Looking back at the travel map, it would appeared the route for the trip was not too well planned. Plenty of overlapping, repeated stopovers in same places, route wasn't particularly 'linear' (Point A > B > C > D) which most people would do. Instead we did this non-conventional (Point A > D > B> A > C) manner, resulting in 'inefficiencies' in travel route and inevitably increased transportation costs. Who would travel almost the length of Scandinavia 4 times on the same trip?
The rational for this seemingly irrational travel route is simply "Getting to right place at right time". Things would be much simpler if we were to just leisurely visit the major cities in Europe but not. The following objectives must be achieved in the macro planning stage.
Aurora Borealis aka The Northern Lights
The latest dates to see the elusive phenomenon above the Arctic Circle would be early April although a large part still depend on weather conditions and luck. And since we'll be already so north up, might as well go all the way to the north pole to visit the polar bears in their natural habitat: Svalbard.
Manchester
Had a match ticket to catch Manchester United home game against Fulham on 9th April. Checked.
Scottish Highlands / Western Isles
More of a photography segment for this, good lighting in late winter/early spring, less tourists.
Bollenstreek flower fields in Netherlands
The flower fields were estimated to be in full bloom close to late April. Penned that in.
Disneyland Paris
Found a good deal '3 day entry for price of 2' available in early May for my wife. No escape from this. =.="
Lofoten Islands, Norway
From mid May, the nights in May never get truly dark, instead remain at twilight throughout until sunrise. Perfect for landscape photography! Can do hiking and wild camping in near-summer weather minus the hordes of hikers.
Iceland
Targeted mid/late May. As in Lofoten, the nights here stay twilight as well. Weather would be less harsh, snow-free roads, much less tourists and most importantly, off-season car rental rates to keep our travel budget in green.
Prague, Czech Republic
Earmarked 5th June for the Roxette concert held in O2 Arena, Prague.
Swiss/Bavarian Alps
Temperature in mid/late June should be more manageable for camping around alt.2000m+.
Finally filling the remaining dates in between the above core objectives with R&R city visits, day trips and there you have it.. the hell of a messy routes you see in the travel map now. Good job, our transportation cost had doubled and probably even tripled if I had not micro-planned all the traveling dates based on the cheapest flight and train tickets available.
Itinerary of main stops as follows:
Singapore > Tromso > Storeng > Lyngen > Longyearbyen (Svalbard expedition) > Jokkmokk > Kiruna > Abisko > Stockholm > London > Manchester > Edinburgh > Lewis > Barra > Oban > Eigg > Amesbury > Rotterdam > Kinderdjik > Amsterdam > Texel > Haarlem > Brussels > Bouillon > Paris > Bodo > Lofoten > Oslo > Iceland (ring route) > Copenhagen > Landskrona > Ven > Berlin > Prague > Munich > Berchtesgarden > Fussen > Fiesch > Sion > Zermatt > Montreux > Interlaken > Luzern > Zurich > Singapore
Aurora Borealis aka The Northern Lights
The latest dates to see the elusive phenomenon above the Arctic Circle would be early April although a large part still depend on weather conditions and luck. And since we'll be already so north up, might as well go all the way to the north pole to visit the polar bears in their natural habitat: Svalbard.
Manchester
Had a match ticket to catch Manchester United home game against Fulham on 9th April. Checked.
Scottish Highlands / Western Isles
More of a photography segment for this, good lighting in late winter/early spring, less tourists.
Bollenstreek flower fields in Netherlands
The flower fields were estimated to be in full bloom close to late April. Penned that in.
Disneyland Paris
Found a good deal '3 day entry for price of 2' available in early May for my wife. No escape from this. =.="
Lofoten Islands, Norway
From mid May, the nights in May never get truly dark, instead remain at twilight throughout until sunrise. Perfect for landscape photography! Can do hiking and wild camping in near-summer weather minus the hordes of hikers.
Iceland
Targeted mid/late May. As in Lofoten, the nights here stay twilight as well. Weather would be less harsh, snow-free roads, much less tourists and most importantly, off-season car rental rates to keep our travel budget in green.
Prague, Czech Republic
Earmarked 5th June for the Roxette concert held in O2 Arena, Prague.
Swiss/Bavarian Alps
Temperature in mid/late June should be more manageable for camping around alt.2000m+.
Finally filling the remaining dates in between the above core objectives with R&R city visits, day trips and there you have it.. the hell of a messy routes you see in the travel map now. Good job, our transportation cost had doubled and probably even tripled if I had not micro-planned all the traveling dates based on the cheapest flight and train tickets available.
Itinerary of main stops as follows:
Singapore > Tromso > Storeng > Lyngen > Longyearbyen (Svalbard expedition) > Jokkmokk > Kiruna > Abisko > Stockholm > London > Manchester > Edinburgh > Lewis > Barra > Oban > Eigg > Amesbury > Rotterdam > Kinderdjik > Amsterdam > Texel > Haarlem > Brussels > Bouillon > Paris > Bodo > Lofoten > Oslo > Iceland (ring route) > Copenhagen > Landskrona > Ven > Berlin > Prague > Munich > Berchtesgarden > Fussen > Fiesch > Sion > Zermatt > Montreux > Interlaken > Luzern > Zurich > Singapore
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