NORWAY - Senja and Lofoten Islands plus Oslo 13 Days

This itinerary focuses on the stunning outdoor terrain of Senja Island, Andoya Island, Lofoten Island and cosmopolitan Oslo.

Norway is the westernmost country in the Scandinavian peninsula, made up mostly of mountainous terrain. Nearly all of its population lives in the south, surrounding the capital of Oslo. Norway’s coastline is made up of thousands of miles of fjords, bays and island shores. The fjords were carved out by glaciers, as were the country's mountains.

• The Lofoten archipelago is located north of the Arctic Circle in the county of Nordland, Norway. Due to the Gulf Stream the climate is mild, despite the latitude north of the Arctic Circle. Between May 25 and July 17 you can experience the midnight sun, and from early May the nights are bright.

• The archipelago is known for its exceptional natural beauty, picturesque fishing settlements, the Rorbu (fishermen’s cottages) stockfish and an abundant wildlife. Tiny settlements with typical Rorbus are found around the islands. Nowadays many of them are used as accommodation for visitors to the islands. Here you will experience amazing beaches! (but cold water). Hiking in summer is the most popular activity.

Before you go:

• Norway Guide: Lonely Planet and Fodor’s Norway.

• Travel Adaptors: Type C and Type F.

• Renting a car is the best option to see the country.

• Visa is not required for USA and Canadian citizens.

• The Norwegian currency is the krone. So, if you have Euro dollars, it won’t get you far.

• Note: It is not necessary to withdraw large amounts of cash at the ATMs in Norway. The country is moving toward a cash free environment. Coins and bank notes now account for only four (4) percent of their financial transactions. This makes Norway the most cashless society in the world with credit cards and PayPal accepted everywhere.

• Hiking Poles are a huge asset when trekking the trails.

  • Poles do help decrease the forces placed on the body. This is good news for those individuals who have previously injured hips or knees and for those who hike with a heavy pack.

  • In addition it is essential to bring sturdy shoes and a wind proof jacket.

• Drone Regulations: Norway has adopted the EU drone regulations requiring the registration of all UAS pilots flying drones with cameras and/or over 250g in weight. For any photography drone, you must now be registered before flying within Norway.

  For more information and to begin the registration process, visit the Norwegian Civil Aviation Authority’s website at: https://luftfartstilsynet.no/en/drones

DAY 1

• Arrive at either Bardafoss or Tromso airport and transfer to your hotel on Senja Island, if time allows.

  • Tromso is a 3.5 hr. driving time to Senja. (ferry connection)

  • Bardafoss is a 2-hr. driving time to Senja (no ferry needed)

• If you decide to stay the first night in Tromso, you will not be disappointed.

• Tromsø has a vibrant, cosmopolitan feel despite its Arctic location. The city has a great restaurant scene with plenty of freshly caught seafood on the menu and lively nightlife – there’s more pubs per capita here than any other town in Norway.

• Historically Tromso has been the starting point for many significant Arctic expeditions and today provides a great base to explore and hunt the Northern Lights during the winter season.

  • Read more about Tromso.

  • Top attractions in Tromso.

• Overnight: The villages of Mefjordvær or Hamn on Senja Island are the best location(s) to base yourself. (3 nights)

  • Mefjord Brygge Hotel is preferred.

  • Hamn i Senja is another good choice.

• Distance:

  • Mefjordvaer —> Fjordgard, 35 minutes.

  • Mefjordvaer —> Skaland, 27 minutes.

  • Mefjordvaer —> Gryllefjord ferry port, 70 minutes.

    
    
    

DAY 2 and 3

• Senja is Norway’s second largest island, located 250 km north of the Arctic Circle and just north of the more famous Lofoten Islands. Senja Island is just as spectacular as the Lofoten Islands, but far less traveled. Here you will find stunning vistas of fjords, fishing villages and mountains, but not the crowds. It is paradise for hikers.

Best Day Hikes on Senja Island:

• Husfjellet (Medium difficulty – 7.6 km – 3 to 4 hours)

  • The trailhead to Husfjellet begins in the village of Skland. The hike is a 630 meters elevation gain as the climb is gradual with amazing views throughout the entire climb. This hike to Husfjellet is possibly the most rewarding in Senja. A great family hike !

• Segla / Hesten (Medium to Hard difficulty – 3.7 km – 2 to 3 hours)

  —The famous view of Segla (which is found all over social media) is taken from neighbor mountain Hesten.

  • Hiking trailheads for both Segla and Hesten starts in village of Fjordgård, but slightly different locations. The trail to Hesten is short (less than 2 km to the top), but steep with an elevation.

    • Directions: <map>

• Mefjordvaer Trail - a 2 km loop trail near village of Mefjordvaer. Considered an easy route, it takes an average of 45 min to complete, with great views of the fjords and the town.

• Sukkertoppen trail - a scenic route with a great view. The last part of the trail is quite steep, but nice to stop right under the peak if one does not want to go all the way. Difficulty: moderate, 5 km RT.

• Senja Island’s coastal roads are part of the National Tourist Route.

• A valuable app to download on any hike is All Trails.

• Overnight: Senja Island.

• Other Highlights:

DAY 4

• Explore Andoya Island.

• Take the earliest ferry in the morning from Gryllefjord (Senja) to Andoya Island.

  • Ferry time: 1 hr. 45 m

• If you have time for only one hike on Andoya Isl. then Matinden trail should be it.

  • A eight (8) km (4.6-mile) out-and-back trail near the town of Bleik. Difficulty: moderate. <directions>

  • A beautiful and scenic hike with breathtaking view of mountains, coast and sandy beaches with turquoise blue sea.

• Journey later in the day to Sortland. It is the largest town in Vesterålen region and makes a good stop to stock up on food and supplies.

• Overnight: Sortland

• Distance:

  • Mefjordvaer —> Gryllefjord ferry port, 1 hr. 10 min

  • Ferry duration: 1 hr. 45 m

  • Andoya Island ferry port —> Matinden trail parking lot, 15 min.

  • Matinden hike parking lot —> Sortland, 1 hr. 40 min.

DAY 5 and 6

• First stop is the abandoned fishing village of Nyksund. The town is attempting to reborn itself as an artist colony.

  • Nyksund is a pleasant photo stop and worth a quick visit.

  • Vehicles are not allowed in town. Parking is available just outside of town.

• Continue to Svolvaer (overview). Svolvaer is set with a backdrop of high mountains and the gateway to the Lofoten islands. The main tourist attraction in town is hiking.

• Hike to Fløya og Djevelporten.

  • A challenging and great hike with spectacular views. The trail takes you from Svolvær to an altitude of 600 m in about two (2) hours. On the way you will have an awesome view of Svolvaer, the famous Svolværgeita (a pinnacle rock which is famous with rock climbers) and pass the striking Devil's Gate. The route has some steep climbs and steep slopes, so you need to be extra careful. The last sections to Fløya are only suitable for physically fit hikers.

    Distance: 4.5 km, Difficulty: moderate, Elevation: 580 m, Time: 4-5 hrs.

  • Getting to the trail: next to the Svolvaer cemetery.

    • GPS coordinates: 68°14'40" N 14°34'41"E

• Take a Trollfjord cruise.

  • When visiting the Lofotens, a boat trip out on the sea and fjords is suggested. It is a fun & relaxing way to see the spectacular fjords of the area.

    The most famous fjord is the narrow Trollfjord, only 100 meters (300 ft) wide at its entrance. Trollfjord is located close to Svolvaer city, where all of the Trollfjord cruises depart from.

  • <Click here> for information on booking cruise.

• Svolvaer makes for a good base with plenty of restaurants and shops and to stock up on supplies for further excursions.

• Overnight: Svolvaer, (2 nights)

  • Where to stay:

    • Svinøya Rorbuer (above water fisherman cabins)

    • Anker Brygge (luxury)

    • Thon Hotel Lofoten (mid-range)

    • Scandic Svolvær (mid-range)

• Distance:

  • Sortland —> Nyksund, 1 hr.

  • Nyksund —> Svolvaer, 3 hrs.

DAY 7

• Visit the Lofotr Vikingmuseum.

  • <Admission hours and price>

  • In the town of Borg in Lofoten, <map> you can experience the Viking Age in a living environment. Taste the food, hear the stories and feel the smell of tar and fire.

• Continue to Hamnoy Norway.

  • Hamnøy is a small but unbelievably beautiful fishing village in the Lofoten archipelago. It’s considered one of the most gorgeous places of all in Norway. The pictures of Hamnøy’s red fishermen’s cabins on the seashore have attracted professional and amateur photographers from all over the world !

    • The red cabins (rorbuer) are available. <Reserve here>

    • You can get that iconic view we mentioned above from the Hamnoy Bridge Photospot Viewpoint.
      

• Overnight: Hamnoy (Red cabins recommended)

  • otherwise in the town of Reine, 5 miles away. (2 nights)

• Distance:

  • Svolvaer —> Lofotr Vikingmuseum, 1 hr.

  • Lofotr Vikingmuseum —> Hamnoy, 1 hr.
    

DAY 8

• Hike the famous Reinebringen trail.

• The Reinebringen trail is one of the most popular hikes in all of Norway. The view, combined with the easy access from the town of Reine and a constant flow of images on social media has resulted in Reinebringen becoming one of the most popular hikes on Lofoten, with hundreds of people making the ascent each day during the summer season.

  • Weather is the main determinate when to hike.

    • Fog, rain and heavy clouds are a frequent occurrence. Be prepared to go anytime when weather conditions improve.

  • The trail is a staircase of 1560 stone steps. Except for the last 50 meters, the Rheinebringen trail is essentially a long climb up the stairs.

DAY 9

• Hike the Ytresand til Roren trail. A pleasant family hike.

  • With only a small amount of elevation gain (365 m) and a good trail, this hike provides fantastic views <photo> over the turquoise waters of Yttersand beach and across to the distant mountains.

  • Distance: 5 km RT, Difficulty: easy-moderate, Duration: 3 hrs.

  • Getting there: from the E10, drive in the direction of Fredvang. There is parking area at the trailhead. GPS coordinate: 68°05'57.2"N 13°08'04.6"E

• Stop at the picturesque fishing villages of Nusfjord and Henningsvaer.

  • Nusfjord was once home to around 1500 fishers, some living in rorbuer (fisherman houses). Many of the old buildings related to the fishing industry have been renovated. Today the fish oil factory, blacksmith, boathouses, and many other buildings in this historical village provide a glimpse of the old Lofoten life. Nusfjord is nowadays an open-air museum. <Video>

  • Henningsvær is another picturesque fishing village worth a stop. The town’s dramatic setting consists of colorful buildings lining the harbor, quirky cafes and restaurants.

    • Henningsvaer is nicknamed “the Venice of Lofoten” and is located about 20 km (12 mi) southwest of Svolvær. <Video>

• Afterward continue to Svolvaer.

• Overnight: Svolvaer

• Distance:

  • Hamnoy —> Ytresand til Roren trailhead. 25 min.

  • Ytresand til Roren —> Nusfjord. 30 min.

  • Nusfjord —> Svolvaer. 2 hrs.

    
    

DAY 10

• Travel to Oslo, Norway.

• The main airport in the Lofoten Islands is Svolvaer (SVJ) Airport.

  • Other nearby airports include: Evenes (EVE) (165 km) and Bardafoss (BDU) (300 km). <Airport locations>

• This itinerary began arriving at either Tromso or Bardafoss airport(s). Depending on cost factors, returning to Oslo from a different airport and the cost of one-way car rental drop-off fees will depend on your travel budget.

  • Returning to Tromso is basically a full day drive which should be considered in your decision.

    • Evenes and Bardafoss airports are reasonably close, only three (3) and four (4) hour drive(s) respectively.

• Overnight: Oslo, (3 nights)

• Getting from Oslo airport to downtown Oslo:

  • Flytoget airport express trains depart every ten (10) minutes daily and take only 20 minutes to get to Oslo Central Station.

    • Oslo Central Station is the main railway station in Oslo and close to hotels and downtown attractions.

  • Uber - more expensive.

• Map of Oslo.

DAY 11 and 12

Oslo highlights:

• Oslo has an excellent public transportation system named Ruter. <route map> Ruter is the best choice to travel around the city. Distances between attractions are often quite short, so you can explore a lot of the city by walking or biking.

  • A car rental is not necessary visiting Oslo.

• Don’t miss Aker Brygge. Built around an abandoned shipyard, the area is the heart and soul of the city. Bustling and vibrant day and night, it is of stunning architecture. An estimated 12 million visitors find their way to Aker Brygge every year, drawn by its sea-front boardwalk, fine shopping, great restaurants, and cozy year-round patio bars with fireplaces.

• Vigeland Sculpture Park, located inside Oslo's famous Frogner Park, is one of Norway's most famous tourist attractions.

  • Open year-round, this unique sculpture park is Gustav Vigeland's lifework and contains 250 of his dynamic sculptures in bronze, granite, and wrought iron.

• Visit Oslo's new National Museum. The museum consists of collections from the National Gallery and the National Museum, as well as additional collections of contemporary art and design.

• If you’re a museum lover, then the Munch Museum is another “must-see”.

  • Dedicated to the life and work of Norway's greatest painter, Edvard Munch (1863-1944), the museum contains a vast collection of paintings, graphic art, drawings, watercolors, and sculptures from the great artist's life.

• Visit the Oslo Opera House.

  • The Opera House has become popular due to a odd reason. From the ground, the roof of the Opera House slopes steeply up, creating an expansive walkway past the high glass windows of the interior foyer. Clad in Italian marble and white granite, visitors can stroll up the incline, and walk on the roof and enjoy views of Oslo and the fjord.

• If you are visiting in August, enjoy the month-long Festival of Chamber Music, which includes dozens of chamber music concerts. <Learn more>

• Hop-On, Hop-Off Bus Tours: a smart and convenient choice for travelers. A ideal sightseeing experience, minus the headache of all the research, legwork and planning.

  • When does it run? daily from April 1st - September 30th.

  • Meeting Point: You can hop on to the bus from any of the stops.

• Oslo’s nightlife: Renowned for its live music scene, Oslo’s bars and clubs stay open until 3am and are generally easy to walk between.

  • Start your evening in the Grünerløkka hipster district, this renovated district has quite a few great places to grab a few drinks like Blå & Bortenfor which are easily located right next to each other.

  • Grünerløkka has become one of the trendiest districts of Oslo. It has become a hub for independent art galleries, cool bars, and trendy restaurants. With beautiful greenery and a vibrant cultural scene, Grünerløkka is place not to miss.

  • Another popular nightclub is “The Villa”. It is open only on Friday and Saturday night and is regularly voted by music magazines as one of the best clubs in the world. <location>

  • Not far is Mathallen Food Hall which includes more than 30 specialty stores, cafés and eateries that offer high-quality food and drinks.

• The Viking Ship Museum is now closed for rebuilding. The museum will reopen as the Museum of the Viking Age in 2026.

  • Getting there: By bus, 30 min. from Oslo Central Station.

• Where to eat — tasty restaurant dinners are part of the experience when you visit Oslo.

• Where to stay — the best place to stay is in Central Oslo, (preferably close to Karl Johans gate, which is the city's main street).

  • It is in central Oslo where you'll find the Royal Palace, National Theatre, and Oslo Cathedral, as well as an impressive array of museums and galleries. Most of the city's top attractions are within walking distance of each other.

DAY 13

• Depart for home or another European destination.

Climate Guide:

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Sources: Earth Trekkers