Drifter Dave

Stretching almost 800 km north from the Swedish capital to Arctic Lapland, the SJ Nattåg sleeper train is not only one of Sweden's best rail journeys, but also one of its cheapest! With a sleeper couchette costing just 797 SEK (~$85 USD), this is one of Europe's best-value rail journeys, whisking you across the frozen tundra to the city of Luleå in about 14 hours, or vice-versa. I had the choice between taking this overnight train, or taking a similary-priced flight, but I jumped at the chance to head south to Stockholm Airport and save a night in a hotel while experiencing this unique journey. And even better? As luck would have it, I had the entire 6-berth compartment to myself!

Heading south from Luleå, I give you a full tour of the cabin and what to expect on board, give you a sense of the variety of dining options onboard, and take you along as I tuck myself in for an overnight sleep on board this iconic railroad.

What was the best-value or most unique sleeper train that you've been on? Let me know in the comments!

https://youtu.be/HyE2lnvB5W4

00:00 Intro
00:55 Luleå Central & Trip Overview
03:18 Boarding the SJ Nattåg
03:52 Sleeper Cabin Tour
04:42 Loo Review
05:09 Departing Luleå
06:52 Dining Car
08:12 Boden, Sweden
08:34 Rolling Across Sweden
09:19 Evening on Board
10:51 Umeå, Sweden
11:25 Bedtime & Couchette Setup
12:35 Brutal Morning
13:09 Stockholm Arlanda Airport
13:35 Outro

Episode 248 | | | Filmed April 2024

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Tracks featured in this episode:
Future Vibes by Qeeo
Nothing Left of Us by Layn

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Riding Sweden's Arctic Sleeper Train! (Luleå to Stockholm on the SJ Nattåg) | Full Review #railway Stretching almost 800 km north from the Swedish capital to Arctic L...

Snow-covered forests, frozen seas, Arctic adventures, and cozy Scandinavian vibes - Luleå, Sweden is definitely one of a kind!

In this video, join me as I explore one of Sweden’s most underrated and undiscovered destinations, from breathtaking frozen landscapes to unique local experiences most travelers never hear about. Whether you’re planning an Arctic getaway, looking for hidden gems in Scandinavia, or just curious what life looks like near the Arctic Circle, my trip to Luleå might surprise you.

I begin my exploration of the city with two locals - Ali & Robin - who immediately brought me to Luleå's star attraction: the stunning 15th century church town of Gammelstad, located a short 10 minute drive north of the city. Here, you'll find centuries-old churches and parish houses, still standing the test of time in the harsh polar conditions. After, we make our way to the Hagnan Open Air Museum to check out some of the historic farmhouses (and meet an animal or two) before ending our time together over Fika - Sweden's most treasured cultural ritual. After saying our goodbyes, I end my tour of Luleå with a walk in the city center to check out its impressive mining crane, ending my day with a golden hour stroll on the frozen waters of the Gulf of Bothnia.

Luleå was much better than I anticipated, and it proved to be one of my new favourite cities in Scandinavia. Have you ever been this far north? Let me know your dream Arctic destination in the comments!

https://youtu.be/FQ7h4wmdn6Q

00:00 Intro
01:19 Harbour & City Center Walk
04:25 Gammelstad Church Town
08:39 Hagnan Open Air Museum
11:24 Mining
12:11 Fika @ Holms Bakery
16:25 South Harbour & Crane
18:15 Frozen Sea Ice Walk
22:55 Hotel: Elite Stadshotellet Luleå
23:16 Not Taking the Overnight Train
23:45 Hotel: Comfort Hotel Arctic
24:10 Outro

Episode 247 | | | Filmed April 2024

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Tracks featured in this episode:
Future Vibes by Qeeo
Lightdrops by Peter Sandberg
October Skies by Ebb & Flod

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I Found Sweden’s Hidden Arctic Gem! (Why you NEED to visit Luleå) | Arctic Lapland #travel #sweden Snow-covered forests, frozen seas, Arctic adventures, and cozy Scandinavian vibes - Luleå, Sweden is definitely one of a kind! In this video, join me as I e...

In this video, come on board with me for an 8 hour journey on board one of the world's northernmost rail journeys, as I travel from Narvik in Norway's Nordland region to the charming city of Luleå in Swedish Lapland. Riding along the historic Iron Ore Line, the trip begins with a stunning climb above the beautiful Rombaksfjord before reaching the Swedish border near the Riksgränsen ski resort. From there, we'll pass through the bustling coal mining town of Kiruna before tumbling across the increasingly flat boreal tundra of northern Sweden to finish our journey at Luleå in the late evening.

This journey was everything I hoped it to be - a comfortable space to enjoy the cold, desolate beauty of Norway & Sweden's Arctic, before ending my day at a four star Arctic hotel. Whereas the Canadian Arctic is largely undeveloped and somewhat impoverished, the infrastructure in Scandinavia makes for an incredible (and relatively cheap) way to explore the Arctic without breaking the bank, or forsaking comfort and first-world amenities.

Would you want to travel on the Arctic Ore Line? What's the furthest north you've travelled in the world? Comment below and let me know!

https://youtu.be/6CFryJVW5fk

00:00 Intro
00:48 Narvik, Norway
03:37 Boarding the Iron Ore Train
04:58 Rombaksfjord
05:40 Norway/Sweden Border & Riksgränsen
06:32 Kiruna, Sweden
07:40 Kiruna to Luleå
08:03 Arriving in Luleå, Sweden
09:21 Elite Stadshotellet Luleå
10:52 Outro

Episode 246 | | | Filmed April 2024

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Tracks featured in this episode:
Future Vibes by Qeeo
Ghosts of the Rail by Gabriel Lewis
Pieces Of My Heart (Instrumental Version) by Bothnia

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Drifter Dave - Travel the Unknown ON BOARD SCANDINAVIA'S ARCTIC RAILWAY: Norway to Sweden on the Iron Ore Line (What it's really like)

In this episode, I take you on a 24 hour Arctic road trip through a place where jagged peaks rise straight out of the sea, where stunning fishing villages cling to the edges of islands, and where every turn in the road feels like stepping into a postcard. Welcome to Norway’s Lofoten archipelago - truly one of the most beautiful places on the entire continent of Europe.

Beginning at the Harstad-Narvik Airport in the village of Evenes, I travel west along the narrow, snaking road that plies this chain of islands, located above the Arctic Circle in the far north of Norway. Along the way, I pass through the charming town of Svolvær to check out the nearby historic Vågan Church, then continue my way west, crossing bridges and following the coastline to the picturesque village of Henningsvær, often called the “Venice of Lofoten,” where I warm up with a great cup of coffee before heading towards the end of the road. As the day unfolds, the scenery only grows more dramatic, culminating with a visit to the enchanting town of Reine, where red cabins dot the shoreline beneath towering peaks. From there, it's just a short drive to the end of the road—literally—in the tiny village of Å, where the land disappears into the sea. From sunrise to midnight light, this is your guide to seeing Lofoten in a single day - a place that is raw, remote, and beautiful.

Have you been to Lofoten? Let me know your favourite spots in the comments!

https://youtu.be/qPKwwApUKi0

00:00 Intro
01:05 Train to Oslo Airport
01:37 Flying from Oslo to Evenes
02:33 Arriving in Lofoten & Car Rental
04:13 Evenes to Svolvaer
05:27 Svolvaer, Norway
06:49 Vagan Kirke (Church)
07:30 Svolvaer to Henningsvaer
08:22 Henningsvaer, Norway & Klatre Kafeen
09:44 Henningsvaer to Reine
11:50 Reine, Norway
12:22 A in Lofoten, Norway
13:57 Reine Harbour at Dusk
15:38 Morning Views
16:53 Austnesfjorden Lookout
18:38 Coffee at Gullesfjord Camping
19:34 Back to Evenes Airport
20:11 Evenes Airport to Narvik
21:03 Arriving in Narvik
21:22 Outro

Episode 245 | | | Filmed April 2024

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Tracks featured in this episode:
Future Vibes by Qeeo
A Travelers' Gloom by Dew Of Light
Common Walls by Sunfish Grove
Peace by Piece by Staffan Carlen
Shadows of Clarity by Tellsonic
Untamed (Instrumental Version) by Ludlow

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Drifter Dave - Travel the Unknown LOFOTEN: My 24 Hour Road Trip Across Norway's Arctic Archipelago (Full Travel Guide)

In this episode, join me as I take you along on a rainy 20-hour winter layover in Oslo, Norway, one of Scandinavia's most vibrant capitals. The only catch? All museums in the city were closed, and I was definitely not visiting during tourist season. So, I decided to make the best of a gloomy day, and venture out to discover a different side of the city.

Beginning with a journey from the Oslo Airport on the Flytoget train, I first head to Rathausplasse to check out its brutalist City Hall and take in views of the misty harbourfront of the Oslo fjord. From there, I warm up with a world-renowned cup of coffee at Tim Wendelboe, before heading to Railway Square to take in the urban heart of the city. I finish up my afternoon with a stroll around the stylish Aker Brygge district with its iconic clock tower, finishing my layover walk with a visit to the historic Stortinget, the Parliament of Norway. Even in the rain, Oslo had a calm, unforgettable charm that made this short layover feel like a real adventure.

Have you ever been to Oslo? If so, what were your highlights? Let me know in the comments!

https://youtu.be/2rAz-7OcRuI

00:00 Intro
00:59 Arriving in Oslo
02:00 Oslo Airport to City Center
03:26 Hotel Verdandi
04:10 Today's Plan
05:25 Radhusplassen (City Hall Square) & Harbour
07:02 Tim Wendelboe (Norway's Top Cafe)
08:44 Jernbanetorget (Railway Square)
09:45 Aker Brygge & Clocktower
10:46 Nobel Peace Center
11:04 Stortinget (Norwegian Parliament)
11:31 Outro

Episode 244 | | | Filmed April 2024

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Tracks featured in this episode:
Future Vibes by Qeeo
All Of This by Hallman
Weightless (Instrumental Version) by Christopher Malley

SUPPORT MY CONTENT ON PATREON!
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Please SUBSCRIBE & join me as I explore the world's lesser-known destinations that deserve to be discovered! Thanks for watching!

20 HOURS IN OSLO: Winter layover in Norway's rain-soaked capital city #norway #travel #layover In this episode, join me as I take you along on a rainy 20-hour winter layover in Oslo, Norway, one of Scandinavia's most vibrant capitals. The only catch? ...