Four-month Scandinavian road trip by campervan / Adventures of Sigi, Lisa and Martin
Part 1 Germany-Denmark-Sweden
Four months traveling through Scandinavia in a campervan – that sounds like freedom, nature, and unforgettable moments, and that's exactly what we wanted to experience. My wife Sigi, our dog Lisa, and I set off together to discover Scandinavia. In this blog post, I'll take you along on our journey, showcasing highlights, challenges, and practical tips for anyone who wants to experience a Scandinavian trip themselves.
Preparing for the four-month trip to Scandinavia by campervan.
A four-month trip through Scandinavia requires careful planning. We thoroughly researched the route, equipment, and the specific requirements of each country. Scandinavia includes Norway, Sweden, Finland, and for us, Denmark – each country has its own rules for campers and dogs.
The following is important for the trio:
Route planning with flexibility: Instead of planning every day precisely, we leave room for spontaneous stops.
Equipment : A well-equipped motorhome with heating, solar panels and enough storage space for clothing, food and camping equipment.
Campsites and wild camping : In Scandinavia, wild camping is often allowed, but with respect for nature and the rules of the respective region.
Weatherproof clothing : Even in summer it can get cool and rainy.
Germany
Monday, June 1, 2026
We started in Laufenburg (CH) at 6:00 AM and headed towards Leipzig. Since we didn't want to overexert our dog Lisa, we stayed overnight there for her walk. The drive took 7.5 hours and covered 650 km.
The journey to the Kleinliebenau campsite near Schkeuditz was very smooth, and we didn't encounter any traffic jams. We received a warm welcome and spent wonderful hours by the lake. We're about 30 km from Leipzig. The campsite is very reasonably priced, and we had everything we needed. Thank you for the fantastic hospitality and for the bread rolls you made especially for us. We'll never forget it. Best regards to you all!
Kleinliebenau campsite
The clip shows the journey from Schkeuditz to Altefähr. The route is 460 km long and takes 5 hours to complete.
The next morning we continued our journey and visited a good friend in Altefähr whom we had met last year. We used this campsite opposite Stralsund to recover after the two long drives across Germany on the motorway. Stralsund is a beautiful city that is definitely worth seeing. The idyllic old town and the impressive harbor invite you to linger.
Stralsund and the Oceanarium
More pictures of Stralsund and the campsite can be found on my blog at:
Denmark
Collar
We spent a wonderful time at Kragenæs Marina Lystcamp campsite on the Danish island of Lolland . This fantastic campsite is located right by the sea and near the harbor. The campsite is highly recommended, especially for dog owners, as dogs are very welcome. It's a great place to enjoy nature and spend relaxing days by the water.
Rostock-Gedser ferry
The Dodekalit, which means "twelve stones" in Greek, consists of twelve impressive stone columns, each between 7 and 9 meters high and weighing between 25 and 45 tons. The top two meters are intricately carved into heads and stand in a circle with a diameter of 40 meters, all pointing towards the center. Beneath a circle of seating stones is an integrated 12-channel sound system that allows spatial electroacoustic music to be played daily during daylight hours throughout the year. This unique experience combines art and sound in a special way.
Dodekaliten on the island of Lolland, Denmark
Turn on the sound!
Helsingør
Some of the pitches are sandy, which isn't ideal for dog owners. It's advisable to reserve a grassy pitch in advance. The entire site, including the sanitary facilities, is clean, but hygiene could be improved. Electricity hookups are available for a fee, and the prices for pitches and electricity are quite high. Nevertheless, the campsite's location makes up for a short stay. Dogs are very welcome, and there are plenty of activities for you and your furry friend in the surrounding area. Swimming is also possible without any problems, but please note that dogs must be kept on a leash on the beach during certain months. Currently, in June, the beach is pleasantly quiet, and dogs have a lot of freedom despite the leash requirement. A bakery is highly recommended: just a 10-minute walk towards the harbor, there's one you absolutely must visit, as their croissants and rolls are fantastic.
Helsingør campsite
the city of Helsingør
Helsingør has developed rapidly since King Erik of Pomerania introduced the Öresund toll in 1427. From a small fishing village, the town transformed into a thriving market town with impressive brick houses and a magnificent castle. For over 400 years, Helsingør was an international hub – even Shakespeare knew of it! Today, Helsingør boasts one of the best-preserved historic city centers in Europe, where visitors can admire a multitude of lovingly restored houses from various architectural periods, from the 15th century to the present day.
Pictures of Kronborg Castle
Kronborg Castle
Pictures of the city
Helsingør in Denmark
Conclusion of Part One Denmark:
Outward journey towards Sweden:
While the Danes may be perceived as somewhat reserved, the high level of cleanliness and the picturesque landscape are truly impressive. Although the limited meat consumption for barbecues presented a challenge, the delicious pastries and top-notch chocolate offered a welcome change.
Sweden
On June 11th we will leave Denmark for the first time and cross over to Sweden.
Our destination is Läckö Castle on Lake Vänern
After a 380 km drive, boring motorway and good weather, we arrived at the campsite in good spirits.
Camping Schloss Läckö
The campsite is beautifully nestled in the woods and offers fantastic pitches with electricity and water nearby. Be sure to allow plenty of time for the toilets, etc., as the walk through nature is a bit longer. All sanitary and waste disposal facilities are available and well-maintained. Dogs are welcome here. The campsite is very quiet in the evenings, and while we didn't have any visits from moose or bears, we did have mosquitoes!
Camping Schloss Läckö
Reconstruction of the Viking ship Sigrid Storrada in Lake Vänern in Sweden
Built in Lidköping, Sweden, the Sigrid Storrada is an exact replica of the Gokstad, a genuine Viking ship from the 11th century.
The Sigrid Storrada is 26 meters long, 5.3 meters wide, and weighs 17 tons. It is built of oak with iron fittings and equipped with 16 pine oars. It can accommodate 25 people.
Sigrid Storrada: a Viking boat!
Läckö Castle
Läckö Castle sits majestically atop a rock on the shores of Lake Vänern, enchanting visitors with its baroque splendor. Unfortunately, we were also unlucky at the second castle due to construction work and were unable to see the interior.
Läckö Castle on Lake Vänern
Next destination: Arvika with stopovers along the way.
We traveled across Sweden to our next destination: the town of Arvica, known for its vibrant atmosphere centered around cars and music. We were lucky enough to experience it firsthand. It's truly something special, something unimaginable back home. Just look at the cars – some of them have more rust than anything else. People of all ages spend their days driving their classic cars around, blasting their music for all to see. Loud music, black smoke, and, depending on the mood, a joint during a pit stop. Sweden is known for its zero tolerance, but we were right in the thick of it, just like at our campsite by the harbor. The atmosphere everywhere was cheerful and incredibly tolerant. Even last night, despite all the activity, it was so peaceful. Simply fantastic! We experienced a completely different side of Sweden.
Pictures from the trip to Arvica
Sweden and its beautiful landscapes
"cruised" and turn on the sound!
Saturday's highlight was the arrival of old Chevrolet Impalas, Trans Ams and other classic cars, cruising around the streets and roundabouts!
Chevrolet Impala, Trans Am and other classic cars
Pictures and review of the campsite in Arvica and its surroundings.
The city is surrounded by extensive green spaces and the many parks are beautifully maintained.
The campsite is very well laid out by the lake. Each pitch has a wooden deck with a table and bench (see pictures). Electricity and water are nearby. The sanitary facilities are a bit far away, but everything is there. For the price, a lot is offered, and even laundry service is included. It was very pleasant at the campsite, and the nearby festivals didn't bother us at all. Thank you, and we'd love to come back; everything was great!
Arvica campsite by the lake in Sweden
After that, we continued from Arvica to Mora. Unfortunately, as is often the case, we had to endure the 240km journey in the rain at 11 degrees Celsius. Despite this, it was fantastic with the wooden houses and the many lakes and rivers. We often drove alone for long stretches on wide roads, which stretched straight for kilometers, undulating gently. The whole thing is very impressive, and it really makes you realize how small Switzerland is.
Traveling across Sweden Traveling across Sweden Sigi caught me taking a picture Traveling across Sweden
Mora
It's also the finish line for the annual Vasaloppet , a 90-kilometer cross-country ski race. You quickly realize it's a major sporting venue. The stroll through the streets was absolutely worthwhile, and we enjoyed a beautiful day there.
Mora and the Vasaloppet in Sweden
In Mora, we stayed at the very large First Camp Moraparken campsite . It's very spacious and has everything you could need. It's more of a luxury campsite in terms of its facilities, sports, games, and entertainment options, and its unique location. The multiple sanitary blocks were always clean.
First Camp Moraparken
We've already covered 2500km and every meter has been exciting in its own way. Everything is incredibly diverse, with the little nooks and crannies where the red, white, or blue wooden houses have been built. While driving, we two can't stop exclaiming "Wow!" and are absolutely thrilled. I've tried taking photos, but with the rain and everything, you simply have to see it for yourself.
Now we're off to the town of Söderhamn to do city camping for the first time.
Söderhamn
The settlement began as a fishing port at the mouth of the Söderhamnsån River and developed further after the establishment of an arms factory and several sawmills . In 1620, the town was granted city rights . After several devastating fires, the town was rebuilt with parallel streets.
Söderhamn town photography in Sweden
The Söderhamn Citycamping campsite is a well-designed site close to the city center. We enjoyed very peaceful nights there, and the sanitary facilities were clean at all times. Highly recommended for the price, and thank you for your hospitality. It was lovely staying with you. Oh yes, we also had a delicious meal on the houseboat across the river. The restaurant is absolutely fantastic, and dogs are very welcome there, which isn't always the case in other restaurants.
Söderhamn Citycamping pitch Söderhamn Citycamping pitch Söderhamn Citycamping pitch Söderhamn Citycamping pitch Söderhamn Citycamping pitch
The route from Söderhamm to Hedeviken covers 270 km and offers some interesting sights in both rain and sunshine. It's often noticeable that the water never appears truly "blue." Due to the soil, the water is quite brown everywhere, which takes some getting used to. The temperature during the journey today, June 18, 2026, fluctuated between 14 and 19 degrees Celsius.
Söderhamn-Hedeviken travel photography
Hedeviken
Located between Hede and Vemdalen on National Route 84, the area is surrounded by lakes and forests and is known for outdoor activities such as fishing, hiking, and golf. The impressive Sonfjället National Park is about 17 km away.
Hedeviken in the province of Jämtland län in Sweden
The Sonfjällscampen Hedeviken campsite is particularly popular .
It was simply wonderful at this campsite. An absolute must for dog owners. You can find complete peace and quiet there, and the opportunities for walking, etc., are enormous. The family who owns the campsite runs it as if it were their own family. It was wonderful, and thank you so much for everything. A truly fantastic site, and you get everything you need for camping. The sanitary facilities are in good condition and always clean.
SONFJÄLLSCAMPEN, HED
On June 20th, we continued our journey 160 km inland to Gällö. We were curious to see what awaited us along the way and at our destination. For the first time, we drove through the Vemdalen ski resort into the mountains. Vemdalsskalet stretches across the landscape at altitudes between 586 m and 946 m. Afterwards, we descended again into the vast plains of Sweden, reaching kilometer 3000 on our odometer. Here are some impressions from Hedeviken to Gällö.
Travelogue from Hedeviken to Gallö in Sweden.
Things are a mess right now, as we've experienced flooding and two major storms. Our campervan needs some serious repairs because the awning was blown off by a strong wind. The gust came out of nowhere, and then everything happened so fast. Everyone was caught off guard and had their hands full trying to save their belongings.
Then it continues with... I need to sleep on it first...
Of course, the adventure continues nonetheless, just now with detours.
Meanwhile, after today's further storms, we've decided not to repair the awning and will continue without it. Not only are the distances between places huge, but also when you need help, it's not like in Switzerland where you can just drive around the corner. We'll survive, and we don't have the same temperatures as you do in Switzerland or Germany, etc.
Here are a few impressions of the Gällö region, including a visit to the Viking campsite . The campsite itself is beautifully situated and has everything you need. The sanitary facilities are excellent, and dogs are absolutely welcome. Swimming is easy both on and off the campsite, for both people and dogs. We highly recommend this campsite and thank the owners for their hospitality.
Gällö is a town in the Swedish province of Jämtlands län and in the historical province of Jämtland.
Gällö and the Viking campsite in Sweden
On June 21, 2026, our journey continued to Domsjö, located on the Gulf of Bothnia. The route took us across Sweden and covered 260 km. During this trip, we were fortunate enough to meet some friendly people who gave us a used articulated arm for our awning. This encounter brought us great joy, and now we just needed to find a workshop willing to install the arm.
City view of Örnsköldsvik in Sweden
After our pleasant arrival at Gullviks Havsbad AB campsite in Domsjö , we first enjoyed the magnificent location of our pitch with its direct sea view. The campsite is beautifully situated and offers numerous sporting activities. The seawater was only 15 degrees Celsius, so we left our swimsuits in the closet. The campsite is excellently equipped and offers everything you could need. The sanitary facilities are clean, and there are absolutely no problems with dogs here. There's no swimming ban for dogs. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay and highly recommend this campsite.
Camping Gullviks Havsbad AB in Sweden
Now we need to find a workshop that can solve the rest of our problem. Lo and behold, the first workshop we've found is HYMER Center Umeå. At our next destination, she agreed to help us. Wow, that meant getting up early, because we had an appointment with the vet. DinVet in Umeå . Since we're taking the ferry to Finland on June 26th, we need to have Lisa dewormed under supervision. Because we can't cross the border for at least 24 hours, this involves additional costs. However, Lisa is part of our family, and we're doing what's best for her. After all that, we went shopping and then set up our campsite. That's enough for today, and we were all clearly exhausted. A big thank you to everyone who helped us so much. You should be able to hear me without any knowledge of English or Swedish :-))
Conclusion Sweden:
We experienced a beautiful and diverse country in the southern part, all the way to Umeå. In the southernmost part, the Swedes were, as is well known, reserved, and greetings were not exchanged. Further north, they became a bit more open, and the atmosphere was more mixed, making it possible to strike up conversations. Language-wise, you only stand a chance with Swedish or English. German is practically nonexistent, so I was incredibly lucky to have Sigi as my guide. Sweden is a very clean country; all public spaces, forests, and even the cities are spotless – our new Switzerland can only dream of such cleanliness. Prices are roughly on par with Swiss prices, or even a little lower. 99% of payments are made by card, no matter how low the price; cash is often simply not accepted. Therefore, we are now glad that we left without any Swedish kronor.
We are now preparing for June 26, 2026, as this day will start early. We're not quite sure what "early" means, since the sun shines for almost 24 hours. We need to be ready to check in on time for the Wasaline ferry. We will then spend 7 hours on deck 7 on board the ferry from Holmsund (Sweden) to Vaasa (Finland).
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Photographed with mobile phone, Sony A1 or DJI drone © Martin Schnetzler
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