2024 Norway northern lights and hikes

Are you looking to see the Northern Lights and enjoy hiking at the same time? This Norway itinerary is tailor-made for you.

Norway in September offers the perfect combination of day and night hours for both hiking and Northern Lights viewing. This month also coincides with fruit picking season, giving you the opportunity to find blueberries, cloudberries, raspberries, and more during your hikes.

This 14-day trip is entirely within the Arctic Circle, ideal for seeing the Northern Lights. If you need more reasons to make this trip this year, you can check out the online articles on why 2024 is the best year to see the Northern Lights.

Note that renting a car is essential for this trip as it provides flexibility and access to remote areas.

Itinerary:

Day 1 - Arrival in Tromsø :

Collect your vehicle and head to Sommarøy . I highly recommend the Sommaroy Arctic Hotel, having stayed there twice. They have nice, cozy rooms and serve an awesome breakfast. If time allows, hike Ornfloya (Easy, 2-3 hours).

Day 2 & 3 - Senja :

Take the ferry to the island of Senja. I recommend a 2-day stay to fully experience the fantastic hiking opportunities. Essential hikes are Husfjellet and Selga, both rated Medium and taking around 6 hours to complete. For accommodation, consider staying around Senjahopen for a more central location. Look for Airbnbs with BBQ grills - it's great to BBQ in cool weather and toast marshmallows. Also, choose a seaside Airbnb with minimal light pollution for better Northern Lights sightings.

Day 4 - Harstad or Andøya :

You have the option to drive to Harstad and hike Keipen or take a ferry to Andøya. However, the ferry to Andøya runs only until the first Sunday of September, which is Sep 1 in 2024. If you want to reduce driving time, take the ferry, but it means you will have to travel earlier and may have reduced opportunities to see the northern lights. In Andøya, you can consider a boat tour to Bleiksoya to see the famous puffins and hike Matind (Medium, 3 hours).

Day 5 to 12 - Lofoten :

This is undoubtedly the highlight of the trip. Lofoten offers an extraordinary blend of dramatic landscapes and outdoor adventures, making it perfect for hiking and Northern Lights viewing. In my opinion, the most interesting parts of the Lofoten Islands are within a 120km stretch between Svolvær and Reine , which takes about 2 hours to drive. Therefore, it's best to split your stay between two areas. I suggest dividing your time between Leknes and Svolvaer. Choose accommodations close to the sea and in areas with low light pollution. I've planned 7 days in Lofoten, as I've been there twice and have experienced the unpredictable weather. This duration should provide sufficient time to adjust for weather-related changes and to complete the must-do hikes. Consider renting an entire home with a patio, which will allow you to enjoy the scenery even on rainy days.

Day 13 - Return to Tromsø:

The drive back from Svolvaer is around 424km or almost 6 hours. If long drives aren't your preference, consider stopping in Narvik for a night and visit the Polar Park before returning to Tromso.

Day 14 - Tromsø and Departure:

If you're up for one final hike before heading back to Tromso, I highly recommend Blaisvatnet. It's an easy 3-hour hike that leads you to a stunning blue lake at the foot of rocky mountains. As for Tromso itself, the attractions are somewhat limited. After two weeks of hiking, you might not be inclined to take the cable car. In my opinion, the Arctic Cathedral and the Polar Museum are the main attractions worth your time.

I hope this itinerary helps. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions.

#norway #Lemon8 #lemontravel #travel #traveltips #northernlights #hiking