Norway - Lofoten

The raw beauty of the Lofoten

Happy to see them. Some may associate the name "Lofoten" with Lot's wife. Where does this comparison come from? It results not only from the similarity of sound - after all, Lot's wife froze from the impression looking at the burning Sodom. Tourists who visit the islands react the same with delight. In 2006, experts from National Geographic awarded Lofoten the third most beautiful islands in the world, and the view from Reine on the Kirkefjord was recognized as the most beautiful in Norway. This is a clear proof that the local landscapes can leave you speechless. One of the main attractions of the area is the polar day that lasts here from the end of May to mid-July. Not only is the lack of nights exotic for tourists, it also allows you to plan much longer trips. In addition to climbing the mountains and exploring islets, there are also several museums that showcase fishing and Viking history.

The Lofoten archipelago lies approximately 300 km beyond the North Arctic Circle, at the height of Narvik. The Vestfjorden strait divides the islet from the mainland. The archipelago is famous for the beauty of the wild landscape, as well as the unprecedented abundance of fish. A trip to these areas is the dream of thousands of fishermen and nature lovers. Whale safaris are also tempting, along with charming little hamlets and off-the-beaten-track fishing villages. One of the most beautiful is the hamnøy settlement on a small rocky island - beautiful and sparkling with colors even on a cloudy day.

Lofoten's beauty is harsh and sometimes cruel - some of the settlements are abandoned by residents who couldn't stand the climate. The sharp slopes of the mountains rising straight from the sea to a height of up to 1161 meters are the reason why villages are cut off from the world and contributed to the abandonment of settlements as well as low temperatures. This raw beauty is appreciated by lovers of climbing and hiking along steep trails. There are really many mountain hiking trails in Lofoten, but you must know that they are very different, for example, from our Tatras. Here, even a hill of 400 meters is extremely steep and requires a lot of fitness. The higher it is, the more the rocks are bare and precipitous, and the weather changes very quickly.

A paradise for anglers and red houses

The hallmark of Lofoten is rorbuer, i.e. red houses on stilts. They used to be traditional fishermen's huts, today they are rented out to tourists. The red protective paint they are covered with is produced, among others, by from cod liver oil. The first such huts were built in the 12th century, before that, fishermen lived in upturned boats.

The Lofoten Islands are the winter spawning ground for giant cod, even from as far away as the Barents Sea. At that time, thousands of fishermen from all over Norway come here, as well as hobby fishermen. During this period, it is not unusual to catch a fish that is 20 or even 30 kg. In May and June, they eat well halibut, redfish and various varieties of smaller flatfish, while in July and August it is the time of the most appreciated fish by Norwegian fishermen - saithe.

Catching large specimens is not the only reason that attracts anglers to Lofoten. Whoever has been here and has not tried Norwegian cuisine has missed a great opportunity. In the restaurants you can eat delicious fish dishes made of saithe, streaked catfish, haddock, fried cod tongues or fish soup. You can try such flavors as Fiskepudding, i.e. fish pudding, or Fiskekaker fish cookies in the form of a hamburger.

Even though the islands are far to the north, the climate is mild due to the warm Gulf Stream. In summer you can sunbathe on the wonderful sandy beaches as well as on the rocks. Visiting also requires a lot of time, because the area consists of many smaller and larger islands, and each has something worth seeing. The very mountainous and rocky Moskenesoy island is interesting. It is home to the village with the shortest name in the world - A. The name ends similarly to the access road that ends here.

A camper to the end of the world

The most convenient way to get to the islands is by car or camper. The downside is spending many hours in the car, but the views on the way make up for it fully - especially if we choose the E6 route running through Norway along the shores of the Norwegian Sea. Another option, and at the same time the cheapest solution, is a cruise on the Gdańsk-Nynasham ferry, followed by a trip along the western shores of the Baltic Sea.

What about when we get there? Not only anglers will love the Skippergården Midnightsun campsite (8315 Laukvik). It is located in the village of Laukvik, approx. 30 min. the road separates it from Svolvær, the center of the Lofoten. It is the perfect place to feel in touch with nature, calm down and forget about civilization. Unfortunately, as in the whole of Norway, it is not too cheap here: you have to pay 160 NOK / day for a motorhome (about 20 euro), access to electricity costs 40 NOK / day (5 euro), you need to be aware that that the prices in euros are given for comparison only, and you can only pay in kronor. The upside is that cards are accepted.

Another interesting campsite in the Lofoten Islands is Ramberg Gjestegård as (8380 Ramberg). Here we will pay 45 NOK per day for access to electricity, 190 NOK / day for a motorhome place, and if there are more than 2 people staying at the campsite, each will pay 20 NOK / day. The place is very intimate, so you can relax here, and in a nearby restaurant, delicious fish dishes are served.

We can find many such places in Lofoten, and each of them will allow us to get to know the wonderful regions of the north. We will never forget this trip.