My first camper trip: an adventure through Norway
Summer 2024. For the first time, Kris and his 17-year-old son trade their familiar surroundings for the unknown life ‘on the road’ in a camper. What started as an exciting idea turned into an unforgettable journey full of surprises, encounters, and moments that will stay with them forever. Kris takes you along on their adventure — get carried away, dream along, and who knows… you might soon be on your way to Norway too.
My first camper trip: an adventure through Norway
In January 2024, my 17-year-old son came up with the idea of going camping together in Norway. Camping had never really been my thing, so I started thinking about an alternative—something more comfortable than just a tent in a field. That’s how the idea of traveling through Norway in a camper took shape. At Vanomobil, we found our perfect travel companion: a Bürstner Copa. A compact yet very practical mini camper.
We rented the camper for the last 10 days of August. When picking it up, one of the camper coaches gave us a thorough briefing and took the time to answer all our questions. After the explanation, we quickly loaded our belongings into the camper and immediately set off on our adventure. We decided to turn it into a true road trip, with stops in Germany (Selk), Denmark (Køge), and Sweden (Välinge and Gothenburg).
Scandinavian hospitality
In Gothenburg, we experienced one of the first surprises of our trip. We were looking for a place to park for the night and ended up in a dead-end street by the sea. It looked like a mini Center Parcs, with cottages along the beach. Just as we were about to turn around, an older man with a labrador appeared next to our camper. He asked what we were looking for, and when I told him we needed a place to sleep, he said: “Just drive up to the automatic barrier — you can sleep there. I’m the owner.” His name was Per, and his hospitality was typically Scandinavian. We parked, cooked, and went to sleep. The next morning, Per suddenly showed up again and asked, “Would you like to shower?” He pointed us to the showers, and soon we were showering with a sea view. As a thank-you, we gave him a six-pack of Corona beers. Our Scandinavian adventure had officially begun!
Enchanting sunset in Sigdal
The next stop was Sigdal in Norway, with its beautiful forests and wild rivers. We parked the camper at an enchanting lake and enjoyed the orange-purple sky at sunset.
Frank Sinatra with a surreal view
The journey led us further to Øystre Slidre, near the magical Jötenheimen nature reserve. Threatening clouds over the hills, reindeer in the distance and steel-blue rivers gave us a surreal view. There we were, father and son, enjoying the moment, while our music box played the song That's Life by Frank Sinatra. What a fantastic experience!
A hike and adventures in the mountains
The next day, a 7-hour hike was scheduled. My son and I were ready for it! But after walking only 100 metres, we realised we had forgotten the toilet paper. My remark about big leaves from bushes did not fall on good ground so we had to backtrack. Not much later, the next obstacle followed: crossing a river went wrong. My son who had already taken off his shoes and stockings fell over with his shoes in his hand. Fortunately, there was a lot of moss on the road, so he almost enjoyed continuing barefoot.
A river with a jacuzzi
When we needed to cross a second river, we decided to follow it upstream. The higher we got, the more beautiful it became. When my son discovered a ‘jacuzzi’ in the river, he decided to enter it immediately. And yes, the water was freezing cold! Quickly I took some photos as proof.
One-twenty-one for the view
Once in Vaga, we parked the camper close to the river and enjoyed a simple but delicious evening meal. Each evening, we played a game of twenty-one to decide who got to sleep in the pop-up tent with the best view. I usually let my son win ;-)
Eye-to-eye with a reindeer
Our hikes in the mountains were filled with magical moments. We were greeted by a herd of goats and sheep with bells around their necks. But the highlight of the trip came when we were at the top of a mountain. Enjoying a snack and closing our eyes in a faint summer sun, we suddenly heard hooves on boulders. In front of us suddenly stood a male reindeer, completely out of breath. It was a surreal moment. There was blood on his antlers and he stared at us. Should we have been scared? I don't know. Calmly we stayed down and watched him, he watched us. How long did it last? I don't know. He left a little higher into the mountains and then came back. Meanwhile, we had already taken our camera and took some pictures. What an experience!
Glaciers, waterfalls and vikings
We continued our journey via Stranda to Stryn, where we visited the Jostedalsbreen nature reserve with its impressive glacier and deafening waterfalls.
We ended our trip in Gutvangen, where we visited a viking village. Did you know that back then a good sword was worth as much as a Lamborghini today.
A trip that changed my life
After 8 days full of adventure, it was time to go home. Norway is highly recommended for anyone who loves pure nature. This motorhome trip was outside my comfort zone for me, but it was an experience I will never forget. I got to know not only my son better but also myself. It was a journey from experience to experience, an experience that is etched in my memory.
Thank you Vanomobil for making this trip possible. You guys make sure people have the time of their lives. But above all, go on your own adventure. Norway is waiting for you!
Wil jij ook zo'n avontuur beleven? Boek jouw eigen camperreis naar Noorwegen bij Vanomobil! ontdek ons huuraanbod
More photos?
Curious to see more photos of Kris' journey? Then click on the following link to discover his portfolio.
