Hike Norway's Wild Lofoten Islands

Welcome to Thon Svolvaer Hotel, Avisgata. Unpack and settle in. In the case our group arrival at the hotel is in the evening, our welcome meeting may be arranged for the following morning.

A lovely introduction to the spectacular landscapes of the Lofoten islands, with today’s walks passing through the picturesque town of Svolvær with its colourful houses and traditional red and yellow fishermen’s cabins called rorbu, which nestle by the harbour, the sea and the inlets. Today’s walks are also a wonderful introduction to the distinctive towering mountains and craggy pinnacles which are so characteristic of these islands.

The beaches of Haukland and Uttakleiv are the most famous on Lofoten, with their white sands, turquoise seas, and backdrop of towering mountains. We take a coach through stunning scenery to the Haukland and Uttakleiv areas on the island of Vestvågøy to explore the hills and coastline surrounding these beautiful hamlets and beaches.

Each week there is a free day when no guided walks are offered. This is an ideal opportunity to relax around the hotel, walk independently or visit local places of interest. Some options for your free day may include:

Cruise down to the spectacular Trollfjord – a spectacularly steep fjord narrowing to only 100m. Visit the vibrant little fishing town of Henningsvær, perched on the end of a thin promontory, its nickname is “The Venice of Lofoten".

There are several local cruises available in Lofoten - we do recommend prebooking if you wish to do a trip, as these can be busy in the high season.

Both walks take the coach and the ferry to the island of Hadseløya, which forms part of the archipelago of Vesterålen. The journey alone makes the day memorable.

Today we travel south west to the area around Stamsund, one of Lofoten’s traditional fishing ports. The area provides a relatively accessible way for all walkers to reach some stunning viewpoints.

Today both groups walk from the hotel to the nearby ferry terminal and take the short ferry journey to the island of Skrova. With its wonderful sandy beaches Skrova is an island not to be missed. It also offers the best view back to the Lofoten wall (as the island chain is often called).

We hope to see you again soon. Early departures may have a packed breakfast from the hotel.

Before booking, you should check with your doctor to see whether any health precautions are needed for your trip. Health advice and requirements can change, so we recommend doing this in good time before travel.

As a general rule, travellers should ensure they are up to date with routine UK vaccinations and boosters, including, for example, MMR and diphtheria, tetanus and polio. Some countries may require you to have specific vaccinations such as Malaria, Rabies and Yellow Fever. Please check with your GP if you are unsure.

Please note that the use or possession of some common prescription or over-the-counter medicines is restricted or banned in certain countries. If you will be carrying medication, you should check with the relevant embassy or consulate before travelling. As an extra precaution, we recommend keeping medication in its original packaging, carrying a copy of your prescription, and, where possible, asking your pharmacist to provide the medication name in the language of the country you are visiting.

For further country-specific health advice, visit www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk or www.traveldoctor.co.uk. If you are travelling from outside the UK, please consult your own doctor and check local entry requirements.

This information applies to travellers holding a full British Citizen passport. Entry requirements vary by destination and can change at short notice. For most EU and worldwide destinations, passports must be valid for the entire duration of your stay. Some countries also require a minimum period of validity remaining on your passport (often up to 6 months beyond your return date), even if you are not staying that long.
We strongly recommend ensuring your passport has at least six months’ validity remaining at the time of travel to avoid any issues.

If you hold a different type of British passport or a passport issued by another country, you must check the requirements with the relevant embassy, consulate, or official government website.