Wild and wonderful with steep mountains, colourful houses and vibrant fishing villages. Lofoten. As Lonely Planet said: "You'll never forget".
Wild and wonderful with steep mountains, colourful houses and vibrant fishing villages. Lofoten. As Lonely Planet said: "You'll never forget".
The earth's crust buckled and pushed up a mountain range that stretches out and into the sea. When the giant ice cap from the last Ice Age continued working its way along, it left behind the Lofotveggen (the Lofoten wall). This is a range of peaks and islands, narrow sounds and fjords, emerald green bird cliffs and chalk-white beaches with some of the best surf waves in the world.
In the midst of this magnificent natural landscape, you will find clusters of houses and people - and fishing boats. Lofoten is the place where the "skrei" come to spawn. It migrates along the coast making it a firm, lean fish and ends up in Lofoten, where it gives life to new generations of cod. But for many, it will be the last journey they make. Fishermen from all along the coast come to catch the cod. Some of the catch is served up fresh on the dinner plate, but much of it is salted and dried.
You can still see rows upon rows of cod fish drying around the fishing villages of Lofoten. Fish have been dried here since the Middle Ages, and for centuries this northern delicacy has been shipped to the rest of the world. This fish has been one of Norway's most important exports, and the thousands of different varieties of bacalao you are served around the world have one thing in common: they originated in Lofoten. Many people regard dried fish as a snack; maybe you should try some when you are in Lofoten.
Seas with an abundance of fish also attract lots of birds. Lofoten has bustling bird cliffs, and you can watch the majestic flight of the sea eagle between the pointed peaks. Scattered across the many islands down by the sea shores, people have made their homes. They cluster together in small fishing villages that are close to rich fishing grounds.
Colourful wooden houses and fisherman's cabins, towered over by huge mountains, huddle together in their battle against the mighty forces of nature. With Havila Voyages you get to visit several of these fishing villages and experience nature, architecture, food culture and art. Artists are inspired by the beautiful landscape, the changing weather and the light, and there are many art galleries to choose from in Lofoten.
Lofoten was also popular with the Vikings. In this archipelago, you can visit the world's largest longhouse from the Viking Age. The house is 83 metres long and was built as the chieftain's seat at Borg over 1,000 years ago.
Here you get an insight into the Vikings' way of life, sample Viking food and try their weapons and tools. Havila Voyages sail through Lofoten on both the southbound and northbound routes. The Kystruten cruise visits Stamsund and Svolvær, and you can visit several places by road and by sea on one of our excursions.Lofoten. As Lonely Planet said: "You'll never forget".
Lofoten is one of Norway's most iconic destinations, where dramatic mountain peaks rise straight from the sea, colourful fishing villages line the shoreline, and white sandy beaches meet crystal-clear Arctic waters. This unique landscape has been shaped by nature for thousands of years and by the people who have called it home for generations.
The sea is at the heart of life in Lofoten. Every winter, the famous Arctic cod, known as skrei, returns to these waters to spawn, continuing a tradition that has sustained local communities for centuries. Our carefully selected excursions invite you to experience Lofoten's breathtaking scenery, rich coastal culture, and remarkable natural heritage up close.
