Svolvær in the stunning Lofoten Islands Norway

This is the place that dreams are made of! Everywhere you look is a stunning, outstanding, breathtaking view.

Extending out into the ocean north of Bodø a chain of jagged peaks that make up the Lofoten Islands stretching some 118 miles.

This is a paradise of adventures with an abundance of boat trips, hiking trails and more. Definitely one of the top destinations in Norway.

Collect moments, not things

The sea here is remarkably clear and blue, you’d think you are on a remote Caribbean island rather than Northern Norway!

Getting there

I took a ferry from Bodø it took around 3.5 hours. You can also fly from other parts of Norway, or drive as bridges cross all of the islands to make it accessible.

Boat trips

The highlight of my stay was the RIB (rigid inflatable boat) boat tour. I used XXLofoten – link below:

http://xxlofoten.no

There are multiple tour companies along the front but I found this one to be very reliable, knowledgeable and offered great tours great guides. They also offer a discount system the more tours you book.

The RIB boat was a two hour tour around the fjords taking in some key sites such as Trollfjord and spending some time watching sea eagles.

You can leave your bags behind in the office and just take a phone or camera with you. Warm / waterproof outfits are provided along with goggles so you can enjoy the trip wherever the weather!

Some of the many other trips were sea kayaking – lots of fun even if I wasn’t very good at it!

And a traditional fishing tour if that’s something you’re interested in, amongst many others.

Hiking

There are multiple hiking options in Svolvaer, I’ll just highlight a couple of key ones.

Probably the most famous is Djevelporten (Devil’s Gate) with its famous views. Directly above a gorge between two peaks lies a spectacular rock formation – a perfect photo stop! It a steep and breezy ascent, with some scrambling. Ropes and chains have been installed at the steeper points. Once you reach the top the views of Svolvaer and the Norweigan Sea are fantastic! Ideally best to be done on clear, dry days. With the rain it can become muddy and the rocks slippery.

Floya is Svolvaer’s local mountain and has become famous for the Sherpa stairs going almost all the way up the mountain side. Walking up the stairs is rewarding for the fantastic views. The stairs are steep and uneven in places but a relatively straightforward walk with multiple places to stop, rest and take in the views. Its about a 2 hour 1.5 km walk each way, ascending 590m above sea level. Though you can do as much or as little as you like and still get rewarding views.

You can also continue up to the gorge between Frosken and Floya though the terrain on this route is steep and craggy.

Trollfjord

Trollfjord in the Lofoten archipelago has a rich history and has inspired both writers and artists over the years. Only 100m wide at its narrowest point and only accessible by boat this deep blue fjord is one of Norways most majestic. Surrounded by peaks that are up to 1100 meters with glaciers and waterfalls, it really is breathtaking.

Norways coast is full of legend, learn about them and you’ll start to see the coastline as magic and myth, not just for its outstanding natural beauty! One of the stories is of two trolls fighting over the land, one fell and his axe created the beautful fjord. The peaks either side are the two sleeping trolls guarding their land. Be careful not to wake them! Another tale is that they were fighting over a lady – a story as old as time!

The pretty Red houses are what you picture when you imagine remote parts of Norway. The reason they are red is it was one of the easiest and cheapest colours to achieve back in the day. The red colour comes from a mix of fish oil, fish blood and turpentine from the trees. Combining these ingredients created the red paint colour to make the houses the bright red colourway.

Floating sauna

The floating sauna is only around £15 per person for an hour session. You can alternate the heated sauna with a dip in the beautiful , clear sea, north of the arctic circle!

There’s a sun deck on top for warm and sunny days. Male and female changing rooms indoors, warm and cold showers outdoors. You must bring your own towel and swimwear is mandatory. You can easily book online. Link below:

http://svinoya.no

Lofotr Viking Museum

Step into the lift of The Vikings and have a fun day doing axe throwing, longboat sailing and archery. Learn some more about The Vikings of the North. Entrance fee 200 Nok.

The midnight sun

Another spectacular thing to see! I went in July so just missed the midnight sun but it still barely drops below the horizon before it rises again so it never gets dark! It can be disconcerting and messes with some people sleep and circadian rhythm! It also means you don’t realise time, it can be disconcerting – constantly thinking it’s about 7pm! It does mean you make the most of your days though!

From Svolvær I carried on up to Tromsø!