Norway. What to find there? I spent one week on the Norwegian Lofoten Islands with a squad of 4 boys. I’ll give you an overview of what we discovered in this beautiful spot.

Hiking. I could say that going for some hikes the main purpose was of our trip. You don’t have to go the Lofoten Islands and travel Idontrememberhowmanybutitwasalot-hours if you’re looking for some cute boulevards and palm trees. If you want adventure and a sporty holiday, yes, go there! We spent 5 days on the Lofoten Islands and made a hike 4 out of 5 days. And every time it was totally different! Every time you reach the top the view is different. But also the tracks surprised me day after day. All of them were exciting (and a little dangerous…) in their own way! We’ve been around a lake, through water, woods, mud, rocks, trees, sand… So if you were looking for a surprising hiking holiday, this is the place to be! (And please bring your good shoes, because I almost killed myself a couple of times.)

Nature. Mother Earth was generous to the Lofoten Islands. I can’t really describe how stunning it was. Except for climbing mountains, a canoe is another way to discover the fjords and the beauty of this destination. And the Lofoten Islands even offer you beaches. Come on, Bali, Maldives or Thailand are so mainstream. I would say: try Norway. The water is crystal blue, the beaches are white and the mountains are raising above you for many many meters. And if you don’t like to go on foot or with a canoe, even the view from the car can take your breath away. The Lofoten Islands are connected by different bridges and there’s just one long road. Rent a car and go straight on…

The gift of the polar circle
Travelling that far north means not only dealing with cold, but also with light. In summer the sun is not going down on the Lofoten Islands. The phenomenon ‘Midnightsun’ can be admired if you’re going within the polar circle in summer. And it’s stunning! But surprise surprise: it’s the other way around in winter. The sun is not going up, so only darkness. Very depressing if you ask me. But there is another magical advantage Mother Nature gives us in the winter: the Northern Lights. As a wise, French friend of mine would say: it’s a gift…

Finding Dory
Fish and Norway are indissolubly connected to each other. That’s even more confirmed thanks to this trip. When you arrive on the islands in the harbour of Moskenes, the salty sea smell and the smell of fish welcomes you. You find dozens of ‘stockfish’ outside. Once upon a day, during our outside-breakfast, a fisherman arrived with his boat full of fish, which he was going to wash and prepare immediately. Next to our table. My breakfast was kind of done at that moment, but my French friends were totally inspired and decided to go them selves. And they succeeded. We had fresh fish on our plate that night. It could be worse! Princess was happy.

More surprises
If you like certainty, maybe this is not the best destination to spend your holidays. To give you a weather indication: we had around 7 degrees in the beginning of June. But this temperature was supported by rain, wind, znow (Italian pronunciation), hailstones, sunshine and clouds. In other words: in 5 days we’ve had every weather condition. In June it’s possible that either there’s snow on the islands, or that it’s sunny with 20 degrees. We’ve been lucky. We had one day of rain, but the others were sunny and quite warm. Also, your journey could be full of surprises. We needed to take 3 planes ánd a boat to arrive at the Lofoten. And that was just from Sweden! On the outward journey, everything went according to plan. But the way back was a stressful one, since different planes were cancelled. So make sure you like to travel! 🙂

I came, I saw, I cried
The Lofoten Islands are considered as one of the most beautiful islands of the world. And me and my 4 boy-friends can confirm that. This was a one of kind-trip. It was cold. It was exhausting. But so exciting, surprising and stunning. These islands are wonderful and unique. It’s perfect if you love nature, adventure, photography, hiking and so much more. An unforgettable journey, for sure. At least, for me it was. But I also had an amazing company. I had four boys at my side with each an incredible and unique sense of humor. And although they messed with my head all the time, I cried so hard while saying goodbye. I will always remember these days and be grateful for the awesome moments throughout the whole semester. TACK <3

© Eloi Boulangé