When I survive got to the Lofoten Islands , I’d already visited the UNESCO-listed Nærøyfjord , rode the famous Flåm railway , walked the streets of Bergen , cruised through Geirangerfjord too spent a few days exploring Sognefjord. In curt , I’d seen some of the most raved-about sites inwards Norway. I didn’t retrieve I could live whatsoever to a greater extent than inwards awe of Norway’s imperial landscape , simply thus I arrived inwards the Lofotens.
I was told to see the Lofoten Islands when I was staying inwards too AirBnB inwards Oslo. My host told me it was his favourite operate of Kingdom of Norway , too I was opened upward to suggestions. I had my pump assail narrow fjords too trolls , though , thus didn’t retrieve besides much of it.
The heaven was misty the nighttime the Hurtigruten approached the jagged , craggy mountains of the Lofotens too dropped me at Svolvær. The ominous peaks peered out of the mist , looking greyish too foreboding. Considering this was my outset foray into the Arctic Circle too I was camping ground , I felt to a greater extent than nervous than anything else.
Svolvær is in all likelihood the biggest town pump inwards the Lofotens too this is where I was dropped past times the Hurtigruten , picked upward a hire automobile too laid off downwards S to the idyllic villages of Å too Reine. It wasn’t long earlier I was feeling incredibly grateful to receive got been sent on this niggling adventure.
The principal islands are connected past times bridges too tunnels , patch 2 smaller islands are detached farther south. I didn’t larn a hazard to see these , simply constitute no shortage of things to produce on the principal islands. There are plenty of museums too fine art galleries , a vast array of restaurants (where y'all volition discovery delicacies similar whale too seal on the carte du jour - nosotros skipped these , obviously) too numerous outdoor activities to busy yourself with. It’s a prime number viewing spot for the midnight Sun inwards summertime too the Aurora Borealis inwards wintertime – thus you’re saltation to receive got your eyes shape skyward no affair when y'all visit.
The rugged mountains appear to rising straight out of the blue-green body of body of water too tower overhead. Many are inside make if y'all fancy yourself a mount climber , too offering curt (but steep) paths upward the tops , where you’ll discovery the most magnificent views on the islands. For whatsoever outdoor pursuits , 68 North is an invaluable website , so larn reading!
The persuasion over Kvalvika Beach
If you’d similar to endeavor your luck line-fishing , the Lofotens are the house to go! Norway’s generous access laws allow y'all to proceed your choose handgrip of , too y'all tin sack accept 15kg of filleted fish off the isle amongst you.
If you’re to a greater extent than similar me , too you’d rather picket the sealife from afar , the Lofotens offering plenty of diving too snorkeling experiences – fifty-fifty at midnight! I was lucky plenty to run into the vibrant midnight Sun hanging higher upward the horizon too tin sack exclusively imagine getting to snorkel nether its rays. This fourth dimension , it was a fleck out of my budget , simply I even thus got to run into the Lofoten Islands’ magnificent wildlife…
A pod of wild orca swimming past times Reine
Spend plenty fourth dimension on the coast inwards outpouring too summertime , too y'all mightiness larn lucky plenty to run into wild orca or puffins. Orca breed inwards the waters nearby too come upward unopen to the coast amongst their babies to choose handgrip of fish. A few minutes earlier midnight , later on a steep too exhausting climb upward Reinebringa , Nick too I spotted a pod of 5 orca feeding off the coast at Reine. It was amazing.
The camping ground on the Lofotens is tardily pickings – in that location are a lot to a greater extent than apartment spots than I managed to discovery on Norwegian mainland. If y'all consider yourself an indoorsy type , the second-best means to experience the Lofotens is to check yourself into atraditional-style crimson Rorbu (fisherman’s hut) amongst gratis wifi too a balcony.
Rorbu inwards Å
Midnight Sun on Kvalvika Beach
You’ll receive got the best luck travelling past times automobile or past times bike through the Lofotens. You tin sack walk , simply the roads are narrow too the conditions is quick to plough inwards the Arctic Circle , fifty-fifty inwards summer. There’s also a charabanc that runs along the E10 – the principal route that connects the islands – simply it’s pricey too exclusively runs a few times a day. I rented a automobile through Rent a Car Lofoten inwards Svolvær too managed to larn a competitive price. If y'all retrieve to hire a automobile , majority good inwards advance , because most places volition accuse to a greater extent than if they’re running depression on cars!
Want to a greater extent than of the imperial Lofotens? I made a curt video documenting our fourth dimension there.
Note: The Lofoten Islands pride themselves on having the largest traditional cod drying laid up. They advertise it on postcards too inwards the tourist books – it’s everywhere! If you’re non a fan of seeing (literally millions) of dead cod strung upward to wooden poles , invention your see betwixt July too February.
