Honningsvag Help, please

Posted by beejaybeeohio on 09/19/24 12:03 PM

I am planning our port day in Honningsvag for our group of 12. We will be booking a 16 pax bus with driver. I've found two companies that offer this. One of them allows for adding a guide for an extra fee but the other does not specify this option. Is a guide necessary? Rental of minibus + driver is for 4 hours but we can add additional time. Should we?

We definitely want to go to the North Cape but where else should we direct our driver if we don't have a guide. Some tours offer a visit to a Sami village- is this possible without a tour? I looked at hiring a guide on our own but haven't found a source for that (TbL had nil offerings for Honningsvag.)

Any assistance will be much appreciated! Thanks!

Posted by MarkK

Schwerin

09/19/24 01:49 PM

3357 posts

I have been 3 times at North Cape with own car from Germany - long way. Not so much to explore on Magerøya island.

Likely one of the companies you speak of is this?
When do you plan to travel?

You wrote about "port day in Honningsvag" - therefore I assume that you will not be there to see the midnight sun? This photo shows you the sun stand at midnight when I was there. If you are there over night - I recommend the late evening and / or midnight.

Guide: what do you expect from the guide? Besides the typical information ("more reindeers than inhabitants" ...) that is in printed versions the guide shall share information and experience what means living up there. Navigation is not needed because the street options are very limited. Net driving time Honningsvag - North Cape shall be 45 minutes each way; so the guide has enough time to entertain for a while because you will only see a beautiful barren landscape without trees - maybe reindeers on the way (photo)..

If the group is very interested in Sami life then this part makes sense - well knowing that Kautokeino is the Norwegian center of Sami culture which is a different way of society and common living. I also found a very different way of housing.

Just to check: Is the entrance fee to North Cape included in the booking fee for the bus?

btw: we liked the food in restaurant Havly.

Please share a report after your trip. This halps other people on the forum.

Posted by beejaybeeohio OP

09/19/24 04:38 PM

259 posts

Danke, MarkK!
Yes, that link is one of the companies under consideration. Admission to the North Cape can be added to the booking and there is option for a guide but pricing isn't specified. The other is Nordkapp Bilservice. We don't get to Honningsvag until September 2025, but I like planning ahead. I do appreciate your restaurant suggestion because we will be wanting crab. From what you write, it sounds like a guide may not be necessary, especially if the North Cape Visitor Center provides information via exhibits there and if the driver can take us to the Sami village. Based on the drive time of 45 minutes, 4 hours ought to be sufficient it seems. 8 of our group is gathering here tomorrow evening and I will share your helpful input with them.

Posted by MarkK

Schwerin

09/19/24 05:09 PM

3357 posts

Sounds like a plan.

Maybe verify the 45 mins driving time with the company. I needed around 30-35 minutes with a strong engine SUV but maybe a bus is a little slower than my calculated add-on on this up- and downhill route.

I am not sure how good the Sami village is - honestly I do not know where it is.

Have a successful planning process and a great journey.