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7 days - Seeing is believing - these islands are magical
Get ready for an authentic experience in the Lofoten Archipelago - our secret gem in the Northern part of Norway. Laid out against summer greens and yellows, Lofoten's razor-sharp peaks poke dark against a clear, cobalt sky. In the pure, exhilarating air, there’s a constant tang of salt and, in the villages, more than a whiff of cod, that giant of the seas whose annual migration brings wealth. Its a dream for hikers, fishermen and all nature lovers.
The Lofoten Islands are located just north of the Arctic Circle where you find the sea on one side and dramatic mountains on the other, offering great views everywhere you look. The archipelago offer a number of activities such as walking, cycling, diving, excursions by hire car, sea safaris and much more. Lofoten is one of our favourite destinations along the long Norwegian coast.
One of the world's greatest seasonal fisheries takes place in Lofoten in spring, and the place is full of life. The arctic cod swim down from the vast, nutritious areas of the Barents Sea in their millions, en route to the spawning grounds near Lofoten in order to ensure the survival of the species. Overhead you will see huge Sea Eagles soar in search of their own feast.
Self-drive this world's most stunning archipelago!
Car hire - Hertz Compact, 4-5 Door, Automatic, Aircon, Toyota Corolla Aut. or similar
One-way car hire fee needs to be paid locally. We will let you know exactly how much this is at time of enquiry.
International flights, Norwegian Coastal voyages, meals and items of personal nature. GPS is not included (it is quite straightforward driving in Lofoten).
Fly into Svolvær and pick up rental car. There is just a short 10-minute drive to your self catering Fisherman's Cottage over the Svinøybrua bridge. There is a variety of cabins - one bedroom, two or three bedrooms or alternatively hotel style. Each cabin has one to three double bedrooms, a well-equipped kitchen-cum-lounge, and a modern bathroom with shower and toilet. There is a restaurant attached to the complex as well as a small gift shop and museum.
Svinøya Rorbuer is centrally situated in Svolvær harbour. The island is accessible by the bridge and is within easy walking distance of the city centre.
Enjoy your morning at leisure or enjoy some self-driving exploration.
In the afternoon, experience Lofoten’s majestic Trollfjord in complete silence and comfort on board a purpose-built hybridelectric ship. Trollfjord is famous for its rich population of White-tailed Eagles and steep mountains. On the way you will enjoy the breath-taking views in comfortable, panoramic lounges and multi-level decks, inside and outside.
Departing from Svolvær harbour, you set out for the stunning Trollfjord. The friendly crew will share their knowledge about the wildlife, landscape and history of the resilient communities that live in this epic coastal landscape.
On board you can purchase warm drinks, alcoholic beverages, warm lunch, sandwiches and pastries.
Enjoy today´s drive to Ballstad (1h & 30min direct), stopping along the way for included activities and to enjoy the sights. We recommend the scenic detour via Henningsvær Village.
Lofoten Gårdsysteri opens their doors for you to enjoy a private guided farm tour with cheese tasting. This goat farm produces organic cheeses and deli products. The green mountains around the farm are an excellent pasture area for the goats and also hiking area for people. Enjoy lunch in their cafe if it suits.
Next stop, Lofotr Viking Museum is a picturesque museum along the way with Viking archeological exhibits in reconstructed longhouse, plus recreated ships. As you leave be sure to head to the beach close by the see some art sculptures.
Arrive at your hotel at your own leisure today.
Free day to enjoy the historical atmosphere of Ballstad and surrounding area. Why not try to catch your own dinner from the sea on a fishing safari? Or go snorkeling or scuba diving. Looking for something really different - consider a seaweed harvesting rib boat adventure.
Be sure to consider renting the hot tub by the sea provided by your accommodation.
This morning, head further west along the islands to Reine, diverting to Nusford, which is one of Norway's oldest and best preserved fishing villages and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This small fishing hamlet is a living museum with several protected buildings and a unique restaurant panoramic views across the fjord.
The village or Reine has often been called "the most beautiful place in the Lofoten" with its majestic peaks serving as a backdrop for the string of red and white fishermen's cottages dotting the shoreline.
In Reine you will stay in a quaint and cozy "rorbu", a traditional Fishermen's cottage with all modern comforts.
Explore the village of Reine and its beautiful surroundings. We have planned a 3 hour kayaking tour on the Reinefjord today, different start times available.
There are other options we can substitute for this tour, such as a guided hike, or upgrade to a private guided tour. We also recommend taking the steep hike up to Reinebringen from where you have panoramic views over the fjord and Lofoten. Alternatively you could take a short ferry from Reine to reach the golden sandy beaches of Horseid or Bunes, both of which require a hike from the respective ferry stops. The hike to Horseid takes approximately two hours each way from Kjerkfjorden, where as the hike to Bunes from Vindstad is also suitable for families.
After a hearty breakfast, drive to Leknes/Svolvær Airport (1.5 hrs / 2.5 hrs direct drive) and return rental car before departure.
Alternative departure: combine your Lofoten adventure with a Hurtigruten voyage. You can also catch a ferry across to Senja or Bodø. Ask us for options.
All prices listed are per person, based on two people sharing a room. 2023 and 2024 prices are indicative due to the current uncertainty across Europe with increasing energy and volatile fuel costs. For last minute bookings: prices are subject to availability.
Optimism for travel is slowly increasing. We can allow ourselves to consider turning our dreams into reality and at the same time be cautious. The way we travel might change, and careful consideration of where it is safe to go will be important when choosing a travel destination.
Are you planning a summer self-drive in Norway? There are several gorgeous opportunities to enjoy both stunning landscapes and jaw-dropping architecture along the way.
Chances are you have not heard as much, or anything about Vesterålen. Located a few hundred kilometres north of its famous neighbour Lofoten, this archipelago is stunning- and without the crowds.
If you want to commit to a booking please use the Book Tour form below.
Travel insurance is compulsory for all tours with 50 Degrees North. The safety of our travellers, staff and operators is a major priority of 50 Degrees North. With an operational office in Norway, 50 Degrees North has access to an up-to-the-minute flow of information regarding the countries we work in. We are also in regular contact with the various operators we use. Their in-depth knowledge and understanding of their various areas is vital.
Norway has a few items that typically surprise travellers when visiting Norway for the first time. Alcohol and luxury items are heavily taxed and therefore prices are higher than you would expect. On the other hand, necessities such as bread and milk, are taxed low and therefore are great value.
We recommend that you bring all the alcohol you’re allowed to bring into the country when you arrive. There are many lovely parks and balconies where you can enjoy your duty free. However, be sure not to bring more than you’re allowed!
As of May 2014, the allowances according to Visit Norway are:
Alcoholic beverages:
Minimum age: 18/ 20*
1 litre of beverages with more than 22% up to and including 60% alcohol per volume as well as 1½ litre with more than 2.5% up to and including 22% alcohol per volume or three litres with more than 2.5% up to and including 22% alcohol per volume
and
2 litres of beer with more than 2.5 % or other beverages with more than 2.5% up to and including 4.7% alcohol per volume.
This means that you may for example bring with you five litres of beer provided you do not have any other alcoholic beverages with you.
*For importing alcoholic beverages with more than 22% alcohol per volume the minimum age is 20.
It’s illegal to bring extra alcohol into Norway and can end up costing you. Another thing you should bring and not buy in Norway is razor blades. Good razor blades in Norway are expensive.
Written by Jayde Kincaid, who married a Norwegian, and was happily (albeit with some hesitation) introduced to a world of Norwegian every day food habits.
At 50 Degrees North, we want to encourage our travellers to try local Norwegian food & drink. This may seem difficult in Scandinavia in general without a large budget, and in particular Norway. Some of the more remote villages you might visit have limited restaurants or cafes, some of which can be pretty expensive. There is certainly no street food! One way to get about sampling local food is by self-catering. You will find plenty of friendly locals in the small town grocery stores and supermarkets who will be happy to help you picking out local ingredients. Just don’t be shy – ask! And, don’t rush – make your local small town shopping part of your holiday experience. Read the local notice boards, and enjoy an ice cream out the front when you have finished. It is what the locals do!
Note: Statoil cups - a good idea to save money as you drive around Norway: purcahse a Statoil (petrol station) metal cup and you get free refills of coffee, tea and hot chocolate at the Statoil stations.
Norway has an extensive range of grocery stores, and in most small villages you will find at least one, if not two or three grocery stores. However, they do have limited opening hours, and except for ‘Bunnpris’, they are all closed on Sundays. You will see the weekend hours shown in brackets on the store sign out front. If you are arriving in a larger town, we do suggest you stock up with some staples before you head out into the mountains or on a coastal drive.
A few tips:
• Plastic bags are NOK1-2 and you will always need to pack your own shopping.
• You can recycle your bottles and cans for a receipt that you can cash in. Recycling points are found in all stores.
• Alcohol sold in food stores (mainly beer and cider) is restricted by government regulation to certain hours. This varies slightly, but on weekdays alcohol sales stop at 8pm regardless and on Saturdays at 6pm. Outside these hours and on Sundays you can only buy alcohol in licensed restaurants or bars.
• Any alcohol over 4.7% can only be bought at special government controlled liquor store (Vinmonopolet). These are very rare in smaller remote towns and villages, so stock up before you leave the city.
Meatballs or “meatcakes’: these come in all shapes, sizes and quality. They are generally really tasty and a bit better than what you find at IKEA. Also pick up a packet of dried ready-made brown sauce that goes with them. Be on the look out for Lingonberry sauce/jam, or even fresh lingonberries that you can use to make a fresh sauce (little red circular berries). Don’t add too much sugar, they are served quite tart.
If you want to try to make this brown sauce yourself, buy some ‘brunost’ (brown cheese), the required creams and follow the recipe below.
Hotdogs: known as ‘pølse’ in Norwegian, hot dogs are abundant in Norway. Cheap and cheerful – pølse is THE fast food of Norway. They are sold at service stations, newsagents, corner stores and fast food outlets. Pølse come with a dazzling variety of toppings and bread. Some of the pølse highlights would be the bacon wrapped ones, sprinkled with dried onion, mustards and mayonnaise. You will also find them wrapped in waffles (mostly in and around Fredrikstad) or the Norwegian pancake, ‘lompe’.
Note: there are strict requirements by the Food Safety commission for traditional pølse to be of the highest quality and they have even set requirements for what types of ingredients are allowed.
Like Norwegian beer, you will find seasonal pølse – Christmas pølse (Julepølse) is obviously found only in the lead up to the celebrations.
If you are planning to eat Norwegian style, use boil pølse on the stove and add to meals with potatoes and stew.
Note; steer away from tinned cheap pølse and meatballs.
Fish cakes: these also come in lots of variation and are generally served with a white sauce and lots of parsley. The Norwegians also use a basic white sauce on broccoli with cheese on top. These fish cakes are often found in fish shops, fried or steamed, ready to eat. A great fast snack.
Reindeer: we strongly suggest you try reindeer meat when you are travelling in the far north. It generally comes frozen, so look for finely cut reindeer meat in the freezer section. It is a more expensive option, but absolutely delicious albeit quite gamey. Be sure to get mushrooms, a small amount of brown cheese and rømme (crème fraiche). Fry it all up in a pan - a bit like a beef stroganoff. Serve with boiled potatoes or rice.
Mushrooms: if you are travelling in the chanterelle harvest season (mid/late August), be sure to try them. They are the yellow mushroom found in autumn. Or better still, have a look around the pine forests and pick some. Be sure to image search them before you head out so you know what to pick. They are really delicious with the brown cheese sauce and reindeer.
Salmon, prawns & fish: always be on the look out for a chance to buy fresh fish. Yes, it is possible to smooth talk a fisherman at the harbour. Or look for the local fish-kiosk or fish-shop. Be on the look out for small signs pointing you in the direction of fresh fish sales – ‘reker’ (shrimps, not prawns) or ‘fersk fisk’ (fresh fish) are the words you need.
Norwegians are very proud of their shrimps – and of course completely justified. Their shrimps are small and tasty and harvested from the cool North Sea. Norwegians traditionally serve them with mayonnaise and lemon. Peel them and pop them on a fresh white slice of bread. Mayonnaise is layered on top with dill, pepper & salt.
Smoked Salmon: Norwegian smoked salmon is the best in the world hands down. Be sure to try all the different varieties you see – often, in larger supermarkets or delis, you can try before you buy.
Tubed ‘kaviar’ (caviar): this is a must try. It is cheap and perfect for the travellers pantry. This is what my husband craves like an Australian abroad would crave vegemite.
Norwegian pre-made dips and salads: the Norwegian supermarkets have a large range of premade salads and dips. They last quite a while and are good fillers for sandwiches. Our favourite are the cubed beetroot salad and the potato salads. They come in easy-to-carry and pack-up containers – perfect for picnics. Tubed mayonnaise is also handy for picnics.
‘Leverpostei’ (liver pate) in many variations can also be found in the supermarket. This pate is normally served on brown bread then topped with sliced red onions or sweet pickles. Protein rich and very tasty if you like pate – it is found on most Norwegian breakfast tables.
Yoghurt: now – this is an interesting one. Norwegian yoghurt comes in a variety of styles - some can be very runny, sour and low fat. There are varying names/codes for each sort. You might like to check with a local when you are buying yoghurt to be sure you are getting what you want. Some of the yoghurt comes as though it is milk, in normal milk cartons - sour runny yoghurt is NOT nice in your coffee.
Bread: the Norwegian supermarket bread generally comes un-cut. You can either cut it in the shop – ask for help the first time you do it. They have industrial bread cutting machines near the bakery section. The bread can be quite plain in the main supermarkets so be on the look out for boutique bakeries in the larger towns if you enjoy fancy bread. Also keep an eye out for the Norwegian flatbread, Lefse, which is similar to Mexican tortillas. Usually served with butter and sugar, sometimes cinnamon too. Occasionally made with potato.
Waffles: Norwegian waffle stalls are similar to the sausage sizzle or hot dog stand. It is the most common fundraising or community building food product. Don’t expect sickly sweet jams or whipped cream – you will find these fresh chewy waffles served with sour cream and home made tart berry jams. Never go past one!
Chocolate: we recommend that you try the ‘FREIA’ milk chocolate during your stay. It melts in your mouth.
Berries: if you travel in early autumn (mid/late August) this is berry season. Forest berries that is. Ask a local and head up into the hills or forest in search for berries. You may find; blueberries, lingonberries, rasberries and if you are up north or in the central mountains; the rare yellow cloudberries.
On a self-drive journey, always be on the look out for small farm shops or stands along the road. Things you cannot drive past:
Strawberries: if you are travelling in the strawberry season – you MUST try Norwegian strawberries. They are seriously amazing. Grown in the nutritious earth that has the chance to rejuvenate through a long winter.
_And if you go past a self-pick strawberry farm, put everything else on hold and enter! Norwegians wait all year for this event. _
New potatoes: be on the look out for new season potatoes – they are often sold in little stands beside the road. Often on an honesty basis; i.e. grab a bag and put the money in an allocated tin.
CLASSIC RECIPE:
Basic Brown Cheese Recipe – can be used with meatballs, reindeer, with added mushrooms.
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 tablespoons flour
• 3⁄4 cup light cream
• 1⁄2 cup chicken broth (optional - just use water if you cannot find this)
• 1 cup shredded gjetost or brown goats cheese
• 3⁄4 cup rømme (crème fraiche)
• 2 tablespoons chopped parsley or 2 tablespoons fresh dill
Method:
Using the meat dish that has been browned off, remove as much oil from the pan as possible and blend in butter and flour. Remove from heat and blend in light cream. Add chicken broth, bring to boil, stirring and cooking until thickened. Mix in Gjetost cheese. Turn heat low.
Blend some of the sauce into the rømme (crème fraiche), then return all to sauce. Add chopped parsley or fresh dill.
Happy shopping and cooking!
