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
What To Expect
Tour Style:
Self Guided | Go at your own pace on an independent tour.
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:
- New
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. If you require a twin room, a 2 bedroom cabin will be required in Reine & Nusfjord as the one bedroom cabins only have double beds. There will be a supplement payable for this of approximately $230 per person. Please let us know at the time of booking if you would like a double room or 2 room cabin in Reine and Nusfjord (a twin room cabin is available in Svolvaer).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!
- 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
- Travel insurance (required)
- Travel to Bodø and from Svolvær
- Lunches and Dinners
- Drinks and snacks
- Personal equipment
- 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.
Itinerary
Day 1 Arrive Bodø Day 2: Ferry to Moskenes Day 3: Reinebringen Summit, Lake Ågvatnet and the village of Å 4 miles / 6.5 km Day 4: Kvalvika Bay & Ryten Summit, Munkan Summit 8 miles / 13 km Day 5: Ballstadheia Plateau, drive to Nusfjord 5 miles / 8 km Day 6: Haukland Beach Circuit, Nesheia Summit 5 miles / 8 km Day 7: Tjeldbergtinden Hike 5 miles / 8 km Day 8: Svarttinden Summit 5 miles / 8 km Day 9: Onward TravelThe Macs Way
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