DAYS
9
TOUR CODE
LOFO-27
COST
£6495
DAYS
9
TOUR CODE
LOFO-27
COST
£6495
Lofoten is where jagged mountain peaks rise from the Arctic sea, teeming with wildlife, and where blinding green pastures and serene coastlines have harboured civilisation for millennia. Our tour will discover this unparalleled beauty alongside the region's rich history and culture.
Overview
We will begin in Oslo, exploring some of the city's artistic and cultural highlights, from the medieval Akershus Fortress to Oslo Opera House and the Royal Palace. Artistic treasures await during our exploration of the Nationalmuseet including paintings by Edvard Munch.
Retreating from the bustling city to rural Lofoten, we will witness a stark shift in landscape and encounter a quieter atmosphere. A particular highlight will be the Lofotr Viking Museum, based on the archaeological findings of a Viking village. This magnificent site is home to a full-scale reconstruction of the chieftain’s house, a blacksmith’s forge, two Viking ship reproductions and a variety of craftspeople designing authentic pieces, all surrounded by stunning, mountainous views. Further fragments of history will be discovered at the Trondenes Historical Centre, where we will delve into the Stone Age and Viking eras.
WILDLIFE HAVEN
The natural world of the Lofoten and Vesterålen archipelagos will be a truly unforgettable aspect of our tour. We will journey along the famed National Scenic Route, taking in jagged mountain ranges and idyllic Arctic beaches, and through guided walks – both city-based and off-the-beaten-track – we will enjoy close encounters with both nature and culture, including an abundance of wildlife. During our whale safari we hope to encounter sperm whales in their natural habitat, whilst a Trollfjord cruise will acquaint us with the region's seabird species.
Inga Saami Siida Reindeer Farm is a family establishment which has been herding reindeer for 150 years. This special and personal experience will illuminate Saami history, offering insights into indigenous cultural traditions and stories, reindeer herding and Saami crafts, all integral to our understanding of the region's historical, artistic and cultural landscape.
Tour Director
Peter Exley
An experienced ACE Tour Director and trained ecologist, Peter's special interest is in interpreting nature and landscapes.
Peter Exley, BSc, is an ornithologist and conservationist who worked for the RSPB for over 27 years. A trained ecologist, Peter’s special interest has been interpreting nature and landscapes, and he is one of the authors of the Stonehenge World Heritage Site Interpretation Strategy. He has been involved in projects reintroducing cranes to Somerset, saving seabirds on Lundy and the Isles of Scilly, and has also worked with BirdLife International in South Korea and the Albatross Task Force in South Africa. We will also be accompanied by a local guide who will contribute important insights about the region's historical and cultural heritage.
ADDITIONAL TOUR PERSONNEL
Arlene Lindbichler
We are delighted to announce that we will be accompanied by expert Local Guide Arlene Lindbichler for the duration of the tour. Arlene is an experienced tour leader for groups travelling throughout Norway, specialising in themed tours, including agricultural, hiking and cultural itineraries, and has accompanied groups ranging from knitting enthusiasts visiting weaving mills and yarn factories to travellers exploring Norwegian farming traditions. Arlene speaks fluent Norwegian, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish and English. Outside of guiding, she is an award-winning beekeeper.
– ACE customer on a previous nature and culture tour led by Peter Exley
Our Accommodation
Throughout the tour we will stay in a variety of comfortable hotels of a four-star standard, allowing us to take in the breadth and depth of our awe-inspiring environment. We will begin with two nights at the Thon Hotel Slottsparken in Oslo followed by an overnight stay at the Scandic Havet, Bodø. Continuing our journey, we will stay at the Henningsvær Bryggehotell for two nights, Thon Hotel Sortland for two nights, and finally an overnight stay at the Quality Hotel Harstad.
Please note twin rooms with separate beds are not guaranteed and there are no twin bedded rooms at Henningsvær Bryggehotell.
Itinerary
Day 1
Depart London Gatwick 1130 on Norwegian Air, arriving Oslo Gardermoen 1435. Transfer to Thon Hotel Slottsparken for two nights. Welcome and Introduction.
Day 2
Oslo Culture & Art – Sightseeing in Oslo: Opera House, Akershus Fortress and the Royal Palace. Afternoon visits to Nationalmuseet (art museum with paintings by Edvard Munch) and Folkemuseet (open-air museum of Norwegian history with stave church).
Day 3
Bodø & the Arctic Circle – Transfer to Oslo Gardermoen Airport for flight to Bodø. Excursion to Saltstraumen for nature walk (world's strongest tidal current). Overnight at Scandic Havet hotel, Bodø.
Day 4
Fishing Villages & Vikings – Optional morning nature walk along Henningsvær Islet Path (world-famous ocean-side football pitches and hjell – giant cod-drying racks – weather permitting). Transfer by ferry and drive along the National Scenic Route (E10). Afternoon visit to Lofotr Viking Museum. Transfer to Henningsvær Bryggehotell, Henningsvær for two nights.
Day 5
Svolvær & the Trollfjord – Coastal drive passing Røren viewpoint, followed by visit to Vågen Church and Svolvær (walking tour of the town). Afternoon excursions by boat on Trollfjord Cruise. Optional evening visit to Galleri Lofoten (Norwegian Golden Age paintings of the early to mid 19th century). Free evening.
Day 6
Vesterålen & Saami Culture – Optional morning walk followed by Lofotmuseet (history of Lofoten, cod fishing and Gallery Espolin). Afternoon visit to Inga Saami Siida (reindeer farm with talk on Saami life and history) and optional nature walk along Sigerfjord Shoreline track (coastal trail winding gently through birch woodlands – weather permitting). Transfer to Thon Hotel, Sortland for two nights.
Day 7
Whale Safari & Andøya – From Andenes, embark on a full day Whale Safari (sperm whales and continental shelf – please note we cannot guarantee sightings).
Day 8
History in Trondenes – Drive through Hinnøya islands to Trondenes peninsula. Visit Trondenes Church (northernmost medieval church in the world) and continue with a guided walk to Trondenes Historical Centre (Stone Age, Viking and World War Two history). Transfer to Quality Hotel Harstad for overnight stay.
Day 9
Morning nature walk Mount Keipen (magnificent views over Kasfjorden, Andfjorden, and the city of Harstad – subject to final flight times). Transfer to Harstad Airport for flight departing 1540 via Oslo Gardermoen, arriving Gatwick 2010.
Please note that the itinerary represents a guide to what we hope to offer, and some elements may be subject to change or confirmation nearer the time. Please note that in the event of adverse weather conditions, the whale safari (Day 7) will not be possible and we cannot guarantee whale sightings during this excursion. The nature walks on Days, 3, 4, 6 and 9 are weather permitting.
Frequently Asked Questions
To read our full list of frequently asked questions please visit our general FAQs here.
What is the maximum group size of this tour?
What is the deposit cost for this tour?
What tour staff will be on this tour?
Am I fit enough to travel on this tour?
Fitness Requirements
The majority of ACE Cultural Tours are active in nature. To make the most of our time in a destination and provide excellent value for money, they are busy – there are often several visits included each day. As such, our tours require a certain minimum level of physical and mental fitness, mobility and stamina.
Many visits will involve navigating several steps, uneven ground, steep ascents and descents, and could involve embarking and disembarking aircraft, coaches, trains and cruise vessels. Plenty of walking, punctuated by lengthy periods of standing, is the norm. Some tours may involve long coach journeys.
It is essential that all customers are sufficiently fit and able enough to fully participate. Furthermore, every tour comprises a group of guests. We cannot allow the entire group to be negatively impacted by one participant, either holding up the pace we reasonably need to maintain or disproportionately requiring the attention and support of the tour staff.
We carefully consider the intensity, fitness and other requirements of each itinerary and describe them on the tour pages of our brochures and website. Please study these descriptions closely. When you call to book, we will reiterate those requirements and ask you to confirm that all group members are indeed fit enough and otherwise able to meet the criteria. It is your responsibility to answer fully and honestly. If it transpires that you are not able to keep pace with the tour and/or it reasonably appears you are negatively impacting (or are reasonably likely to negatively impact) the enjoyment of the rest of the group (including their ability to complete all scheduled visits), we may ask you to sit out certain days/visits, take a taxi at your own expense (if available in the location), or even, if we consider there is no other reasonable alternative, ask you to leave the tour and make your own way home.
To experience the extent of the cultural and natural wonders of both Lofoten and Vesterålen, our itinerary is fairly full and will involve a significant amount of travel on coaches and ferries, for up to four hours at a time. A high level of fitness and stamina is therefore required for this tour, and participants should meet ACE’s fitness criteria, outlined in the Booking Terms & Conditions. In addition to our journeys by ferry, we also hope to include two boat trips (Trollfjord and the Whale Safari), however these elements are optional. We will enjoy a variety of nature walks which will involve traversing uneven ground at times, and walking for up to three miles at a time with breaks.
As a minimum, participants should be able to successfully complete the following self- assessment tests:
- Walk for one hour at a reasonable pace and without needing to take a break to rest
- Climb at least two flights of stairs at a reasonable pace
- Stand unaided for at least 30 minutes
- Stand up and sit down ten times in one minute
- Carry or otherwise move your own luggage
Please ensure you have read and understand our full fitness requirements as described in our terms and conditions.
Practicalities
Please note that our tour will involve two internal flights from Oslo to Bodø (Day 3) and Harstad to Oslo (Day 9). To explore the full extent of Norway’s cultural and natural wonders, we will be based at four hotels throughout the tour in Oslo, Bodø, Henningsvær, Sortland and Harstad. There will be two boat trips (Day 5 and Day 7), however participants may opt out of these excursions if they wish. The whale safari on Day 7 will be approximately seven hours in duration. Please also note that we will travel via ferry on Day 4 and Day 6. Weather conditions can be changeable in the early autumn, so we recommend packing walking shoes, waterproofs and warm layers.
UK Government Travel Advice
For additional travel information from the UK government please consult the following pages.
Flight Information
For customers who wish to make their own travel arrangements, ACE is pleased to be able to offer a flight reduction of £340.
Cost Details
Lofoten: Fjells, Fjords & Fishing Villages
August 30 - September 7, 2027
Included: return airfare, accommodation based on sharing a double bedded room, eight breakfasts, four packed lunches, seven dinners with wine, water & coffee, excursions & admissions, gratuities & all taxes.
Not Included: travel insurance, double room for single use supplement £665.
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