Best of Bothnian Coastal Route – Nordic summer
- The itinerary is designed for FIT travelers.
- Kindly note that most guided activities have a minimum of 4 persons.
- The mentioned opening hours, and tour times apply for summer 2024 and are due to changes.
- See Distance table for driving distance between destinations.
Day 1: Arrival
Arrival at Umeå airport (UME)
Several flight connections via Stockholm/Arlanda available from Europe
Rental of electric or hybrid car is available at Umeå airport.
Drive 30 min to Kvarkenfisk
Accommodation in a small, traditional boathouse at Kvarkenfisk.
Dinner at Kvarkenfisk fish restaurant.
There is a charging station and free parking at Kvarkenfisk.
Day 2: Umeå
Slow morning at Kvarkenfisk, breakfast at the restaurant.
Drive 30 min to Norrfjärden from where a regular ferry transfer takes you to Holmön island. Be on time and remember that you might need to park further away from the ferry and need 5-10 min to walk to the ferry.
11:10-11:55 Ferry to Holmön
Start the stay on Holmön island with a visit to the Holmön’s Boat Museum.
Explore the island on bicycles, which can be rented from the museum.
Places to visit by bike on Holmön:
Bergudden lighthouse
The village with an old vicarage and church
Late lunch at Novas Inn before leaving Holmön.
18:00-18:45 Ferry to the mainland
Drive 1hr 20min to Bjuröklubb. Bjuröklubb is the easternmost point of Sweden.
You can charge the car at e.g. Lövånger on the way, there is no charging station by the lighthouse.
Check-in to the lighthouse, where you will stay overnight. The lighthouse host will show you around at the lighthouse.
Light dinner and breakfast have been delivered to the lighthouse.
Day 3: Skellefteå
After breakfast at the lighthouse, it is time to explore Bjuröklubb Nature Reserve by hiking the trails.
Bring some snacks from Café Fyren for your hike. There are also maps of the area available at the café.
Bring your bathing suit as you will come across beautiful beaches during the hike.
Dinner and overnight at the lighthouse.
Day 4: Piteå
After breakfast drive towards Piteå.
You will find several charging stations in Skellefteå city and might want to have a look at the city while charging the car. Visit Skellefteå will assist you further to the best sights.
Lunch en route at Beas Rökeri & Hamncafé.
We recommend doing some shopping for snacks and beverages before arriving at Northern Lodges. There is limited cooking space at the accommodation.
Arrival at Northern Lodges. Arranged transfer included in the accommodation take you the last 850m up the hill.
Evening sauna at the location. Relax in front of an open fire at the top of the hill.
Dinner and breakfast are catered. Accommodation in a glass igloo.
No charging station available.
Day 5: Luleå
After breakfast transfer down from the hill and drive towards Luleå.
Visit the unique Gammelstad Churchtown, Unesco site. Guided tours starting from Gammelstad Visitor Center are available. After the tour you can visit the outdoor museum Hägnan for lunch.
Short drive to Huntingbay Lodge in and check in. Take a walk along nearby Solanderleden hiking trail or just sit back and relax.
Dinner and accommodation at Hunting Bay Lodge.
Day 6: Luleå
Drive to Luleå South Harbour.
Charging station in Luleå city, close to South Harbour: Hertsövägen 20.
Roundtrip cruise to the archipelago of Luleå. You can visit several islands during the day and go back to Luleå the same day. For a chill summer day Klubbviken Havsbad is a good destination to hop off the archipelago boat.
Snacks and beverges can be bought on board.
You might want to have dinner at Hemmagastronomi after the cruise.
Accommodation in a seafront cabin at First Camp Arcus.
Day 7: Kalix
After breakfast you have a drive 1h 15min to Nordic Lapland resort at Frevisören at the Kalix archipelago.
You might want to stop in Kalix city for charging the car, there is no charging station at Nordic Lapland resort Frevisören.
Check-in to one of the cozy Beach cottage.
Selfguided hike around the peninsula.
Dinner at Nordic Lapland Resort restaurant.
Day 8: Kalix & Haparanda
Breakfast at Nordic Lapland Resort.
Drive 30min to Haparanda harbour, Nikkala.
Daytrip to Haparanda Sandskär island nature reserve with Innala Archipelago. Bring your own snacks and beverages for the trip.
Short drive to Cape East, where you can end the day with a sooting spa visit.
Dinner and accommodation at Cape East.
There is no charging station by Cape East, you might want to stop in Haparanda city for charging if needed.
Day 9: Bothnian Bay National Park
After breakfast it is time to cross the border to Finland. Remeber that there is a time difference between Sweden (CET) and Finland (EET). The drive of 30 min takes you to Röyttä in Tornio, Finland.
From Röyttä you can take a taxi boat to Bothnian Bay National Park.
There are several charging stations in Tornio city, but none in Röyttä.
Drive to Nallikari 2 hrs.
Accommodation in Nallikari Aalto apartments.
Nallikari is one of the nice beaches on the arctic coast of Finland. Have a stroll on the beach and visit the lighthouse before dinner.
A fatbike tour is highly recommended in Oulu and there is a good selection of tours to choose from.
Dinner at the hotel.
Day 10: Liminka & Raahe
On the way to Raahe, it is a good idea to make a stop in Liminka (30min drive). Liminka Bay Visitor Centre features one of the best bird wetlands of Finland.
Lunch can be enjoyed at restaurant by the visitor centre.
Drive to Raahe is about 1hr. In Raahe Langin kauppahuone presents a luxurious dive into 1800’s coastal life.
Accommodation and dinner at Lang Guesthouse in Raahe.
Day 11: Raahe
After breakfast at Lang Guesthouse you have several Bothnian Bay kayaking tours available in Raahe.
Kayaking tours available in Raahe:
Saturday: archipelago tour, 3 hrs
Monday: kayaking 2 hrs
Wednesday: kayaking 2 hrs
As Lang Guesthouse is located in the city centre of Raahe, you find many restaurants close by.
Several charging stations close to the accommodation.
Accommodation at Lang Guesthouse.
Day 12: Kalajoki
After breakfast at Lang Guesthouse in Raahe, you have a one hour drive to Kalajoki.
First stop should be on top of the dunes at the photo stop to admire the best view of the beach.
Check-in to Hotel Rantakalla.
20:00-23:00 Sunset picnic on the beach. This is a self-guided tour, so you can decide the time of the tour yourself. The time to spot the legenday sunset varies depending on month.
Day 13: Kalajoki & Vaasa
Breakfast at the hotel.
10:00 – 11:00: SUP-boarding for beginners. The tour is suitable for beginners, but is always adapted to the participants skills and wishes.
Before leaving Kalajoki, have lunch at Tapion Tupa, where you also can charge the car.
Drive 2 hrs 45 min to Wäst Inn in Vörå.
Check-in to Seaview Cottage or Seaview Studio.
Dinner, wood heated sauna and accommodation at Wäst Inn.
Day 14: Vaasa
Breakfast at Wäst Inn.
Try out kayak paddling, rent a rowing boat or go for a short hike. Or just relax in the morning.
After check out at 12:00 from the accommodation.
1 hour drive to Kvarken Archipelago World Heritage Gateway Visitors Center.
Here you find the Exhibition about the World Natural Heritage and can enjoy lunch.
After lunch 30 minutes drive to Svedjehamn where you can go up to the watchtower Saltkaret and enjoy the view.
There is a charging station at Svedjehamn.
Next you have 1 hour drive to Vaasa, where you check in to Hotel Astor.
Take a short walk down to the seafront and enjoy a nice dinner at one of the summer restaurants.
Dinner at Restaurant Hejm.
Day 15: Vaasa - Umeå
Short drive 10 min to Wasaline ferry terminal.
Note, 1 hour before departure when you bring the car.
08:00-10:30 Cruise over Kvarken strait (local times).
Archipelago breakfast on board Wasaline.
Drop-off of rental car.
Departure from Umeå airport (UME)
