The Vega Islands

The treasured islands

The UNESCO-protected islands of Vega, just south of the Arctic Circle, is named one of the world’s top undiscovered island gems.

There are more than 6500 reasons why you should visit the Vega archipelago in the county of Nordland. This is in fact the number of islands, reefs and skerries awaiting you to be explored.

For the bird-watching enthusiasts the Vega archipelago is simply a true gem, as the area is full of more than 230 species of birds. Chief among the bird population are eider ducks, raised for their feathers. The houses built for them to nest in can still be seen, alongside lighthouses, fishing villages and dramatic landscapes.

In 2004, the archipelago's cultural landscape was inscribed on the UNESCO List of World Natural and Cultural Heritage as representative of “the way generations of fishermen and farmers have, over the past 1,500 years, maintained a sustainable living in an inhospitable seascape near the Arctic Circle, based on the now unique practice of eider down harvesting”.

The Vega Islands have also received the Sustainable Tourism certification, a quality label awarded to destinations that work systematically to reduce the environmental impact of tourism while maintaining a high-quality experience for visitors, as well as preserving the destination’s history, character and nature.

Many locals would claim that spending time in Vega also means to “live your life slowly”. This is the place to lower your shoulders, calm down and relax in beautiful surroundings. It doesn’t mean that nothing happens – on the contrary, but you control your own pace. Here you can enjoy everything from shallow beaches at Eidem in the south, to fishery harbours at Nes, Holand and Kirkøy in the north, rolling stones and panoramic views in the west and green deciduous forests, bays and coves in the east.

Go hiking or cycling and enjoy the islands’ special atmosphere, whether it be heavy storm clouds or bright, sunny summer evenings. Hire a boat and explore the coastline, maybe even cast a line – fishing in the sea, rivers and lakes is popular among locals. And what better way to end the day than spending the night in an old fisherman’s cabin?

At Nes The World Heritage Exhibition and The Lånan Exhibition give an insight into the Unesco status and the unique industry with eggs and eider down production – in a true fisherman's environment. Other attractions include Vega Church in Gladstad, a wooden church dating from 1864, and the war memorial at Ylvingen, where you can explore remains of bunkers and tunnels from WWII.

visithelgeland.com

Nes

Rita Johansen

Gladstad

Orsoyla Haarberg / www.visithelgeland.com / Vega

Tåvær

Inge Ove Tysnes

Vega

Helgeland Reiseliv / www.visithelgeland.com / Vega

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A sustainable destination

Many places follow sustainable principles, but being certified as a sustainable destination is an honour few qualify for. It takes years of work demonstrating their lasting commitment to providing the best possible experiences for their guests, while keeping the negative impact of tourism to a minimum. In addition, the destination must work to continually improve its business practices and relations with the local community, whilst safeguarding their natural and cultural assets, history and traditions.

Find out more about sustainability in Norway

Sustainable destination

Things to do

Getting here and around

By plane:

There are direct flights from Oslo to Brønnøysund, which is the closest airport. From here, you can take a taxi (6–7 minutes) to the express boat pier.

By road:

The Vega Islands are located off the coast of Helgeland. You can reach the Islands by Kystriksveien (“the Coastal Route”, Rv 17), which stretches from Steinkjer to Bodø. The E6 runs the length of Helgeland and an alternative to “the Coastal Route” from the E6 is via Tosenvegen (Fv 76), via Mosjøen (Fv 78) or via Mo i Rana (E12).

By train:

NSB, the Norwegian State Railways, offers daily train departures to Grong and Mosjøen. From here, continue the journey by local bus and express boat from Sandnessjøen or Brønnøysund.

By boat:

There is an express ferry from Brønnøysund, and a car ferry from Horn, which is a 15-minute drive outside Brønnøysund.
The famous Hurtigruten, The Norwegian Coastal Voyage, calls at Brønnøysund, Sandnessjøen and Nesna twice a day.

The Vega Islands also offers ...

There is no need to wait until you´re here to find out what you´d like to do.