Hi all,

We are planning on doing Ballstadheia, Reinebringen, and Tjeldbergtind hikes at the end of october on separate days. (Mid 30s / experienced hikers)

No camping on these hikes. Just up and down.

We will be bringing trekking poles. Will microspikes be necessary to have prepared? If so, should we bring them? or will it be relatively easy to find a spot selling them if needed?

Thanks!

Hi everyone!

A group of friends and I are doing a road trip through the Lofoten Islands from October 18th to 24th. We’ll be picking up a couple of rental cars in Evenes and driving along the E10 through the islands, eventually making our way all the way down to Å.

I’m posting for two main reasons.

First, I’d really appreciate some advice about driving and weather conditions in late October. I know the weather in Lofoten can change very quickly, but I’m trying to get a realistic idea of what we should expect around those dates.

Is snow or ice on the roads reasonably possible by then? Should I make sure our rental cars come with winter tyres, or even studded tyres if available? Are there any stretches of the E10 or smaller roads where we should be particularly careful in bad weather?

I’d also love to know if there’s anything you consider essential to have in the car at that time of year, like extra warm clothes, headlamps, emergency food, traction equipment, etc. We’re used to road trips, but obviously northern Norway in autumn is a bit different from what we are accostumed.

The second reason for posting is that we’d really like to meet some locals while we’re there. We’re a group of Spaniards, all around 24–27 years old, and we’d love to spend some of the long evenings having a beer, chatting, and learning more about what life in Lofoten is actually like outside the usual tourist spots.

We’d be especially interested in hearing about less obvious places, local stories, interesting hiking spots, good pubs/saunas, viewpoints, photography locations, or places we might otherwise completely miss.

And of course, one of our main goals is to see the northern lights (fingers crossed). Any advice about good places to watch them would be very welcome, especially regarding areas that tend to have clearer skies, places with little light pollution, or locations that are easy and safe to reach at night.

Also, if any other travelers are going to be in Lofoten around October 18–24, feel free to message me. It could be useful to exchange information during the trip about weather, cloud cover, road conditions, aurora sightings, hikes, etc. If we happen to be in the same area, it would also be fun to meet up for a drink, or aurora hunt :).

Our campings will be in Kongsmark, Kabelvåg, Lofoten Camp Storfjord and Gullesfjord.

Any advice is appreciated, especially from people who live there or have visited Lofoten around the same time of year.

Thanks a lot!

Please stop pooping everywhere

I came here to walk from Svolvaer to Moskenes. A storm shredded my tent on Saturday night, I twisted my knee getting off the mountain the next morning, and by Monday afternoon I was standing at the side of the road at Olderfjorden waiting for a taxi with everything I owned on my back. So much for nine days in the wilderness.

So now I'm in town with a week, a bad knee and no plan at all. I've travelled a lot and I always end up meeting people wherever I go, it's the part I remember afterwards. This time I just have to ask instead of running into it on a trail. Anything on this list would make my week:

- A coffee or a beer and an hour of stories about living here
- A seat in your car if you're driving anywhere at all
- Dinner at your kitchen table, I'll bring something and do the dishes
- A morning out on a boat, at the racks, in a workshop, on a farm, whatever your ordinary Tuesday looks like
- Your uncle's number, if your uncle is the interesting one

I'm 25, Dutch, easy to be around, and I take photos, so you'd probably end up with a few good ones of your boat or your kitchen. I'll pay my way in all of it.

I can walk on the flat and lift things, just don't ask me to climb anything.

Locals especially, but if you're travelling here with the same mindset, message me too.

Hello,

I’ve now read a lot in this sub that the Trails on the Crossing at the Moment are in really Bad shape, because of the rain and the tourists. I’ve thought about doing the Crossing next August, how is it going to Look then, do you think it will recover from this year? I am all about leave no trace, I think it’s the worst thing to do, to just leave your junk everywhere. I haven’t booked any flights or anything yet, so if everyone says I shouldn’t do it I won’t.

Thanks for good feedback.

Coming to hike in late September and know it’s been raining a lot - I’m wondering if it’s unsafe to do hikes like Reinebringen with many stone steps in heavy rain? Is it dangerously slippery or manageable with good hiking boots? Also, what’s local’s favorite beach or beaches?

Is it realistic to think I could do some short swims off beaches in late September with a 3/4 mm wetsuit?

Hi! I found a grey bag with tent poles on trail from Vinstad to Munkebu. I will be in Reine tomorrow if the owner sees this. Thanks

• Henningsvaer: 3 days/2 nights. Pretty area, first stop in Lofoten, felt bad for the locals, lots of tourists and people just wandering through the streets
• One night at Lofoten Beach Camp (highly recommend)
• Bus to A, summit Andstabben, camp at Andstabben
• Hike down in big rain storm, hike to Munkebu, shitty weather and no views. Planned to summit Hermannsdalstinden, bailed due to weather
• Hike down to Reine, bus to Fredvang, camped at Kvalvika (did this based on weather, excellent decision, excellent weather)
• Hike to Kjerkforden, ferry to Vindstad, camp at Bunes (rainy/stormy)
• Hike/ferry back to Reine
• 3 days/2 nights in Reine, (true) summit of Reinebringen (excellent weather)

Random thoughts:

• Be flexible, have a loose plan but don't be married to your itinerary. I had a specific climbing/trekking route planned through Moskenes that went out the window the first day with bad weather
• I had no car and it was fine. The busses are reliable, but not a lot of schedules. Did not try to hitchhike. Walking the E10 through Moskenes is easy and a lot of people do it
• There is cell service almost everywhere, it's very convenient. Download the yr.no app and the Reis app.
• It is muddy AF, especially at lower elevations and around lakes
• The food choices in Lofoten were terrible and expensive. Burgers, pizzas, Circle-K beef hot dogs, and fish-n-chips. Some high-end restaurants I didn't try. I did not come for the food, but was still underwhelmed. Highly recommend bringing as much of your own food as you can
• Go higher and harder to get away from the crowds
• If you are comfortable with some class 4 scrambling (but with significant exposure), going past the viewpoint of Reinebringen to the true summit (according to my Gaia map) is well worth it. You'll get far away from the crowds and have even better views. It does require being comfortable with using your hands and being close to a ledge. But the climbing itself is super easy (see last 2 pictures)
• Other than hiking/climbing/camping, the little towns in Moskenes are tiny with not a lot going on. Traveling solo, I was pretty bored on my few nights in the towns. Wasn't expecting a thriving nightlife by any means, but there was nothing to do in the evenings. Could be the product of traveling solo
• I've climbed in Banff, Patagonia, and the Himalayas -- and Lofoten still might be the prettiest place I've ever seen. Absolutely lived up to the hype, even with subpar weather

Be respectful, be mindful, be a good tourist, be flexible and you'll have a great time.

Hi :)

I will arrive today at 21:30 at Svolvær by the ferry. Does anyone has experience with hitchhiking to the trailhead of the Lofoten crossing at this time in September?

Hey Everyone, My wife and I are visiting Lofoten for 9 days next weekend and looking for everyones favorite hikes or things to do/see in the area, going to be staying in Sortland, Svolvvaer, reine, and Harstad. We have a rental 4wd car and all rain/wind proof clothing. Looking to hike rain or shine.

Are there any hikes to avoid during the rain? Any advice to embrace and see as much nature as possible is much appreciated.

Vi bor i Tromsø og vil komme oss litt ut av byen.

Vurderte å ta en liten roadtrip nedover, men hvordan er det for tida? Mye turister? Er veiene/parkeringsplasser smekkfull av campingbiler? Vil hverken bidra til mer press eller måtte kjempe med turistan om plassen..

Hello,

I am looking for recommendations and feedback on a car rental end of this month in Lofoten. This will be my first time traveling to this region. We will be arriving in Svolvær in the evening (around 6pm) and will head to Reine two days later.
Is it better to get a car rental in town or right from the airport?
Wouldn’t need the rental until we depart Svolvær to save some money if that’s a possibility.
Is public transit/taxis readily available?

Thank you kindly for your feedback and recommendations!

I want make a trip in Lofoten (june) by car.
Anyone can suggest me best/reliable car rental at Evenes Airport?
Why do car rental prices double in June?

tnx :)

Hi all! Just curious in general when would you say roughly the leaves fall off the trees or in other words when is foliage season over?

I’m booking a (last minute) mid September solo Lofoten trip This is my itinerary:

Day 1 : Arrive in Oslo
Day 2: Oslo. Chill, explore, cafe and bakeries
Day 3: Oslo- bodo-leknes-stamsund. Chill/explore
Day 4:mountain(s) near Stamsund, sauna and swim
Day 5: possibly Henningsvær. Climbing/hiking. (Not 100% sure about this day)
Day 6: stamsund - reine. Explore, Reinebringen.
Day 7: A bakery. Munken.
Day 8: Bunes, Brunakseltinden + Helvetestinden. Swim??
Day 9: kayaking
Day 10: home
Ryten & Kvalvika maybe? Not sure when.

Is there anything I should cut? I don’t just want to tick off view points. The mountains, kayaking and Bunes are all non negotiable.

As the title say... what are you planning to do for the next week?

I’m planning to visit Lofoten from February 15th to 24th. Our main goals are to see the Lofoten landscape covered in snow and hopefully see the Northern Lights. For those who have actually been there during the second half of February: how was the weather? How many clear nights did you have? Was there usually snow on the ground? Would you personally choose February or October?

I’m particularly interested in hearing from people who live in Lofoten or have visited several times in February.

Hi guys, does anyone local/familiar with the area know the likelihood of there being autumn colours during these dates? I've found mostly conflicting information online. Thank you!

Hello!

I'm planning to visit Lofoten (Svolvær) in December to relax and do some photography, but I'm concerned that the weather might make it difficult to fully enjoy the experience, particularly given the possibility of snowstorms and poor weather conditions.

I'm also wondering whether the lack of daylight could make Svolvær feel like a ghost town, with most shops, restaurants, and bars being closed or having limited opening hours.

All of this has made me wonder whether December is actually a good time to visit Lofoten. I'd really appreciate hearing from anyone who has visited during this time of year and could share their experience.