drive to Rätan and move into a house with a smaller cottage. In the evening there is curry rice by the lake, and we read and edit photos.
Annina's 25th birthday in Huså: breakfast with balloons, prosecco on the balcony, a backpack as a present and chocolate cake shortly before midnight.
Nicolas' drone gets stuck in a tree outside our cabin and comes down unharmed. Then we visit the Handölsforsen and reach our accommodation in Huså.
On the drive from Backe to Handöl we visit Ristafallet, Tännforsen and Handölsforsen, see a double rainbow and move into a remote cabin.
We visit viewpoints near Brattfors, see a rock painting of a moose, read by a lake and fly the drone over the forest.
We leave the house by the lake, move into an Airbnb in Backe and cut the hike to Finnfors short because we hear a deep growl in the forest.
From our lakeside stay in Hoting we drive to the Tvärfallet waterfall in a moss-covered forest, and we spend the afternoon by the jetty.
From Arvidsjaur to Hoting: a 4.5-hour drive with a lunch break in Vilhelmina by old Sami cottages, and a modern cottage right on the lake.
A rest day in Arvidsjaur: planning the onward journey, deckchairs on the meadow, potato gratin, an open fire and a sunset around midnight.
From Arvidsjaur to Reivo nature reserve: the Sami town Lappstaden, a road full of mud and snow, a young moose and reindeer on the way back.
From Jokkmokk to Arvidsjaur: grocery shopping, reindeer on the road, a bog walk to a spring-fed lake down a gravel road in 4WD, and a cottage above the lake.
On the drive from Jokkmokk to Kvikkmokk we stop at frozen lakes, spot moose, reindeer and ptarmigan, and visit the wooden church.
From Kiruna to Jokkmokk: reindeer and ptarmigan on the way, icy lakes, Muddus National Park blocked by snow and the cabin at Skabram Camping.
A quiet day in Kiruna: the wooden church, then a cabin on a campsite by the frozen lake, with a sauna on the ice.
From Kiruna to Abisko: a hike in Abisko National Park with a waterfall and the Kungsleden, frozen lakes, reindeer by the roadside and drone flights.
More than 300 km from Råneå to Kiruna: breakfast in the villa's dining room, herds of reindeer by the roadside, frozen lakes and a night at Hotel Kebne.
The crane and icebreakers in Luleå's harbour, the open-air museum in Luleå Gammelstad and a night at Villa Melderstein Herrgård in Råneå.
From Ånäset to Luleå: breakfast in the forest cabin, a railway museum with retired trains in the woods and a walk along the beach promenade.
From Lillarmsjö via Umeå to Ånäset: rain, two moose in a meadow just before Lufta campsite and a cosy evening in the cabin.
From Själevad to Lillarmsjö: a sauna in the morning, a forest lake, a cottage with a boat and a sauna right on the big lake, and a mirror-smooth sunset.
From Jättendal to Själevad: rain on the drive, an Airbnb with a sauna in the flat, rice with Thai curry sauce and editing photos late into the night.
From Borlänge to Jättendal: a forest lake as a photo stop, moose warning signs on the way, shopping at ICA Maxi and an Airbnb called Krusa overlooking a lake.
Last breakfast in Stockholm, a rental car at the airport and the first drive in the Peugeot 3008 plug-in hybrid to a tiny house for the night.
Sun cream instead of a SIM card, a quiet morning in Rosendals Trädgard Park, scooters at the harbour, lunch at the Stadhus and the city library.
17,000 steps in the sunshine: Gamla Stan, Södermalm, Monteliusvägen, Skinnarviksberget, lunch at the Stadhus and the island of Skeppsholmen.
A lie-in, takeaway at the harbour after a scooter ride with a detour, photo spots around the city and a vegan bowl via UberEats in the evening.
Flight from Zurich to Stockholm in the middle of the pandemic: antigen test in Basel, showing the certificate twice, the Arlanda Express and a walk in the rain.
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