By Boreal Yachting crew, Skippers and guides, Tromsø
Publication date not available
Tromsø to Lofoten is roughly 200 nautical miles of coast, normally sailed in ten days. The route runs south through Kvaløya, Senja and Vesterålen before crossing to Lofoten, with sheltered inside passages available in most weather.
This ten-day sailing itinerary runs south from Tromsø through Senja and Vesterålen to Lofoten. Stops include the musk ox island of Ryøya, the old trading post of Hamn on Senja, the narrow Trollfjord, and the fishing villages of Lofoten, from the blue-painted town of Sortland to the artist colony of Henningsvaer.
Day 1–2: Depart Tromsø and sail south through Gisundet to Ryøya, an island with a population of musk oxen introduced from Greenland that now roam freely. Continue south to Finnsnes or Harstad.
Day 3–4: Explore the coastline of Senja, Norway's second-largest island. Visit the historic trading post of Hamn i Senja, where old fishing buildings have been converted into a hotel and restaurant. Sail past the jagged peaks of Okshornan, known locally as the Devil's Teeth.
Day 5–6: Cross the Vagsfjord to Sortland, a small town where every building in the centre has been painted blue as an art project. Continue through Raftsundet, the narrow strait between Austvagoy and Hinnøya, and into the Trollfjord, a cliff-walled inlet only 100 metres wide at its entrance.
Day 7–8: Arrive in Svolvær, the capital of Lofoten, and explore the surrounding islands. Visit Henningsvaer, a village built on several small islands connected by bridges, known for its art galleries and a football pitch surrounded by sea on all sides.
Day 9–10: Sail south through the heart of Lofoten, visiting Nusfjord, Reine and A, among the most photographed fishing villages in the world. The peaks of the Lofoten Wall rise directly from the sea.
Related experience: Private Charter.
Where this sails: Sailing Lofoten.
About the author
Skippers and guides, Tromsø
Written by the Boreal Yachting editorial team using operational knowledge from the skippers and guides who sail Northern Norway and Svalbard.
A week of sailing and trekking in Lofoten pairs short passages between fishing villages with walks that start at the waterline. The boat carries the group to trailheads with no road, and the season runs from June to September under near-continuous daylight in midsummer.
Senja is Norway's second-largest island, with a west coast of steep granite ridges and few roads. A week aboard reaches the outer bays by sea and walks from the anchorage, which is the only practical way to link several of these ridges in one trip.
Tell us what you have in mind. We will come back to you within two working days with a considered answer — not a template.