Kayak, Hike and Wild Camp the Lofoten Islands

What can I say about this trip, too much to put here, all positive, but as a 50+ man with moderate fitness and questionable knees I was reticent to say the least about booking, but wanted to test myself. I did not regret a single minute and if you, like me were/are 50/50 about booking, just do it, you won't regret it. The guys on the ground, Carlos, Lucio, and the everready bunny that is Jules were amazing, they could not do enough for us, and are fantastic characters, leaders and experts in their field. An unexpected trip (due to severe rain for 24hrs) to Lofoten Beach Camp for a 2hr sauna and ocean dips proved to be a lot of our groups highlight, an amazing experience I will treasure forever. Our group was a fantastic mix of seasoned travellers and novices (me) I could not have put a better bunch together myself. The wild camping was a hoot, the kayaking utterly stunning visually, if a little daunting at times, and the hiking was a real challenge for me, but ultimately rewarding. I utterly loved this trip and the people on it, thank you all.

If you’re not sure whether to do this trip…. do it! I was a solo traveller and the group of 8 was a mix of solo and non-solo travellers from around the world.

It was a brilliant trip. The kayaking around the islands with the mountains high above is a memory that I will never forget.

The weather is very changeable, so be prepared for the guide to have to adapt the schedule based on the weather.

Our guide Jules was incredible and could not fault him in any way at all. He was always looking after the group and did all the cooking and always helped the group put the tents up etc.

At times the weather can be challenging, but that only added to the sense of adventure.

Honestly, if you’re not sure about doing this trip, do it, you will not regret it and will have an abaundant of new experiences and memories to treasure.

I had a really wonderful week being guided through the Lofoten islands, seeing wildlife, swimming in the sea and stormy weather then jumping in a sauna! Met some really wonderful people not least our guide Santiago and the rest of his team who helped us out when the weather was bad. A really lovely way to wild camp in new places and beautiful islands.

Despite some challenging conditions due to strong winds, I had a great experience! It gave me a unique perspective of the amazing landscapes that characterise this corner of the world. I was pleased to have chosen to gain a glimpse of Lofoten from a kayak and tent to see some hidden coves and islands, rather than battle the roads that were busy with cars and campervans.

A wonderful adventure in a wild, beautiful landscape. We had some challenging weather with wind and rain but that added to the sense of achievement. Our guide, Santiago, made sensible adjustments to the camping destinations and route to suit the conditions.

Really appreciated being with like minded people all helping each other making this a really good experience. We had some wet / windy weather days but we all enjoyed the alternatives provided. The km mentioned in the itinerary are quite ambitious , the guide will determine what is best for the group. We faced some choppy conditions on a few occasions and everyone rose to meet the challenge. Catching fish ( two mackerel) for the first time was quite an experience too! We camped in some amazing locations, saw sea eagles just about every day , just fabulous.

Just got back last night from this trip. Fantastic and well worth doing. Communication beforehand and throughout was excellent from the support staff Krisztina/Carlos and other staff. Our guide Santiago was fantastic.

The weather meant a couple of days paddling had to be shortened, but Santiago and the crew came up with alternative plans and always had our safety at the heart of any decisions. Santiago was a superb guide, being ever vigilant with the weather and our abilities. As befits a camping/kayaking expedition in a remote area, everyone had to pull their weight and this added to the trip and brought us closer together. Can't speak highly enough of the team. I would definitely use this company again and looking forward to my next trip. Thank you so much.

What can I say to explain how amazing this trip is? From the pick up at the airport in Leknes by Carlos to being dropped off by Krisztina my trip could not have gone better. The weather gods aligned to give us blue skies & sunshine for most of the week. My fellow intrepid explorers were great company & the scenery was just WOW !Our guide Jules was on duty from early morning until we went to bed to feed, advise & encourage us. Jules made the trip such an amazing experience. The food was good & plentiful. Lots of fruit & snacks. We visited gorgeous villages, and pitched our tents in fabulous locations. The beaches were amazing but the water was baltic 🥶 but so clear you had to get in. The kayaking was a mixture of challenging crossings to flat calm water & the hikes gave us a totally different perspective of these stunning islands. This is definitely one of my favourite holidays. The Lofoten Islands are a wonderful place to visit. I feel very privileged to have spent a week there.

A must adventure for those not afraid to get stuck in. We were lucky with our weather with only on challenging day of wind, rain and waves, but this did add to the whole experience. Simply stunning scenery, jaw dropping vistas, great company in our group and an excellent guide all made this a magical week we will never forget.

This was an incredible trip to an equally incredible part of the world. The scenery and landscapes were constantly stunning, even when battling the true Norwegian summer weather on the final day… The wildlife was plentiful, wild camping spots idillic and kayaking such fun! The trip itself was brilliantly planned. Everything was so well thought out and ran very smoothly, from collection at the airport to being dropped at our accommodation at the end of the week. A resupply midweek was also very convenient meaning we could swap out our wet, salty clothes for fresh. Santi, our guide, was amazing, always smiling, making sure the whole group was happy and ensuring we got the absolute most out of our time. He had brilliant knowledge of all things Lofoten (down to where we would be most successful in catching our dinner!) and a great cook! We were lucky enough to be able to share this trip with a wonderful group of people. Everyone always chipped in to help unload boats, set up/take down camp and make meals. I would highly recommend this trip to anyone wanting to challenge themselves, make fantastic memories and experience the true wilderness of Lofoten.

The most amazing holiday. Hosts were brilliant, Jules was amazing- so attentive. Scenery incredible, kayaking brilliant, walking great. Group was lovely.

My mind was set to moderate but that needed some quick recalibration. Kayaking the southern coast of the Lofoten takes your breath away in more ways than one! Not only is the scenery gorgeous, the wildlife, the ever changing sea, the skies, the sunsets, the rolling mist. It also is a bit of work crossing from coast to coast, putting in long hours, setting up camp, staying moderately dry and comfortable -ish. Guided by exceptionally skilled and passionate Santi it was more than worth it. I felt very safe and very challenged at the same time, which is exactly the combination I look for in a trip like this. The logistics of the operation was next to impeccable, the resupplies were awesome, the food fantastic and plentiful. Thanks for a hard but great week!

We loved every minute of our trip. From the moment we arrived at Lofoten Base Camp on the first evening the whole trip was just incredible. We quickly gelled as a group and our guide was very appropriately named Joules (may be spelt Jules). He literally didn’t stop enabling us, entertaining us or generally sharing his energy. Most importantly he was the whole time in control of the trip and our well being. This sort of trip is just not possible without someone with both guiding and local knowledge. The routes we took and camping spots we used aren’t on any guide and their suitability varies depending on conditions which can (and did) change rapidly. The kit we were provided with was in great condition and suitable. Carlos and Krisztina were awesome, dropping supplies at certain points and could be called on for support at any time. The food was far better and more plentiful than anyone could have expected. Fresh fruit, veg and home cooking was plentiful. The clarity of the air and water, the scenery and golden midnight sun made this a trip to remember. We saw sea Eagles and on our last evening dolphins. We’ll be back for a longer stay one day I’m sure. Thanks so much to all involved.

I quite enjoyed the trip, but didn't find it outstanding by comparison with other seakayaking trips I have been on.

Had a fantastic few days kayaking, camping and hiking around Lofoten. A great opportunity to take part in an adventure in a stunningly beautiful part of the world.

Amazing trip, not the kind of holiday I’d usually choose as I tend to prefer a destination with guaranteed sunshine when leaving the UK. However, the changing weather ended up being part of the adventure and added to the the overall experience.

We had a few days of mixed weather, including some rain and the company and our guide really looked after us. Originally, we were meant to go kayaking, but due to conditions, that was swapped for a sauna and cold sea dip which turned out to be one of the highlights of the trip, refreshing and surprisingly memorable.

Our guide Jules, was excellent. He worked tirelessly around the campsite, chopping wood, boiling water and always making sure everyone was comfortable. His passion for the area really came through and added a lot to the experience.

Overall, a really well organised trip with a great group of people. Despite the weather I came away feeling recharged and glad I tried something different

This was a great adventure and a very special part of the world

Having done kayak and wild camps in the ‘med’ it was time for a change of temperature. So glad I did the Lofoten islands are incredible , the air is pure and the seas are cold (and great for swimming in!) and very blue. The first day was very windy so no kayaking but Jules (guide) took us on a hike then down to a sauna on the beach followed by a dip in the sea… that is some way to feel alive! If you are not sure about the cold don’t let it hold you back , Jules made sure we had everything we needed and this guy sure knows his stuff about the local wildlife. He picked wild rhubarb and made a crumble for us to enjoy up a mountain as well. Legendary stuff !

The guides and organizers of this trip are amazing and really take care of you. The trip is so fun, full of new experiences and breathtaking views. Absolutely worth the trip.

An amazing trip offering challenging but rewarding kayaking, a sense of remoteness, yet at all times felt fully supported by our guide and the local host. Aaron (our guide) was passionate about the local environment, kayaking and ensuring we all got to experience all what Lofoten had to offer. The kayaking was at times challenging, but we were rewarded by magnificent scenery, wildlife and the midnight sun was certainly not an experience I will forget. We also got the experience of a close encounter with a sea eagle. A trip of many happy memories, shared with a fantastic group and guide.

The most amazing unspoilt place! To kayak around the island on the clear sea was everything I had hoped for. The organisation and communication through the local host was faultless. Our guide made the trip - professional and also personable. Very special memories indeed.

This week of kayaking, hiking and free camping were a number of great new experiences for me! I had no previous experience with the sea kayak, but the introduction was good and our guide – Jules - went above and beyond: He was attentive, always in a good mood, with infinite energy, always with a song on his lips and food for us in his hand 😊 During this kind of trip I expected a week of dry food, but Jules impressed us daily with his cooking skills – coffee, hot chocolate, poached eggs for breakfast, grilled fish, marshmallows on the campfire and suddenly a watermelon has emerged from his kayak! He was knowledgeable about all the places, history, birds and plants.

The landscape of Lofoten is unique and especially from a kayak you can really enjoy the deep blue or Caribbean-green water. Highlights were also the midnight sun hike and the opportunities to jump into the 13° refreshing water from wonderful sandy beaches. We also saw a huge seal in one of the bays!

The booking plattform and organization in advance of the trip were professional and individual requests (such as a different pick-up time from the airport) were taken into account without any problems. I can only recommend Much Better Adventures and the kayak trip in Lofoten!

A wonderful 6 days kayaking, hiking and camping around Lofoten. Certainly the best way to see the beautiful scenery. The hike to see the midnight sun was the highlight!

As with all MBA trips, this felt like a much better way to see Lofeton than the standard tourist route. The Lofeton islands are breathtakingly beautiful and the trip takes you off the beaten track to many beautiful hidden spots you wouldn’t go to otherwise. Our guide Aaron was incredible, he worked really hard to ensure we all had the best possible trip and was really flexible which I really appreciated. We had lots of different weather (often in the space of a couple of hours) from warm to freezing and blue skies to raining. But it was always beautiful whatever the weather. For others considering the trip, I’d say this is more “challenging” than moderate. We were out kayaking for quite a bit longer than the itinerary suggests and combined with hiking on some days we were active for 10hrs + on top of setting up / putting down camp, preparing kayaks etc. Worth it but I think helpful to know. This is partly dependent on winds / tides which will be different every trip. A big thanks to Aaron and the team who managed all the logistics. An incredible trip! I also tacked on an extra 24hrs to visit Rhine and do the Rhinebringen hike which is quite busy but so stunning it’s worth doing if you have time.

Thank you to everyone for making it such an amazing experience. Excellent helpful communication from Krisztina from the start, and I also didn’t know that we would find quite such an amazing view by climbing the hill behind the cabins. So if you arrive early make sure you grab the opportunity. The weather was very kind, but did remind us who was boss on a couple of occasions…but you’re never far from land if plans need to be adjusted. A bit cold on the hands at the start of the season so having use of the ‘poggies’ (?) was a great call. The Lofoten Islands just kept on giving beautiful scenery and surprises. . as did Santi’s cooking and incredible knowledge of all things Norwegian. I felt very spoilt to be part of such an adventure…although it certainly made me appreciate flush toilets and a bed on the return to base camp! Thank you too to Aaron and Carlos. . and everyone in our group.

The trip exceeded my expectations! Our guide went above and beyond to take excellent care of us under all circumstances - be it wind, waves or other challenges. It was an absolute adventure! Highly recommended to all nature-lovers who are not afraid to get their feet wet and are willing to paddle their arms off :)

An incredibly rewarding 5 days of kayaking. You are at the mercy of the weather which can be anything. However Jules did an amazing job of keeping us together and worked incredible hard in camp, to ensure we were as comfortable as possible. Well done Northern Explorer for the organisation.

This was my first trip with Much Better Adventures and I’d never heard of the company. I even googled them to see if it was for real. They are real and I can’t praise the organisation and logistics enough. It was like we had a re-supply fairy ( he was called Carlos), so we always had plenty of food, water and even got requested treats. The equipment supplied was in good condition and though the itinerary a little more challenging than I expected, it was never impossible. The small group size quickly gave a sense of support and humour which helped enormously when we got some quite intense winds and seas one afternoon. It was also reassuring that there were escape routes and a plan a,b or c! The mix of kayaking and hiking was unique and one of the reasons I chose this trip. I returned home exhilarated, exhausted, serene and just swamped by the awesomeness of the trip. I’m getting old for this sort of stuff but I was there and did it and feel rather chuffed. Lastly, the scenery and wildlife excelled expectations. Fantastic trip in a fantastic location with a well organised company.

Normally, you forget an experience as soon as the next one is in the diary - bit not this time! I continue to find myself reliving the trip through my photos and memories. I even chuckle at some of the memories!

Firstly and most importantly, our guide Joules made the experience a real adventure and the most fun possible. Nothing he did was too much and he really is an asset to the company. His attention to detail and constant drive to give the very best was second to none.

The Team who supported him were also amazing - ranging from secret drops of fresh fruit and veg to the additional marshmallows which were so popular.

The kit and equipment was in great order and made the adventure more comfortable than I had expected.

Overall, the trip was so much fun that we have now booked again and plan further trips in the future.

Thank you so much for a memorable and extremely enjoyable adventure!

A fantastic adventure with a great group of people in a beautiful location. The fantastic guide made the trip so special.