If you are looking for a winter adventure that combines spectacular activities with jaw-dropping scenery this is the trip for you! The world-famous archipelago of Lofoten is a must-see at this time of the year. You will avoid the huge crowds, get up close to both white-clad mountains when hiking on snowshoes, and the vast arctic ocean while paddling your kayak. And last but not least, the evenings will be spent gazing up to the sky, looking for the mythical northern lights!
Highlights
- The famous Lofoten Islands winter edition
- See the mythical Northern Lights
- Paddle through the archipelago on a kayak trip
- Enjoy two snowshoe hikes
- Explore small fishing villages such as Å, Nusfjord, and Henningsvær
- Stay in refurbished Fishermen Cabin's
Experience the world-famous Lofoten Islands on this winter adventure!
Northern Norway is a unique, quiet, and isolated part of our country. A visit here in the winter months offers you an experience of a lifetime! During the winter months, it is dark almost 24 hours a day, with a dusky twilight just above the horizon during mid-day. In the evening, if the sky is clear we are almost destined to see the Northern Lights. In the summer, the situation is turned upside down with 24 hours of sunlight. No wonder the kids at school welcome the sun with a special song, come spring.
The activities on this week-long trip are interactive and hands-on, and you will learn a lot about how people in this part of the country have survived these harsh conditions for centuries. Visits at small villages such as Å, Nusfjord, and Henningsvær will give you an extra glimpse into the everyday life of this historically significant area. Come join us up north this winter!
Physical Level and Risk
So that you can have a good experience, it is important that you choose a trip that suits your ability level. The scales for physical requirements and risk are general. Therefore, it is important that you read more about the difficulty of the specific trip under “Details”. This will help you to gain an understanding of the level required and the risks involved for each specific trip.
Read more about physical requirements and risk here.
Physical: 2
We have to work a little to reach the destination. These are trips most people can handle, if they have a basic level of fitness. We sleep in comfortable tents and / or in cabins and hotels, but you do not have to have experience with tent life to join. The physical activity is the main element of the trip, such as cycling, kayaking, hiking, skiing / hiking or glacier hiking, but you do not need prior knowledge of the activity. Read more about the grading on our trips here
Risk: 3
Activities / trips with some risk. Some incidents may occur, and they may be of such a nature that they require professional help. Read more about the grading on our trips here
What's included
- All accommodations
- All meals
- Professional nature guide
- Transport within itinerary
See more of what's included under the "details" tab
Contact
Questions about the trip? Don't hesitate to contact our project leader below, or contact our office here.
Details
Difficulty
Level 2 out of 5. Please read more about our level of difficulty here.
What to bring?
Have a look at the full equipment list by clicking "Equipment list" in the menu above. You can leave your luggage in the car or at the accommodation each day, so when hiking, you only have to carry what you need for the day. Relevant outdoor winter clothing and boots will be provided on-site. Dress warm! All equipment needed for the activities is included.
How to get there?
There are daily flights from Oslo to Bodø. Read more about how to travel in Norway here.
Accommodation
You will stay in traditional but modern fisherman huts. Don't worry, the huts have been renovated since the fisherman lived there. No fishy smell! You might have to share a bathroom with one or two other rooms in some of the accommodations, this is how most accommodations are in Lofoten. If you want a single room there is an extra supplement for this which is 4000 NOK. You can choose this when booking the trip online.
Baggage
We ask that you bring one piece of luggage (we recommend a duffel bag, which is easier than a rolling bag to transport on this tour) with your clothes, toiletries, and items necessary for you when we are not hiking. We require that you bring a day pack (hip belt strongly recommended) to use when hiking, to store food, water, cameras, and extra layers.
Insurance
You need a travel and health insurance, which also includes transportation back to your country. Remember to bring your insurance card/information.
Languages
The guide will speak English.
Changes may occur
We reserve the right to make changes to the program, and the price. The day to day program is indicative, and changes may occur. Please have a look at our terms and conditions.
Number of participants
Minimum: 3 people; Maximum: 8 people.
Included in the price:
- All accommodations.
- All meals.
- Professional nature guide.
- Transport within the itinerary.
Not included in the price:
- Flights to Bodø and flights from Evenes/Svolvær.
- Drinks and snacks.
Day by Day
day
1
Arrival Bodø - Ferry to Lofoten
We meet at the pier in Bodø where we will take the ferry to Moskenes at 01.00 PM. When we arrive at Moskenes our vehicle for the week will await us at the dock. We will then drive towards our first accommodation on the trip - traditional Fisherman Cabin's right by the seaside. We enjoy dinner together and go through the program for the week.
day
2
White, sandy beaches!
We start the day with a tasty breakfast at our accommodation. After breakfast, we will start exploring the islands. We will visit the small municipalities of Å and Nusfjord and then visit a white sandy beach at Haukland. In the afternoon we hike from the beach at Haukland to Uttakleiv, approximately a 2-hour hike that goes along the beach/seashore. And if you dare - maybe try a swim in the ocean? There are not many people that can say that they have taken a swim in the arctic ocean in the wintertime! In the evening after dinner, we will go out to look for the northern lights!
day
3
Winter kayaking
Up for a winter kayak adventure? Today we will drive further north and go explore the Lofoten islands from our kayaks. Don’t worry you will be able to use a drysuit, so it won't be that cold. After the kayak trip, we go to our next accommodation where a hot tub awaits us. Maybe we even can see the northern lights from the hot tub. There is very little light pollution on this side of the islands so if we do it will be magnificent! In the evening we enjoy well deserved dinner together.
day
4
Snowshoeing
Today we are up for a new, exciting activity! A snowshoe hike awaits us. We will hike one of the mountains in Lofoten where we can enjoy wonderful views both during the hike and when reaching our goal for the day. In the evening we will do a northern lights hike to a mountain called Hoven, no light pollution guaranteed! If you want to relax and spend some more time in the hot tub it is possible to skip one of todays hikes. In between the two activities, we will have dinner at an old barn turned into a restaurant.
day
5
Henningsvær, a charming pearl in the heart of Lofoten
On our final day in Lofoten we visit the charming village of Henningsvær in the morning, a small settlement dotted around rocky islands at the very heart of this archipelago. Here you will find cozy cafes, small shops, and great restaurants. A must-see for visitors coming to Lofoten. Then after lunch, we will do another snowshoe hike. This time it will be a bit shorter but we will again get the opportunity to marvel at Lofoten's beautiful nature. We enjoy dinner together, and if you dare, why not finish the trip off with a swim in the arctic ocean?
day
6
End of trip
After breakfast, the trip has unfortunately come to an end. There will be a private transport to Evenes/Narvik Airport to meet the flights from 3:30 PM and onwards. We will leave our accommodation at around 10:30 AM. If you like, you can also stay longer in Lofoten or get off the transfer in Svolvær and fly home from there. Flying from Svolvær to Oslo is easy, but a bit more expensive than Evenes/Narvik. It is also possible to take the express boat from Svolvær back to Bodø.
Equipment list
Take a good look at this list, and make sure you bring everything you need. We encourage you to use what you have for this trip, and purchase items if you're missing something important on the list below. We have divided the gear list into three categories:
- Required: If you do not own this gear, you must acquire it for your trip.
- Recommended: Gear we suggest to be comfortable, but it is not imperative.
- Optional: Fun, additional luxuries.
Layering is extremely important in a variable climate like Norway. This list will guide you through the essentials. Remember the Norwegian saying "There is no bad weather, only bad gear", and prepare appropriately for any weather. You can read about the weather where you're traveling here.
The video below is for SUMMER gear, but you can get a lot of great tips for winter hiking as well! Welcome to Norway!
Please contact us at hvitserk@norrona.com if you have any questions and check out our gear page to learn more.
We always recommend wool in the Norwegian Mountains, but if you already have synthetic layers and don't want to buy new ones, synthetic is okay.
Required:
|
BASE LAYER - 2 SETS |
Two sets of wool long-sleeved top and bottom. Warm, Extra Warm or Expedition thickness is recommended. |
|
MID-LAYER |
A medium thickness wool or fleece top to go over your base layer. |
|
INSULATED JACKET |
A thick, warm, insulated jacket to put on during breaks. We recommend a puffy jacket with down or synthetic. |
|
SHELL JACKET |
Gore-Tex or similar is mandatory. Extremely important in Norwegian climate. The jacket must be water-proof, have a hood, and make sure you don’t get wet even if it rains or snows all day. We recommend jackets with pit zips for ventilation. |
|
MEDIUM INSULATED JACKET |
Use a synthetic or down jacket that fits over your base layer and mid layer, yet underneath your rain shell. Should be comfortable with full range of movement when all layers are on. |
|
EXTRA TOP LAYER |
Bring an extra medium thick layer to add underneath your medium insulated jacket in case you get cold quickly. |
|
GLOVES & MITTENS |
1 thin pair of wool gloves to protect your hands. 1 pair of over mittens for additional warmth with windproofing. 1 extra pair of thick mittens in case yours get wet. 3 in total. |
|
HATS |
2 warm hats. 1 thick, 1 thin. Make sure at least one has a windproof lining. |
|
HIKING SOCKS |
4 pairs, we recommend wool, above the ankle or higher. 2 thin. 2 thick. We recommend a 5th pair that is extra thick for evenings. |
|
BOOTS |
Warm boots comfortable for snowshoeing all day. |
|
BACKPACK |
Day pack- 20-40 liters. |
|
SUNGLASSES |
UV rated, we recommend a strap to keep them in place and so they don't get lost. |
|
SUNSCREEN / CHAPSTICK |
Make sure the Chapstick has UV rated sunscreen in it. |
|
WATER BOTTLES |
Insulated water bottle, 2-liter capacity. Do not bring a camelback bladder, this will freeze in cold temperatures. |
|
TOILETRIES |
Personal basics: shampoo, conditioner, toothbrush, toothpaste, hairbrush, etc... |
|
PERSONAL MEDICATIONS |
Make sure you bring any personal meds you need on your trip and ensure the Hvitserk office is updated on your allergies or needs. |
|
WATERPROOF SHELL PANTS |
Waterproof shell pants. Gortex is best. We recommend heavier duty pants to keep you warm with zips for ventilation. |
|
HEADLAMP |
Make sure you bring extra batteries as they die faster in the cold. |
Recommended:
|
WOOL UNDERWEAR |
We highly recommend bringing wool underwear and bra. No cotton. |
|
COMPRESSION SACKS FOR GEAR |
Recommended for storing your gear, keeping it dry, and compressing your down jackets to create more space. |
|
BALACLAVA OR BUFF |
A wool layer to protect your neck and face. |
|
THERMOS |
We recommend a thermos for hot drinks to have with you all day. We suggest a large, 1-liter thermos. |
|
FIRST AID KIT |
If you have certain hiking aids specific to you: i.e. blister care or ibuprofen, etc... |
|
CAMERA |
Be prepared for the cold. Insulating your camera will keep it working for the entire trip. We suggest bringing an extra battery pack. |
|
CASUAL CLOTHES |
Cozy clothes to wear when we are not participating in activities. |
|
SITTING MAT |
Strongly recommended to insulate you from the ground. |
|
SWIMWEAR |
If you dare... |
Optional:
|
ANTIBAC |
If you need it for the bathroom or lunch. |
|
WET WIPE OR TOILET PAPER |
If you have a bathroom emergency while hiking. We use "pack it in pack it out" ethics, so you will need to carry out your used items and throw them away later. |
|
EAR PLUGS |
If you're a light sleeper. |
|
JOURNAL AND PEN |
In order to take notes and write about the trip. |
|
SNACKS |
Chocolate, nuts or energy bars if there is something particular you enjoy eating. You will have the opportunity to buy snacks on your trip. |
Bed linens and towels are included all nights. All the equipment specific to the activities will be provided.
