From a Yacht in Bergen to a Campervan Adventure: A Guest Returns Nine Years Later
Some travel stories stay with you for years.
Long before Campervan Bergen and CampervanEU existed, my journey in Norwegian tourism started with something much simpler: a yacht moored in Bergen harbour.
Back then, I was not managing a fleet of campervans or helping travellers plan road trips through the fjords. I simply welcomed visitors aboard a boat and shared with them a small piece of Bergen and Norway.
One of those guests was Ailsa Sheldon.
In 2017, Ailsa arrived in Norway with her two young sons during what would become one of the most meaningful journeys of her life. Nearly a decade later, she wrote about that trip in an article published by The Guardian.
You can read the full article here:
“I don’t think we’ve ever felt closer”: five writers on their most memorable family holidays
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A Journey Across Norway
In her story, Ailsa describes travelling across Norway with her children after the loss of her husband. Looking for adventure, healing and new memories, they explored Oslo, the famous Flåm Railway, the fjords and finally Bergen.
Like many travellers visiting Norway on a budget, they searched for affordable ways to experience the country while still embracing everything that makes Norway special: nature, freedom, fjords and unexpected encounters.
At the time, they stayed aboard the yacht I rented in Bergen harbour.
A Simple Boat Ride That Became a Lasting Memory
In her Guardian article, Ailsa remembers a moment that I had almost forgotten.
While moving the yacht to a different mooring, I invited the family to come along. What was supposed to be a short transfer became a longer trip around the harbour when I noticed how excited the boys were to be on the water.
As she writes in the article, the boys received their first fishing lesson during that trip.
For me it was just a normal day in Bergen.
For them it became a memory that lasted nearly ten years.
That is one of the wonderful things about travel. Sometimes the moments that feel ordinary to one person become unforgettable to someone else.
From Boat Rentals to Campervan Rentals in Norway
What makes this story even more special is what happened next.
A few days after the article was published, Ailsa contacted me again.
This time she was not looking for a yacht.
She was interested in renting one of our campervans.
Over the last decade, the business has evolved from a single yacht in Bergen harbour into Campervan Bergen and CampervanEU, helping travellers explore Norway through affordable campervan adventures.
Today our guests discover Norway’s fjords, mountains, waterfalls and coastal roads using compact campervans, electric campervans and budget-friendly travel solutions designed specifically for independent travellers.
The spirit, however, remains exactly the same.
Helping people create memorable experiences in Norway.
A Full Circle Moment
In 2017, Ailsa and her sons experienced Norway from a yacht in Bergen.
In 2026, they are considering returning to Norway and exploring it from one of our campervans.
For me, that feels like a full-circle moment.
It is also a reminder of why Bergen remains such a special place to begin a Norwegian adventure. Whether you arrive by boat, train, ferry, airplane or campervan, the city continues to be one of the best gateways to the Norwegian fjords.
If you are planning your own Norwegian road trip, you can find inspiration, travel tips and campervan rental options directly through Campervan Bergen.
You can also discover more about travelling in Norway through the official tourism website Visit Norway.
Thank You, Ailsa
Ailsa, thank you for reaching out after all these years.
Thank you for including a small chapter of our shared story in your article.
And thank you for reminding us that travel is not just about destinations. It is about people, kindness, unexpected moments and memories that last much longer than we imagine.
Whether by yacht or campervan, we hope to welcome you back to Bergen very soon.
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