Walking the Lofoten Islands

9 Days & 8 Nights

Drive the length of the Lofoten Archipelago, from Reine to Svolvær
Hike to summits for dramatic views of jagged islands and clear blue sea
Explore authentic fishing towns and visit white sandy beaches
Stay in unique ‘Rorbuer’, renovated fisherman’s cabins
Dine on fresh seafood, washed down with a locally brewed beer

Drive from Reine in the south to the island’s capital, Svolvær, in the north, taking in classic hikes, sandy beaches, and traditional fishing villages along the way. Boarding the ferry at Bodø, the silhouette of the imposing ’Lofoten Wall’ can soon be spotted on the horizon, marking the start of a trip of a lifetime. Travel around the islands by car (included) and stay in three towns; Reine, Nusfjord and Svolvær, all superb bases for exploration. Expect moderate walks, involving an ascent up summits for far-reaching views of the surrounding towns, mountains, and on a clear day, even as far as mainland Norway. Reward yourself with a leisurely lunch of fresh prawns or gourmet fish and chips. Stay in idyllically located Rorbuer cabins, a real home from home with all the comfort and amenities of a hotel. Relax waterside with a glass of wine and watch the sun disappear behind the towering peaks, ready to do it all over again the next day!

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What To Expect

Suited to keen walkers looking to explore the Lofoten Islands on foot and by car. Take on daily hikes between 3 km and 13km, with significant ascent/descent on rough terrain. Having a car at your disposal brings extra flexibility and freedom to your trip, and all walks are optional. Stay in charming Rorbuer with breakfast included. The Rorbuer benefit from relaxing waterside locations. This trip is ideal for those looking to get away from it all; enjoy a slower pace of life, get a lot of fresh air and build up an appetite for a lovely local fish dinner!

Tour Style:

Self Guided | Go at your own pace on an independent active trip.

Activity:

Drive & Hike | Enjoy the best of a large region by car and on foot. Day hikes in the best places. Itinerary usually inn to inn, with mapping provided. No bag transfer. Car hire offered as an option or included.

Ideal if you have an interest in:

Elegance & Unique Stays, Coastal & Island, Special Occasions

Inspiration:

Activity Level & Terrain

This tour is rated moderate. Walks tend to be on the shorter side (longest walking day is less than 13km) but the rough, and sometimes steep, terrain can make for slow progress, so shouldn’t be underestimated. Paths are a mixture of rocky, grassy, narrow, boulder-strewn and particularly after bad weather– muddy trails. Some short sections of trail require light scrambling (not exposed), this is detailed in your daily route notes. The ascent/descent is considerable, ranging between 220-950m each day. To get the most from this tour you should be in good physical shape and be an all-weather hiker! Be prepared with the right equipment; waterproof boots, walking poles and gaiters are a necessity.

Navigation

Hiking trails on Lofoten are still quite primitive and way-marking is sparse. However we will provide you with turn-by-turn instructions for each walk, maps and access to our GPS smartphone navigation app, so you will have no problem finding your way.

Accommodations

Spend 1 night in a 3* hotel and 7 nights in 3* standard traditional ‘Rorbuer’. These are former fishermen dwellings which have been lovingly restored and are now used as accommodation. Each have comfortable beds (normally twin beds, double beds are rare), a bathroom, a fridge, table and chairs and normally an outside seating area. Some cabins also have a kitchenette. You will find an example of the Rorbuer we normally use below. If these accommodations are not available we will use an accommodation of a similar or better standard.

Single Rooms & Solo Walkers

This trip is not available to solo walkers due to the terrain encountered on some walks. Single rooms are not available on this trip.

Meals

7 breakfasts are included in the cost of your trip. Breakfast is always buffet-style with various options available. Expect a continental breakfast with bread, jams, pastries, yoghurt and muesli available. Usually there are also local meats and cheeses, eggs and fruit on offer. Dinners and lunches are not included so you have the freedom to choose from what’s on offer each day. There are plenty of options for dinner each night, most Rorbuer have an on-site restaurant and there will be restaurants near by. Lunch can be picked up from the local supermarket or bakery, and all cabins have a fridge to keep packed lunch items nice and fresh. Food in Lofoten features fish quite heavily, although there is usually always at least one meat and vegetarian option available on restaurant menus. The restaurants on Lofoten use locally sourced and fresh produce with pride -delicious!

Included

1 night in a 3* hotel and 7 nights in high-quality Rorbuer
8 breakfasts
8 days car hire
Car ferry from Bodø to Moskenes (Day 2)
Detailed information pack, route notes, maps and access to our navigation app
24/7 support from our UK office

Excluded

Travel insurance (required)
Travel to Bodø and from Svolvær
Lunches and Dinners
Drinks and snacks
Personal equipment

Extras

Additional nights before, during or after the walk

When To Go

You can start your Lofoten adventure on any day between the beginning of June and the beginning of September. The weather on Lofoten is extremely changeable, and one should be prepared for 4 seasons in one day, at any time of the year. Generally speaking, you can expect an oceanic climate in summer, with fine sunny days with mild temperatures, combined with cold showers. June tends to be the driest period, and July and August are the warmest. The famous midnight sun (permanent light) happens from the end of May until mid July, and offers lovely long days ideal for hiking. Peak tourist season runs from mid-July to mid-August.

Getting to the Start

Fly into Bodø Airport. Scandinavian Airlines flies here from many worldwide destinations with a stop over in Oslo. We can also organise extra nights in Oslo city centre if required.

Getting from the End

From Svolvær, you can take a ferry (3.5 hours) or a plane (30 mins) back to Bodø. There is one boat a day, and several flights. Wideroe is the only airline operating flights between Svolvær and Bodø. From Svolvær, there are also direct flights to Oslo, although these don't operate everyday. Check www.wideroe.no/en for more information.

General Information

The distances and ascents/descents are approximations of the recommended routes. Please be prepared by packing all necessary items, for example, proper rain gear (jacket and trousers), sun hat and sunscreen. Your information pack has a detailed equipment list which ncludes standard walking gear such as good walking boots or shoes, warm and waterproof clothes for the cooler months and lightweight clothing for summer, and a day pack.

Car Hire

8 days compact car hire (similar to a VW Golf) is included in the cost of this trip. You can opt for an upgrade to a larger car if desired (recommended for parties of 3+ people). Your car will be dropped off at your hotel in Bodø and you will take it on the car ferry to Lofoten. At the end of your trip, you will drop it off at Svolvær airport or ferry terminal, whichever suits your plans best. The cost of a Sat-Nav is also included in your car hire cost.

Travel Insurance

It is a requirement of booking this tour with Macs Adventure that you have suitable travel insurance which covers you for the activity, emergency evacuation and hospital care.

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