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Hunting the Northern Lights

The beautiful arctic light makes Northern Norway something truly special. If you want to see the Northern Lights and experience the blue light of the dark season, Helgeland’s coast and Lofoten are the places to go. We guarantee an experience of a lifetime in a magnificent paradise with untouched nature, a beautiful coastline, and majestic mountains, combined with stays at two of our historical gems.

The price includes:

  • 2 nights with breakfast and dinner at STØTT Top of Helgeland.
  • 2 nights with breakfast at Svinøya Rorbuer in Lofoten.
  • STØTT: Northern lights hunt with a local guide and a trip to their basecamp with a campfire and storytelling.
  • Svolvær: Northern Lights hunt and storytelling with a local guide.

Add-on options:

  • Fishing village walk on Støtt.
  • Guided tour of the museum on Støtt.
  • Kayak rental on Støtt.
  • Archipelago sightseeing and eagle watching on Støtt.
  • Hot sauna in Lofoten.
  • Lofoten fishing or eagle safari.
  • Guided snowshoeing, skiing, or kayak rental in Lofoten.

Day 1: Helgeland's Coast and Arrival at STØTT - Top of Helgeland

The island of Støtt is located at the very north of Helgeland's coast, surrounded by the majestic Lofoten mountains to the north and the beautiful Helgeland islands to the south. It boasts an impressive archipelago and an idyllic trading post from the 19th century. STØTT - Top of Helgeland offers culinary seafood, stately accommodation, and a warm host who gladly shares the stories of the coast with you. Here, you will experience a welcoming local community where the people genuinely open up to you.

 

We recommend flying to Bodø and arriving at the city's pier well before the express boat takes you to Støtt. The journey takes about 1 hour. (Write “Bodø Sentrumskai” and “Støtt Hurtigbåtkai” in the search engine). If you arrive by car, you can park it in Ørnes town on the mainland and take the passenger ferry from Ørnes to Støtt. The ferry ride takes about 15-30 minutes. (Write “Ørnes Hurtigbåtkai” in the search engine). Here you can find the different route schedule and pre-purchase of tickets: https://www.reisnordland.no/bestill-hurtigbat.

 

When you arrive at Støtt, you will check in at one of the historical rooms at STØTT - Top of Helgeland. Rest your legs for a bit or explore the area before Restaurant Gammelbutikken serves you a flavorful 3-course dinner inspired by the coast and seafood. The shopkeeper has been serving his guests local culinary treasures like halibut, cod, whale meat, stockfish, salted fish, and fish soup for centuries. This tradition is still well-maintained by Gammelbutikken, and they are, in fact, the only restaurant in Norway that produces its own dried fish. Here, we can guarantee a truly unique culinary experience. It's possible that you will be served a story or two from the hosts as well.

 

After a long day on the road, you can sink into a comfortable, soft bed surrounded by down comforters and the fresh sea breeze.

 

Day 2: Experience the Natural Surroundings and the Northern Lights on Beautiful Støtt

 

Wake up well-rested to the sound of waves and birdsong outside your window. Enjoy a delicious, homemade breakfast in the restaurant before you're ready for a new day filled with experiences of your choice; there are many possibilities on Støtt. Here you can enjoy natural surroundings and sceneries that will take your breath away. Take a hike on your own or join us for a fishing village walk, a visit to the museum, or an archipelago sightseeing tour to hunt for eagles. We offer packed lunches that you can take with you on your excursion.

 

During this time of the year, you can experience a unique and beautiful natural phenomenon in the north: the blue hour. *The blue hour is the period of twilight in the morning and evening when there is neither full daylight nor complete darkness, and the sky takes on a different shade of blue compared to daytime. It is considered special due to the quality of light during this time of day, and both the term itself and the natural phenomenon it refers to are widely used in art and popular culture. The phenomenon is caused by the Rayleigh scattering of sunlight.

 

After spending a few hours in the nature and taking a refreshing shower, you can warm up in the idyllic Restaurant Gammelbutikken. Here, you will be served a tasty 3-course seafood dinner before we set out on an adventure to hunt for the spectacular Northern Lights. First, we'll show a Northern Lights film, and then we'll take you to our cozy basecamp for a campfire and hot drinks. Here, you'll hear stories about the Aurora dancing in the sky, and if we're extra lucky, she might pay us a visit and offer a breathtaking display in the sky. Støtt is the perfect starting point if you want to see the Northern Lights because there is very little light pollution on the island, and the areas are completely secluded and private. We can't guarantee the Northern Lights, but we can at least guarantee a unique and enjoyable experience filled with exciting stories and an exciting hunt. The duration of the trip will depend on the weather.

 

Day 3: Welcome to Lofoten and Check-in at Svinøya Rorbuer

 

Indulge in a calm, relaxing morning with a hotel breakfast on Støtt before heading to majestic Lofoten and beautiful Svinøya Rorbuer. You have many arrival options after the express boat from Støtt, but we recommend going back to Bodø and taking the Nordlandsekspressen express boat from Bodø to Svolvær. The moment the fishing town of Svolvær and the towering Lofoten mountains appear in the distance from the boat is a magical moment worth experiencing by sea. The journey takes approximately 3.5 hours.

Read more about the different travel options here:

 

Travel by road

If you wish to travel from Bodø by car, you have several options:

Hurtigruten from Bodø to Svolvær. The boat journey takes about 6 hours. You can find schedules and prices here. Ferry from Bodø to Moskenes in Lofoten. This ferry ride takes about 3.5 hours and allows you to explore Lofoten along its length and visit the fishing towns of Reine and Henningsvær before concluding your adventure at Svinøya Rorbuer in Svolvær. You can find schedules and pre-purchase of tickets here.

Travel by air

It's also possible to return to Bodø Airport and take a Widerøe flight from Bodø to Svolvær. This gives you a fantastic view of Lofoten from a bird's-eye perspective. If you're driving, you'll need to take the passenger ferry from Støtt back to Ørnes and then follow the Helgeland coast to Skutvik ferry terminal before taking the ferry to Svolvær. The total driving distance and ferry ride take about 6.5 hours.

 

When you arrive at Svinøya Rorbuer, a host will welcome you with a smile and check you into one of the lovely, historical fishermen's cabins. Svolvær offers many dining options, and we highly recommend having dinner at one of Lofoten's most renowned restaurants, Børsen Spiseri, just a few minutes' walk away. Here, they serve fresh ingredients from Lofoten and Northern Norway's unique pantry. Otherwise, there are many other great alternatives in Svolvær city center, just a 5-10 minute walk from Svinøya Rorbuer.

 

Afterwards, a warm, soft bed awaits you, so you can rest and be ready for a new day filled with unique activities and experiences in Lofoten.

 

Day 4: Hunting for the Northern Lights in Svolvær

 

Start an amazing day in Svolvær with a warm, fresh breakfast at Svinøya Rorbuer with a sea view and spectacular nature outside your window. Then, explore Svolvær city center and enjoy a delightful lunch at one of the many cozy cafes and restaurants they have there. Or perhaps you would like to go for a hike? Take a rib boat ride? The hosts will gladly provide you with tips and advice. Enjoy a nice dinner at a restaurant of your choice in Svolvær before embarking on an exciting Northern Lights hunt with our local and experienced guide. The tour goes by minibus from Svinøya Rorbuer to an area with the best possible chances of seeing the Northern Lights. Here, you'll learn more about how and why this fantastic phenomenon occurs and basic photography techniques. The tour generally lasts for 3-4 hours, depending on the weather.

 

Day 5: Check-out from Svinøya Rorbuer

 

Enjoy a relaxed, late breakfast after an incredible experience yesterday. Unfortunately, the trip is now over, but if you wish, you can add a few extra days to further explore Lofoten.

 

 

Weather in the North: To offer the best experience throughout the journey, it may be necessary to adjust the travel plan. In other words, start in Svolvær and conclude in STØTT. The hotels will monitor this continuously and get in touch if it is advisable to make such changes.

Northern lights in the sky at STØTT - Top of Helgeland
Alexander Kühn