Vesterålen Islands, Norway

We recommend that you fly to Andenes in the morning so that you have the whole afternoon and evening to enjoy the options on offer in this outpost town. We can arrange some optional tours for your afternoon. Choose from a whale watching tour from Andenes port. This RIB tour of about two hours provides a high chance of spotting whales (sperm, humpback, orca) and dolphins. Or in June/July only, a puffin tour from nearby Bleik. If you are interested in either option, please let us know and we can book it for you, subject to availability. Alternatively, there are many other things to do in Andenes such as local walking, a visit to the Space Centre or the local museum/lighthouse. Your host will be on hand to make suggestions and assist or accompany you. After dinner at a cosy local restaurant, we will retire to our comfortable town centre hotel.

We start with a coastal classic. Andøya’s western road has been designated a scenic route. The first section sees us cycling between rocky hills and white sand beaches, to Bleik, a fishing village situated on arguably the best beach of the archipelago. After rolling hills and lakes, the island flattens out to marshlands and lagoons, windswept with big open skies. Ahead lie more jagged hills dropping to rocky foreshores. Shortly before reaching our destination, we stop at an atelier for a tea and chat with the resident artist, learning about her family’s art and heritage. Home for the next two nights is a guest house whose passionate owner embraces the nature all around. After dinner, she will take us on a walk nearby, sharing with us this special place and what makes it so unique; the birds, the berries, the flowers and trees and how the villagers use the land.

With the trolls safely back in the forests, we embark on another informative nature walk this morning. Before setting off on a short cycle to visit a converted 19th-century schoolhouse, now a pottery studio and charming cafe, for lunch. Followed by a loop ride around the southern shores of Andøya, offering views across to the other islands and passing through a nature reserve of sand dunes. For summer guests with plenty of energy, there's time after dinner for another walk along the local shoreline, enjoying the birdlife.

A varied, exciting and longish day! After a morning transfer to Sortland, with a stop at a fascinating Sami culture and reindeer centre along the way, we embark on our most dramatic cycle. Unlike Andoya, Langøya’s coast is indented with fjords for us to wind our way around. Whilst these are not as high or wide as the western fjords, they are visually striking. At the foot of the island we arrive in the lovely village of Bø, a place of farming, fishing and artistic communities. Our guest house for the next two nights is a converted red timber fishing warehouse, in a peaceful quayside spot. This charming place has a sense of local history, something that our delightful hostess will bring to life for us. Dinner is in the house dining room.

We are spoiled for choice today, with several combinations of walks and rides enabling you to make the day as active or restful as you wish. The guesthouse is a lovely spot to hang out, but with such beautiful scenery on your doorstep, it’s hard to resist. There are two fantastic hikes nearby. One across moor-like hills with astonishing views and the other a coastal pathway with the ocean on one side and a fjord on the other. In addition, we can enjoy a lovely undulating cycle ride with farmland, beaches, hills and views. Regardless, we will visit the local sculptures and museum to learn about the fishing and literary heritage of this municipality. If he is ashore we will meet a local fisherman whose family has been fishing here for generations.

Our morning RIB transfer is combined with a sea eagle safari. Then we explore Hadseløya by bike; it may be the smallest of the three islands, but it packs a punch. We cycle to a colourful gallery/cafe that sits at the foot of a caldera with a beautiful lake. Then onto a charming ‘love walk’ next to a white beach, to Hadsel’s octagonal wooden church and back to Stokmarknes. Our last dinner is at a local restaurant, and we stay at a very comfortable waterside hotel with its own floating sauna. After dinner, a wander down to the waterfront on a clear night will hopefully be rewarded with some last midnight rays or the Northern Lights.

After breakfast we will transfer you back to the airport.