Lofoten Winter Photo Tour: Winter's Dream and breathtaking Polar Lights
25.02.2019 - 03.03.2019
Lofoten
| 
Cody Duncan
photography,
nature,
light,
landscape,
sea,
weather,
travel,
excursion
3420 CHF
Visiting the Lofoten Islands during winter time is a dream for each landscape photographer. At this time of the year, the mighty waves of the sea break on sparkling, snow covered beaches. At the same time, the colourful rays of the enchanting Aurora Borealis light up the clear night skies above the snow-capped and icy mountains, rising high out of the Norwegian Sea. It is not unusual, that in winter the mountain peaks shimmer in a charming pink between sunrise and sunset or dark and dull skies announce the arrival of an approaching storm. In the middle of this impressive wintery spectacle of nature, we find idyllic and secluded fishing villages and their pretty little Rorbuer cottages. It is a boundless eldorado for each keen photographer. The nature of the Lofoten requires flexibility, as the weather conditions change fast. In order to make the best out of each day, the schedule of the tour will be constantly adapted to these conditions. And of course at night, if the skies are clear and the weather forecasts good, we will hunt for the dazzling Northern Lights.
This Lofoten Winter Photo Tour offers an extraordinary number of photographic highlights!
- Grandiose polar lights above the steep mountain cliffs and snow covered beaches
- Rough mountain ranges and pristine wintery beaches
- Fantastic light and weather conditions between sunrise and sunset
- Picturesque villages and scenic landscapes
- Countless new fascinating views and superb photo locations
- An unforgettable treat for each landscape photographer
Itinerary
Day 1 – Travel to the Lofoten
You travel individually to Leknes/ Lofoten Islands. There are good flight connections from Oslo with SAS or Wideroe. Your arrival at the airport in Leknes should be before 14:00h. Upon your arrival you are picked up and transferred by minivan to your accommodation in Reine. The very quaint village of Reine is one of the most beautiful small towns in Norway. Should the light be suitable during the transfer, we will already stop for first photo opportunities and visit the beaches of Myrland and Storsandnes. Check in to our Rorbuer cottages sometime in the late afternoon.
Day 2 and 3 - Out and about in the west of the Lofoten
We spend 2 full days in the west part of the Lofoten. Here we visit and photograph picturesque villages and majestic landscapes and of course some of the well-known and most beautiful beaches. Weather permitting, we lead you every morning to a scenic spot in Reine in order to capture spendid pictures of the sunrise. Reine is famous for its fantastic photo opportunities such as the distinctive mountain peak Olstind rising high above the fjord. The day will be spent travelling to various magnificent locations in order to shoot the wintery scenery of the Lofoten Islands in the best possible light. For another magnificent sunset, you also visit the last village of the Lofoten, Å. Here you photograph the glowing sun setting behind the mighty mountain range far in the distance. Further, you travel to the spectacular beaches of Flakstadøy. This location is well known for its exquisite photo opportunities, as for example the Skagsanden beach with unique structures and patterns in the black sand. Since our professional photo guide Cody Duncan has been travelling the Lofoten for many years and has been living there recently, we can guarantee you that you will be able to visit the very best photo spots in the area. After each dinner we drive – providing good weather forecasts – to one of the superb beaches and wait for the sparkling Northern Lights to appear in the night sky.
Day 4 to 6 - Let's go East
After a last early morning photo shooting in the area of Reine, we head into the eastern part of the Lofoten Islands. You check in to your new accommodation. During the next few days, we visit and capture images of various very scenic and photogenic beaches. These beaches are in the area of Vestvågøy. We travel for example to the beaches of Haukland, Vik, Uttakleiv and Unstad, which are all located in the most spectacular area. Due to the small size of the group, we are able to focus on your individual needs and requirements in the best possible way. You have the opportunity to discuss with us photographic topics of your personal choice and immediately put them into practice. These topics could be for example the technique of long exposure photography, the use of photographic filters and/or night-time photography. We also have time for individual image discussion and photo feedback.On short hiking trails we reach the best locations in the late afternoon for the best view of the glowing sun setting behind the magnificent mountain range. Upon return to our accommodation and after dinner we are of course looking out further for more Northern Lights.
Day 7 - End of the photo tour
After a last photo session in the morning you are transferred to the airport of Leknes for your journey back home. The flights to Oslo leave around midday or early afternoon.
Accommodation
The Lofoten Islands are well known for their old fishing cottages called “Rorbuer”. The Rorbuer cabins have been recently renovated and were changed into modern accommodation for travellers. During your photo tour you will be sleeping in these charming Rorbuer cabins.
Reine: Eliassen Rorbuer or similar
In Eliassen Rorbuer you are spending the night in beautifully renovated fisherman’s cottages situated on the island of Hamnøy. The cabins are equipped with 2 rooms, a kitchen and a shared bathroom. The Rorbuer are furnished in country home style and provide a cozy living room with a lounge and dining area. From the cottages you have lovely views of the harbour of Hamnøy, the Vest-Fjord, the Reine-Fjord or the mountains.
Ballstad: Hattvika Lodge or similar
Hattvika Lodge is located in a real fisherman's area, where ambient oozes of history and a great view to the harbour of Hattvika. Fishermen cottages ("rorbu") surrounds the area and hereby you are settled in a authentic fisherman village. The buildings are newly rebuild with modern high standard in all facilities where you can take the pulse of Lofoten's charm and tradition, while enjoying modern comfort. All units have modern bathrooms with heated tile floors for perfect comfort, great beds and an authentic atmosphere.
