Road Trip to Norway as First-Time Campervan Users

Travelling in the Bailey Endeavour B64, complete with a pop-top roof and panoramic over-cab sunroof, they explored everything from towering glaciers and iconic fjords to the colourful coastal cities of Bergen and Ålesund.

If you’re considering a campervan holiday in Norway, here’s how they got on – and why the Bailey Endeavour B64 proved to be the perfect travel companion.

Route and Campsites

We left the Bristol factory with a simple plan: drive up through Germany and Denmark, catch the ferry from Hirtshals to Kristiansand, then complete a clockwise loop around the southern third of Norway – going as far north as the beautiful city of Ålesund.

Most nights were spent at scenic countryside spots and campsites recommended through the park4night app. Much like Scotland, Norway has Allemannsretten, the “right to roam,” which allows you to wild camp almost anywhere as long as you are at least 150 metres away from someone’s home or property.
Some of our favourite wild-camping locations include Lysebotn, the starting point for the iconic Kjerag hike, and Vadheim on the Sognefjord – Norway’s longest and deepest fjord.

The best campsite we stayed at was Olden Camping, nestled a short drive away from the Briksdal Glacier! The campsite is surrounded by high mountains, waterfalls, and glaciers and was the first campsite established in the Oldedalen valley. In addition to its excellent facilities, Olden Camping also had kayaks that were free to use, allowing you to go out onto the glacier-fed lake!

After completing our loop, we continued south through Sweden and crossed the Øresund Bridge into Denmark. After a few slower days wandering around the beautiful city of Copenhagen, we began the long drive home.

First time driving a campervan

This was the first time either of us had driven anything larger than a car, so we were cautious in the beginning, taking time to get used to the length of the B64. But any worries quickly faded – it was surprisingly easy to drive, economical on fuel, and perfectly capable of navigating the winding, narrow fjord roads, including those leading to the start of the Kjerag hike that takes you to a boulder wedged between two cliffs looking out onto the Lysefjord.

Inside, the Endeavour B64 felt incredibly spacious, with a large front flexi-lounge and the kitchen and bathroom positioned at the rear. One of our favourite features was the tambour partition door, which gave us extra room when cooking or accessing the fridge and storage cupboards.

Most nights we slept in the pop-top. It was quick to set up, saved us from making the downstairs bed, and offered a roomy sleeping space that often felt cooler on warm summer nights.

Why the Bailey Endeavour B64 Worked so well in Norway

The Endeavour B64 was perfect for exploring Norway and making this trip enjoyable. It is a well-built van with plenty or storage but still small enough to fit through tight spaces and be comfortable to drive.

• The pop top provided extra sleeping space, an airier interior, and better flexibility – we could decide to sleep in the pop top or make up the double bed depending on the weather and sleeping location.
• Compact 6-metre campervan, easy for driving along the narrow fjord roads and parking in tight spaces.
• A large fridge that held all the food we needed for up to a week. We would do one big food shop per week as we were often in remote areas that did not have large supermarkets.
• Less than 3.5 tonnes towing capacity meant you paid the same toll price as cars and not those of heavier vehicles (over 3.5 tonnes) that can often be two or three times the cost per toll.

Exploring Norway

Despite Norway’s size – and only two weeks to explore – we managed to fit in a huge amount. We moved almost daily, usually driving one to two hours between stops, which let us experience far more than we expected.

We visited a range of towns and cities including Stavanger, Odda, Bergen, Ålesund, Geiranger, Lillehammer, and Oslo. All were beautiful in their own way, but Bergen was a standout with its colourful wooden houses and dramatic mountain backdrop.

Hiking was a major part of our trip too. We tackled the Kjerag hike, the famous Trolltunga hike, the Briksdalsbreen Glacier hike, and the Ulriken to Fløyen walk above Bergen. Of all of them, the Briksdalsbreen Glacier hike was our favourite – a stunning route past waterfalls and glacial landscapes, finishing right up close to the glacier itself.

The Verdict

The trip was everything we hoped for and more. We saw incredible places on both four wheels and two feet and learned how to use a campervan for the first time.

The Bailey Endeavour B64 gave us confidence, comfort, and complete freedom to explore wherever and whenever we wanted. Simply put, it was the perfect vehicle for discovering Norway.

We cannot wait to do it all again in the new Endurance E65!