Sail to a place so remote you can’t imagine people ever living there - and yet, in Norway’s Lofoten Island, historians have found evidence of people subsisting there more than 6,000 years ago. Those hardy residents fished with hooks made of bone and horn, surviving year after year in a land dominated by mountains and ice.
Today, you can explore these far-flung islands, with their dramatic glacial scenery, beaches and green fields 124 miles north of the Arctic Circle. Fishing hamlets remain, dotted with colorful, stilted cabins, just begging to be photographed. Abundant birdlife flits through the air when not nesting on towering cliffs. Offshore, depending on the season, minke, pilot, humpback, sperm and orca whales glide beneath the waves.
Photo by Phillip Waterton on Unsplash
Navigating these gorgeous islands by nimble small ship allows for some of the most immersive sightseeing one can have on a cruise. Here are some of our favorite activities in this intriguing archipelago.
Lofotr Viking Museum
This incredible living museum in the town of Borg is set next to the excavation site of the largest Viking home ever found. Museum guides decked out in Viking wear take you back in time and into the home, which goes on for 272 feet, where you’ll see a recreation of life as it was a thousand years ago.
Svolvær
If it’s a picturesque Norwegian fishing town you’re hoping for, these two will satisfy in spades. Svolvær is one of northern Norway’s most important harbors and home to the beautiful yellow Lofoten Cathedral (also known as the Vågan church), large enough to hold 1,200 (there’s a huge influx of fishermen staying in town during the fishing season!). Stop by the Gallery Lofoten House, where you’ll find Norwegian art dating back to the turn of the last century, including those by Otto Sinding, Gunnar Berg and Even Ulving. Don’t miss the watercolors by Lars Lerin and the ceramics by Her Majesty Queen Sonja.
Experience Magic Ice
Visitors of all ages are smitten with Svolvær’s Magic Ice Lofoten, the world’s first permanent ice galley. The sub-zero setting portrays the fascinating history of Lofoten, its fishermen and the Vikings. Plus, you’ll get a signature drink served in an ice glass.
Image by H. Hackbarth on Flickr
RIB Ride Through the Strait
Take an exhilarating ride on a RIB (rigid inflatable boat) through Raftsundet between the islands of Hinnøya and Austvågøya to the beautiful Trollfjorden. In this agile style of boat, you’ll be immersed in incredible scenery and see the sea eagles that make their home here, some of which circle right above your head.
The Trollfjord by Stian Klo
Dining in Leknes
While not an attraction per se, you can’t depart the Lofotens without indulging in fresh seafood in Leknes. Don’t miss the stockfish (you’ll see the filets of this unsalted fish hanging out to air dry in the cold) or a lunchtime Koldtbord (a Norwegian smörgåsbord) with its wide selection of hot and cold dishes. Wash it down with a famous Norwegian lager brewed in Bodo or Tromso.
Enjoy the Midnight Sun
If you’re sailing the Lofoten Islands between late May and mid-July, the sun will stay above the horizon 24 hours a day. That’s more than enough time to go kayaking, hiking and even midnight golfing! If you’re visiting in the winter, you’ll get the chance to see the dancing auroras in the dark Arctic sky. Win-win!
Ready to experience Norway? Let’s chat. Please sign up for my weekly small ship inspirational newsletter if you haven't already.