From there we will be traveling to Remote Kuzomen (3) on the White Sea coast, There will be Gravel, beach riding and forest roads. Be prepared for bogs and extremely deep puddles.
Then we will be heading north over the old "Highway" from Umba to Kirovsk (4). about 170 km of missing bridges, water crossings, deserted villages, swamps and deep bogs. This is the part where we help each other. Last year I had to turn around after about 30 km. Did not dare to go on by myself.
From Kirovsk we will get into the Apatity mountains (4 & 5). After that we will round the eastern shores of lake Umbozero following sandy trails and a disused railway track until we arrive via Revda in Lovozero the Sami capital of Russia, also twin town with Karosjok in Norway which is the Cultural Sami capital of Norway.
From there we ride back over mostly tarmac to Murmansk (6), a modern city with excellent hotels and restaurants. For those interested a day trip to remote Teriberka (7) on the far northern shores of the Kola Peninsula can be made. But Murmansk can also be a day of rest or repairs.
From Murmansk the trip goes on to the fabled Shredney and Rybatshy peninsulas. An off roaders heaven, some roads were build by Germans and Russian Prisoners of War but that was more than 70 years ago. Over these roads we will navigate to the north western shore where a magnificent huge free standing rock formation can be found, it's called the two Brothers. (8)
After we will visit the site of the Kola Superdeep (9), a totally deserted scientific research and drilling location where the deepest hole in the ground can be found. One the complex permanently housed about 350 people but after the collapse of the Soviet Union it was abandoned. Finding the place is a challenge because mining activity has destroyed the original road.
On our way towards the Norwegian border we make a quick visit to the town of Nikel, where we will be able to fill up with cheap Russian petrol before heading to Kirkenes (10) in Norway.
Heading back home I can give you some suggestions or you make your own way down. Last year I boarded the Hurtigrute in Kirkenes and got of in Honningsvag just 30 km away from the North Cape.
If you are still reading, you may be interested?
What do you get and how much is it going to cost? All Russia stages will have detailed GPX tracks, either from one of my previous trips or carefully put together on the basis of detailed Russian maps and / or Satelite imagery. There will be about 9 or 10 stages all with information about shops and petrol stations in remote places. These tracks can be had for FREE!
If you have questions please send a mail to: kola-2019XXXroadworkx.com
Please replace XXX with @