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Around Lofoten

from £1467 excluding flights

  • 8-9 nights
  • May-Sep

Highlights

norway lofoten henningsvaer istk

Visit the village of Henningsvaer popular with artists

norway lofoten scenic drive along e10 near reine ap

Drive through stunning scenery on a scenic tourist route

northern norway sperm whale tail arceur

Look out for orca, humpback and sperm whales

norway lofoten trollfjorden istk

Explore Trollfjorden on an optional kayak or boat trip

norway lofoten islands white sand beach gt

Discover turquoise sea and white sand beaches perhaps unexpectedly

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Hike through breathtaking landscapes

Why this trip...

Aoraki Mt Cook National Park tailor made white

Tailor made

This itinerary can be tailor made to suit you and is intended to give you a guideline of what is possible in a given timeframe

Cabot Trail explore at leisure white

Explore at leisure

With the route, transport and accommodation sorted, each day offers the freedom to explore

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Well-researched route

We've put our years of experience into creating this well-paced itinerary that includes the places we know you'll enjoy

Overview

The far north of Norway has a captivating and dramatic beauty. Lofoten is a collection of islands boasting distinctive glacier-carved peaks, tranquil fishing villages and some unbelievable sandy beaches. Combine these with the greener, gentler Vesteralen islands and explore one of Europe’s best kept travel secrets on this self-drive holiday.

This holiday includes an introduction to the joys of island driving, with picturesque coastal roads and an abundance of stunning views along the way. Choose to focus on just Lofoten or combine with a couple of days exploring the Vesteralen archipelago, perhaps enjoying some hiking on Langøya and a whale watching trip before continuing to Lofoten.

Here the locals live from farming, fishing and some tourism, but this is a place with a true unspoilt feeling. See traditional red-painted fishermen’s huts, known as ‘rorbuer’, photograph tiny fishing boats bobbing about in the harbours, browse local handicraft shops and galleries, discover inlets, secret coves and staggering scenery not typically associated with Norway.

This is a wonderfully laid-back holiday where you have the option to add in scenic boat trips, a visit to a whale museum, a whale or sea eagle watching safari, go kayaking or hiking – it can be whatever you want it to be.

Itinerary

On arrival in Evenes collect your rental vehicle from the airport and drive to Sortland in the Vesteralen archipelago for a 3-night stay at the Sortland Hotel.
(Approx 2 hours / distance 132 km)

Spend a couple of days exploring the islands of Vesteralen. Head north to the island of Andoya and the small town of Andenes. Perhaps visit the whale museum and join a whale watching tour with a chance to see sperm, minke, pilot and humpback whales, as well as harbour porpoises. Alternatively enjoy a puffin safari from the town of Bleik nearby. Return to Sortland via the dramatic west coast of Andoya. We also recommend Visit the historic village of Nyksund or don hiking boots for a coastal walk.

northern norway vesteralen near andenes istk
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northern norway sortland view in vesteralen istk

Leaving Vesteralen, head south to Lofoten and the town of Svolvaer along the E10, one of the most picturesque drives in Europe. Stay two nights at the delightful Svinoya Rorbuer in traditional style cabins in this charming fishing town.
(approx. 2 hours / distance 120 km)

A day at leisure to enjoy the fantastic scenery of jagged peaks (some of the oldest rocks in the world), fjords, rugged cliffs, idyllic white sand beaches and thousands of tiny islands. Don’t miss the chance to venture out onto Trollfjorden, by comfortable motor cruise, thrilling zodiac inflatable or peaceful kayak. Just 3km long and barely 100m wide at its entrance, the fjord is framed with smooth, vertical granite slabs rising to 1000m. Here sea eagles are often spotted. If you would rather stay on dry land, there is time to explore the town itself and soak up the harbour atmosphere.

norway svolvaer old harbour lofoten istk
northern norway lofoten view of svolvaer istk
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A short but spectacular drive today through the heart of the Lofoten archipelago, winding down the E10 towards Reine where you will stay at the Reine Rorbuer for three nights. The many tiny fishing villages that surround this beautiful area epitomise the spirit of the islands. Those with the energy can enjoy a hike to a stunning mountain point above the bay.
(approx. 2 hours 15 minutes / distance 122 km)

Time at leisure to explore the area and maybe visit A, at the absolute end of the E10 and a village of great character. Time permitting, take a boat trip from Moskenes to Vaeroy whose soaring bird cliffs face the ocean and support a wide range of species. Maybe visit the beautiful village of Nusfjord, a UNESCO World Heritage village in a breathtaking location en route to the viking farmstead at Borg. Unstad and Eggum are two isolated settlements on the north coast of Lofoten where steep cliffs flank white sandy beaches.

norway lofoten reine boats moored at jetty istk
norway sakrisoy village reinefjord lofoten istk
norway lofoten red stilted houses at reine ap

Head back over the Lofoten islands to Harstad. The quaint village of Henningsvaer with its pretty painted houses provides a great photo stop. Continue your journey to Harstad and overnight at the Thon Hotel (approximate journey time 5 hours / distance 290 km).

Depending on your flight time, you may wish to visit Trondenes, the historic settlement of Harstad located just a short distance to the east of town. Head back to the airport at Evenes, drop off your rental vehicle and fly home.

The 8-night itinerary focusing on the Lofoten archipelago only spends the first night in Hardstad followed by three nights in Svolvaer instead of two as shown in the itinerary above.

Accommodation Options

We have selected properties for this holiday as referenced in the itinerary. However, with a wide choice of accommodation in the Lofoten Islands, we can mix and match different grades and styles to suit your personal preference.

  • eliassen rorbuer cabin
  • svinoya rorbuer vestfjord suite
  • svinoya rorbuer rorbu suite
  • lofoten links lodges exterior
  • lofoten links lodges summer evening view from lounge

Prices and Departures

Price from £1467 excluding flights

Airfares are quoted separately to the holiday price and start from around £280 per person (with higher fares during peak times). When enquiring, our Travel Specialists will provide the best fare possible from your preferred airline / airport.
Note: Airfares tend to be cheaper the earlier you book.

What's Included

  • Accommodation in rooms with private bathroom
  • All breakfasts
  • Car rental throughout with unlimited mileage
  • 24 hour emergency assistance from our team during your holiday
  • No surcharge guarantee
  • Full financial protection

This itinerary starts from around £1,467 per person, based on 2 sharing a room with private bathroom in standard hotels, and rental of an intermediate vehicle.

Prices may vary depending on departure date and booking date, as well as any changes to the included components. The final cost of a tailored holiday will be based on the level of accommodation, size of vehicle, included activities, travel season, and how far in advance it is booked. We will confirm the exact price for your holiday in your individual quotation, based on your chosen travel dates and inclusions.

Choice of Vehicles

We would always recommend a 4WD for winter travel, but many clients also prefer the greater security and comfort that a larger vehicle provides year round – upgrade your vehicle from as little as £10 per person per day.

  • We can offer a wide range of rental vehicles for this holiday – our team will be happy to talk you through the options and provide a quote for the most suitable category based on your individual requirements.

Tailor made trips

As independent destination specialists, we are able to tailor make holidays to suit you, be that customising the itineraries shown on this website or creating something bespoke.

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Travelling sustainably

We believe travel is about finding the right balance between minimising our impact on the environment and broadening minds through new experiences and cultural interaction.