Is there a point in visiting mountains when they are not covered in white, fluffy magic? Or is there a point in traveling north in the summer toward colder temperatures?
Me and my family debated for a while where we would go for our family summer vacation. I came up with the idea to drive up to Lofoten to hike and enjoy the spectacular nature. Lofoten is located on the northwest coast of Norway, well above the arctic circle. We barely planned anything before the trip, and on the day we set off we only had accommodation for the first night. We spent midsummers eve which is a key summer celebration in Sweden, with family in the north of Sweden before heading off.
First stop of the trip was a camper cabin in Hameroy after thirteen hours in the car. We went for a walk to stretch our legs at around 10 in the evening. The sun was still flying high in the sky and cast a golden light over the mountains that were reflected in the still water. The remoteness and quietness creates a magical feeling and an instant calmness starts to settle in the body.
This map shows some of our key stopping points on the holiday.
Sleeping in the Far North
When going to bed, it is crucial to cover every window, because even at midnight the sun still shines.
Beaches Above the Arctic Circle
The following day, we took a ferry to Svolvaer, which is the biggest city on Lofoten. We did a small hike and then went to a beach called “Rörviksstranda”. The water is crystal clear and gives a turquoise reflection that takes the mind to bahamas beaches in the summer. Stepping foot into the water however is nothing like in the Bahamas. Ice cold and raw it cools you down to the core.
Hiking in the Footsteps of the Sherpas
The following day me, my brother and dad sent out to hike up to “the devils gate”. The hike up consists mostly of stairs that were built by Nepalese sherpas. It is physically demanding, but reaching the devils gate makes it worth it. The brave can climb out and stand on the floating rock while overlooking the sea that meets white sand on the shorelines.
To get to the top of the mountain, the hike continues until you reach the top and can overlook the village of Svolvaer. Every hike must end with a swim in the arctic water to freshen up, followed by an evening stroll where we encountered never-ending drying racks with fish heads.
Surfing Above the Arctic Circle
The next morning, grey clouds were hanging low above us and the wind was blowing strong. No better way to take advantage of the wind than to go to the Skagsanden beach, with the shoreline lying towards the Atlantic, and put on a 8mm thick wetsuit to go surfing. Standing on the beach, it only took a couple of minutes before the aching cold forced you to go inside. Luckily, surfing is exhausting, and it did not take long before the freezing water turned warm in the wetsuit. After four hours of endless paddling and after catching a few good waves, we continued our roadtrip towards Moskenes, located at the furthest end of Lofoten.
World’s Largest Whirlpool
The following two days consisted of hiking majestic trails and enjoying the breathtaking, raw landscape. On our last evening, we bought a single-use grill and had a hot dog barbecue at the beach while the sun was making its way closer to the horizon but never passing it. To return to the mainland, we took the ferry to Bodö during harsh seastate. We spend a day in Bodö, and drove half an hour outside of the city to watch the worlds’ strongest and largest whirlpool. Due to the tidal streams and the narrow passage, whirlpools up to ten meters in diameters can occur.
In the Winters
Klara M has a background in elite alpine ski racing in Sweden. She holds great knowledge about ski technique due to her studies and experience in alpine skiing. Klara is a talkative, cheerful instructor happy to teach anyone regardless of age or previous experience. Klara has worked with teaching children in various ages the basics of skiing, which she enjoys to the same extent as teaching more advanced lessons. With a positive attitude, Klara will help you reach your individual skiing goals no matter the level at which you start.
Klara M joined the ES team for our entry in the Back2Back Verbier this April, you can see more details here.
Klara’s clients say: “We can really recommend Klara! Our 2 year old son was super enthusiastic every day with Klara and always happy to ski more. After five days with Klara he was able to ski with our help from Ruinette to Verbier. And he was absolute beginner with only a few hours of skiing before meeting Klara. As a instructor Klara shows the passion and joy of skiing with a super talent in both skiing and helping our toddler. An amazing experience.”
“I had a 2 hour lesson with Klara and she was amazing! Shey takes you step by step and makes you improve very quickly! She’s calm and patient. Strongly recommended!“
Contact us to book ski lesson with Klara M in Verbier.
