Bored Panda works better on our iPhone app
Continue in app Continue in browser

BoredPanda Add post form topAdd Post Search
Tooltip close

The Bored Panda iOS app is live! Fight boredom with iPhones and iPads here.

We Traveled 3500km To Sleep In A 5-Billion-Star ‘Hotel’ In Norway And It Made Our Jaws Drop
User submission
9.4K
67.5K

We Traveled 3500km To Sleep In A 5-Billion-Star ‘Hotel’ In Norway And It Made Our Jaws Drop

ADVERTISEMENT

We drove my old rickety Ford Escort from Helsinki to Troms with my adventure buddy Mika-Pekka Markkanen. Then visited Senja and Lofoten islands and drove back. The whole trip took 12 days and we drove more than 3500km. We slept our nights mostly in a wind beaten tent that was definitely not suitable for winter camping in Norway. One windy night we found shelter from an abandoned camping site and got to sleep in a cold fire hut. At least we got a shelter from the wind. There was a shower too, but we didn’t have any coins for hot water, so we had an ice cold shower.

One unforgettable night we spent in a cave, with water dripping on my face the whole night – like a Chinese torture. Afterwards, we learnt that ancient human bones and skulls from the cave have been found there. One miserable night we spent in the car, which was my travel buddy Mika-Pekka’s birthday. Later that night we decided to try to pitch the tent, which then flew away by the wind, but got stuck to some bushes, thank god. Mika-Pekka’s camera gear was inside the tent. The tent landed in a puddle and the camera gear got soaked, with luck on our side nothing broke. In about 5 minutes our car keys got stuck in the car’s back trunk. Panicking for a while and cursing the night we got ourselves together and managed to retrieve the keys. Finally, we got some sleep for a few hours in the wet tent, with the roof flapping on our faces due to some crazy winds.

Ok, that’s enough. I guess you all got the point that this was no luxury holiday in a 5-star hotel. Instead, for most of the nights, we had a 5 billion star hotel! Enjoy the images, pandas!

More info: Facebook | Instagram

When the sky exploded

A G2-class geomagnetic storm hit earth and produced the most beautiful Northern lights I’ve ever seen!

ADVERTISEMENT

Billion star hotel

To create this image I set my camera on a tripod and took a 30 second exposure shot. During these 30 seconds I ran inside the tent and light-painted a heart on the side.

Aurora eruption

It’s like a volcano, only erupting with auroras!

ADVERTISEMENT

The Northern lights started usually right when it got dark enough for them to show up.

Flaming mountains

Crystal reflections

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

The green sky

Aurora river

Water flowing down from the mountains carve these small rivers on the sandy beach in Kvalvika beach, Lofoten.

The faint one

Sometimes there’s only faint auroras. But they can be beautiful too.

Sea, you are scary

ADVERTISEMENT

Big waves crashing on the rocks made it scary to photograph here.

Aurora strike

My favorite shot from this trip. Waited for the lights to hit the Andenes lighthouse and when they did, I only got few attempts to get the shot. And here it is!

ADVERTISEMENT

A night in a cave

There were two big caves in the area.

The camp

In this image Mika-Pekka light-paints a spiral on the tent and I took a picture of it.

Uprising

What do you see?

Starman

ADVERTISEMENT

Selfie of me on a rock, far away in the distance.

The caveman

This is the cave we slept in. And that’s Mika-Pekka balancing on a very slippery rock while the Northern lights are glowing in the distance.

Don’t let the U.F.O take you

This UFO cloud was there for maby a minute. Got lucky to get a shot of with with my friend down on the beach to give some scale.

Burst of colors

The burst of a corona above us.

Crack of dawn

Aurora house

Welcome auroras

ADVERTISEMENT

This was one of the best night’s I’ve had!

67Kviews

Share on Facebook
You May Like
Popular on Bored Panda
Leave a comment
Add photo comments
POST
jacobchamberlain avatar
The Alchemist
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That was amazing. I left my living room for a minute there and was in Norway. Words aren't enough to describe this.

damonbeckford avatar
pearldsouza avatar
pearl dsouza
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

look like a fantasy world. Sitting in India I'm dreaming of Norway, thanks for these magnificent pictures... I wish you lots of adventures and success. :)

damonbeckford avatar
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They really are amazing! Thank you very much :) Hopefully you'll have the chance of seeing them even once in your life! I'm actually Going to Nepal in 2,5 weeks and from there continuing to India and probably travelling and photographing there for 3-5 months :)

Load More Replies...
joelei avatar
Joel Ei
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Very amazing pictures. I lived in Alaska for 16 years and saw some of those northern lights. I didn't have a good camera tho, so no pics.

damonbeckford avatar
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Thanks Joel! You must have witnessed some amazing auroras in Alaska! Even though you couldn't photograph them, the main thing is you saw them :)

Load More Replies...
Load More Comments
jacobchamberlain avatar
The Alchemist
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That was amazing. I left my living room for a minute there and was in Norway. Words aren't enough to describe this.

damonbeckford avatar
pearldsouza avatar
pearl dsouza
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

look like a fantasy world. Sitting in India I'm dreaming of Norway, thanks for these magnificent pictures... I wish you lots of adventures and success. :)

damonbeckford avatar
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They really are amazing! Thank you very much :) Hopefully you'll have the chance of seeing them even once in your life! I'm actually Going to Nepal in 2,5 weeks and from there continuing to India and probably travelling and photographing there for 3-5 months :)

Load More Replies...
joelei avatar
Joel Ei
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Very amazing pictures. I lived in Alaska for 16 years and saw some of those northern lights. I didn't have a good camera tho, so no pics.

damonbeckford avatar
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Thanks Joel! You must have witnessed some amazing auroras in Alaska! Even though you couldn't photograph them, the main thing is you saw them :)

Load More Replies...
Load More Comments
Popular on Bored Panda
Trending on Bored Panda
Also on Bored Panda