Lofoten, Norway

How it all started

Let’s start from the very beginning.

Instagram has always been a potential portal for meeting new people and discover new places, it is thanks to it that I got in touch with three other photographers and content creators: Foxsbackpack, Luca Casatagnini and Niklas Koessel.

We started putting together this trip from scratch, we know what we could expect but nothing about how to get to places and mover around the islands.

Day 1

The trip began on February 18th when I travelled to Fox’s house ready to leave the day after for the airport.

After getting to Milano Linate we jumped on our first plane directed to Frankfurt, the second one to Oslo and finally to Tromsø.

As we got to the airport we rented the car from Rentalcars. We got a pretty dedicated car for the trip we had already fully planned.

Day 2

We arrived in svolvaer. We had a well-defined plan to follow, we started the day by visiting some great places around the Fjords and afterwards we drove straight towards Henningsvær, a fishing village located on several little islands. This place is well known due to its soccer field embedded in the rocks.

After driving for the first 150km we got to our hostel where we spent the night and got ready for the upcoming trip the day after to the islands.

Day 3

We woke up and did not know that this would be our best day at the Lofotens. In fact, we knew that this was our last day of sun that we might have and therefore decided to drive through the fjords, towards Fredvang bridges. We made a quick spot and looked up for some new spots where to fly the drone and suddenly spotted two little fisherman’s cabin by the river.

After a quick stop we headed towards Fredvang bridges, one of the most iconic places around the Lofoten. We stopped there for almost two hours were we enjoyed the sunset.

After getting all the light we could from this spot we drove to a restaurant to get some refreshment (one pannacotta, €12,50) and to the way there we jumped into one of the most photographed cabin of the Lofoten. You can tell why it is so well known.

As we were sitting around the table for dinner we checked for the northern light forecast, the probability that we might be seeing the aurora was very high. We scouted the map and save that a few kilometres away there was a nice spot where we could get some pictures.

After getting to the spot we waited in the car because the wind was very strong and then we saw some green lights in the sky, jumped out of the car and took a few snaps with the camera. What the camera could see gave me goosebumps.

After running out the battery that I had in my camera, the aurora was almost gone. We decided to move towards out accommodation, we were almost exhausted but when as where were driving we couldn’t believe our eyes. The aurora was shining once again and the light was so strong that you could see her dancing in the sky.

Day 4

We knew that Norway is one of the countries in which the weather changes every hour or so. From that day on the rain made our days tougher but also more challenging.

That day we left our cabin from Svolvaer and drove toward Hamnøy, where we stayed for the upcoming two days. We didn’t know that where we will sleep was one of the most famous villages of the Lofoten, you can definitely tell why.

Unfortunately, we didn’t get a lot of nice pictures that day due to the heavy storm that was hitting the whole southland of the Lofotens.

Day 5

Our plan was to wake up for sunrise but the clouds were so dense that no light could trespass them. We shot once again the previous scenery but also other spots which you can find quite near that one.

The light was not one of the best for taking pictures, but the atmosphere (so-called “mood”) that the clouds set was exceptional for the shots.

Day 6

Another raining day. This would not stop us from going out. Actually, we were almost getting used to the rain and found it satisfying to shot under the rain knowing that a hot shower was expecting us.

We planned to go to Å, the latest village in the Lofoten. There is really nothing special there, but the feeling of arriving at the remotest rural place of the Lofoten made me feel free.

We drove back to our cabin, we were soaked and tired. But on the way back we spotted some cute cabins on the water with grass on their roofs, we were attracted by them and decide to stop and get a few shots.

We then found out two fun facts. Firstly: grass on the roof helps to isolate houses from the cold. Second: Norwegian were used to leave always the lights on from the moment they moved in until they leave the house.

Day 7

The sun was up, we couldn’t believe that the day we had to leave the sun will start shining again. We got out of bed and run to the spots that we previously saw but still hoped we would get another scenery out of them.

The wind was very strong though and we had to leave Hamnøy in order to visit the next spots that we had planned, such as Nusfjord.

After visiting the oldest village of the Lofoten we headed toward Ballstad, where our next accommodation was awating us.

We drove for a few hours and then got to Hemminggodden Fishing Lodge where Matias (the manager of the lodges) was awaiting us for a hot welcome.

After getting some nice refreshment it was time for some relax in one of the cosiest places I have ever stayed in. This was Hemmingodden fishing lodge.

Day 8

The boat where waiting for us. Matias booked for us a fishing experience. I personally have never been fishing in the open sea, but I can definitely tell you that the experience was worth a try.

The major issue of fishing in the ocean is that the boat is constantly weaving and some people might get seasick.

Foxsbackpack and I have been working on a video during the experience, you can check the outcome just by clicking on the video below.

After enjoying the experience we went out again, we needed to get back to some places we were not satisfied yet. Guess what? It started raining again..

After getting all soaked we drove back to the cabin where a hot shower was awaiting us.

On the way back we had a call from Matias, he wanted us to see the gutting of the fish and afterwards, the owner of the lodge would cook some fresh fish for us.

I can tell you, the cooked fish was one of the best I have ever tried.

Day 9

This was our latest day at the Lofoten. We had a well-defined plan, meet a local guide and then hike to Kvalvika beach.

We met with 68north experience at Unstad Beach where the waves were really high and the landscape left me speechless. This beach is well-known because surfers get the best waves there and it looks like one of the best places where to surf in the whole Lofoten beach.

Unfortunately, Robert wouldn’t come with us to Kvalvika beach since the weather was not that good and he saw the beach a lot of time. He came to our house lately and narrated us some great facts about the local costumes and adventures he has been through.

We left Unstad beach and drove to the parking lot where the trail for Kvalvika beach started. The hike was tough only because the wind was really strong and it rained every two minutes. But once we passed the hill and the landscaped appeared in front of our eyes I was amazed.

That exacted moment I felt so happy, the strong wind was trespassing my jacket and that gave me a feeliing of freedome. I couldn’t ask for a better way to end my trip in the Lofoten islands.

Foxsbackpack and I decided to take advantage of the light and get some portraits of our selves with the spectacular landscape.

Day 10

That day we left our lodge and headed to the airport in Tromsø where we spent the night ready to leave the next day.

We had no much time to stop since we still had 8 hours of drive to get there. We had to see the famous soccer field on the rock though, it was definitely worth it.

On the way there we were lead by an insane sunset and fortunately, the northern lights showed up again.

So, time to sum up the whole. If you made it until here, I am grateful.

It was one of the best experience I could ask for, great times, nice people and awesome landscapes. Stoked for the upcoming trips.

Big thank you goes to: 
Foxsbackpack for driving us around, 2000 km in two weeks.  
Luca Castagnini for playing Ariana Grande just to get on my nerves.
Niklas Koessel for keeping up with the smell of fish during the whole trip. 
Hemmingodden Fishing lodge for offering the best accommodation that we needed after our adventures.
Rentalcars for borrowing us the perfect car for northern conditions.