Red fisherman's huts in Svolvaer port with sailboat on the water.

Slow Travel in Arctic Norway

Chase the Lights, Find Stillness

October 18-27, 2026

Embark on a sustainable adventure into the Arctic Circle, beginning in Bodo, gateway city north of the Arctic Circle and continuing to the breathtaking Lofoten Islands. You'll chase awe-inspiring northern lights, and explore Arctic fjords. Along the way, visit remote fishing villages, and savor fresh seafood. Enjoy slowing down, connecting to nature, culture, and stillness of the far north.

Highlights

  • Lofoten Islands
    Lofoten archipelago, situated above the Arctic Cirlce off the Norwegian coast, beckons you with Autumn colors into a deep experience of "friluftsliv," the Norwegian concept of connecting with open air, being in nature. The charming fishing village of Svolvaer with stunning views of mountains and sea will be our home base for open air adventures. Your lodging in will be in "rorbuer", traditional red fisherman's cabins on the shoreline with wonderful views and hopefully northern lights.
  • Northern Lights
    Northern Lights or Aurora Borealis will be very intense in 2025 and 2026 due to the current solar cycle reaching its peak. We will be in the Arctic during the new moon, experiencing longer nights for increased viewing of the shimmering auroras. A professional photographer and northern lights expert will guide us to view the wonders of the Arctic sky.
  • Indigenous Sami
    Connect with the traditional Sami custodians of these lands. Learn about their rich culture in a natural mountain habitat, hear the Sami call the reindeer in, and feed their gentle reindeer. Later, gather in a Sami tent around a bonfire to learn more about Sami traditions.
  • Trollfjord - Silent Cruise
    A spectacular silent cruise on a hybrid catamaran through Trollfjord, depth of 236 ft below sea level. The entrance is only (330 ft) wide and widens to a max width 2,600 ft. The fjord is 2 km (1.2 mi) long. The name originated from the Norse myths about trolls. There is an abundance of wildlife to be seen, and possibly a sighting of the white-tailed eagle.

Cost

Price: $4250, based on double occupancy. A very limited number of single rooms are available at an additional cost.

Contact us if interested. A deposit of $500 will hold your place. Credit cards are accepted

Fill out the registration form.

Read and sign Terms of Service

Activity Level

We walk 2-4 miles daily, possibly over uneven surfaces with snow. You may have to roll or carry your luggage, up and down stairs to your room. Wear comfortable insulated boots for outdoor activities. Layer your clothing with lightweight wool-based layers, a wool sweater, insulated, windproof, and waterproof snow pants and jacket. More details will be given.

Odyssey Includes

  • * 9 nights lodging
  • * Train, bus, boat, and vehicle transportaion
  • * all breakfasts, meals as indicated on itinerary
  • * Local bilingual guides, BBO staff

What is not included

  • * Round-trip airfare
  • * Travel insurance (recommended) that minimumly covers you for medical expenses including emergency repatriation.
  • * Alcoholic beverages at group meals
  • * optional activites/experiences
  • * meals not mentioned in the itinerary
  • * tips for local guides, drivers, etc

Itinerary

The Arctic City of Bodo, Norway is a fascinating combination of culture, unique architecture and magnificent natural gems. Snuggle into a cozy wool sweater upon arrival, sip tea or cocoa and begin to breathe in the Arctic air and beauty. After all have arrived and introductions are completed, we will discover new food in one of the many restaurants and perhaps be surprised with nothern lights later in the evening.

Enjoy a gentle Arctic coastal walk today, allowing you to experience “friluftsliv,” aka the joy of the great outdoors. The walk follows a route around sandy beaches, includes stories about Norway’s Viking history, and finishes with a warming herbal tea. B

You leave on a ferry for the vibrant town of Svolvaer, located on Austvagoya Island in the center of the Lofoten archipelago. The town of less than 5000 has a rich cultural offering, is a transportation hub, and is surrounded by abundant hiking trails. Red fisherman's huts called "rorbuer" offer color and charm to the town. This day is free to explore the town, discover some of the fine restaurants. We will talk more about how to look for and photograph the elusive northern lights. B.

A morning guided hike on one of Lofoten's dramatic trails near Svolvaer. "All Trails" has 20 mapped hikes with hiker's photos demonstrating how beautiful they are. https://www.alltrails.com/norway/nordland/svolvaer Afternoon is free. The new moon today will darken the skies even more. A Northern Lights guided tour starting at 20:00 will be guided by a professional photographer with a minivan to areas that our guide believes are most likely for a viewing. You will learn how to photograph at night, the science of the Northern lights, and the Norse myths. The lights are notoriously elusive but we may get lucky and see them every night! B.

Silent Trollfjord Cruise on electric catamaran. Entering the fjord is breathtaking because of how close you are to very steep mountains. If the weather is less than ideal, you can go to a protected and warm lower deck with seating and great views. A drone with camera will be lowered to the sea, enabling you to also see what is underneath the boat. The cruise lasts 3.5 hours. B.

Taste of Lofoten-Food tour. At 9:00 Discover the fishing heritage in a traditional rorbu, bake Nordic cinnamon buns, and sample local delicacies like cured meats, cheeses, and smoked fish. You will go to the picturesque fishing village of Henningsvær, where you’ll get hands-on with a beloved Nordic tradition—baking cinnamon buns. Under the guidance of a local baker. You will learn about the history of the fishing heritage in a traditional fisherman's cabin. Later, there will be lunch at the renowned restaurant Borsen Spiseri with a curated menu of the best Arctic dishes. B.L

Free day to plan something for yourself or with some of the group. Kayaking is done in autumn and I have information for anyone interested. You may want to do another hike, explore another village, or you may want to use the sauna and read. B.

Sami Reindeer Experience - You will travel in a minivan through breathtaking fjords and mountain passes to a traditional Sami Siida, or reindeer camp. The Sami hosts will talk about their heritage, rituals and customs of indigenous Sami life. We will gather around a warm fire in a lavvu, a traditional Sami tent to hear captivating stories about the sacred bond of the Sami people and the reindeer. The Sami guide will show you how to pet and feed the gentle reindeer. A lunch is offered in the tent of warm reindeer stew and bread, cake and warm drinks. Let me know of any dietary preferences. B.

We return via ferry to Bodo, explore some of the fascinating architecture, and have our final meal together. B.

You will likely fly back to your connecting city, either Oslo or Bergen. If you desire to have extra days in either city, I am putting together a list of sites to see and activities you could do. Oslo has saunas everywhere, many museums, Munch Museum dedicated to artist Edvard Munch, Vigeland Scupture Park, and fine restaurants. The spectacular train experience from Oslo to Bergen is one of the best in the world. Bergen also has fine restaurants, colorful traditional buildings, a fish market, Edvard Grieg house and tour, more hikes, etc. They are easy, safe cities to get around in, and most Norwegians speak English. B.
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