Lofoten Islands Winter Photo Tour
There aren't many places quite as photogenic as the iconic Lofoten Islands; an archipelago known for its wild and rugged landscape. During winter the landscapes are covered in snow and, if you're lucky, you can experience a true winter wonderland with the Northern Lights dancing above.
Lofoten Winter Photo Tour
I am limiting this Lofoten Islands Photo Tour to only 6 participants in order to maximize your experience.
Have you ever dreamt about exploring the picturesque Lofoten Islands in Northern Norway? Then come join this epic arctic adventure where we go to the most incredible locations this archipelago has to offer. As a local with close to a decade experience leading photo tours in the region, I have extensive knowledge of both known and unknown locations, and will make sure that you return home with the best possible images.
Highlights of the Lofoten Islands Photo Tour include winter landscapes, jagged mountains, grand vistas, arctic beaches, wild fjords, and the chance of experiencing the greatest show on earth, the Aurora Borealis aka Northern Lights.
At the end of January the sun has just returned to the Lofoten Islands. While the days are short, the light this time of year is simply spectacular. As the sun never gets high in the sky, we have several hours of magical golden hour and blue hour light to work with. And after the sun sets… There’s a chance that the Northern Lights start dancing!
The Lofoten Islands are located at 68 degrees North and the archipelago consists of seven principal islands covering about 1,227 / 474 square miles, with a total of only 24,000 inhabitants. The natural beauty of this incredible landscape offers will present us with the possibility of exploring colorful fjords, jagged mountain peaks, unique beaches, and the world-renowned Arctic light.
We will have two basecamps for this Lofoten Photo Tour: the first two nights are just outside the well-known Reine, while the remaining nights will be spent close to the city of Leknes. Common for both is that there are world-class photo opportunities right outside the window, and we’re just a short drive from even more stunning sceneries to photograph.
The likes of National Geographic, Lonely Planet, and The Huffington Post have listed this very region as one of the most scenic destinations on earth. One look outside your bedroom window, and you will understand why – incredible granite mountains rising straight out of the fjords, traditional fishermen cabins and the location just oozes of great Norwegian history.
If we are treated with starry nights and clear skies, we will be able to capture the elusive and strikingly beautiful Aurora Borealis aka Northern Lights as she dances seductively on the night skies.
Itinerary
Day 1:
The Lofoten Photo Tour begins with arrival at Leknes Airport no later than 1:25PM. From here we drive to our beautiful base camp on the stunning island of Hamnøy, just under an hour from the airport.
The 1-hour drive is packed with incredible views and is regarded as one of the most scenic drives in Norway. If time and weather allow, we will make a stop on the way to photograph the sunset and/or blue hour.
After a quick introduction and dinner at the cabins, we might be lucky enough to shoot the incredible Northern Lights already on our first night. When weather permits, we have amazing photo opportunities from right outside the cabins.
Day 2
Due to the incredibly fast-changing weather, we never operate with a fixed schedule on photo tours in the Lofoten Islands. As a local I know the area like the back of my hand so, in order to maximize your experience, we remain flexible and adapt to the weather and conditions. It is crucial to be in the right place at the right time.
A benefit of being a small group is that we’re able to be even more flexible and adapt our plans according to the group.
However, during our two nights in Hamnøy we will cover all the classic views in this picturesque region famous for its small villages spread out across a string of small islands, surrounded by the most dramatic peaks.
At night we turn our focus towards one of the main events of the photo tour in Lofoten: the Northern Lights. Weather permitting, we head out to enjoy and photograph the show from one of the many stunning locations.
Day 3 – 6
After breakfast and a morning photo session immersed in the dramatic peaks of southern Lofoten, we start our 1-hour drive back towards the Leknes area where the next accommodation is situated. We will make multiple stops along the drive to make the most out of the light, and we won’t arrive our traditional cabins before after sunset.
During the next days we’ll visit all the must-see locations from Skagsanden in the south to Henningsvær in the North. We’ll also spend time on the famous beaches of Vareid, Vikten, Fredvang, Haukland, Utakleiv and Unstad. The picturesque villages of Nusfjord and Henningsvær will be explored. The highlights are endless and since I know this area extremely well we will also focus on lesser-known spots that are equally impressive.
At night we turn our focus towards one of the main events of the Lofoten Photo Tour: the Northern Lights. Weather permitting, we head out to enjoy and photograph the show from one of the many stunning locations.
Day 7
Our Lofoten Photo Tour ends with the departure from Leknes Airport (LKN).
ENQUIRE ABOUT THIS TOUR
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do I Get There?
The easiest way to get to the meeting point is via Oslo Gardermoen airport (OSL). From there, you fly to Bodø airport (BOO code) where you connect with the short 20-minute Wideroe flight to Leknes airport (LKN). Domestic flights in Norway can be purchased from www.sas.no, www.norwegian.no, www.wideroe.no
What Level of Photography is Required?
All of our photo tours in Lofoten are open to beginners as well as professionals. The only criteria is that you have a great passion for photography, want to share the experience with a small like-minded group, and have the energy and motivation to be on the go every day and night.
What Should I Bring?
A photo tour to the Lofoten Islands means you have to be well-equipped for all kinds of dramatic weather. The temperatures tend to be between -5 and +5 degrees Celsius but with strong winds, it feels a lot colder.
It’s important to bring warm and comfortable layers. The outer layer should be waterproof such as Gore-tex.
Thermal underwear, a fleece layer, a down jacket, hat and gloves, crampons and water-resistant boots or even waders are recommended.
A tripod will also be necessary for when we are photographing the Northern Lights.
I’m happy to assist with recommending both clothing and camera equipment.
Will I See and Photograph the Northern Lights?
What Kind of Weather Can I Expect?
The weather and climate in the Lofoten Islands is renowned for being extremely unpredictable because of its many local weather systems. This means conditions can change within minutes and kilometers, also resulting in very dramatic light and photographic opportunities. Lofoten has a much milder climate than other parts of the world at a similar latitude, such as Greenland and Alaska. This is due to the temperature of the water of the Gulfstream. The coastal climate results in mild winters and cool summer temperatures. Traditionally, January and February are the coldest months with an average temperature of -1 degrees celsius.
What Camera Gear Should I Bring?
At the very least, bring your own camera, lenses, tripod and a laptop. A detailed list of recommendations will be provided. If you are considering upgrading or investing in new camera gear prior to the trip, feel free to ask for advice.
What is the Itinerary Going to Be Like?
I don’t operate with a fixed itinerary on any of the photo tours in Lofoten. It’s a full-on photography tour, so the activities are planned around sunrise, sunset and night photography excursions. The whole archipelago is packed with locations, so the weather and light conditions will decide where we will go. That being said though, we have a list of locations we will visit throughout the week, but we don’t know which day or time of day we will visit that specific location.
A typical day this time of year consists of being out from sunrise to sunset (approximately 6-7 hours depending on the light) then a evening break or post-processing session, before dinner and a possible hunt for the Northern Lights. Keep in mind that the light can be amazing from sunrise to sunset due to the sun’s low position on the horizon this time of year.
What are the Accommodations Like?
We are staying in traditional fisherman cabins (rorbu) for the entire trip. The cabins are have fully equipped kitchens. On days with a high chance of Northern Lights, we might prepare our own food here as opposed to going out to a restaurant.
The single room supplement gives you a private cabin in Hamnøy and a private bedroom with an en-suite bathroom in Leknes.
Quick Facts
Dates: January 17th to January 23rd, 2025
Location: Lofoten, Norway
Available seats: 2/6
Difficulty level: Easy
Price: 3490 EURO (based on double occupancy – single room supplement is 500 EURO).
Registration deposit: 500 EURO (full payment required 60 days prior to the tour).
Arrival: Leknes Airport (LKN), January 17th – no later than 1:25 pm (It’s highly recommended to arrive one day prior to prevent unwanted delays)
Departure: Leknes Airport (LKN), January 31st – at any suitable time
Included: Professional photo guide, all tuition, individual post-processing sessions, transportation and accommodation in a traditional rorbu (the beautiful red cabins this region is famous for)
Not included: Any travel services required arriving and departing at and from the starting location in Leknes Airport (LKN). Any private insurances, taxes, levies, immigration, duty, and visa fees where applicable. All meals and personal items including alcoholic beverages, snacks, souvenirs, and travel insurance.
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