Getting to Kirkenes
 

I've booked on the Norwegian coastal ferry, one way from Kirkenes to Bergen. They don't offer any independent options for land transport from Oslo (or even London, my transatlantic touchdown point) to Kirkenes. So I'm open to recommendations. Rental car within Scandinavia seems enticing for maximum flexibility, but rates for a one-way may be out of sight. Is there an affordable way to do this by car?

I guess other options are train plus bus, or bus all the way.

We could go on the coastal road, built by the Nazis I believe, or inland via Sweden. The coast sounds better, but would it complement the ferry ride or be too redundant (some ferry shore excursions are offered). Interested not just in scenery, but also history and prehistory.

I took the same cruise (southbound, Kirkenes to Bergen, 5 nights) in 2000. I flew to Kirkenes to start the cruise.

As it happened, I had been travelling throughout Scandinavia beforehand and was in Bergen before the cruise. I know it would have made more sense to start in Bergen and do the northbound cruise, but I had been unable to book the type of cabin and ship I wanted on the particular dates that were possible for me, so I booked the southbound cruise instead. I flew on SAS Bergen-Oslo-Kirkenes (BGO-OSL-KKN). I purchased a roundtrip airfare and threw away the return ticket, as that was much cheaper than a one way. I got UA miles on that flight. (And SAS never tried to ding me for the extra fare.)

I realize this may not be helpful if you are determined to go overland, but thought I would mention the option of flying. (It's 866 airmiles from Oslo to Kirkenes.) Of course, you could fly London-Oslo-Kirkenes.

Kathy


[This message has been edited by KathyWdrf (edited 01-25-2002).]