TTXperience! #5: I found the best paradise on Earth: Lofoten!

Hei guys! Hva skjer? :) 

Welcome to our first TTXperience! Series <3

We all have one place that we fell in love with, in my case, it was Lofoten Island! Right from the moment I saw the breathtaking landscape pictures of the fjords, I decided to come here without any second thought. Until now, Lofoten remains my favorite place on Earth!

So… I will now start living in this nostalgic memory!

 

Day 1 - Departure - How did I travel there? 

I started my journey from Helsinki by train to Oulu and met the group there. After welcoming the student group and shopping for groceries, we departed from Oulu to Svolvær via Sweden (obviously!). It was a super long bus ride that worth the experience, as our guide was super energetic and organized games/karaoke when there was still daylight.

We stopped 3-4 times in the middle of the way for a gas station break - which is mandatory in Finnish Laws.

We passed Sweden and finally to Norway. I can promise, that you don’t need GPS to know that you are in Norway. You can just tell by looking out of the window! 

It was so spectacular to see the scenery change, in a moment, all my tiredness from traveling just disappeared. All the mountains, sea, clouds, and singing birds, painted harmonious landscapes that no words can describe.

Our tips:

→ If you are travelling on your own, to be honest, it is a bit tricky as Lofoten locates in a quite remote area. The best way to reach Lofoten Islands is by air, departing at Harstad/Narvik Airport (EVE) (the closest direct flight from Oslo). Nevertheless, it is still 3 hours by car to Svolvær (the gateway to this magnificent archipelago). Another way could be taking a flight to Svolvær Airport (SVJ) on the Lofoten Islands, via a layover in Bodø.

 

Day 2 - Hiking in Svolvær with my super co-travelers

After a long bus ride, I could finally stretch my back. Departed at 21:00 and arrive approximately at 11:30, plus the traveling time from Helsinki to Oulu around 7 hours by train… So I had been sitting for roughly 21 hours. xD 

Therefore, time for a big hike… Yay!

The group was divided into 2 groups: one started hiking immediately and one went to the accommodation for extra rest.

I was one of the ones who hiked straight away to the top of the (easier) mountain named Tjeldbergtinden, which is 367 m above sea level: 

There were some people who went to the harder mountain which had a dramatic name Devil’s Gate, or Djevelporten (500 meters above sea level). The hike was more dangerous with slippery rocks but the scene? 

Totally worth an Instagram check-in.

Devil’s Gate Mountain

During our hike, there was still a lot of snow hiding under sharp rocks, so we were being extra careful. On the way back it was fun to see how dirty we got because the only way to get down the mountain was to sit down and slide along the slippery snow. My co-travelers were super good at climbing, even at the steepest spot.

There was a special part that we needed to use the rope to get to. 

After hiking, it feels great. For a non-fit person like me who goes hiking once per year, this was totally an achievement!

Our tips:

→ If you would like to enjoy Lofoten fully, you’d better eat well to charge your energy properly before the hike. The scenery is very promising and you totally don’t want to miss it! And do not take public transportation because you might miss some awesome moments of scenery.

→ For those who travel individually, consider renting a car to get the most out of your stay. This way, you can explore at your own pace and investigate any side road, beach, fish village, or other attraction that grabs your interest. Traveling in Lofoten by public transport is not really recommended, as you will need to rely on the timetable, and the frequency is the tricky part.

→ As the conditions might still be severe during springtime, don’t forget your waterproof hiking shoes. You might expect to go through snow, uneven terrain, swamps, etc. So sneakers are not working if you want to go hiking! 

→ Packing windproof and waterproof clothes are good ideas as well since the rain/snow and the wind might spoil your experience if you are not prepared for the trip!

 

Day 3 - Highlights of Lofoten Day trip

Early morning, the bus took us to Henningsvaer - one of the most charming and colorful fishing villages in Norway. 

Trust me, I didn’t lie about the charm of this village

We arrived at this picturesque village to explore one of the oldest fisherman villages in Lofoten. 

Traditional Lofoten racks for hanging and drying the fishes. So unique!

These racks were used to hang the cod during the drying process, which relies on the cold Arctic wind. They were designed like a pyramid to prevent the hungry attacks of the birds. That once again emphasized the fact that “There is no such thing as bad weather, only badly prepared fisherman” - a local said.

Ramberg beach

For beach lovers, you could not miss Rambergstranda - or Ramberg beach with its azure clear water and great panorama. Many of us were too excited to swim in this Arctic Ocean, despite the fact that it was chilly…

You might have heard of short names for towns in the world, like Ö - a village in Sweden; or Ø - an island in Denmark. But could you name the town(s) in Norway that have only one letter?

Å town

The pronunciation is “Oh”. ;)

Indeed a very special town as it marks the end of Lofoten which is present the list of shortest village names in the world. In Old Norse word, it means “small river.” Fun fact: There are at least seven villages in Norway called Å, but the one in the Lofoten islands is the most popular with tourists.

To my impression, only we were the tourist there that broke the silence of the town.

The spot that marks the end of Lofoten Islands. Worth a check-in!

 

Day 4 - Let’s sail to the Norweigian sea, literally ;)

Good morning! Another early rising day at 6. :)

Kayaking in the Norwegian sea

“Learn to kayak because zombies cannot swim.”

You will feel so small when surrounded by the majestic scenery.

The bus dropped us in the central of Svolvaer near the harbor to start the Kayak activity.

The Kayaking station

During the season that I went, the activity was super well-prepared by the Kayak team! There was a local guide training us on how to work on the kayak. I have been kayaking before, but the new thing to me is… the Kayak itself. It had the peddle inside the boat, you could locate your feet, and press to turn either left or right. It totally gave the kayak the boost to turn faster without too much sailing effort.

Regarding gears, we were provided: 

- A kayak (D’oh)

- A dry suit. It was like a water-resistant overall that covered from neck to feet. You could wear something warm as a layer for better windproof. 

- An experienced kayak guide 

- Splash cover, paddle, and life vest 

The scenery was amazing with the great combination of sea, mountain, and cloud surrounding us. The water is super clear and we could see the bottom even at a great depth.

Our tips:

→ It was an intense 2,5 hours sailing constantly, so eat well and be prepared for some arm day :)

→ We recommend taking:

• wool underwear pants
• waterproof/windproof jacket and boots
• change of clothing (you might get a bit wet while kayaking)
• bottle of water

Trollfjorden cruise - Adventure to Lofoten sea

When visiting Lofoten, a boat trip out to the sea and fjords is A MUST! I would dare to say that you haven’t really experienced the real Lofoten unless you have been on a boat trip on the fjords.

This 4-hour-cruise was totally enough for me to enjoy the most spectacular narrow Trollfjord, which is only 100 meters wide.

We were lucky enough to see a white-tailed eagle.

Have fun with the seagulls...

Our tips:

→ It’s quite cold and windy, so have some extra layers with you

→ During the season that I was on board, they had overall (snowsuits) for use on the boat to prevent the wind. If you plan to sit on the deck throughout the journey, it would help a lot! Nevertheless, it’s better to be well prepared in case there were no supplies. There were seats on the lower level and toilette.

→ Be careful with your belongings, including your phone when taking photographs of the seagulls. They could be aggressive and “steal” your phone with their claws. (It happened once during our tours, I’m not making that up :D)

So, can I travel to Lofoten on my own?

Solo traveling is quite popular in Lofoten, but there are several things you need to consider.

Camping is for sure the most popular way of accommodating in Lofoten, and there are camping sites everywhere in the summer.

Nevertheless, it can be expensive to rent a car or stay in a hotel’s single room by yourself, unless you love camping and wish to enjoy nature even more!

Compared with traveling on your own, having a package tour could also be an option to reduce the costs of tickets that needs to be booked separately.

Ending

With all these memories, I couldn’t express my gratitude enough to have a chance to travel there. Until now, Lofoten remains my favorite place on Earth.

Looking for more ideas on how to travel to Lofoten? Don't hesitate to visit us here!

If you would like to know more about Norway, check out our monthly magazine:

Timetravels No. 15 - Fjords VS Lofoten