Midnight Sun & the Mountains of Lofoten, Norway Enjoy wonderful day walks from the scenic coast to the impressive peaks of Norway’s beautiful Lofoten Islands.
Group departure
See overleaf for departure dates
Holiday overview Style Accommodation Grade Duration Trekking / Walking days Min/Max group size Trip Leader Land only Max altitude
Walking Lodge Vigorous 8 days from London to Leknes Walks on: 6 days 7 / 8. Guaranteed to run for 7 Mr Roope Mikael Roine Joining in Leknes, Norway 964m/3163ft on Day 5
Private Departures & Tailor Made itineraries available
tel: +44 (0)1453 844400 fax: +44 (0)1453 844422
[email protected] www.mountainkingdoms.com
Mountain Kingdoms Ltd, 20 Long Street, Wotton-under-Edge, Gloucestershire GL12 7BT UK Managing Director: Steven Berry. Registered in England No. 2118433. VAT No. 496 6511 08
Departures Group departures 2017 Dates & prices Fri 16 Jun - Fri 23 Jun Mon 26 Jun - Mon 03 Jul
Group prices and optional supplements Please contact us or visit our website for our land only and flight inclusive prices and single supplement options.
Insurance We offer a travel insurance scheme – please contact us for details.
Tailor Made service We pride ourselves on the level of quality and choice we provide for our clients who want a fully tailor made holiday. A Tailor Made holiday will be created especially for you by one of our well-travelled experts, who will have first-hand experience of the destination/s you want to visit. They will be able to advise on the accommodation best suited to your needs, the sights you should visit (and those to avoid!) and the best walks and activities matched to your ability. In short, we will work together with you to create your perfect holiday. If you would like to explore the idea of a Tailor Made holiday with Mountain Kingdoms then please call us on +44 (0)1453 844400 or see the Tailor Made pages of our website for further inspiration.
Your guide Roope Roine (IML, MIA) is a mountaineer with 25 years’ experience of walking and climbing around the world including four years’ experience leading treks in Norway, and is very knowledgeable of the geography, culture and wildlife of the area. Born and raised in arctic Finland, he works as a mountaineering instructor in Scandinavia. He has led treks and climbing trips in Nepal, South America, and Greenland and spent two years working at the National Mountaineering Centre (Plas-y-Brenin) North-Wales. Roope is also qualified to teach Wilderness First Aid for the Wilderness Medicine Institute in the USA, one of the world’s leading providers of such courses. When not in the mountains he spends his time in a sea kayak. Other passions include photography and he loves Scottish winter climbing and walking.
Bookings and information: 01453 844400
[email protected] / www.mountainkingdoms.com
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Your trip highlights
Six days walking above the Arctic Circle, with the aim to summit five different mountains
Stay in a beautiful and comfortable converted vicarage, near to the beach
Super views across the dramatic mountain, fjord and coastal scenery
Discover Lofoten's history at the Viking Museum
At a glance itinerary Day Day Day Day Day Day Day Day
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Arrive in Lofoten. Walk to the summit of Ryten, 543m. Summit Moltinden, 485m. Visit Viking Museum and coastal walk. Summit Himmeltindan, 964m. Summit Tverrfjellet, 490m. Summit Hustind, 691m. Depart Lofoten.
Trip summary This eight day walking holiday has been designed to make the most of this impressive landscape, with each walk combining exploration of both the coast and the mountains. We aim to walk to a different summit each day, for far-reaching views of the Lofoten mountain chain and even across to the mainland. Then, to give your legs a rest, we spend one day visiting a Viking Museum to learn about the history of Lofoten, and afterwards to take a leisurely walk along the coast. The Lofoten archipelago is situated off the west coast of Norway, above the Arctic Circle. There are four main islands; Austvågøy, Vestvågøy, Flakstaøy and Moskenesøy, and two smaller islands to the south; Værøy and Røst. Steep sided mountains rise almost straight out the crystal clear sea, providing excellent day walks amongst the dramatic scenery. Where there are beaches, the turquoise water laps against soft white sand, looking almost Mediterranean – until you feel the temperature of the water! Lofoten experiences a mild climate despite its location above the Arctic Circle, with temperatures and weather conditions much like the UK. As with all mountain areas, the weather can change rapidly from brilliant sunshine to rain and strong winds, so as long as you go prepared for all types of weather, then you will be able to make the best of your time on the islands. During June, July and August, the sun doesn't set, giving unlimited views of the dramatic Lofoten scenery. You will be based at the lovely Old Vicarage (Prestgård) in Flakstad on the island on the north coast of Flakstadøy island. From this comfortable accommodation we take a short drive to the beginning of each walk, and spend the day out in the mountains, led by our friendly and knowledgeable guide. This holiday has been graded vigorous, as it involves walking for five consecutive days, with steep ascent and descent on each summit day. The summits are no higher than 964m, so there are no issues with altitude. The trail conditions vary between soil, scree, or vegetation and sometimes it is necessary to climb up or down boulders, so a head for heights and some experience walking off trail would be valuable. This itinerary is only a guide, and the leader will choose which walks are best for the weather conditions and fitness of the group.
Bookings and information: 01453 844400
[email protected] / www.mountainkingdoms.com
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Your trip itinerary Day 1: FLY LONDON TO LEKNES. Fly to Leknes. Arrive in Lofoten either by air at Leknes Airport (or by prior arrangement at the ferry at Stamsund). You will be met and transferred by private minibus to the Old Vicarage (Prestgård), your base for the holiday. In Lofoten, the sun doesn't set during midsummer, the natural phenomena known as the Midnight Sun. This happens because the earth is tilted on its axis so that the Polar Regions are constantly facing the sun at their respective summer solstices and are tilted away from the sun in winter. Visitors may initially find it difficult to sleep whilst it is light, so it may be necessary to use an eye mask. Being light for 24 hours means that there is no rush to return from the mountains and the Midnight Sun is best seen from Flakstad beach about 300m away from your accommodation. Overnight: Prestgård (Old Vicarage)
(Meals: D)
Day 2: WALK TO THE SUMMIT OF RYTEN, 543M/1,781FT, 6–7 HOURS After breakfast, you will drive for 20 minutes to the start of today's walk. You begin walking quite steeply uphill, before dropping down to the sandy Kvalvika beach. Here it may be possible to visit a small hut built into the mountainside, resembling one of Tolkien's hobbit houses. It was built by two men who, as a challenge, decided to live on this beach and build a shelter made only from materials washed up on the beach. The walk then continues steeply up the mountain to the right hand side of the beach until you reach a circular lake and then on to the summit. On a clear day you can enjoy your picnic lunch overlooking the beach you have just visited and out across the sea. You then descend back to the lake and from here take a different path back down towards the road and then a short minibus drive back to the accommodation. Situated next to the Prestgård is Flakstad Church, a red wooden building with an onion shape dome. There has been a church on this spot since the 13th Century, but it was rebuilt in 1780, after a storm wrecked the original. Some of the interior has been salvaged from the old church. There are views of the church from the dining room and some of the bedrooms and it looks particularly pretty illuminated by the midnight sun. Overnight: Prestgård (Old Vicarage)
(Meals: BLD)
Day 3: WALK TO THE SUMMIT OF MOLTINDEN, 485M/1,591FT, 7–8 HOURS Today you walk to the summit of another mountain, Moltinden, on the island of Flakstadøy. At first you follow a steep path until you reach a plateau, where the path disappears. You now climb over the rock face and scree to reach the top of the mountain, and carefully walk along the ridge to reach the final summit. Despite being only 485m/1,591ft high, the summit gives 360° views out over lakes, fjord and the coast, as well as views to other impressive peaks, carved by glaciers during the last ice age. Descend to the east coast, again carefully walking across and over large boulders. Lunch may be taken in a sheltered spot overlooking a fjord. You may be able to catch sight of a sea eagle or two. The bird, also known as the White-tailed eagle, may appear to be quite common, but 30 years ago the population was under threat as farmers accused the eagle of taking their livestock. In fact the eagle is largely a scavenger, feeding on dead and dying fish, carrion, and prey taken from other animals. Sea birds are also targeted. The eagle weighs between 3-7kg, with a wingspan of 2m and once mature at about 4 years old, they pair for life. After lunch you can visit a small cave where archaeologists think humans were living about 3,000 years ago. The walk then follows around the rocky coast, but approximately 100m above the sea. This is probably the longest walk you will do this week, and due to the undulating path, the total ascent and descent is about 900m. You may like to stop and refill your water bottle at the waterfall you pass. The route eventually joins back to the plateau you passed through at the beginning of the day, and the path back to the minibus. It is approximately 30 minutes' drive back to the accommodation. Overnight: Prestgård (Old Vicarage)
(Meals: BLD)
Bookings and information: 01453 844400
[email protected] / www.mountainkingdoms.com
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Day 4: VISIT VIKING MUSEUM AND COASTAL WALK, 2-3 HOURS It is a 30 minute drive to the Lofoten Viking Museum at Borg on Vestvågøy Island. The museum includes a full scale 83m long reconstruction of Europe's largest Viking Longhouse, built after archaeological evidence was unearthed on this spot. You can see an exhibition, film and craft demonstrations, as well as try on replica Viking armour, and learn more about the heritage of Lofoten. After the museum visit you drive a short distance to the west coast. This gentle walk starts at one bay, follows a level gravel track around the base of a cliff and finishes at another beautiful bay. There's a picnic table sheltered in a cave about half way around where you can have lunch. This gentle day has been built into the itinerary as an opportunity to give your legs a rest and to find out about the history of Lofoten. In addition, if the weather is bad, you will swap one of the longer walks for this shorter walk and museum visit. Overnight: Prestgård (Old Vicarage)
(Meals: BLD)
Day 5: SUMMIT HIMMELTINDAN, 964M/3,163FT, 6–7 HOURS It is about 30 minutes' drive to the start of today's walk on west coast where you will have done the short coastal walk. You follow a stream up the mountainside to a glacial lake. From here the route zig-zags up towards the summit, the path varying between soil, bog, boulders and perhaps even snow. Reaching today's summit is a great achievement - and the view more than compensates for the steep walk up! The mountain is called 'Heavenly Mountain' and it does feel like you are on top of the world, despite being less than 1,000 m high. There are views of the mountains, lakes, villages and coast of Lofoten and even across to the mainland on a clear day. There is a Norwegian tradition of keeping a book at the summit, which is signed by people upon reaching the top, like a guest book. After lunch at the summit you walk back down the same way, but this way around you can fully appreciate the view. If it is a warm, sunny day, you may like to relax on the white sandy beach before driving back to the accommodation. As you travel around the islands you will see many wooden racks along the coast, used for drying cod. This traditional preservation method is used to dry the fish between February and May, producing 'stockfish'. 'Stockfish from Lofoten' is a geographically protected name in Norway such as Champagne and Parma Ham. Vikings were the first people to introduce stockfish to the rest of Europe, and it is still produced in the same way today. Overnight: Prestgård (Old Vicarage)
(Meals: BLD)
Day 6: SUMMIT TVERRFJELLET, 490M/1,608FT, 6–7 HOURS A 20-30 minute drive will take you to the start of today's walk on the island of Moskenesøy. Whereas the other walks you will have done this week involve a steep ascent at the beginning of the walk, this walk starts off with an hour of walking on fairly level ground, through a lush vegetated area. Because of this the area will be boggy so gaiters or waterproof trousers are an advantage this day. The path reaches a lake and then zigzags up the mountain to the summit, which makes a good lunch spot. This is a relatively low mountain, circled by much taller mountains whose steep sides and pointed peaks were shaped by glaciers. Your guide will probably tell you more about how the landscape was created. You take a slightly different path down from the summit to the lake and then back down through birch and ferns, to the minibus. Overnight: Prestgård (Old Vicarage)
(Meals: BLD)
Day 7: SUMMIT HUSTIND, 691M/2,267FT, 5-6 HOURS On the other side of the fjord from our accommodation stands Hustind. A 20 minute drive around the fjord to the village of Vikten takes you to the starting point for this walk. The path climbs up the hillside past a small lake. When the terrain steepens the path disappears and you are left to choose your own way up to the north ridge. The broad ridge rises gently to the summit. After descending back down the mountain to the village you may like to visit the local glass blowers workshop and have a stroll along the white sandy beach before returning to your base.
Bookings and information: 01453 844400
[email protected] / www.mountainkingdoms.com
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This is the last night at the accommodation, so there will probably be an extra special dinner. You might like to stop off and buy some celebratory drinks at the nearest supermarket on your drive home. Overnight: Prestgård (Old Vicarage)
(Meals: BLD)
Day 8: RETURN TO LEKNES AIRPORT FOR FLIGHT TO UK, OR STAMSUND FERRY TERMINAL After breakfast you will be transferred to either Leknes Airport or Stamsund Ferry Terminal for your journey back to the mainland ready for your flight home.
Our grading system Midnight Sun & the Mountains of Lofoten is graded as a Vigorous walking holiday, as described below. Vigorous Typically these trips involve 8 to 14 days (occasionally more) trekking in relatively remote landscapes. High passes up to 4,900m/16,000ft may be crossed (sometimes snow-covered) and there may also be glacier travel and peak ascents. Walking days can be between 5 and 8 hours with considerable ascents and descents. This grade also covers some European treks of shorter durations. Overnight stops on trek could be in tea houses, mountain huts or camping. These holidays would suit enthusiastic hill/mountain walkers.
What the price includes Mountain Kingdoms aims to offer the best value for money. We do not charge extra for meal packages or apply local charges and try to ensure that all the key elements of your holiday are included. What’s included: Transfers to/from Leknes airport (or Stamsund ferry or Moskenes ferry) and the accommodation, in a private vehicle Economy class return air fares from the UK (flight inclusive option). If you are travelling land only, check with our office for joining time at the airport. Transfers to/from start /end of the walks, in a private vehicle
All meals included whilst in Lofoten, as detailed in the itinerary Entrance fee for the Viking Museum A Mountain Kingdoms Appointed Leader A free high quality Mountain Kingdoms micro fleece The option of joining one of our four pre-trip meets in the Cotswolds
Good standard accommodation in Lofoten
What’s not included:
Travel insurance
Tips
Will the trip run? This trip is guaranteed to run for 7 people and for a maximum of 8. In the rare event that we cancel a holiday, we will refund you in full and give you at least 6 weeks warning. Many treks do fill up quickly – we advise you to book early if you want to secure a place(s) on the dates of your choice.
Bookings and information: 01453 844400
[email protected] / www.mountainkingdoms.com
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Your accommodation We will endeavour to secure the hotels named in the itinerary but if our first choice of hotel is not available we will book a suitable alternative of a similar standard. Prestgård (Old Vicarage) We base ourselves at the beautiful and comfortable Prestgård (a converted old Vicarage), situated in Flakstad on the north coast of Flakstadøy Island. Accommodation is in twin/double rooms, with shared bathrooms. There is a bright airy dining room and two cosy living rooms to relax in after the days' walk. The Prestgård is situated down a quiet lane, next to the Church, and has lovely views of the mountains and coast. All bedrooms have fantastic views and stylish Scandinavian decor, with space to hang your clothes, plump cushions, soft bedding and armchairs or a sofa – the interiors are beautiful, and the house is often used by the wedding party when a marriage is taking place at the adjacent church.
Climate information
Extensions Extending your holiday If you would like additional inspiration on how or where to extend your holiday please call us on 01453 844400. Alternatively, you can download a range of extension information sheets on our website, at www.mountainkingdoms.com. There are many ways you can extend your holiday with Mountain Kingdoms: you could book extra hotel nights at the start or end of your trip, arrange a personal sightseeing tour or enjoy some other exciting activities. In fact, whatever's available we can help make it happen. We're happy to suggest ideas, provide quotes and make all the arrangements. We can also assist with flight and hotel upgrades.
Bookings and information: 01453 844400
[email protected] / www.mountainkingdoms.com
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Meal arrangements All meals are included whilst in Lofoten. This includes a continental-style breakfast buffet, a packed lunch which you prepare at breakfast, a snack on return from the walk and a good, healthy, home cooked dinner. Special diets are catered for with notice prior to departure. Alcoholic drinks are not included, but can be purchased locally.
Flight arrangements Flight inclusive from price Our ‘Flight inclusive from’ price is based on the best fare available at the time of printing. As airfares change on a constant basis, this should be used only as a guide price. Rest assured that, at the time of booking, we will endeavour to get the best possible price for the flights you need. Remember, the earlier you book the greater your chances of securing the best fare. Flight inclusive packages booked through Mountain Kingdoms are protected through our ATOL bonding scheme. Flight upgrades and regional Airports Please call us on +44 (0)1453 844400 for flight options from regional UK airports, Business Class upgrades, alternative airlines and stopovers. Please also check our website for the most up to date flight inclusive ‘from' prices.
Further information When we receive your booking, we send you a full Trip Dossier which contains details of any visas and vaccinations required, a suggested gear and clothing list and lots of useful information. If you do have queries at this initial stage do call us on 01453 844400 and we will be pleased to offer advice.
The nature of adventure travel Every effort will be made to keep to this itinerary but we cannot guarantee that things may not change, either before you travel or while you are away. By its very nature, adventure travel involves an element of the unexpected, particularly in more remote areas. A variety of factors such as adverse weather conditions, changes to local schedules and difficulties with transportation can all contribute to the need to make changes to the itinerary, often at the very last minute. Our Operations Manager and your Trip Leader will make every effort to maintain the integrity of the original itinerary and minimise the impact of any changes, but an easy-going and flexible nature is a real asset! Please note that all timings and distances given are approximate.
Bookings and information: 01453 844400
[email protected] / www.mountainkingdoms.com
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Why book this holiday with Mountain Kingdoms?
Compared to similar holidays offered by other companies we include an extra day walking.
Private transfers to/from the airport or ferry are included. Explore Lofoten without hiring a car.
We use the best available accommodation based on comfort and location, so transfers to/from the walks are as short as possible, meaning you get more time out walking.
Our walks are led by an expert guide who has worked in Norway for many years, and so he is knowledgeable about the climate, wildlife and culture of Lofoten.
We have arranged our departures to coincide with the Midnight Sun, adding an extra experience to the holiday.
If we’ve tempted you to take your next holiday with us, we advise you to check availability and you can do this via our website: www.mountainkingdoms.com or by calling the team on +44 (0)1453 844400. Bookings can be made online, by phone or by completing a booking form and returning it to us. We can also provisionally hold places if you need time to consider your options.
What our clients say Just a big thank you to Mountain Kingdoms for organising our holiday which was absolutely fabulous. The islands are a hidden gem, on the last day the wall to wall sunshine made it feel like a mix of the Alps and the Aegean…but without lots of people, just sun, sea, snow-capped mountains and a view to die for….what more could you want? -Ms P, West Sussex I really enjoyed this centre-based holiday as I knew each day I could stretch my legs with a great walk to take in the fantastic scenery, but then return to comfortable accommodation afterwards. The Old Vicarage was beautiful and the food filling and delicious. -Mrs K, Gloucestershire The scenery and natural environment in general on Lofoten is almost incomparable in its beauty and peacefulness. The lodge we stayed in is ideal, allowing flexibility and great comfort. All the food provided was excellent. -Mountain Kingdoms client Really amazing holiday, exceeded expectations. Location of walks was stunning. Accommodation was excellent, quiet and in a lovely position. Food: wow. Leader was excellent. Good information and answering questions beforehand. Small group, not 'run of the mill'. -Mr W, Cumbria
Bookings and information: 01453 844400
[email protected] / www.mountainkingdoms.com
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Mountain Kingdoms – distinctly different Truly independent In an age where many so-called ‘independent’ travel companies have in fact been bought out by multinational giants, we remain fiercely independent with all the benefits this offers our clients. Value for money prices with an emphasis on quality We are not in the business of cutting our itineraries and services to the bone to offer eye-catching cheap prices. We use some of the best airlines, and typically 3 or 4 star hotels in cities. We include the majority of meals and private transport for road travel. We use excellent equipment and appoint well-trained staff and leaders. In 2015 97% of our clients rated their Mountain Kingdoms holiday as ‘excellent’ or ‘good.’ We are members of AITO and bound by their quality charter. Complete financial security You can book with us confident that your holiday has full financial protection. Flight inclusive holidays are financially protected by the Civil Aviation Authority under ATOL licence number 2973 and ‘Land Only’ holidays are covered by a bond secured with ABTOT. Award winning Responsible Tourism We feel strongly that all our holidays should benefit local communities, protect the environment and respect local traditions, religion and heritage. You can read more about the charities we support and our Responsible Tourism commitments and initiatives towards the end of this itinerary or at mountainkingdoms.com. Genuine small group travel Almost all of our holidays have a maximum group size of just 12, plus leader. This provides more contact with your leader, readier access to off-the-beaten-path areas, greater interaction with local communities and a reduced environmental impact. Loyalty Discount If you have previously travelled with us we recognise your loyalty with a discount on future trips. Booking your holiday – it couldn’t be easier Once you’ve chosen your Mountain Kingdoms holiday you can book online, call the office or complete and post a booking form which can be found in our brochure or downloaded from our website. If you would like to a hold a place on one of our trips, whilst you make up your mind, please give us a call to make a provisional booking. This is a no-obligation, no-cost booking and we will hold your place until space comes under pressure or we need your decision. Comprehensive information When we receive your booking we send you a full trip dossier which contains details of visas and vaccinations required, a suggested gear and clothing list and lots of useful information. In fact, everything you need to know to give you peace of mind and allow you to prepare for your trip of a lifetime.
Bookings and information: 01453 844400
[email protected] / www.mountainkingdoms.com
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Mountain Kingdoms & Responsible Tourism Our commitment Mountain Kingdoms is committed to responsible tourism, through policies and practices which permeate all aspects of its business. Our policies aim to ensure that we and our clients act in a way which is socially, environmentally and culturally sound. We feel strongly that all Mountain Kingdoms holidays should benefit local communities, protect the environment by minimising pollution, and respect local traditions, religion and heritage. We tread lightly - low volume, low impact trekking/touring is the best way of preserving the beautiful and fragile places we visit. We work with organisations such as Tourism Concern, International Porter Protection Group (IPPG), Ecoan, AITO and various charities, to help achieve our responsible tourism goals. Our initiatives We support a number of charities in many of the destinations we visit. In 2015 and 2016 our main efforts went into raising money for the Nepal Earthquake Appeal. Rather than support the large international charities we channelled the money raised to small local charities that we know and trust implicitly. This meant that every pound raised was spent in helping the Nepalese people directly. On one day alone we raised £30,000 for the Gurkha Welfare Trust. Other examples of our recent ongoing work are the Simien Mountains Mobile Medical Service, the Ginette Harrison School in Nepal, the New Life Centre in Kathmandu, the Village Education Project in Kilimanjaro, English-speaking courses for our trusty Sherpas, and many more. If you know of a registered charity that does good ‘hands on’ work in a country that we operate in please send us details and we will consider adding it to the list of charities we support. Further details of all our Responsible Tourism initiatives can be found at www.mountainkingdoms.com/about/responsible-travel Porter Protection In the countries where we use porters we feel that the issue of porter protection is immensely important. We support the work and the aims of the IPPG (International Porter Protection Group) and as such we have a set of guidelines to adhere to and which we apply worldwide. Carbon off-setting Working with Ecoan tree-planting project in Southern Peru we offset the carbon emissions for every Mountain Kingdoms holiday sold that includes an international flight.
Bookings and information: 01453 844400
[email protected] / www.mountainkingdoms.com
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Bookings and information: 01453 844400
[email protected] / www.mountainkingdoms.com
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