Ryan CarradusEmbark on an exhilarating journey through the Norwegian mountains, across the serene waterfalls of Sweden, along the beaches of Denmark and if you’re lucky you may even witness the spectacular Northern Lights. There are many naturally beautiful landscapes to experience if you’re planning a Scandinavia tour.
Geirangerfjord, Norway
Geirangerfjord, a UNESCO site, is arguably one of the most scenic fjord areas in the world. The landscape features snowy peaks, spectacular waterfalls and luscious greenery. Here the waterfalls surge from almost vertical mountain sides. For a superb view, don’t miss Geiranger Skywalk – a platform 1500 m above sea level.
Go hiking, kayaking and rafting here. The steep mountain sides are protected by stone railings, but they can still offer some nail-biting adventure travel!
To travel here, you can get a daily bus or train (5 and half hours) from Oslo.
Photo: dconvertini via Flickr
Pulpit Rock, Norway
Preikestolen, known as Pulpit Rock in Ryfylke, is one of Rogaland county’s most visited attractions with a stunning subject for the keen travel photographer. Towering 604 metres above the Lysefjord, Preikestolen offers one of Norway’s most exciting mountain hikes.
The hike is 8km long and takes around four hours both ways. It is recommended to have some experience hiking in rough terrain before taking on this challenge. The hiking season lasts from April to September.
Preikestolen, Norway. Photo: orangenlicht via Pixabay
Oulanka National Park, Finland
The numerous trails in the Oulanka National Park offer enchanting experiences throughout the year, with gushing waterfalls, fast-flowing streams with steep rocks and hanging bridges. Karhunkierros Hiking Trail is a spectacular and popular trail.
Canoe on the river Oulankajoki – there are routes for newbies and the experienced alike. Two routes run along the upper part of the roaring rapids whereas a third route gently flows into the lower stream.
You’ll find this national park in the Municipalities Kuusamo and Salla in north-east Finland.
Oulanka National Park, Finland. Photo: comoesta via Pixabay
Amager Beach Park, Denmark
A lively beach on a hot summer’s day, Copenhagen’s Amager Beach Park is a wonderful spot to visit when you travel to Denmark. From the beach you can spot a windmill park and the Øresundsbroen bridge (see below).
Amager Beach Park is abuzz all year round, such as sporting events, open air weddings and rock concerts. The beach park is hugely popular with families as it features a two km long artificial island. There is a lagoon with toddlers’ pools in one area, while a sandy beach in another offers a great spot for relaxing.
Photo: Stig Nygaard via Wikimedia Commons
Grenen Beach / Skagen, Denmark
Grenen, known as “The Branch” in English, is the northernmost point of Jutland. Where the two seas, Skagerrak and the Kattegat meet, you can clearly sea the point where the waves meet.
Skagen Odde is only a few kilometres to the north of Skagen, home of the nature centre, Skagen Odde Naturcenter. The landscape of Grenen is a protected nature reserve, boasting rich plant and wildlife, with interesting occurrences of vegetation and dune formation with gorgeous green dune hollows.
This fascinating tourist location is one area of Denmark where most species of bird can be seen, particularly birds of prey in spring.
Photo: Eric Gross via Flickr
Øresund Bridge, Sweden
An engineering feat that connects the Danish capital of Copenhagen to the Swedish city of Malmö, the Øresund bridge was built to bring the two cities closer.
A cable-stayed bridge runs about 8km to an artificial island. There it transforms into a tunnel that goes on for another 8km. The man-made island of Peberholm was constructed from material dredged from the seabed. Flora and fauna on Peberholm have organically grown, making it a treat for nature lovers. The Lund’s Botanical Association have identified over 500 different species of plant on this island, which also serves as a popular breeding ground for birds as well as a habitat for the rare green toad.
Øresund Bridge, Sweden (Photo: arniii via Pixabay)
Hamra National Park, Sweden
The 1,383-hectare Hamra National Park is a hiking haven with forests, serene bogland, wild rapids and ancient pine trees.
Spring is ideal for skiers, hikers and bird enthusiasts to explore Hamra. It’s also when migratory birds will swarm the bog-lands. There is a great vantage point at Svansjön lake and an observation tower by the swamp entrance.
To get here, take the European highway E45 between Sveg and Orsa via a side road going eastward from Fågelsjö. Don’t worry, there are signposts for the 5 km trip.
The observation tower. Photo: Länsstyrelsen Gävleborg via Wikimedia Commons
Fulufjället National Park, Sweden
Home of Njupeskär, Sweden’s highest waterfall, measuring a colossal 93 metres high, dives down 70 metres. The crashing water has created a canyon that attracts travel lovers. The sound of this mighty crashing of water is almost deafening, yet it creates a thick fog that is beneficial for a large number of mosses and lichens along the precipices.
In the summer, lakes at the National Park of Fulufjället are warm enough for a pleasant swim with the Njupeskär waterfall being completely illuminated by the morning sun.
Fulufjället National Park, Sweden. Photo: JH146 via Pixabay
Thórsmörk, Iceland
A verdant forest realm that gazes into twisting gorges, icy rivers and is encircled by three mystical glaciers; Eyjafjallajökull, Myrdalsjökull and Tindfjallajökull. The Valley of Thor is a nature reserve located in the southern Icelandic highlands, 151km from Reykjavík, and is one of Iceland’s most popular hiking destinations.
Despite the valley’s climate being warmer than usual in southern Iceland, Thórsmörk is also wetter than the rest of the country, enabling the lush vegetation to thrive with an enchanting emerald hue.
Valley of Thor, Iceland. Photo: Falco via Pixabay
Tromsø, Northern Lights, Norway
The gateway to the Arctic. Discover the tenacious city of Tromsø, the largest city in Northern Norway. Localised in the North of the Arctic Circle, Tromsø is one of the best places in the world to see the Northern Lights, also known as the Aurora Borealis, for your Scandinavia tour.
Although there is no guarantee, your best chance to observe this natural phenomenon is to visit Tromsø during the middle of winter, between late September and April. At this time of year, the sun does not rise above the horizon, locking the land in total darkness.
Tromsø, Norway. Photo via Pixabay
If you’re heading out in the winter – be sure to pack plenty of thermal gear and prepare for an extremely cool adventure for your Scandinavia tour.
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