Destination
Duration
Price
Trip Type
Difficulty
Lofoten Islands Kayak Expedition
Join us on a cultural, historical, and high-adventure journey through the stunning fjords on our Lofoten Islands kayak expedition. This challenging Norway Arctic adventure offers paddlers a chance to experience some of the country’s most remote and spectacular scenery—think dramatic granite cliffs, sweeping white sand beaches, and Viking heritage villages—all from the intimate vantage point of a sea kayak.
A full or partial circumnavigation of the Lofoten archipelago provides an unforgettable sea kayaking experience along Norway’s rugged northern coastline. As we paddle from one coastal community to the next, you’ll get a taste of local culture, wildlife, and the raw power of the Norwegian Sea. Weather, sea state, and group paddling ability will guide our flexible route—we have the accessibility to start or end the trip at various points depending on conditions.
This is not a trip for novice paddlers. To participate in this Norway kayaking expedition, you must be in excellent paddling shape, capable of paddling up to 40 km in a day (occasionally), and confident handling conditions such as 35 km/hr headwinds, 2-meter swell, following seas, and clapotis. Expect small surf landings, rocky beaches, and the need for advanced sea kayaking skills.
Our route begins along the southeastern shoreline of the Lofoten Islands, weaving through historic fishing villages and beneath towering 800-meter cliffs. The intricate coastline offers plenty of opportunities for exploration and cultural stops. In the second half of the journey, we round the northwestern tip and head northeast along the exposed northern coast—where the landscape turns wilder, the wind cooler, and the beaches longer and more isolated.
For experienced paddlers looking for a true sea kayaking in Norway adventure, this is the ultimate way to explore the dramatic seascapes and cultural heritage of the Arctic north.
An example itinerary is as follows. The first portion of the expedition we will be paddling the South Eastern shores of the Islands. This shoreline has numerous historical villages, which we will visit. We will paddle beneath 800m granite cliffs, and enjoy the intricate rocky shoreline.
The second portion will find us rounding the northwest tip of the Islands, and travelling in a north easterly direction along a more exposed coastline. The northern coastline consists of granite cliffs and huge white sand beaches. The atmosphere changes and is considerably more wild and remote, with swell, a cool northerly wind, and few villages along this stretch.
Experience, travel – these are as education in themselves.
Highlights
- Paddling in the arctic circle
- Experiencing 24 hour daylight
- Learning about the rich Viking heritage
- Circumnavigating Vestvagoy, Fkaksadoya and Moskenes Island
Itinerary
Arrive in Svolvaer, transfer to Kabelvag via taxi. Move into Vandrerhjem SommerHotel, meeting at 7pm. Kabelvag is a perfect town to commence our trip. Historically, it was the most important village in the Lofoten’s during the Viking era. King Oystein founded the village and ruled until 1123. Kabelvag has something for everyone, from a fishing museum, to a gallery dedicated to Norwegian artists, and finally an aquarium.
Hotel included. Meals not included.
We will paddle along the sheer granite walls of Austvågøya Island’s south shore and into the islets of the charming town of Henningsvaer. This picturesque town is perfect for a lazy stroll. The Lofotens Hus is the area’s best-known gallery and showcases more than hundred art pieces by Norwegian artists. We will continue past Hennisngsvaer to a beautiful little Island Archipelago where we will set up camp amidst the views of 1000m Granite Cliffs.
Camping. Breakfast, lunch, dinner.
We will Island hop across the Gimsoystraumen fiord to Vestvågøy Island. We’ll visit the charming town of Stamsund and enjoy a hot beverage before continuing on to a lovely campsite with a fantastic view of Mt Festivand and the surrounding peaks on Austvågøya Island. We will be able to experience the land of the midnight sun from our tents, and watch, as the night never goes dark. This is the time to capture amazing images through photography as the dusk light lasts for hours.
Camping. B-L-D
Today we paddle bellow massive granite walls that rise straight out of the ocean. Islands and islets run parallel to these towering peaks and make for some interesting and fun paddling. In the afternoon we’ll pull into Ballstad and check out this lovely little town. We will continue paddling and set up camp just past Ballstad.
Camping. B-L-D
We will paddle up the Nappstraumen Fiord and cross over to Flakstadoya Island . We’ll arrive at the picturesque village of Nussfjord and have a look around. This village is located a tight cove surrounded by towering peaks. The buildings here were built in the 19th century and have been attractively restored. They capture the character and the culture of the Lofotens. We will continue onto Reine for the night, one of the most beautiful Fjords on the Lofotens.
Camping. B-L-D
We will cross over to the North side of the Lofoten Islands and continue paddling along the north side of the Lofoten’s, camping at white sand beaches along the way. We will see rare Sea Eagles and watch the antics of puffins that nest along the cliffs. We will marvel at the wild and rugged coastline of Granite cliffs, white sand beaches, and unhindered swell rolling in from the arctic.
Camping. B-L-D
Our final day of kayaking will bring us back to Kablevag. We recommend that guests book their flights for the day after we arrive in case we arrive late due to weather.
B-L. Accommodation and dinner not included.
Accommodations
This trip is a wilderness camping based expedition. The highlights of our tent based expeditions are sleeping under the midnight sun, total flexibility in our route plan depending on weather and group desires, as well as self sufficiency during the trip. Tent based trips offer an intimacy with the natural environment that we don’t experience anywhere else in our modern everyday lives. Waking up to the sights and sounds of the wilderness offer a peace and tranquility to each day. Ending the day around a campfire, watching the sun go down and the stars come out is one of the highlights of these trips.
Each evening we will set up tents in a different location along our route and spend the night in a beautiful wilderness setting. The requirements for our evening campsites are beautiful views, water front property, and some sort of beach for ease of access with our kayaks.
Each campsite will consist of an area where we set up tents, a separate kitchen area where our dining tarp and kitchen are set up and a designated wilderness “bathroom”.
Dates & Rates
Please request
Prices from
What's Included
- All breakfasts, lunches and dinners starting on Day 2 of the trip through to lunch on Day 15
- Expedition kayaks, paddles, life jackets and safety equipment
- Dedicated kayak guide
- Guided walks and land excursions
- First night in Kablevag Hostel
- Transportation and entrance fee to Viking Museum
Not Included
- Any flights
- Airport transfers
- Accommodation on night of Day 15
- All meals on Day 1 (This is the day everyone arrives and we meet at 7pm)
- Alcoholic beverages
- Travel insurance
- Camping equipment (tents, sleeping bags, thermarests)
Weather
The warm marine currents of the Gulf Stream, ensure the climate in the Lofotens is considerably milder than in other parts of the world at the same latitude. However, summers are still relatively cool with July and August average day temperatures ranging between 10C- 18C.
Winds are generally light, but occasional weather disturbances can bring windier conditions. The northern shoreline of the Lofoten’s is considerably cooler.
Ocean Conditions
The expedition starts on the south-eastern shores of the Lofoten Islands which are protected from the dominant northerly swells. The first week of our travels will be fairly calm seas. The northern coast of the Islands is exposed coastline with continual swell for the second week of the expedition.
Activities
The Sea Kayaking
Sea kayaking the Lofoten’s offers an incredible array of vistas and paddling types. Paddlers must be experienced expedition kayakers and comfortable paddling in a variety of conditions. Paddlers must be able to paddle for 2 hours at a time in a variety of conditions. This is a cold water environment and should not be your first kayak expedition experience.
Trip Map
Pictures & Videos
FAQs
The meals will be prepared by your guide on the trip in a camp setting. Western type food will be provided with protein, vegetable and carbohydrate options for each meal. Meals are nutritious, healthy and are aimed at providing participants with the energy required for a full day of paddling.
We can accommodate any dietary restrictions so please let us know prior to the trip of any dietary needs.
There is always a possibility of rain during the trip. Some years we have had a day or two of rain, some trips have rained the whole time. Guests should have adequate rain gear for both on the water and on land. A sturdy tent with a full coverage fly is a necessity during the trip. There will be a group tent to protect against the elements when in camp or lunching on beaches.
Winds tend to blow up in the afternoons in the fjords. There may be whitecaps to paddle through if this happens in the fjords. The guide will assess the conditions before each fjord crossing.
The south side of the islands are fairly protected, with up to 1 m swell if the winds have been blowing for a few days. The North side of the Islands are much more rugged, and swell can run up to 2m with potential for surf landings and strong currents.
Air temperature can hover between 10C-18C.
Average ocean temperature is 10C.
There are numerous options for kayaks to paddle. We have both rudder and skeg boats as well as single and doubles. Please let us know your preference beforehand and we will reserve that type of boat for you. We generally prefer to use Prijon plastic boats with rudders as these are robust enough to allow for rocky landings. They also provide lots of storage for an extended trip.
We have Prijon paddles that are made of fibreglass. They are good blades, if you are used to a carbon fibre or Greenland style paddle you may prefer to bring your own paddle.
We have four different sizes of PFDs for guests. Wearing PFDs is a mandatory safety aspect of the trip. They are all high quality Kokatat PFDs.
A typical day is as follows. This will depend on weather conditions:
7:30 am breakfast
9:00 on water paddling and exploring the area
12:00 lunch break
13:00 afternoon paddle
16:00 arrive at our campsite for the night
We will endeavour to take a morning and afternoon stretch break each day to keep our hamstrings loose and happy!
Daily distances depend on weather conditions and surf conditions. There are days where we may have to paddle up to 30km without any break because of surf conditions. Generally, days are 25 km long with breaks through the day.
We will kayak between 3 and 6 hours a day with lunch breaks and rest stops during that time.
The water temperature is an average of 10C.
There are opportunities to enjoy the luxury of coffees and pastries at each village we visit. There are art museums at each village as well with the opportunity to purchase items, as long as they fit in the kayak!
The Lofoten has tiny black flies that pack a punch! These tiny “no see um’s” tend to come out in the evenings and can be ferocious. A face bug net is essential at some of our campsites where they seem to thrive!
Participation in any trip is subject to each participant reading and signing our Release of Liability, Waiver of Claims, Assumption of Risks and Indemnity Agreement and any additional waivers that are trip specific (the “Waiver(s)”). If the Waiver(s) are not completed, participation in the trip will not be permitted. PLEASE READ THE WAIVER(S) CAREFULLY! By signing, you will waive or give up certain legal rights, including the right to sue for negligence, breach of contract, or breach of any Occupiers Liability Act or claim compensation following an accident.
The Waivers are provided for review and completion at the time of booking. A sample of our Waiver can be reviewed here.
Enjoy Our Reviews
