NORTHERN NORWAY

Arctic adventures

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Støtt in Helgeland .
Photo: Støtt brygge / faroutfocus

Watch as the midnight sun paints the landscape in a golden hue for everlasting summer nights …

Midnight sun at Senja in Northern Norway .
Photo: Tobias Bjorkli

… or as the northern lights come alive, dancing across the night sky in winter.

Welcome to Northern Norway – where nature will surprise you, and the culture will amaze you.

Northern lights in Helgeland .
Photo: Jan Inge Larsen / Helgeland Photo / Helgeland Reiseliv AS

Visit jaw-dropping mountains like Torghatten in Helgeland (pictured), Møysalen in Vesterålen, or the Lyngen Alps …

Torghatten in Brønnøy .
Photo: Ronny Lien / www.visithelgeland.com

… and listen to the other-worldly sounds of the joik.

You see, this part of Norway is where the majority of the country's indigenous people live – the Sami – and their ancient song tradition is simply captivating.

Their traditional reindeer stew, bidos, is also worth a try if you get the chance.

Sami in Northern Norway .
Photo: Marie Louise Somby

The seafood here is also world-class, and you might get the catch of your life at any time of the year.

However, if you visit between January and April, you can try to reel in a big skrei – the migrating Atlantic cod arriving from the Barents Sea.

Or perhaps a king crab safari is more your style?

Sea fishing outside of Bodø .
Photo: Ernst Furuhatt / www.nordnorge.com

An important thing to remember before you start planning your trip is that Northern Norway is a vast area.

It stretches from the Helgeland region in the south to mainland Europe's northernmost point near the North Cape (pictured) and east towards the Russian border.

The North Cape plateau .
Photo: Beate Juliussen / www.nordnorge.com

Glittering fjords, staggering peaks and unspoilt nature await.

Have fun at one of the white beaches, check out some of Norway's top kayaking spots, go hiking and even surfing (!) …

Paradisbukta in Bodø .
Photo: Terje Rakke / Nordic life / www.nordnorge.com

… or embrace the snow and go ski touring or dog sledding in winter.

Ski touring in the Lyngen Alps .
Photo: Visit Lyngenfjord

You can also go on a guided whale safari …

Whale safari in Vesterålen .
Photo: Marten Bril / www.visitvesteralen.com

... and join a rib tour or a boat trip to one of the world's strongest maelstroms, Saltstraumen outside the lively and cultural city Bodø.

A RIB on Saltstraumen in Bodø .
Photo: Tommy Andreassen / Nordnorge.com/bodoe

Other bucket list activities in the region include island hopping along the Helgeland coast and travelling along one of the world's most beautiful roads, Kystriksveien.

Scenic spots like Træna (pictured) and the UNESCO-listed Vega islands are waiting for you!

Træna island .
Photo: Hans Petter Sørensen

You should visit small, cosy fishing villages as well, like Henningsvær (pictured) in Lofoten, Vesterålen and Senja.

Henningsvær in Lofoten .
Photo: Kristin Folsland Olsen / Visitnorway.com

Henningsvær in Lofoten .
Photo: Berge / Knoff/Natural Light / Visitnorway.com

The biggest city in this region is Tromsø – the world's northernmost university town.

Here, you can show off your best moves on a night out, check out cool art exhibitions and enjoy the urban vibes.

Tromsø .
Photo: Vegard Stien / Visit Tromsø

The Tromsø Cable Car takes you to the top of Mount Storsteinen …

Cable car up mount Storsteinen in Tromsø .
Photo: True Stories / Bleed / Visitnorway

… while the cable car in Narvik ensures a quick and easy trip to the top of Mount Narvikfjellet.

From Narvik, you can also embark on a short, but incredible train journey along the Ofoten Railway.

Hiking under the midnight sun in Narvik .
Photo: Rune Dahl

Halfway between Norway and the North Pole, is where you'll find the Svalbard Islands. Here, you can participate in exotic nature-based activities all year round in a landscape that is both rugged and fragile.

Svalbard .
Photo: Roy Mangersnes / wildphoto.no / www.nordnorge.com