4x4 Trip Through Scandinavia with the IBEX 604D

Photographers and videographers Claudius Brünn (@claudiusbruenn) and Markus König (@markus.kng) explored the wilds of Scandinavia in the IBEX 604D. Here, they talk about golden nights, wild fjords and long beach drives.

Sweden’s Timeless Expanse

Sweden gives you this wonderful sense of solitude. Long drives through endless forest, past countless lakes and across seemingly boundless plains create an almost timeless mood. And as you head north, you can feel the light changing kilometre by kilometre.

Wild Drama in Norway

Northern Norway is a completely different story. Rugged cliffs rise straight out of the sea, and the landscape can change with the weather in almost a matter of seconds: when the wind whips up the sea, it turns almost epically dramatic. A short while later, the sky is shining blue again and everything feels peaceful and calm.

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The Freedom of 4x4

Our aim was to travel far into the north and not tick off the classic spots. We wanted to use the IBEX to turn off wherever things got interesting, to explore and to let ourselves be inspired on the spur of the moment. You’re not allowed to drive off-road in Norway, but many of the roads on Lofoten, Senja or Andoya are gravel tracks riddled with potholes. We reached spots that would have been impossible in a regular camper – and no other camper is going to steal your dream spot from under our noses…

A Voyage of Discovery – and Elk

In Scandinavia, you quickly feel worlds away from everything. Elk crossing the road, small herds of reindeer at the roadside. Out on the islands, you round one bend into an entirely different fjord and the scenery (and often the weather too) changes with it. You’re on a voyage of discovery the whole time.

A Month of Self-Sufficiency

We were self-sufficient for all four weeks and never came close to running out of power. We stayed only once at a campsite, and even then we didn’t plug into the mains. We covered a bit of distance every day, and that was enough to keep all our filming equipment running too.

Freedom of Movement, Inside and Out

If you want to actually live out that freedom for a month, you need space to move around inside the vehicle. Scandinavia can turn grey and harsh too… At the same time, the vehicle needs to move perfectly through the landscape – it has to be agile and manoeuvrable. Thanks to the extended rear, we could even sleep crossways in the IBEX, and we had loads of room for our equipment.

Hikes in the Golden Night Light

We quickly adjusted our daily rhythm. We’d head out on tour at midnight and made the most of the golden hours for as long as we could. The landscape is bathed in the warm light of a setting sun that never quite seems willing to disappear. We wouldn’t get back until around 6 am, then slept in until 2 pm. The IBEX blacks out so perfectly that we really could sleep well and recharge.

Claudius’ Childhood Dream: The Lofoten Islands

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The Return of Sunset

On the way back, you can feel you’re heading south. The light changes, and slowly you experience something like darkness again. The sun still remains soft – and it was only in Denmark that we experienced a sunset with intense colours again.

Miles of Beach Driving in Denmark

In Denmark, you can drive along the beaches for long stretches. Driving right along the waterline was one last great highlight to round things off. And it actually saved us time too, since beach-cruising was more direct than the winding roads inland.