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COMBINE ANY TWO EUROPE TRIPS FOR A $400 PER PERSON DISCOUNT! 73
Although they are above the Arctic Circle, the Lofoten Islands have a mild climate, making them ideal for our hiking journey. PHOTO: RAINER MIRAU
Northern Norway is an ethereal realm where
jagged mountains sheer out of cobalt seas
and deep fjords shelter a strong Viking history.
On our unique adventure north of the Arctic
Circle, we explore the staggeringly beautiful
Lofoten and Vesterålen islands, the jewels of
Arctic Norway, arcing from Bodø to Tromsø.
To explore this mountainous archipelago,
we’ll take breathtaking coastal hikes, travel
by ferry and inflatable boat, paddle sea kayaks
in the amethyst light of the midnight sky,
visit a Sámi reindeer farm, and go whale
watching. Overnights are in historic rorbuer—
fishermen’s waterfront cabins converted into
rustic yet charming lodgings. As we explore,
we’ll meet the welcoming islanders, visit
villages that date to the Viking era, and relish
the majestic scenery and traditional culture
of these unforgettable islands.
Days 1-4 Bodø / Lofoten Islands From Bodø,
we ferry across the deep waters of the Norwegian
Sea to the Lofotens, enjoying striking panoramas
of the magnificent Lofoten Wall, a dramatic 80-mile
stretch of granite mountains rising above a string of
coastal villages. In picturesque Reine, with its
red and white fishermen’s cottages, we hike to a
tiny hamlet nestled at the head of a deep fjord
and visit charming Nusfjord, a quintessential
Lofoten fishing village and a World Heritage Site.
At the Viking Museum, a reconstructed longhouse
next to a Viking archaeological site, we can
try our hand at axe-throwing, and we enjoy a
Viking-style feast in a longhouse, complete with
mead, stories, and song.
Days 5-9 Vesterålen Islands / Senja / Sámi
Culture / Midnight Kayaking Crossing
northward to the Vesterålens, we hike to the
restored fishing village of Nyksund, now an
artists’ haven, and visit a reindeer farm to learn
about the culture of the Sámi, Europe’s oldest
indigenous people. We also go whale watching,
looking for sperm whales in one of their major
feeding grounds, and head out to sea kayak after
dinner in the long evening light.
Days 10-12 Tromsø After a hike along Husfjellet,
a spectacular ridge above the sea, we head to
Tromsø, Norway’s northern capital. A cable car
brings us high up above this stunning city for a
hike, we visit the city’s Polar Museum, with its
tales of legendary explorer Roald Amundsen,
and attend a midnight concert in the city’s Arctic
Cathedral. Depart on Day 12.
DAVE STAMBOULIS
HIGHLIGHTS
• Hike and explore the Arctic islands of
Norway: Lofoten, Vesterålen, and Senja
• Explore by Zodiac-style inflatable boat
and by sea kayak, enjoying the long
summer light
• Visit a traditional Sámi reindeer farm
• Go whale watching to look for sperm
whales
• Search for colonies of Arctic seabirds on
sheer cliffs
• Stay in converted fishermen’s
stilt-cottages at water’s edge
• Attend a midnight concert at Tromsø’s
impressive Arctic Cathedral
DETAILS
• 12-day trip begins in Bodø and ends
in Tromsø
• 11 nights rustic hotels
• All meals included
DATES
Jun 20-Jul 1, 2018
Jul 15-26
TRIP COST
$6995 (10-14 members)
$7395 (4-9 members)
Single supplement: $960
TRIP LEVEL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
11 hiking days on moderate to steep trails
in sometimes rugged terrain, 4-6 hours
most days