DURATION
5 nights
LOCATION
Norway
ANNUAL LEAVE
4 days off work
SEASON
Jan-Mar
GROUP SIZE
Up to 8 people
MEETING POINT
Leknes Airport
ACCOMMODATION
Classic
Beach House · Wild camping
OVERALL RATING
0.0
DIFFICULTY
Challenging
With chunky hikes, icy paddles and a sub-zero sleep-out, you'll need to be fit, with a head for adventure and a love of colder climes
Embark on some unreal kayaking – in calm, icy waters at sunrise and in the dark of night on the ultimate aurora hunt
Wrap up for the sleepout of a lifetime, camping by a crackling fire on Kvavlika, one of Lofoten's most iconic beaches
Clip on snowshoes and crunch your way to epic viewpoints at Justadtinden and Ryten, warming up with saunas and cinnamon rolls
Day 1
First glimpses of Lofoten
Northern Lights Watching
1-2hrs
Touch down in the heart of the snow-covered Arctic and meet your host at the airport. Settle in for your first glimpses of the Lofoten Islands in winter as you're transferred to your base for the trip – a beach house in the fishing village of Eggum. Tuck into a welcome dinner with your fellow adventurers and chat through the week ahead with your guide. If the aurora is coming out to play tonight, you'll waste no time, heading out this evening to watch it from the beach.
Day 2
Hikes, saunas and midnight aurora kayaking
Hiking
5hrs · 15km · 624m up · 624m down
Kayaking
1-2hrs
Northern Lights Watching
1-2hrs
Clip on a pair of snowshoes to hike to the summit of Justadtinden, one of Lofoten's most revered lookout points. The hike is long but relatively steady going as you gradually tackle the elevation to the summit at 738m, and the reward is 360-degree vistas over Vestvågøy Island. Head on to the famous surfer's beach of Unstad for a traditional Nordic sauna, hot tub and a taste of the best cinnamon rolls in the whole of Lofoten. After dinner, if the conditions are good, you'll gear up and paddle out on kayaks for a magical experience watching the aurora dance above you while floating out in the Arctic Ocean.
Day 3
Out on the water
Kayaking
3hrs
Enjoy a lie-in after your late-night aurora kayaking antics, then tuck into breakfast at the beach house before getting back out on the water to take in the views whilst kayaking in daylight this time. You'll be paddling around the natural reserve of Eggum, weaving between small islands in the shallow and calm waters. The area is a wildlife haven, so keep your eyes peeled for dolphins, seals, eagles, otters and even moose. After a packed lunch on dry land, you'll hit the water again on a fishing boat, cruising deeper into the archipelago and attempting to catch some cod for tonight's dinner back at the beach house.
Day 4
Sunrise kayaking and an Arctic sleep-out
Kayaking
3-4hrs
Hiking
1-2hrs
Northern Lights Watching
1-2hrs
No lie-in today as you set alarms for a dawn rise – it'll be worth it as you head out to experience the Arctic sunrise from the water. You'll set off from Valberg on the opposite side of Vestvågøy Island, paddling away from this pocket of civilisation to take in the silence and solitude – the scenery here is truly spectacular. After a few hours exploring this stretch of coastline, you'll hit dry land, grab lunch back in Eggum and enjoy some well-earned downtime. Late afternoon, you'll hop back in the van for a road trip south to Moskenesøya Island. Head out on an evening hike to reach Kvalvika Beach – a remote bay only accessible by foot. Settle in for a truly memorable night as you camp out on a beach in the Arctic winter, sharing stories around the campfire while the northern lights dance overhead.
*Please note that the campout is dependent on weather conditions. It may change to a different night of the trip depending on the forecast, or may be cancelled if the conditions are not favourable for a campout during the trip.
Day 5
Famous Lofoten sights without the summer crowds
Hiking
5hrs · 11.5km · 570m up · 570m down
Waking up after the most unique sleep of your life, your host will warm you up with a hot breakfast and tea on the beach while camp is packed down. Clip the snowshoes back on and hike up to Ryten, one of Lofoten's most iconic viewpoints, looking back down on Kvavlika Beach where you just spent the night. Later, you'll road trip back to Eggum via Reine, a village of iconic fishing huts, before returning to the warmth of the beach house for dinner and a night back in your bed after your wild camping adventure.
Day 6
Last glimpses of Lofoten
Time to leave Lofoten with a sackful of happy memories as your host transfers you to Leknes Airport in time for your flight home.
Included
Guides
Expert, English-speaking guides
Accommodation
4 nights in a cosy beach house, 1 night wild camping
Meals
All of your breakfasts, lunches and dinners
Transfers
Airport transfers and everything in between
Equipment
All your camping and kayaking gear, plus snowshoes for the hikes
Not Included
Flights to and from the meeting point
Travel insurance
Personal expenses
Tips for your guides
Visas where required
Day 1
Beach House · Twin share
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 2 – Day 3
Beach House · Twin share
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 4 – Day 5
Wild camping · Twin tent
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 6
Departure day
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
What is the food like?
Breakfasts will consist of muesli, porridge, crispbread, some cheese and ham, tea and coffee. For packed lunches, you'll make sandwiches from various ingredients. Snack items include biscuits, dried fruit, nuts, chocolate, fruits and energy bars. Evening meals will be some local specialities, such as Lofoten lamb and fresh fish – including some Arctic cod, which you'll hopefully have caught on the fishing boat on Day 3. You'll also be treated to Lofoten's best cinnamon rolls at a sauna and surf shack in Unstad.
Vegetarians, vegans and other dietary requirements and allergies can be catered for – please just request this on your passenger info form.
What is the accommodation like?
Beach house in Eggum
Your base for the trip is a private guesthouse on the beach in the quaint fishing village of Eggum, on the north coast of Vestvågøy Island. You'll stay in twin-share rooms with a shared bathroom and kitchen. Double rooms are available if requested.
Wild camping
You'll spend one night wild camping on the beach at Kvalvika – a stunning isolated bay, accessible only by foot on the northern side of Moskenesoy Island. You'll stay in twin-share tents with insulated sleeping mats and 5-season sleeping bags able to maintain comfort temperatures down to -15°C / 5°F, plus extra hand and foot warmers supplied by your host. There'll be a bonfire and hot drinks to keep you warm before bedding down. Everyone will muck in alongside the guide to help set up and take down camp.
Upgrades
For solo travellers looking for their own space, an optional private room and tent can be booked for an extra charge, see Optional Extras for the price. Please request this at the time of booking (this is subject to availability).
The Area
Logistics
Starts
Leknes Airport
Any time on Day 1
Ends
Leknes Airport
Any time on Day 6
Transfers
Your host will meet you on arrival at Leknes Airport on Day 1 and transfer you over to the beach house. On Day 6 your host will transfer you back to the airport in time for your onward flight. Transfers are included on the arrival and departure days, you'll just need to let your host know your flight arrival and departure times.
If you are looking to save some money, flights into Evenes (EVE) are lower in price than Leknes. If you fly into Evenes you can take a 4hr bus journey to reach Leknes. Head to the Nordland website for the timetable; there are two buses per day that depart from Evenes Airport – at 11:05 and 17:05. You can catch the bus all the way from Evenes Airport and get off at the stop Bøstad skole (Vestvågøy). Your host will pick you up from there. A one-way ticket will cost you 450NOK (£36/€40/$44).
Travel options
Leknes Airport is accessible by various flights from the UK, Europe and North America via Oslo or Bergen. Some routes may also touch down in Bodø (in between Oslo or Bergen) on their way to Leknes. It looks long-winded on paper, but the transits are short and the scenery is stunning as you reach the far north of Norway. Travel time from London to Leknes can be as short as 6hr 20mins, including both transits. If you overnight in Oslo or Bergen rather than connect on the same day, you can take the direct flight in the morning to Leknes, avoiding the short touchdown in Bodø.
Flights to Evenes (EVE) involve just one stop in Oslo en route from various major hubs in the UK, Europe and North America.
With extra time on your hands (and some extra cash) it is possible to catch the train to the Lofoten Islands. From Oslo, you can take a train via Trondheim and Fauske to Bodø, which takes approximately 10 hours. Once in Bodø, you can take a ferry or speedboat to Lofoten.
Enjoy 12.5% Off Outdoor Gear
In need of a few more items? All bookings receive a 12.5% discount to use at Cotswold Outdoor, Snow + Rock and Runner's Need.
What's included?
FOR THE KAYAKING
- Tandem sea kayaks
- Dry suit
- Life jacket
- Paddle
- Dry bags
FOR THE WINTER CAMPOUT
- Twin-share expedition tent
- Inflatable sleeping mat
- Sleeping bag (able to withstand temperatures down to -15°C/5°F)
- Hand and foot warmers (to go inside your shoes and gloves for extra warmth)
What do I need to bring?
BAGS
Main backpack or duffel bag
Daypack (25-30litres)
CLOTHES
Thermal baselayers – two sets
Wool or fleece thermal mid-layer
Hiking trousers (we don't recommend cotton, as they take longer to dry if wet)
Hiking boots, ideally Goretex to keep your feet dry
Waterproof and breathable trousers and jacket
Down or synthetic jacket
T-shirts
Wool or fleece hat
Warm gloves or mittens, waterproof
Thick wool or synthetic socks – 4 to 5 pairs
Light shoes to wear at the beach house
Swimwear for the sauna
OTHER
Universal travel plug adapter
Power bank or solar charger
Passports (and visas)
Travel insurance documents
Earplugs
Personal first-aid kit
Personal items (biodegradable toiletries, sanitary wear etc)
Toilet kit (toilet paper, biodegradable bags to carry paper out to dispose of)
Quick-dry towel
Alcohol hand-gel
Reusable water bottle (x1 litre)
Biodegradable wet-wipes
Energy bars and snacks
No optional extras are available for this trip.
We’re still waiting to collect any reviews from other travellers on this trip. However, all our hosts go through an extensive vetting process to ensure that your adventure is awesome.
We've crunched the numbers to work out the total carbon footprint of this trip, and plant enough trees to suck 2x as much back out the atmosphere.
What's the number?
It works out on average at 69kg of CO2 emissions per person, including all local transport, accommodation, food, activities, guides, staff and office operations.
The only thing it doesn’t include right now is flights and travel to the destination. We do make an overall estimate across all our customers separately, but as we don’t book flights, have customers from all corners of the world, and no way of reliably knowing their travel plans, we simply can’t include an individual number in the figure on display here. We’ve got a goal for 2023 to fix that, so that when you book, there is a way to measure and mitigate the carbon emitted by your flight too.
But what does the number mean?
Yep, hard to picture eh? To give you an idea:
- Driving 1000miles/1609km would be approx. 281kg of CO2 in an average car (or 140.5kg per person if there was 2 of you in it).
- A return economy class flight London - New York would be approx. 1,619kg (1.66 tonnes) per person.
- 10 trees in a temperate forest are estimated to remove approx. 250kg of CO2 from the air in a period of 5-10 years.
What are we doing about it?
Our trips are relatively low-carbon by design, and we're working with all our hosts to develop long term carbon reduction plans. For every person booked with us since 2016 we’re planting enough trees to suck at least 2x more carbon out the atmosphere than is emitted by their trips. All native trees, as part of amazing projects that are re-foresting degraded land, tackling the biodiversity crisis and supporting local communities at the same time. We go further than that too, also funding re-wilding projects worldwide to help protect important keystone species from extinction. See the reforestation and re-wilding schemes we support. See our carbon action plan.
Want to know more?
Amazingly, no international travel company has ever publicly published their carbon measurements before, as far as we know. We believe that must change, quickly. So we’re openly sharing the method we used in the hope that other companies will be able to more easily follow suit and build on what we've done so far. You'll find it all here.
You do not need any previous kayaking experience, full guidance will be provided at the beginning of the trip and while on the water. Cold water kayaking can seem daunting, but your host will be constantly monitoring the conditions so that you'll be paddling in calm waters. You'll also be wearing a dry suit provided by your host during each kayaking outing. You will be in a tandem kayak by default.
The hikes are fairly strenuous with a decent chunk of elevation gain to tackle while crunching through the snow to reach the summits at Justadtinden and Ryten. While anyone with average fitness levels can manage the activities on this trip, the cold can add an extra layer of difficulty to this trip – so bring a head for adventure and love of being out in cold, wild places at a magical time of year (and with far fewer people than in summer).
Sure can! Over 50% of our travellers travel solo, it’s a great way to meet like-minded people.
Tips are not included in the trip cost. These are entirely at your discretion and your host will help with advice on how much to tip your guides should you wish to do so.
Tap water in the Lofoten Islands is safe to drink - you can fill up your bottles at the beach house before heading out on the various hikes and kayaks throughout the trip.
In February, average temperatures in the Lofoten Islands will range from -3°C to 1°C (26°F to 34°F). You can expect snowfall and a landscape covered in snow during this time and the days are still relatively short, with around 6 to 8 hours of daylight. March marks the transition from winter to early spring in the islands. The temperatures gradually start to rise from -2°C to 2°C (28°F to 36°F). Daylight hours increase, with around 10 to 12 hours of daylight by the end of March. The sea temperature during these months is around 2-3°C (36°F-38°F).
This is a centre-based trip, so other than your night camping on the beach at Kvavlika you'll be based at your beach house in Eggum and can leave all your luggage there throughout the trip.
For current advice about travelling in Norway, have a read of the UK Foreign Office pages here.
We recommend checking out the country specific information here and also talking to a travel nurse.
You'll be paddling in a double kayak Plus making it clear whether it’s sit-on-top, sea-kayak, touring etc. It’s a detail we should know and is also a massive time-drain for CX to keep asking.
Spell out based on below:
Sit on Top
Sit On Top Kayaks are very stable and easy to paddle for everyone including new paddlers through to experienced paddlers. Sit On Top Kayaks can be used on the sea, estuaries, rivers, lakes and canals.
Touring Kayak
Touring kayaks are designed to be stable on the water, comfortable to sit in, easy to get into and cater for all paddling abilities from a complete novice looking to buy their first kayak to an experienced paddler looking for a relaxing afternoon paddling on the local stretch of water.
Sea Kayaks
Sea Kayaks are generally longer and faster than touring kayaks with extra performance for testing conditions. Sea Kayaks are outfitted well with multiple hatches and deck layouts to maximise storage space and access.
The weight limit question is essential for safety (and should form part of the pax info form as well, so hosts are able to be aware of larger / taller individuals in advance).
Example write up here: https://www.muchbetteradventures.com/products/10062-adventures-100km-sea-kayak-expedition-in-croatia/
Our recommended travel insurance provider is Campbell Irvine.
Travel insurance is compulsory on all of our adventures. Your insurance should include adequate protection for overseas medical treatment, evacuation/repatriation, your baggage and equipment and the specific activities involved on your adventure.
Your insurance policy should also include specific Covid-19 cover, including cancellation and curtailment cover if you, your travel companion or a close relative are diagnosed with Covid-19.
We fully endorse Campbell Irvine as their insurance offers all of the above, so get in touch with them or call on 020 7938 1734 to get your insurance sorted. We suggest that you book travel insurance as soon as you book your adventure, just to cover you for any last minute life changes. We know you’re an active lot and injuries do happen!
We automatically convert prices from the local currency that a host receives to your chosen currency. We update our exchange rates on a daily basis so this does mean that prices displayed on the site are subject to currency fluctuations, which is why you may see them change over time.
If you wish to change the currency you pay in, head to the bottom of the page.
All of our group adventures are specially designed for adults to enjoy (18+) as we want these adventures to bring together outdoorsy people who are truly like-minded. Children can be accommodated on some private departures.
You're in good company. Our adventures are typically made up of a mix of solo travellers and small groups of two or three friends who simply love adventure, pushing themselves and meeting awesome like-minded people. See here for more info about our lovely bunch of Much Better Adventurers.
Want to book a private trip? Just tap ‘Private Group’ in the dates and prices tab.
Your trip is led by carefully curated local hosts and expert guides. See here for more info about the guides we work with.
Pay In Installments
You can choose to pay for this trip in as many installments as you like, with no interest or fees.
Full Financial Protection
Your money is safe. Every booking is fully financially protected.
