Exploring the Lofoten Islands

8 DAYS - Difficulty level: MODERATE/TOUGH

GROUPS OF 5 TO 15 PEOPLE - ARRIVAL/DEPARTURE: LEKNES

          Detailed hiking guide of the tour 

PRESENTATION

This magnificent trip inside the Arctic Circle is intended for travellers used to mountains. Five contrasted hikes take you all over the Lofoten Islands, a little Arctic paradise in the north of Norway where the mountains rise steeply out of the sea. In summer (May to September) the warmth of the climate, which is heated by the Gulf Stream, causes millions of different flowers to bloom. You will be surprised to see little fishing ports with their painted wooden houses within a stone’s throw of mountain landscapes. Enjoy the peace and gentleness of the Arctic summer.

DAY TO DAY

Day 1: Arrive at Leknes airport and transfer to our accommodation in Hov, an isolated hamlet on a peninsula facing the ocean. One of the best places in the Lofoten Islands to watch the sun setting and to enjoy the Midnight Sun!

Day 2: On this first day a short hike to the top of Hovden to stretch our legs. On one side the sea stretches to the horizon and on the other an uninterrupted view of the entire island of Vestvågøya in its setting of turquoise sea, you get a 360° view from the top of this mountain.

Day 3: Transfer to the small village of Unstad. Hike to Nonstinden along a trail that starts on the shore of the Norwegian Sea and then follows a long ridge before dropping to the old beaten earth road that takes us to the hamlet of Unstad. Transfer and settling into our rorbus in the little port of Ballstad.

Day 4: We begin this day by climbing the mountains that overlook our rorbu. We start by walking alongside a coastal trail before starting the climb which levels out to take us to the mountain plateau or “heia”. This is one of the finest views of our trip!

Day 5: Today’s hike takes us through a wide variety of scenery until we reach two beautiful summits that overlook the plain of Leknes and the Vesterfjord. The final climb is along a beautiful ridge that overlooks the town of Leknes on the right and the magnificent Vestfjord on the left. Evening transfer to the village of Sørvågen in the south of the islands.

Day 6: This day is spent fishing in the fjord. We set off in a little motorboat along the Vesterfjord dividing the islands from the Norwegian mainland. In the evening we cook our catch back at our lodgings.

Day 7: The trip ends with a long hike to the top of Munkan opposite the highest summit of the island (Hermanndalstinden – 1,029 m). This is a very enjoyable hike through landscapes surrounded by high mountains. We walk round a number of lakes and waterfalls and enjoy unbroken views of the wildest areas of the Lofoten islands.

Day 8: Early morning drop-off at Leknes airport.