Dream Islands of the North 3: Norway Lofoten Islands Tour

After breakfast, we leave the hotel and start our tour. The Floya and Djevelporten hiking trails are very close to Svolvaer. This short but somewhat demanding hike will take you from Svolvær up to about 600 meters high in roughly two hours. During the walk, you will see a beautiful view of the famous Svolværgeita, the rock formation Djevelporten, and later, from the top of Fløya, a magnificent panorama of Eastern Lofoten. The final section of Fløya Peak is only for experienced hikers, so we’ll settle for the breathtaking views just a few meters below. After the hike, we return to our hotel in Svolvaer to rest. Afterwards, we take a city tour and then head for dinner.

After having breakfast at the hotel, our first stop is Kabelvag Village. After a brief walk here, we head to Rørvikstranda beach. If the weather is nice, there is a chance to swim. After leaving the beach, we visit the town of Henningsvær, which is made up of many islands. The town, connected by numerous bridges, is also known as the Venice of Lofoten. While exploring, we make sure to stop by the stadium right on the sea. After leaving the town, we return to Svolvaer for our fishing activity.

With our traditional fishing boat, which turned 100 years old in 2017, we will spend about 4 hours on this activity with the chance to catch coal fish, haddock, mackerel, and coastal cod. On board, we also learn how to fillet the fish. If we find a place to cook them, we can take the fish with us. The scent of barbecue fills the air. :)

After breakfast, we begin our hike to Tjellbergtinden, the mountain situated between Svolvaer and Kabelvag. As we walk along hiking trails and sometimes goat paths, we are accompanied by spectacular views of Svolvaer, Kabelvag, Vestfjord, and the Norwegian mainland at different points along the way. After a steep 352-meter ascent to the summit, our reward is a breathtaking 360-degree panoramic view of all these places.

After approximately 3-4 hours of hiking up and down, we return to our hotel to rest. Once refreshed, we hit the road again.

Our first stop is Ballstad, one of the largest fishing villages in Lofoten. Next, we head to the beaches of Haukland and Unstad, popular spots for Arctic surfers, via Leknes. After leaving Unstad, we visit the Borg Lofotr Viking Museum. (Depending on opening hours, we might also stop by as we travel from Svolvaer to Ballstad.) We learn about Viking life, leave the museum, and then move on to Eggum, our starting point for the sea kayak adventure.

At night, we set out on a sea kayak tour to explore the fjords and islands. Paddling under the midnight sun is a truly unique experience possible only within the Arctic Circle. The sun, which never dips below the horizon, creates a stunning play of colors throughout our journey.

On the trip that begins at Eggum Beach, we will paddle around small islands to the northeast. Along the way, we'll be offered snacks and hot drinks to help us keep our energy up. At our rest stops, we enjoy the scenery and delight in the stories about Vikings told by our local guide. At the end of this action-packed day, we barely make it back to our hotel and fall fast asleep. :)

After breakfast, we set out towards the farthest point of the Lofoten Islands. We first stop by the town of Ramberg. Right after, we take a short walk to Kavalvika beach. After the walk, we continue our journey toward Reine, once again for a spectacular view. After a short rest in the village, we begin the Reinebringen hike. The trail starts from a wooded area and continues up the southern slope of the mountain. This ascent, which we can call short, is quite steep—so, as always during the trip, we maintain social distance here as well. That way, if one of us slips, we won’t fall like dominoes. :) At the end of this climb, the trail below will reveal itself, and after progressing a bit further, the village of Reine and the fjords appear in all their glory before you. For those interested, we can continue 150 meters more to reach a summit with a clearer view. After enjoying the scenery and sharing our photos on Instagram, we head to the village of Å, where the road through the Lofoten Islands ends. We’ve now reached the last point accessible by car. We tour this charming fishing village and take a short walk to the viewpoint in the west. Afterwards, we return to Svolvaer.

After an early breakfast, we set out for Narvik/Harstad Airport. We return with the 10:30 Oslo-connected Narvik/Harstad - Istanbul Airport flight, and say goodbye until we meet again on another BUKLATUR international adventure.