🗺️ Route ‘All the highlights of the North’: Tromsø → Senja → Vesterålen → Lofoten → North Cape
Route idea. You start in Tromsø (city, cruises, aurora borealis), move on to Senja (wildly beautiful ridges and bays), then to Vesterålen (whale safaris from Andenes), then to Lofoten (villages and beaches E10) and finish at Nordkapp (the dramatic cape of the Arctic Ocean). Choose your direction according to the season: in summer, there are more ferries and light nights; in winter, there are more bridges and weather buffers.
🧭 Plans for 7/10/12/14 days
🛣️ Bridges and seasonality (important)
- Bødo ↔ Moskene (Lofoten) — entrance to the south of the archipelago.
- Melbu ↔ Fiskebøl — short connection between Vesterålen and Lofoten.
- Andenes ↔ Gryllefjord (Sennøya) — summer ferry between the archipelagos.
- Brensholmen ↔ Botnhamn or the bridge across Finnsnes — access to Sennøya closer to Tromsø.
- Tip: book during the season; fewer trips during the off-season; allow 30–60 minutes for buses/catamarans.
🧭 ‘How to get there’ for the start, season and transport
⚡ EVs and safety on the route
- Charging stations/hubs: Tromsø, Finnsnes (bridge to Senja), Svolvær/Leknes (Lofoten), Sortland/Andenes (Vesterålen), Alta/Honningsvåg (Nordkapp). Keep a 20–30% buffer, as the range is shorter in winter.
- Roads/stops: only official sites; do not stop on bridges/narrow shoulders for the sake of a photo.
- Weather: strong winds by the sea; plan a buffer day for ferries/storms.
🎿 Winter excursion routes in the Tromsø area — what to choose
- Husky safari: dog sledding in the valleys/on the coast — a gentle sporting format and contact with dogs.
- Snowmobile tours: plateaus and panoramas; follow the instructions and keep your distance.
- Northern lights hunting: night trips to clear sky ‘windows’, bonfire, photo assistance.
- Whales (late autumn–winter): trips to the northern fjords — depending on the season and weather.
- Reindeer herders/Sami culture: short sleigh ride + stories and tasting.
- Snowshoes/easy ski tour: daytime walks in the ‘milky’ northern light.
🧭 3-day winter plan for Tromsø
🌅 White nights: where and how to see them
When: approximately May–July, the sun does not set in the north — ideal ‘endless twilight’ for photography and walks.
Route: Tromsø → Vesterålen (Bleik, Andenes) → Lofoten (Haukland/Utta Kleiv, Reine) → North Cape.
Life hack: shoot during the ‘golden midnight hour’ — around midnight, the light is soft and the horizon is warm.
🧭 White Nights Calendar
🌞 Midnight sun: the best places and formats
- Lofoten: night trails and beaches (Haukland/Uttafjord, Unstad), soft ‘cinematic’ light.
- Tromsø and surroundings: evening climbs to scenic peaks and fjord cruises.
- North Cape: the iconic platform at the ‘Globe’ — the ‘day at midnight’ effect.
🧭 Midnight Sun Planner
Photo cheat sheet for white nights and midnight sun
- Base: f/5.6–8 · 1/125–1/500 · ISO 100–800; keep the horizon level and use a support.
- Long exposure: ND filter, support, series of 2–3 frames.
- Smartphone: HDR, continuous shooting, grid, lean on railings/stones.
🧩 Mini-master
🎒 Checklist and 💵 route budget
Conclusion: with this plan, you will see all the highlights of Northern Norway — from Tromsø and Senja to Lofoten, Vesterålen and Nordkapp — at a pace that suits you, and separate sections will tell you how to spend the winter in Tromsø, catch the white nights and meet the midnight sun where the view is particularly good.
❓FAQ
Alternate between ‘long’ and “short” days, set aside ‘days without driving’ in Tromsø/Lofoten, and keep a buffer day for ferries and weather. Our tabs 7/10/12/14 will help you set the pace.
There are more trips in the summer, but storms do happen; there are fewer trips in the off-season, and some lines do not operate in the winter. Always have a plan B via bridges and the E6/E10 routes.
No. You need a dark night, clear skies and activity. Increase your chances with a guided night ‘hunt’ and flexible timing; the Northern Lights are not visible during the ‘white nights’.
They are similar concepts, but not quite: white nights are long twilights; the midnight sun is when the sun does not set below the horizon at all. In northern Norway, both effects are possible from May to July (at different times and latitudes).
Late autumn–winter, when schools of herring come to the fjords. There are also sightings in summer, but the winter seasons are usually more stable in terms of observations — it still depends on nature and the weather.
Yes. Charge at the hubs (Tromsø, Finnsnes, Svolvær/Leknes, Sortland/Andenes, Alta/Honningsvåg), keep a 20-30% buffer, as the range drops in winter.
No. Only in car parks and official lay-bys. On narrow roads and near water, it is a safety issue.
Often the best light is an hour before midnight and an hour after. In Lofoten — the beaches of Hauklund/Utta Kleiv; in Tromsø — the cable car/nearby peaks; at Nordkapp — the area near the Globe (windbreaker required).
Husky tours (2–3 hours), Sami programmes and gentle ‘hunts’ for the northern lights with a warm base. Snowmobiles — subject to age/height restrictions and calm weather.
Layers + membrane. The wind cools down at night by the water, even in June/July. Gloves/hats are often useful, especially on ferries and at Nordkapp.
0 comments
Log in to leave a comment