After spending a couple of days in Tromsø, it was time to head towards Senja Island. The route took us along beautiful scenic roads to Brensholmen on the island of Kvaløya, where we took the ferry to Botnhamn on Senja Island.
The ferry ride took about 45 minutes, and the ferry had good indoor facilities and a cafe. It was nice to sit inside with a cup of coffee and admire the views. During the busiest seasons, this ferry route is very popular, and many recommend arriving several hours in advance to ensure a spot on the ferry. However, we just drove to the harbor and checked when the next ferry would depart, and we were able to board it without much wait. Tickets for the ferry could be purchased on board.
The scenery along this route was so beautiful that it’s no wonder this journey is popular. And of course, it saves about 200 kilometers of driving and several hours of time, so maybe that’s an even bigger reason for the route’s popularity.
Upon arriving at the harbor, we were on Senja Island. This island is also incredibly beautiful. We stopped at Mefjordbotn Pier to cook some food and enjoy the stunning views.
For camping, we headed to Ersfjord Beach, which we had found in advance. This is a very popular wild camping spot on Senja Island, so during peak times, it can be difficult to find a spot, but luckily for us, there weren’t many people here. There is a very clean water toilet here, as is typical in Norway, and there is also an outdoor shower. Toilets in Norway are cleaned daily, so there is almost always toilet paper, and they are generally well-maintained. You can sleep either in your car or in a tent here. You can pitch your tent either on the beach or at the foot of the mountains.
The area is really nice even if you’re not staying overnight. Majestic and stunning mountains in every direction and a lovely large beach. This is also a good spot for overnight stays if you’re going to hike Segla or Hesten. It’s about 20 kilometers from here to the parking lot for the Segla/Hesten trailhead. Our plan was to hike Segla, and I’ll share more about that in the next post.
