On the return journey from the North Cape, we drive through Northern Norway and Northern Finland, Lapland, and visit Santa Claus in Rovaniemi. The far north is mostly barren, with snow plains and frozen lakes. Later the landscape changes into forest, forest, forest and lakes, lakes, lakes with lots of snow and ice and slippery roads.
The Far North
Northern Norway (Lapland – Sapmi)
From the North Cape we head south again towards the Finnish border. We drive many kilometers along the Porsangerfjorden.
The more we drive inland, the more the fjord is frozen.
At Lakselv, we pause our journey to have the car’s engine oil changed at Lakselv Motor AS. That is possible the same afternoon, excellent professional service.
We find a camping spot in the wild, near a frozen waterfall.
At Karasjok we visit the Sami parliament, unfortunately closed due to corona.
Northern Finland (Lapland – Sapmi)
We cross the border river just south of Karasjok.
Northern Finland is a chain of forests, forests and more forests. The road we choose has been cleared of snow well, but still covered with a layer of knocked-on snow. Especially since it is already dark early, you need to be careful.
We drive for hundreds of kilometers on snowy roads, we find a place to spend the night along the road in a parking lot.
The real Santa
The place Rovaniemi is the first big place we come across in this northern part of Finland. Here, exactly on the Arctic Circle, an amusement park has been built dedicated to the real Santa Claus. This is of course quite an experience, especially in this winter time before Christmas.
In the parking lot we have the place to camp for choose.
We don’t see the Aurora here, we just dream about it…
