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Lofoten Islands: Arctic Trails

A Journey to Å
Norway’s far north | Experience life beyond the Arctic Circle.
Peak views | Memorable panoramas follow you throughout the holiday.
Lofoten’s beaches | The turquoise waters and gold sand are reminiscent of the tropics.
Relaxing over lunch | At the pretty harbour village of Henningsvær.
Wildlife spotting | Seek out white-tailed sea eagles, cormorants, and seals.
What is included
  • 7 nights
  • 3 dinners
    7 breakfasts
  • route notes
  • GPS navigation
  • 6 days' category B (automatic) car hire
  • Lofoten Islands: Arctic Trails
    A Journey to Å
  • Views from the summit of Tjeldbergtinden
  • Traditional rorbuer in Reine
  • Svolvær, capital of the Lofoten Islands
  • Scenic routes around Svolvær
What is included
  • 7 nights
  • 3 dinners
    7 breakfasts
  • route notes
  • GPS navigation
  • 6 days' category B (automatic) car hire

Holiday information

A walking holiday on the Lofoten Islands

Enjoy dramatic routes through unparalleled scenery on this self-guided, three-centre walking holiday. Featuring stays in two traditional converted fishermen’s cottages and various options to explore the great variety of landscapes on foot and by car, this holiday offers a rare glimpse of everyday life in Norway’s far north.
This wonderful journey, described by customers as a holiday of a lifetime, takes you through the wild and dramatic Lofoten Islands, with some truly spectacular walks in this unique Arctic landscape that fuses sea, mountain-top and fishing village. To walk here is to discover a landscape of startling beauty and contrasts: expanses of open moorland, hidden mountain lakes and a picturesque coastline bathed for much of the summer in the special light of the Midnight Sun.

Starting in Svolvær, the small capital of the islands, you work south-westwards, staying on two of the archipelago’s main groups of islands, with the option of ending, appropriately enough, with an excursion to the village of Å (pronounced ‘Oh’), named after the final letter of the Norwegian alphabet. We include a hire car in your holiday so that you can drive between bases and make the most of the walking. We have researched a choice of memorable walks, of both grade 2 and 3 standard, with some rugged terrain and far-reaching views. The simple, traditional accommodation, much of it in converted fisherman’s cottages – rorbuer – offers good access to the walking, as well as the chance to get a glimpse of everyday life in typical Lofoten fishing villages.


Itinerary

The key to Inntravel holidays is flexibility. You have a choice of start dates, and are free to add extra nights.
  • The average maximum daytime temperatures and monthly rainfall relate to the nearest weather station and are intended as a guide only.

    The weather is very changeable. It is entirely possible to experience all types of weather in one day, so pack for all eventualities, including, of course, good waterproofs.
    Average temperatures and rainfall
      Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
    °C 1 1 2 4 9 12 14 14 11 7 4 2
    mm 132 105 93 69 49 50 70 73 120 164 134 146
  • Arrival in Svolvær
    You begin with a boat journey from Bodø to Svolvær in the Lofoten Islands (you may choose to add a night in Bodø, depending on flight arrival times – see price panel for details). This boat journey is a highlight in itself, with breathtaking views of the Lofoten ‘wall’, looming ever-larger as you approach. Svolvær is the small capital of the Lofoten Islands and the ideal introduction to the region – the cod fishing on which Lofoten’s economy was founded, the pivotal role the islands played in WWII, and the unique light and landscapes which have produced many artists of note.

    Night 1: at Svinøya Rorbuer or Thon Hotel Svolvær (the first of three nights here).

    As your first night’s accommodation is on the day of travel, Day 1 is your first day of walking.
  • Choice of walks from Svolvær: 4.5km to 10km

    Your hire car is delivered on your day of arrival (except Sundays, when it will be delivered the following morning), so should the weather be inclement you can use it to explore, otherwise we offer two walks and an exploration of Svolvaer on foot:

    Tjeldbergtind (grade 2): 10km, 4hrs; ascent/descent 540m
    A short drive to nearby Vågan church, known as the ‘Lofoten Cathedral’, brings you to the start of this fairly challenging circuit, crossing moorland and lakeside before the option to climbing the twin-peaked summit of Tjeldbergtind for exceptional views along the Lofoten 'wall', over the sea towards the mainland, and of Svolvær itself.

    Svolværvatnet (grade 1-2): 4.5km, 1.5hrs; ascent/descent 110m
    From the edge of Svolvaer, this is a gentle circuit of lower Svolvær vatnet – Lake Svolvær – mostly on boardwalks. It can be extended by heading out-and-back along one side of the upper lake.

    Svolvær walking tour: 10km, 3hrs
    Start from your door on a walking tour of Svolvær town and of Svinøya, the main island forming part of Svolvær harbour.

    Svolværvatnet (grade 1-2): 4.5km
    Tjeldbergtind (grade 2): 10km
  • Drive from Svolvær to Mortsund: 75km

    Enjoy a leisurely drive (1h20) to the island of Vestvågøy, linked by a high arched bridge, stopping en route for the Lofoten Museum – an old hamlet, with a manor house, fishing huts and boat houses, as well as a gallery and an aquarium – or visit the open-air Viking Museum at Borge, the focal point of which is a reconstruction of the vast Viking chieftain’s house that was found here – in the shape of an 83-metre-long upturned hull. Relax over lunch at the pretty harbour of Henningsvær, a fishing village-turned artist’s colony, with its bustling cafés and restaurants.

    Hoven & Hovsund (grade 2): 10.5km, 4hrs; ascent/descent 450m
    As an alternative to museum visits, you could explore the island of Gimsøya, with the isolated mountain of Hoven towering over the small hamlet and harbour of Hovsund. Set slightly apart from the main Lofotens chain, it’s a great spot for getting a panoramic view of the mountains.

    However you spend your day, the roads are pleasant to drive and the scenery outstanding as you make your way to Mortsund, where you stay in the Statles Rorbusenter for two nights.

    Hoven and Hovsund (grade 2): 10.5km
    Hovsund
  • Choice of walks from Mortsund: 8km to 13km
    We suggest a choice of two walks, both easily accessed by car. If you prefer not to walk, you can hire bikes or a rowing boat from Mortsund.

    Justadtind (grade 3): 12km, 5hrs; ascent/descent 815m
    For a high-level walk, choose to ascend the summit of Justadtind – one of the highest points on Vestvågøy which affords a memorable 360-degree panorama of the island. The majority of the walk is a steady ascent over stony paths, only becoming steeper and more strenuous as you make the final ascent to the summit. The rewards, in fine weather, are well worth the effort.

    Utakleiv (grades 2 & 2-3): 8-10.5km, 3-4hrs; ascent/descent 470m 
    This relaxed circuit takes you from the white-sand beach by Haukland, over a small pass, following an ancient fisherman’s way to the hamlet and beach of Utakleiv. From the pass an optional steep ascent of ‘Mannen’ gives extraordinary views for keen peak-baggers. The return from Utakleiv is a level, traffic-free track around the headland of Veggen, with good birdlife between the coast and the nearby island of Tåa.
    Justadtind (grade 3): 12km
    Utakleiv (grades 2 and 3): 8-10.5km
  • Drive from Mortsund to Reine: 65km

    From Mortsund, you drive west through the Nappstraum Tunnel to Moskenes, the last large island, taking the winding coastal road to the village of Reine, where you stay in the Reine Rorbuer for two nights. If you like, you can stop en route for a walk as there is plenty of time.

    Volandstind (grade 2): 5km, 2.5hrs; ascent/descent 490m
    A short walk, from the roadside straight up to the triple summits of Volandstind, offering views both to the jagged peaks in the southern Lofoten islands, as well as the mountains and beaches in the more immediate area.


    Nesland to Nusfjord (grade 2-3): 10km, 4.5hrs; ascent/descent 435m
    This charming walk takes you from Nesland, a tiny fishing hamlet, to the larger fishing village of Nusfjord, which is widely considered to be the best-preserved fishing village in the whole of Norway and has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The path follows rugged coastline over diverse terrain, with short challenging sections across rock, with chains and a ladder to assist you. To the east you can see mainland Norway, while to the south-west you can see all the way down to the tip of the Lofoten archipelago. Orca (killer whales) have been spotted off the coast here but you are more likely to see seals in one of the rocky coves.

    Nusfjord
    Volandstind (grade 2): 5km
    Nesland to Nusfjord (grades 2-3): 10km
  • Choice of walks from Reine: 5.5km to 9km
    We provide notes for two walks while at Reine – one to a quiet beach, accessed by boat and on foot, and one to a northern headland for far-reaching views. You should also try to fit in a visit to Å, the last village on the island of Moskenes, which is preserved as a fascinating open-air museum and vividly paints a picture of life on the islands. Don’t miss the guided tour, available in English, of an old rorbu which will leave you in no doubt about just how tough life was in 19th-century Lofoten for visiting fisherman.

    Horseid Beach (grade 2): 9km, 3hrs; ascent/descent 410m
    The Express Boat from Reine across Reinefjorden makes an excellent start to this quiet and relatively easy walk over the pass from the hamlet of Kjerkfjord to the expanse of beach on the northern side. The boat is busy with crowds heading to Vindstad for Bunes Bay, a much busier beach, so get to the jetty early to ensure a place; you pay locally.

    Roren (grade 2): 5.5km, 2.5hrs; ascent/descent 400m
    This is a perfect late walk for views north of the evening sun. The brisk climb follows good paths that zig-zag up the steep hillside to reach the long, rolling headland of Roren. A path skirts the clifftop for tremendous views east, though a parallel path can be followed away from the edge, crossing to the hilltop of Litleberget before returning the same way.
    Horseid beach
    Horseid Beach (grade 2): 9km
    Roren (grade 2): 5.5km

Accommodation

Your accommodation is a combination of charmingly converted fishermen’s cottages and apartments in former fishing villages. The views are some of the most amazing you’ll ever see...

Extend your stay

Prices & travel options
All prices are in £ sterling (GBP). If you'd like to see what they equate to in your currency, use the converter. For general information on pricing, see the 'your holiday price explained' page.
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  • 7 nights: 15 May 2026 - 04 August 2026, 07 August 2026 - 11 September 2026, 15 May 2027 - 04 August 2027 & 07 August 2027 - 11 September 2027

    Start any day | End by latest date(s) shown above

    Starting Price *
    1 - 4 Sep 2026 From £2336
    15 - 31 May 2027 From £2176
    1 - 30 Jun 2027 From £2586
    1 - 28 Jul 2027 From £2586
    7 - 31 Aug 2027 From £2471
    1 - 4 Sep 2027 From £2531

    * Final price is subject to change due to the customisable nature of our holidays and is dependent on accommodation availability for the dates selected. We will contact you to confirm the final price. Single supplements are applicable on many of our holidays. Please contact us for full details.

    Includes accommodation, meals and services integral to the holiday as described, plus walking notes, but no travel from the UK, nor any connecting travel from the airport unless stated below.

    Price includes: 6 days' category B car hire (eg Citroen C3 or similar with automatic transmission)

    Book your flights through us and we'll find the best route and times to suit you. Please contact us to find out more about our flight booking service. We can also book connecting travel - see below.

  • RECOMMENDED AIRPORT(S):
    Outward: Bodø via Oslo
    Return: Leknes via Oslo and/or Bodø

    Travelling from the UK

    Travelling from outside the UK

    If you are flying from outside Europe,  we recommend flying via Oslo. To discuss onward connecting travel to the start of your holiday, please contact us.

    Travelling from outside the UK
    We have many years' experience catering for customers who live outside the UK, and will be happy to make tailored arrangements to fit with your plans.

    You have two options:

    1) Book your own flights to London, from where we can book flights and onward connecting travel to your hotel.

    2) Book your own flights direct to an airport appropriate to your chosen holiday. You can either make your own way from the airport to the hotel, or we'll be happy to book onward connecting travel for you. Please consult with us before booking your flights, so that we can advise you on the suitability of your proposed route and timings.
    Outward route Airline
    Aberdeen - Bodø (via Bergen & Oslo) SAS 
    Aberdeen - Bodø (via Bergen) Wideroe 
    Aberdeen - Bodø (via Oslo (Gardermoen) ) SAS 
    Aberdeen - Bodø (via Stavanger & Oslo) SAS 
    Return route Airline
    Bergen - Aberdeen SAS,  Wideroe 
    Bergen - Aberdeen (via Stavanger) SAS 
    Oslo (Gardermoen) - Aberdeen Loganair,  SAS 
    Oslo (Gardermoen) - Aberdeen, via Amsterdam KLM 
    Oslo (Gardermoen) - Aberdeen, via Bergen SAS 
    Oslo (Gardermoen) - Aberdeen, via Copenhagen SAS 
    Oslo (Gardermoen) - Aberdeen, via Stavanger SAS 
    Outward route Airline
    Birmingham - Bodø (via Copenhagen & Oslo) SAS 
    Return route Airline
    Bergen - Birmingham (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Bergen - Birmingham (via Copenhagen) SAS 
    Oslo - Birmingham (via Copenhagen) SAS 
    Oslo (Gardermoen) - Birmingham (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Oslo (Gardermoen) - Birmingham (via Frankfurt) Lufthansa 
    Outward route Airline
    Edinburgh - Bodø (via Oslo (Gardermoen) ) SAS 
    Edinburgh - Bodø (via Oslo (Gardermoen) ) Norwegian 
    Return route Airline
    Bergen - Edinburgh Loganair 
    Bergen - Edinburgh (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Bergen - Edinburgh (via Oslo (Gardermoen) ) Norwegian 
    Oslo - Edinburgh (via Paris CDG) Air France 
    Oslo (Gardermoen) - Edinburgh Norwegian 
    Oslo (Gardermoen) - Edinburgh (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Oslo (Gardermoen) - Edinburgh (via Copenhagen) Norwegian 
    Outward route Airline
    Gatwick - Bodø (via Oslo (Gardermoen) ) Norwegian 
    Return route Airline
    Bergen - Gatwick Norwegian 
    Bergen - Gatwick (via Oslo (Gardermoen) ) Norwegian 
    Oslo (Gardermoen) - Gatwick Norwegian 
    Oslo (Gardermoen) - Gatwick (via Bergen) Norwegian 
    Outward route Airline
    Heathrow - Bodø (via Bergen) Wideroe 
    Heathrow - Bodø (via Oslo (Gardermoen) & Trondheim) SAS 
    Heathrow - Bodø (via Oslo (Gardermoen) ) SAS 
    Return route Airline
    Bergen - Heathrow (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Bergen - Heathrow, via Copenhagen SAS 
    Bergen - Heathrow, via Oslo (Gardermoen) SAS 
    Bergen - Heathrow, via Stavanger SAS 
    Oslo (Gardermoen) - Heathrow British Airways,  SAS 
    Outward route Airline
    Manchester - Bodø (via Copenhagen & Oslo) SAS 
    Manchester - Bodø (via Heathrow & Oslo) SAS 
    Manchester - Bodø (via Oslo (Gardermoen) ) SAS 
    Return route Airline
    Bergen - Manchester SAS 
    Bergen - Manchester (via Inverness) Loganair 
    Bergen - Manchester (via Oslo (Gardermoen) ) Norwegian,  SAS 
    Bergen - Manchester (via Stavanger) Norwegian 
    Bergen - Manchester, (via Stockholm) SAS 
    Bergen - Manchester, via Copenhagen SAS 
    Oslo - Manchester (via Paris CDG) Air France 
    Oslo - Manchester (via Stavanger) Norwegian 
    Oslo (Gardermoen) - Manchester Norwegian,  SAS 
    Oslo (Gardermoen) - Manchester (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Oslo (Gardermoen) - Manchester (via Bergen) SAS 
    Oslo (Gardermoen) - Manchester (via Brussels) Brussels Airlines 
    Oslo (Gardermoen) - Manchester (via Frankfurt) Lufthansa 
    Oslo (Gardermoen) - Manchester, via Copenhagen SAS 
    Oslo (Gardermoen) - Manchester, via Heathrow SAS 
    Oslo (Gardermoen) - Manchester, via Stockholm SAS 
    Travelling from outside the UK

    If you are flying from outside Europe,  we recommend flying via Oslo. To discuss onward connecting travel to the start of your holiday, please contact us.

    This list of flight options should be used as a guide only, and you should check each airline’s website for current routes, frequency and schedules. Not all flights operate daily, and may not run for the entire season. You should also heed the latest flight arrival time and earliest flight departure time stated in the connecting travel section, as it may not be possible to arrange connecting travel outside these times. Please do not book your flights until we have confirmed your accommodation to you. Alternatively, our expert reservations team will be happy to offer advice and to make flight bookings for you for any of the options listed above. We charge £35 per person for our flight booking service. Your flights are then covered by our package-booking conditions, which give you greater protection in the event of delay or cancellation, as well as providing ATOL cover.

Reviews

If you've experienced this holiday first hand, why not write a review?

We are keen for as many customers as possible to review their holiday. To make it easier to do so, we include a specific review section on our post-holiday questionnaire, and this is what we publish here, unedited. Read our full review policy >

Please note: any reference to maps in customer reviews is now out of date – we no longer provide these. For information on this, please see our FAQs page.


 

FAQs

If you have any questions relating to this or any other Inntravel holiday, our friendly travel experts will be happy to help. You might also find our General FAQs section helpful.
  • Yes, prior to going on holiday you will be able to download GPX tracks so that you can follow your route on your smartphone or dedicated GPS device if you wish. It’s entirely up to you whether or not you use them – our detailed, step-by-step route notes remain the principal means of guiding you from A to B – but we provide them as a secondary means of navigation for additional reassurance when walking.
  • We can book a wide range of routes from the UK with a variety of airlines. As well as being more convenient for you to book all elements of your holiday together, it also means that we’ll accept liability for your travel arrangements, so if things go wrong, such as the airline going bust, we’ll make suitable alternative arrangements for you. The fee for this service is £35 per person (£15 for children aged 2-11). More information on flights >
  • We can’t book flights that originate outside the UK, but if you wanted to book your own flights to London (or elsewhere in the UK), we can make all onward travel arrangements (including flights) from there. Alternatively, if you are booking your own flights to an airport in continental Europe that’s appropriate for your holiday, we can book onward rail travel and/or taxis. More information about how we can tailor holidays for customers outside the UK >
  • Since our holidays are self-guided, we recommend calling us for a chat about your plans before making a booking, especially if it’s the first time you’ve booked with us.
    The price panel shows the supplement for a single room and also the single traveller charge (this covers (luggage) transfers and other costs which are usually shared between two people).
  • Once you’ve decided on your exact itinerary (our travel experts will be happy to offer advice), you need to provide us with your party’s details, either by phone or via our booking form. At this point we also ask you to pay a deposit so that we can secure a room for you immediately on confirming availability with the hotel(s). If it turns out that we can’t secure the accommodation for the holiday you’ve requested, or offer an acceptable alternative, we’ll refund your deposit promptly and in full. After booking your accommodation and other key elements, we'll then book your travel (or you can do so if you’re making your own arrangements) and send you a Booking Confirmation and Invoice.

    More information about the booking process >
    Information about accommodation, general practicalities and more >
    Booking conditions >
  • Yes, it’s something we insist on, even for holidays in the UK. The vast majority of holidays go smoothly, but when things go wrong, it can be expensive to put them right. Buying a new pair of walking boots after your suitcase is stolen mightn’t seem so bad, but the bill for being airlifted down from a mountain with a broken leg or flown home while still recovering from an illness or accident can incur a five or six-figure bill.

    Many insurers offer travel insurance (you can find details on our insurance page of a policy that you may like to consider if you are a UK resident), but you do need to make sure that you’re covered for medical emergencies – including falling ill with Covid-19 while on holiday – and repatriation. We also recommend that you are covered for other eventualities, such as cancellation and loss of luggage and passports.

    When you purchase a policy, be sure to check that it covers the activities you'll be doing on holiday and that it is adequate for your own individual needs.
  • It is your responsibility to ensure you are in possession of the correct travel documents, with the correct validity. If you’re a UK citizen, you need a full British passport to travel to Norway, but not a visa (please note, however, that a new travel authorisation system is being introduced). If you are a citizen of another country, you’ll need to check requirements with the national embassy or your own consulate.

    Current information regarding vaccinations and travel health advice for UK citizens can be found through the Travel Health Pro website. You must make sure you have adequate insurance cover for illness, accidents and repatriation (see the insurance question). There is no need to apply for a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) as this (and still-current EHICs) is not valid in Norway. However, should you need medical help, you can show your UK passport at the medical facility and treatment will be provided on the same terms as for Norwegian nationals. It is important that, if you already have travel insurance in place, the terms do not exclude medical cover, especially for existing conditions, in the absence of an EHIC.
  • The most widely spoken language is Norwegian. The currency is the Kroner. Norwegian time is GMT/UTC + 1. It uses Daylight Saving Time, so in summer is on BST + 1.
  • For information on the practicalities of travel now that the UK is no longer part of the European Union, visit www.gov.uk/visit-eu-switzerland-norway-iceland-liechtenstein.
  • The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) provides up-to-date, country-by-country travel advice, as well as information on security, local laws, passports and visas for UK citizens.

    If you live outside the UK, see our essential travel information page for a list of relevant websites.
  • You are the best judge of your child’s/children’s capabilities. We are happy to take bookings for families of older children/teenagers if they walk regularly, love the outdoors and are comfortable with the distances and ascent/descent involved. Please note that the bedrooms at most of the accommodation we use will normally only sleep a maximum of 3 people, and sometimes only 2.
Lofoten Islands: Arctic Trails
7 nights
Lofoten Islands: Arctic Trails
7 nights
Single-centre walking with car
Grade: Flexible: moderate & challenging options
Last fetch time is : 9/4/2026 9:25:42 AM

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