Winter in the Lofotens, a selfguided tour!

Self guided trip | 6 days or more | Norway | sightseeing, optional activities

Yes, let's face it, the Lofoten Islands are nowadays a fashionable destination. However, even if a growing number of travelers come to explore the archipelago during the summer season, you will still be able to hike in stunning landscapes and real wilderness, as it is preserved from so-called "mass tourism" .

The verdant landscapes, with their turquoise waters, attract the majority of visitors from May to September. The arctic winter - with its crystal clear light, snow-capped peaks and northern lights – attracts professional photographers from all over the world but is still relativly unknown to a majority of travelers. Yet the archipelago is definitely worth a detour at this time of year. Indeed, it is in winter that the islands awaken from their calm torpor, with the start of the fishing season. From February onwards, the blue waters of the Vestfjord are covered with a constellation of small fishing boats.

The Norwegians have managed to keep the fishing quite artisanal (few large trawlers). And it is by millions that the Skrei - a cod from the Barents Sea - comes to spawn in the waters warmed up by the Gulf Stream, before they suddenly return in April. This seasonal fishing has always been the main activity of the islands. And although it has given way to tourism (economically), this activity is still totally part of the life of the inhabitants.
This trip in the middle of the fishing season, will allow you to observe the daily life of the villages in full activity! For a more complete immersion in these magnificent landscapes, you can also take part in all kinds of winter activities: sea kayaking, killer whale and sea eagle watching, snowshoeing or skiing ...

It is from two comfortable lodgings, traditional rorbu, located in the north and south of the archipelago, that you will set out to discover these islands with its unique Arctic atmosphere.
Finally, we remind the chilly birds that despite its northern geographical position, the archipelago enjoys a relatively mild climate in winter (around -5 ° to + 5 ° C), and that it is possible to enjoy long sunny days already from the beginning of March.