The Lofoten Multi-Adventure Trip
Arctic Norway
Dates: July 5-12 & July 17-24, 2008
Starting: Svolvaer
Ending Place: Bodø
Latitude: 68°N
Pricing: $3,000.00 per person
All meals, travel, lodging and activities are included in the price of this Multi-Adventure.
Day 1: Welcome to Scandinavia, the Lofoten Islands and Svolvaer, Norway! At 19:00 (7:00pm) we will meet at Svinøya Rorbuer and after introductions and a snack we will take a look at the maps and locate the various villages, museums and treks we will enjoy during our adventure together. Svinøya Rorbuer will be our home for the next three nights. These traditional fishermen huts were originally built to give early seafarers shelter from the storms. Many have been renovated into lodging for modern day travelers. We are sure you will find them very comfortable.
Svinøya Rorbuer Gunnar Bergs Vei 2, PO Box 74 N-8300 Svolvaer, Norway Phone: +47-76 07 08 80 http://www.svinoya.no/
Day 2: After a hearty Norwegian breakfast prepared by our staff in our Rorbu we will offer two activities, sea kayaking or hiking. For those who choose to go paddling we will help you become familiar with the kayaks and equipment. For participants with little or no paddling experience we’ll cover the basics of safe and fun sea kayaking. This includes kayak anatomy, getting in and out, basic paddling strokes, wet-exits, basic rescue techniques, injury prevention etc. We will start paddling around the many islands within protection and if weather permit we might paddle further out and over to the nearby community.
For folks deciding to go hiking there are a number of great route options around town. Our staff will be eager to join you of course.
In the afternoons you will have the chance to walk through the Svolvaer town center. At the town square there is usually an open market where the local artists and native Saami sell reindeer skin, arts, crafts and other curios. Our dinners will be served at one of the many excellent restaurants downtown. If we still have enough energy after dinner we might walk down town and check out the Ice Bar.
Day 3: This morning you can once again choose to go kayaking or hiking. The Svolvaer community sits nestled among steep snow covered peaks right up against the ocean. Whether you see it by foot or from a kayak, the views are equally as spectacular!
Weather permitting the kayakers may paddle from Kabelvåg all the way back to our rorbus in Svolvaer. If the weather doesn't allow us to paddle or hike we will take a fjord boat tour to the famous Trollfjord. This is where the historic battle over cod fishing rights took place in 1890. The fjord cuts deep into the mountains. During this 3 hour tour the captain and crew willingly share their knowledge of the local history and ocean environment.
At some point today both hikers and paddlers will pay a visit to Storvågan where the famous Epsolin Art Gallery, Lofoten Museum and Aquarium are located. The Aquarium houses all the native species of fish, sharks and other sea creatures including live seals and otters).
Dinner tonight will be served at the world famous Børsen Restaurant right next to our cabins. This restaurant is well known for their excellent sea food dishes. This evening we'll walk down town and at the Lofoten Theme Gallery we will see a film called "islands in the Sea". The film describes the Lofoten islands' culture and history from their creation up until today.
Day 4: Today we will board a mini-bus and drive south to the community of Borg and the Lofotr Viking museum (1,5 hours). We can stop along the road any time and take in the spectacular scenery where the Mountains meet the Sea.
At the site of the Lofotr Viking museum, archaeologists excavated the largest Viking Age house ever discovered. The farm of one of the mightiest North Norwegian chieftains was discovered during an inter-Scandinavian research project 1986-89. Today's museum is a full scale replica of the Viking settlement. This impressive 83 meter long "living museum" is designed to look like an up-side-down Viking ship. Here you'll see folks dressed in traditional clothing re-enacting the daily life of the Vikings. You can learn about traditional weaving, making rope, shoes and other necessities. You can even experience what it was like to row a Viking ship. The ship in the harbor is a replica of the 1,000 year old Gokstad ship displayed in Oslo. We will also enjoy a traditional Viking lunch complete with a mug of mead.
Onwards to Nusfjord, one of the many small fishing villages in Lofoten. Here we will check into fishermen huts that are still used by the fishermen in the winter. Nusfjord is still flourishing due to the excellent winter cod fishing. Cod is the main staple in Arctic Norway and is one of Norway's greatest natural resources. The cod is caught in the mid-winter, gutted and hung to dry on large wooden drying racks along the coast. The cold, salty air dries out the cod (which at this point is referred to as "Stock fish"). It the Spring it is packed up and exported to Portugal, Nigeria and Japan. In order to make the fish edible all one has to do is put it in water to re-hydrate it. According to the experts the stock fish retains 97% of it's nutrients and minerals, and if cooked right, it is quite tasty!
In the center of the Nusfjord we'll find the old historic Trading Post. This is where fishermen and tourists alike gather to exchange thoughts on the weather and the day’s events. Tonight we will stay in the traditional rorbus of Nusfjord and enjoy dinner at "Oriana", the one and only local restaurant and pub. Baccalau, a traditional stew cooked with Stockfish, tomatoes and onions is the specialty!
Nusfjord Rorbuer / Rica Hotel N-8380 Ramberg, Norway Phone: +47-76 09 33 78 www. nusfjord@rica.no
Day 5: Rise and shine! After breakfast we will pack our day packs. Load the rest of the luggage in the van and then we hike off. Our destination is Nesland village. The trail winds it way through a rolling landscape, below imposing mountains and along the open coastal waters of Vestfjord. The trail is well trod and the views are spectacular. We should be able to reach Nesland in 3-4 hours. We will enjoy a picnic lunch along the way.
The van will pick us up in Nesland and we continue our journey south along the Lofoten Islands. A visit to the Fishery museum and the iron smith in Sund is a must. Here we can enjoy both history and fine art at the same time. The Blacksmith is quite a character and we might see him in action creating his art at the forge.
Our destination for tonight is the island community of Reine. At Reine Rorbus will once again check in to traditional cabins (three nights). Dinner will be served at Loftet Restaurant.
Reine Rorbuer N-8390 Reine, Norway Phone: +47-760 92 222 Fax: +47- 760 92 225 www.reinerorbuer.no
Day 6: After breakfast we pack our daypacks again and walk down to the harbor. The Reine community is surrounded by spectacular mountains. The fjord carves deeply through the mountains. We will board a small tour boat and travel into the fjord. At the very end of the Bunesfjord arm there is a trail winding up to the mountain pass of Bunes.
From the pass we can see and smell the open Norwegian Sea. The trail continues down to Bunes beach, this kilometer long white sandy beach is excellent for beach combing. Take off your shoes and let your feet run wild. Huge waves pound this shore during winter storms leaving all sorts of treasures. In 2000 we found the full skeleton of a Sperm Whale here. We will spend the greater part of the day on this remote and wild beach. Upon returning to Reine we will have an early dinner together in a local restaurant.
But the day isn't over yet! If weather allows this might be the night that we dress in floatation suits, board the Zodiacs and venture out around the very southern tip of the Lofoten Islands. This will bring us within view of the most famous and potentially fiercest ocean current in the world – The Maelstrøm. The current offshore can run up to 20 knots accompanied by standing waves and whirlpools large enough to swallow fishing boats. Don’t worry, the captain has lots of experience and he won’t take us out into the dangerous waters.
Once around the cape we will be on the outer coast of Lofoten. Here we’ll find remains of settlements dating back thousands of years. The gigantic coastal cave in Refsvika Bay contains cave paintings approximately 3,000 year old. This is truly a remarkable spot to visit - especially during the last rays of our Midnight sun. We will return to our cabins by 1 am.
Day 7: Today we have two alternative activities. For those interested in birds who don't mind many hours in the Zodiac rubber raft we will visit the bird cliffs of Vaerøy. This is truly an amazing area with thousands of puffins, kittiwakes, cormorants, sea eagles, and murres. The ocean conditions will dictate whether this trip is possible or not.
For those who would rather stay on shore we will bike south to visit the community of Å (5 km south of Reine). The letter Å is one of the last letters in the Scandinavian alphabet, an appropriate name for the last and most southern community in the Lofoten Islands. A walk around town, a visit to the bakery and a tour of the Norwegian Fishing Village Museum make for a relaxing day in a beautiful setting. If you are eager to take another great hike we can also offer a three hour roundtrip to the end of the Ågvattnet lake and back to Å. The trail is a bit rugged but there is really no elevation gain and the scenery is splendid!
Tonight will be our last night in the Reine rorbus. Dinner will be served by our staff. If the Midnight Sun ride mentioned earlier was not possible due to weather, this evening will be our second chance for this unforgettable experience.
Day 8: This is our last morning together. We will help you get to the ferry which will take you across the Vestfjord to Bodø. Please don’t make reservations to fly out of Bodø until late afternoon this day.
General Information:
Travel Insurance: We recommend that you protect yourself from unforeseen circumstances while traveling. The Travel Guard "Protect Assist" insurance plan protects you in the event that you have to cancel your trip for a variety of reasons. It covers you for everything from your cancellation to Trip Interruption, Travel Delay, Lost, Stolen or Damaged Luggage, Baggage Delay, Medical Expenses, Emergency Medical Transportation and more. This plan is ideally suited for adventure travel.
Pre- and post-trip accommodations: We recommend EDMONDS TRAVEL outside Seattle. They specialize in travel to Scandinavia. KJ is our primary contact person, she will help you book tickets. Call: 1-800-261-3868. Email: kj@edmondstravel.com
Weather: The coastal weather of Arctic Norway can bring strong winds and rain. Count on clouds and drizzle for at least half the time. Sunny days will be a welcome exception. Here the average temperatures range between the low 50's to 70’s. The coastal weather of Sweden is usually warmer and sunnier than Norway, but be prepared for some strong winds or heavy rain. Summer temperatures in Sweden can reach into the 80's. At times, the elements can prohibit us from paddling or hiking but not from enjoying these spectacular places. Good rain gear and footwear will also enable us to explore the mountains, forests, coast and villages by foot. The weather in the mountains is variable like in most mountains. One day can be warm and sunny with the next being windy and drizzly, it’s even possible to see some snowfall.
Currency: Each Scandinavian country has its own currency. Exchanges can be made at banks, airports, train stations and most hotels. Scandinavian currency is not interchangeable between countries as each has a different exchange rate value. Major credit cards are widely accepted throughout Scandinavia. Sweden and Denmark are part of the European Union but have chosen not to use the Euro. Norway is not part of the EU. Travel checks are not used in Scandinavia. The banks will charge a stiff fee if you want travel checks cashed.
Language: English is Scandinavia's second language and is almost spoken fluently throughout. We encourage you to take advantage of the opportunity to speak the native tongue. Phrase books and dictionaries are a great help. All our staff are bilingual and speak English as well as Norwegian or Swedish.
Last minute assistance: If you need assistance shortly before departure or while traveling to Scandinavia, you may call the following number for Crossing Latitudes in Sweden: 070-670 11 53 (within Sweden) or 46-70-670 11 53 (from outside Sweden). Please leave your name, a message and a number where we can reach you.
We are looking forward to our adventure together!
Crossing Latitudes, Inc.
420 West Koch Street
Bozeman MT 59715, USA
USA:1-800-572-8747
Europe: +46-70-670 1153
www.crossinglatitudes.com
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