Join Pierre and Myriam on their 10-day trip through Northern Norway by wheelchair. These two adventurers are pushing the limits and bringing a world of travel within reach of everyone!
WHEELED WINTER
in Northern Norway
“Discovering Northern Norway in the middle of winter has been our dream for years.”
Myriam and Pierre - Wheeled World
Myriam and Pierre are a French couple who love to travel.
Pierre is paraplegic and uses a wheelchair, but that doesn't stop them from exploring the world!
“We wanted to travel during the winter to see what was possible – and it was much more than we expected!”
Myriam and Pierre
"I think there is a sense of freedom when you travel. It's really good to be able to explore places, meet new people, and discover cultures. It's something that we love," says Pierre.
Myriam and Pierre had been thinking of exploring Northern Norway for a long time, particularly in winter. They wanted to see what was possible in snow and extreme temperatures.
"It's really interesting for us to discover and showcase all the inclusive initiatives you have in different countries. It's good to raise awareness about what exists, so people can travel with serenity and have the best experience possible when they travel abroad," says Myriam.
Pierre brought a manual wheelchair on which he had cross tyres and small skis to put on the front wheels to make it a bit easier on the snow. Otherwise for hard ground, he used a wheel that he put in front to raise the wheels so that he could go around rocks and tiny holes without bumps.
10 days in Northern Norway
The couple traveled from Henningsvær to Tromsø on a 10-day road trip stopping by lots of beautiful places including Skagsanden, Å, Reine, Nusfjord, Vikten, Stokmarknes, Storheia, Nyksund, and Andøya!
"The landscapes were really appealing to us. We wanted to discover those kinds of landscapes," Pierre explains.
This is how it went!
“The northern lights were crazy. It's really hard to describe what you feel when you see them for the first time.”
Myriam
“We enjoyed experiencing the Sami culture because we didn't know anything about it. It was really interesting to learn about their history.”
Myriam and Pierre
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Pierre and Myriam's travel tips for winter in Northern Norway
THE TRIP: 10 days, from late February to early March.
WHERE: From the Lofoten Islands to Tromsø via the Vesterålen Islands in Northern Norway.
HOW TO GET THERE: The airport closest to Lofoten is Harstad-Narvik (a 2.5-hour drive from Svolvær). It is served by the airlines SAS, Norwegian and Widerøe and almost all flights include stopovers. Ask the airlines to take your need for assistance into account when making your reservation. Be sure the flight team ensures that your chair is on board before takeoff.
CAR HIRE: The main car rental companies have offices at Evenes airport. If you are renting from Hertz and your flight arrives outside ticket counter opening hours, you will need to use a ticket machine. The driver must insert their licence into the machine, but it only recognises new licences in credit card format, so consider that when booking!
WHEN TO GO: It is best to visit this region after the polar night (mid-November and the end of January) when there is a little more daylight. The snow usually lasts until late March, so you won't miss it. If you want to go in summer, be aware that there are more tourists, and accommodation prices increase significantly.
WHY TO GO: Fjords, rough seas, and the varied landscapes of Lofoten, Vesterålen, and Tromsø culminate in an incredible experience at the very north of Europe!
Source: Wheeled World
Inclusive mindset
Myriam and Pierre chose to drive because it was easier for them to get around and visit the places they wanted by car.
"The snow is of course a problem if you are in a wheelchair. Soft grounds are not easy for a wheelchair user to get around on, just like sand is hard for someone on a bicycle.
However, if we ever got in trouble in the snow or on the ice, there was always someone willing to help us!"
"Accessibility in Norway was surprisingly good...I felt that people really wanted to help. I think there is a really inclusive mindset in Norway, which means that people are really eager to improve accessibility for everyone."
Join Myriam and Pierre on their 10-day trip through Northern Norway, starting in Svolvær and ending in Tromsø:
3 days in Lofoten, 3 days in Vesterålen, 4 days in Tromsø.
3 days in Lofoten
Day 1: Svolvær - Ballstad
Day 2: Ballstad - Reine
Day 3: Reine - Svolvær
“Lofoten is stunning, with its huge mountains plunging into the water!”
Myriam and Pierre
Pierre and Myriam's recommendations for Lofoten
3 days in Vesterålen
Day 1: Svolvær - Stokmarknes
Day 2: Stokmarknes - Andenes
Day 3: Andøya
“With its wide landscapes, Vesterålen feels like the end of the world. You're practically at the end of the continent.”
Myriam and Pierre
Pierre and Myriam's recommendations for Vesterålen
4 days in Tromsø
“In Tromsø the main street is actually heated in winter to make travelling easier!”
Myriam and Pierre
Pierre and Myriam's recommendations for Tromsø
We recommend Tromsø Accessible Tours which offers different activities and has suitable vehicles to facilitate your travel.
Several boat companies offer northern lights trips on the fjord. We took the Brim Explorer and once we spotted them, the boat stayed there for 2 hours to enjoy them!
Plan your trip to Northern Norway
Find the perfect accommodation, restaurants, and cool things to do!
Get more accessible travel ideas
Plan a trip perfectly designed for you!
Roll through Norway - top tips!
Explore other northern destinations
Northern Norway is a big part of the country and home to plenty of beautiful places.
Find hidden gems
Top locals tips and recommended roundtrips.
Art and culture
Learn about the cultural history of northern cities and experience the culture of the Sami – the indigenous people of the North.
Cool winter experiences
Try being a dog musher, catch skrei, go skiing, and end your day by sleeping in an ice hotel!
