Vegaøyan is an archipelago of 6500 islands, islets and skerries. The main island of this municipality is Vega; also Omnøy and Ylvingen have year-round residents. The main livelihoods are fishing, aquaculture, agriculture and tourism.
A World Heritage treasure
Vegaøyan is a UNESCO World Heritage attraction, due to the islanders’ unique tradition as guardians of the migrating eider ducks that nest here. At Lånan, the largest eider duck nesting site, the islanders’ old tradition of building tiny “houses” for the migrating birds is very much alive. After the hatchlings leave, the bird guardians harvest the highly-prized eider down.
The Vega World Heritage Centre at Gardsøy, which opened in 2019, highlights the heritage of the fishermen-farmers, their day-to-day life, and the tradition of Vega’s bird guardians. Visitors are invited to use all their senses as they gain insight into this unique heritage.
Activities for young and old
Vega offers a wide array of activities. Sign up for a guided adventure or explore the scenic island on your own. One of the best ways to experience Vega is to cycle its lightly trafficked roads. There are also mountains to hike, a myriad of islands for kayaking, and crystal-clear waters that are deal for snorkelling and scuba diving.
The Vega Stairs and Via Ferrata
You can ascend Ravnfloget (350 m) via the Vega Stairs, a rocky path with bridges and almost 2000 steps that is sure to give you a good workout. Your reward is a magnificent panorama over the Vega archipelago.
A more challenging way to the top is the Vega Via Ferrata (Italian for “iron road”), a climbing route where you secure yourself by a harness to a cable that is bolted to the mountainside. Until recently, the rugged mountain called Ravnfloget was mostly a playground for sea eagles and ravens, hence the name. The via ferrata has two climbing routes of varying difficulty – one green, and one black. You can descend via the Vega Stairs.
The idyllic island of Ylvingen
The island of Ylvingen, to the west of the main island of Vega, has only 30 year-round residents. Ylvingen is an idyllic destination, and it’s easy to see why it was chosen as the location for a popular Norwegian TV-series. The roads on the island are ideal for cycling. The café at the ferry quay is open in the summer.
Vega Havhotell
The hosts are proud to welcome you to their hotel. As your hosts they create an atmosphere that will enhance your visit. They offer a great dining experience, and a beautiful view of the natural surroundings. The Hotel is situated at Viksås on the northwest side of the island.
Vega also offers other accommodation, including private rooms, holiday cabins and traditional rorbu fisherman cabins.
How to get here
One way to get here is to take the ferry from Horn, north of Brønnøysund, to Igerøy on Vega (45 min). This ferry calls at Ylvingen on request. Alternatively you can take the ferry to Igerøy from Tjøtta in Alstahaug (1 hour). From the town of Brønnøysund there is an express boat to Rørøy on the east shore of Vega. Yet another option is the express boat from Sandnessjøen to Kirkøy on Vega’s northern shore. This latter boat ride takes two hours due to its many stops en route, but it’s a great way to see more of the Helgeland coast.
For further information, please contact the Vega Tourist Information Office.
You can reed more about Helgeland on www.visithelgeland.com.
Source: Helgeland Reiseliv as