The Lofoten Vikings
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Port
Svolvaer (Lofoten), Norway
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Activity Level
Easy Activity
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Excursion Type
Information Not Currently Available
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Wheelchair Accessible
No
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Starting At (prices in USD)
$350
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Minimum Age
Information Not Currently Available
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Duration
Approximately 7 Hours
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Meals Included
Meals included
The Lofoten Islands consist of a range of rugged mountains rising out of the sea and spanning approximately 100 miles. Words can scarcely capture the beauty of the rich, green vegetation in the valleys or the villages and fishing ports that cling to this land of granite walls and volcanic rocks.
You will start out from Svolvær -- the capital of the Lofoten Islands -- situated on the island of Austvågøya. The Lofoten islands were once quite isolated from one another, but bridges and undersea tunnels are now in place to link them. An approximately 90-minute drive brings you to the village of Unstad on the yttersia -- the side of the islands facing the Norwegian Sea. This is one of the most traditional of the small communities of Lofoten, and the thirty or so houses here huddle together for protection from the elements.
Continue to Borg and the Lofoten Viking Museum -- site of an ancient Viking farm that was discovered by chance at the end of the last century. It has since been reconstructed. Based on what they found here, historians believe that the Lofoten Islands were a center of power as early as the Viking times. The main building, at 272 feet long, is surrounded by various exhibitions and reconstructions, offering a realistic impression of what life must have been like during those harsh times. The smoke from the fireplaces and the aroma of local cooking bring the village to life. Watch a movie about the region here.
Move on to the village Stamsund for a typical Lofoten lunch in a beautiful setting. After lunch, you'll take the scenic route via Valberg back to the pier.
Please note: The museum has a new auto-guide system that operates on smart phones. Bring your own smart phone if you have one; otherwise, you can borrow one from the museum. The use of smart phones does not involve any roaming or internet costs. The system is wifi-driven and operates on the Lofoten Viking Museum's network.