National Park

The wonderful scenic route across the Valdresflye plateau is one of the 18 Norwegian Tourist Routes, which are maintained by the Norwegian State Roads Administration especially for tourism because of their picturesque landscape. There are parking and rest areas along the route and there are also vantage points at particularly impressive points.

Vadsø is located on the edge of the Arctic Ocean on the Barents Sea (Norwegian: Barentshavet), which was named after the Dutch navigator Willem Barents. Vadsø is a gateway to Varangerhalvøya National Park, whose wild expanses are unparalleled. We took accommodation right on the sea access in Annijoki at the Varangerfjord close to Vadsø and were the only guests in the house at this time of year (May). The Barents adventure began as soon as we checked into the locked house, because there was no staff and the situation was only clarified when we called the owner.

The beach was well attended during the day but in the evening there were fantastic views of the Yellow Sea and the sun sinking into it.