Explore the natural delights of the Lofoten Islands! This 5-day road trip is perfect for photographers, bird watchers and active travellers that want to get close to the striking nature of Lofoten. This tour includes visits to charming fishing villages, vast sandy beaches, and opportunities for thrilling optional activities like kayaking and going on a rib boat safari.
Just a few of the majestic sights you’ll take in during your trip.
A day-by-day plan to guide your Nordic adventure.
Start your trip with a flight from Oslo Gardermoen Airport to Svolvær Airport, where you will pick up your rental car and head to your first destination, the charming town of Svolvær, known as the “capital of the Lofoten Islands”. Here you will find a variety of small shops and cultural attractions nestled under the town’s landmark mountain, Svolværgeita (the Svolvær Goat), a popular challenge for climbers.
If you arrive early, we recommend a walk to the nearby island of Svinøya for a visit to the art museum and fish racks or a stroll around town for excellent views of the sea and surrounding islands.
Spend the night in Svolvær.
Driving distance: 10 km/ 4 miles
Today you can explore Svolvær as you wish. This a great opportunity for photographers to experiment with Lofoten's unique lighting conditions or for nature lovers to enjoy activities like hiking, taking a rib boat safari to Trollfjord, fishing, kayaking or a day tour to one of the nearby villages.
If you are looking for a day trip from Svolvær we recommend, Henningsvær, sometimes called “the Venice of Lofoten”, for its artistic vibes and incredible scenery along the narrow road to the village. We recommend ending the day with a visit to the “Magic Ice bar” with its collection of magnificent ice sculptures.
Spend the night in Svolvær.
From Svolvær your drive will take you along the national tourist road in the Lofoten Islands, on your way to Reine. The drive gives you the perfect opportunity to stop along the way and explore the breathtaking nature that the Lofoten Islands offer.
For a taste of Viking history, make a stop to the Lofotr Viking Museum and check out its full-scale reconstruction of a Viking-era house along with the various Viking artefacts. You could also drive up to Gimsøya on the north side of the archipelago for fantastic ocean views and a beautiful sunlit glow.
Another notable site is Haukland beach, one of Lofoten’s most scenic beaches with white sand and crystal blue waters.
Spend the night in Reine.
Driving distance: 121 km/ 75 miles
Wake early in your cosy fisherman cabin and enjoy the gorgeous fjord scenery. After breakfast we recommend hiking Reinebringen, which offers panoramic view of Reinefjorden and the Lofoten Wall.
For those after some time in the water, you can book an optional kayaking tour on Reinefjorden.
To learn about the culture in the area, the Norwegian Fishing Village Museum offers a look into village life and the Lofoten fishery over the past centuries. It’s located in Å, only 10 km from Reine.
Spend the night in Reine.
Today it's time to return to Norway's capital. After enjoying breakfast, drive to Svolvær's airport and return your rental car before your flight back to Oslo, where your tour will conclude. If you would like to extend your trip, perhaps with a Norway in a Nutshell tour, we would be happy to adjust your itinerary.
Driving distance: 121 km/ 75 miles
We recommend adding your extra activities to the tour now for the best booking experience and to secure your spot, as activities are likely to sell out.
Here’s a map of your travel route, to help put things in perspective.
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Just wait until you see this with your own eyes.
We don’t like to brag, so we’ll let our happy customers do it for us.
This was our second visit to Norway booked through Nordic Visitor and both experiences were very good. Your service saved us a lot of work and although not cheap, you booked better accommodation for us than we would have done for ourselves. Paying upfront removes the "pain of paying" effect from the period of the holiday itself, making the whole experience more enjoyable. Although we didn't need it, the availability of your 24/7 in-country helpline provides reassurance.
Sleep soundly, in the accommodation type of your choice, and wake up ready to enjoy another day of exploration.
Enjoy the journey, in the rental car of your choice.
Our best price per person when booking for two.
We recommend that all our travellers read through the following information about driving in Norway, what the tour includes, accommodation, deposit payment and other useful information for your travels.
ABOUT OUR SELF-DRIVE TOURS
This is a self-drive tour, which means you will follow a detailed and personalised itinerary during your road trip in Norway. No dedicated driver or tour guide is included. All accommodation, rental vehicle, and other planned activities or added services will be pre-booked by Nordic Visitor (as specified in the itinerary). As this is a self-drive tour, you are welcome to stop when and where you wish on your drive. Except for accommodation and booked activities, other highlights we’ve listed in the itinerary are suggestions based on Nordic Visitor favourites.
For inexperienced drivers who still want to explore and discover Norway, we recommend one of our guided small group tours, where you will have a local, experienced guide leading the way.
ACCOMMODATION
Our team of Norway travel experts carefully select hotels around the country based on excellent ratings, personal experience and comfort. Please note, that in Norway our room types are based on European standard sizes. For instance, a double bed often consists of two single beds pushed together. Triple rooms include a double bed along with an extra bed, a rollaway or a sofa bed, and a single room is often smaller than the standard double. Your tour also includes a stay at a cosy fisherman’s cabin.
OCEANSIDE CABINS
This tour includes a stay in a fisherman cabin in the small fishing village of Reine. The cabin is cosy and rustic, while keeping modern comforts like a kitchen, appliances and free Wifi. The cabin offers a fjord view and if the conditions are right, you might see the northern lights from your cabin. There is also a restaurant on site, that serves fresh, local food.
FLIGHT
This tour includes a roundtrip flight from Svolvær to Oslo, and back. We will book the best flight for your itinerary, and most flights include a short stop in Bodo. Other flights, such as international flights to and from Norway, are not included in the cost of this tour and are not arranged by Nordic Visitor.
DRIVING IN NORWAY
For information on driving in Norway we recommend that you take a look at our online travel guide. There you will find handy information on tolls, ferries, tunnels and more! In general, the roads in Norway are of high standard and are well-maintained. Rural roads are generally two lanes and can be narrow and winding, particularly in mountainous areas. Norwegians drive on the right side of the road.
CURRENCY RATE
All bookings are charged in Euros (EUR). Prices displayed in other currencies are indicative only and based on the daily exchange rate. Therefore, conversions from EUR to other currencies will fluctuate from day to day.
AFTER BOOKING WITH NORDIC VISITOR
After booking your package with Nordic Visitor, you will be contacted within two working days by one of our travel consultants, who will serve as your dedicated contact person for all of your travel needs before, during and even after your holiday. Your travel consultant will provide you with details about your booking and your remaining payment (if not paid in full). You will also receive more information about what to expect during your holiday.
Whether you have a single question or a special request, we're here for you.
