Lofoten Islands (Dec 2014) | Europe - Scandinavia & the Nordics - Lonely Planet Forum

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Tue, 30 Dec 2014 10:31:49 +0000

Hi, I will be visiting the Lofoten Islands end of March into April. I arrive into Svolvaer on the Hurtigruten and will have 5 nights to stay on the islands, and 6 days before catching the ferry from Moskenes to Bodo. I am not sure of the best itinerary and places to stay (I do have a HI card and am on couchsurfing).
I wondered if anybody has a good itinerary/advice or thoughts on my options:
a) Svolvaer one night, bus to Kabelvag and one night stay, bus to Stamsund or Ballstad and one night stay, bus to Moskenes and one night stay, go to A one night stay, return to Moskenes for ferry; or,

b) Bus from Svolvaer and stay 2 nights Kabelvag, bus to Ballstad or Leknes and one night stay, bus to A and stay 2 nights then bus to Moskenes for ferry to Bodo.

My head is starting to spin with it all as am going further along the coast too, so lots to book up! Any help would be much appreciated. :)

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Fri, 02 Jan 2015 23:28:18 +0000

cheers mandie,

I admit I'm just replying because so far no one else did. my expertise on the Lofoten is a decade old already and will need some cross checking.

first of all, check what parts of your trip coincide with Easter: public transport, shop opening times etc. will be severly limited on Friday, Sunday and Monday.

personally, I cannot see the point in all those one-night stops. most of the places are not big enough to keep you busy for a full day, and given the sparse number of busses, it can prove difficult to do both change places and doing some sort of visiting on the same day.

I guess you are aware that at that time of the year it will likely still be impossible to do much hiking apart from walking along the roads.

this is the way I'd split five nights: 2 in Svolvær (there are budget friendly sjøhus, no need to go to Kabelvåg), daytrip to Henningsvær, 0-1 in Stamsund or Ballstad (Leknes is more of an administrative centre), just for the setting, 2-3 in Å, maybe you can do a trip on the local post boat on the Reinefjorden or hike/hitch-hike to Nusfjord from the E10. I'm not sure Moskenes is a place where you can (or want) to stay, Reine however, I'd recommend, though it's mainly rorbuer there and I'm not sure how nd at what price they handle short term lets.

local busses: http://www.177nordland.no/index.php?ac_id=319&ac_parent=280

regards

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Fri, 02 Jan 2015 23:55:09 +0000

In response to #1

Thanks so much Nautiker, you have been a massive help! I like the itinerary and will look into the accommodation. I was thinking of some of the places that have HI hostels, and I believe there is one in A. As you rightly pointed out with Easter round about that time, I would feel happier getting something booked now, and will bear it in mind for getting about on transport and shops etc. Thanks again, Mandie :)

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Sun, 04 Jan 2015 22:16:04 +0000

hi mandie,

thanks for the feedback. I recalled Kabelvåg used to be open in summer only and after a quick check it seems it still is, so if you want to stay in the North you'll probably need to stick to Svolvær.

I'm not sure there's a need to hurry booking. I've been there in spring twice and it hasn't been busy any of these times, you have to make sure privately run places bother to open over Easter, though. personally, for supplies I'd try stock up in either Svolvær or Leknes.

wishing you the right amount of snow and clear skies for the Northern lights!

regards

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Thu, 07 Jan 2016 01:03:58 +0000

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