Kayak, Hike and Wild Camp the Lofoten Islands

Normally, you forget an experience as soon as the next one is in the diary - bit not this time! I continue to find myself reliving the trip through my photos and memories. I even chuckle at some of the memories!

Firstly and most importantly, our guide Joules made the experience a real adventure and the most fun possible. Nothing he did was too much and he really is an asset to the company. His attention to detail and constant drive to give the very best was second to none.

The Team who supported him were also amazing - ranging from secret drops of fresh fruit and veg to the additional marshmallows which were so popular.

The kit and equipment was in great order and made the adventure more comfortable than I had expected.

Overall, the trip was so much fun that we have now booked again and plan further trips in the future.

Thank you so much for a memorable and extremely enjoyable adventure!

A fantastic adventure with a great group of people in a beautiful location. The fantastic guide made the trip so special.

This was such a unique and amazing experience that went beyond my expectations of the week!

Everyday was different and brought new challenges. From the distance we kayaked each day to the swell of the sea, or changes in weather patterns.

We got to see such beautiful scenery and wildlife from a unique perspective and wild camping each night in a new spot was amazing!

The organisation from Northern Explorer was fantastic - to the airport collections, cabin provision at the beginning, end and middle of the trip and the food provision. Our guide Jules was fantastic and everyday went above and beyond - teaching us about the history of the islands and the natural wonders. He even made us a blueberry pie halfway through the trip!

If you want to embrace everything the Lofoten Islands have to offer this is the trip for you.

My week in the Lofoten Islands was amazing. The views were stunning, and every day felt like a new adventure. Kayaking through the fjords and hiking the trails made me feel really close to nature. The weather was typical for Norway—unpredictable, but it added to the fun. The guide and the people I met were great, making the experience even better. Lofoten was everything I hoped for and more.

"Before booking, keep in mind that this is not a trip for those seeking comfort or hotel services. This is a different kind of holiday and experience, more sustainable, more mindful of the landscapes and nature, all from a unique perspective: the sea.

You will taste the freedom of choosing where to spend the night, whether on a deserted island or a beach with white sand. You will visit fishing villages where Viking legends still echo, before paddling into the calm waters of the Lofoten Islands, accompanied by seagulls and sea eagles.

If that’s not enough, there is a guide, passionate and experienced (Jules, whom I thank), who brings a lot of energy, safety and knowledge to the whole group.

It’s an experience that challenges you. It’s an holiday worth taking.

I recently returned from an incredible week of kayaking and hiking through the Lofoten Islands, and I can confidently say it was one of the most unique and immersive experiences I've ever had. Exploring the Lofoten from the water gave me a perspective that few travelers get to enjoy—one of sheer, untouched natural beauty.

Every day was filled with breathtaking landscapes, each more stunning than the last, from towering fjords to serene beaches. The variety of scenery kept me constantly in awe. One of the highlights was the close encounters with wildlife—watching majestic eagles soar above and in front of us made the experience all the more magical.

A special shoutout goes to our guide, Jules, whose infectious smile and boundless enthusiasm added an extra layer of joy to the trip. Jules was always there, day and night, making sure everything was perfect—from sharing expert wildlife tips to helping us with kayak preparations, tent setups, and even whipping up delicious meals. His dedication and warmth made him the best guide I've ever had, and I genuinely hope to cross paths with him on future adventures.

The organization of the trip was impeccable, with the team thoughtfully adjusting our plans according to the weather conditions to ensure we made the most of every moment. This attention to detail truly made the adventure seamless and unforgettable.

A huge thank you to everyone involved in making this journey so special. If you're looking for an extraordinary way to experience the Lofoten, this is it!

My partner and I just returned from a fantastic trip to Lofoten which completely surpassed our (high!) expectations.

Every aspect of it was flawless and allowed us to sit back and relax (while paddling our arms off :))

First, the scenery: WOW! Stunning mountains, charming villages and crystal-clear waters, all without coming across crowds thanks to the team’s excellent itinerary.

A big thank you to Krisztina and Jules for both this + erring on the side of caution and taking me to see a doctor when a pre-existing infection worsened.

Continuing on the team, the trip definitely wouldn’t have been the same without our top-notch guide, Jules: his energy levels and mood were unmatched, he was super knowledgeable (we loved the info on wildlife and foraging!) and he took such great care of us, from the sports to the camping and food. The whole crew was incredibly appreciative of Jules’s friendliness, guidance and support, which really made the trip.

Last but not least, a few words to our fellow adventurers - you really were “much better” and we loved your company!

All of the above made for an unforgettable, 5-star trip, which I would absolutely recommend others book as well.

Stunning trip with or amazing guide Santi, who’s patience, knowledge and above all humour really made the trip special. The Northern Explorer team made every possible effort to give an enjoyable trip, that went well beyond what you would expect of hosts. Including organising celebrations for special occasions. I really can’t put into words how much fun I had on this trip, both being there with an amazing group of individuals and all the work behind the scenes from the team made the trip a blast. The scenery was astonishing, and the wildlife we saw and ate was amazing. Fresh fish caught that day by members of the group roasted on fires in the evening was a fantastic experience. Campfires in the evening and marshmallows aswell. If your hesitating about booking just go for it was 100% worth every penny. Thank you so much to the Northern Explorer team!!

What an incredible experience. The kayaking is hard work but discovering this part of the world in such a special way is worth every stroke. Great quality equipment and a fantastic team on the ground made for a fantastic experience all round. A special thanks to our guide Santi for his knowledge, patience and cracking sense of humour - we were so lucky to have you show us around this beautiful part of the world! If your thinking about this trip, do it. You won't regret it.

Photos really don't do this trip justice...24 hour daylight. Santi is a great guide. Fabulous scenery in which to kayak, fish, camp and hike. Just go there!

Our week of kayaking, hiking, and wild camping in the Lofoten islands in July 2024 was truly amazing and exceeded all our expectations! Our guide was the superb Jules who looked after us, kept us safe, guided us and kept producing unexpected treats in the remotest of locations and found a sea eagle every day! We were blessed by beautiful weather and calm seas so we could kayak and swim and hike to our hearts content. Camping is amazing when the weather is good and you are in the most beautiful place on earth! The midnight sun shone and we enjoyed all our company with lots of laughter and fun.

Words cannot express how amazing this trip was for us. Great group of like minded adventurers and the most fantastic, enthusiastic tour leader we could have hoped for. Jules organised everything for us - the food was plentiful and tasty, the wild camping was wild but comfortable and the kayaking was spectacular. Would highly recommend this trip to anyone who loves the outdoors and has a sense of adventure. We had no kayaking experience before this trip and found it easy to pick up.

Wow! What a wonderful experience. All eight of our tour group loved the adventure. From the second we stepped off the bus in Lofoten, until our final paddle stroke we were awed (pardon the pun) by the natural beauty of this area. Our tour leader, Jules, and his awesome support team kept us fed, motivated and fascinated the entire trip, We are in our mid 50’s without much prior kayaking experience, and although each day was packed with adventure, we were comfortable with the pace. I can’t recommend this trip highly enough!

I loved every minute of it! Tour guide Santi was great, the group was perfect, the food was lovely and the views were astonishing.

Wow, what a week. Kayaking, fishing, walking, the midnight Sun, wild camping, foraging for blueberries, bbqs on mountainsides, exploring islands and fishing villages and seeing sea eagles, moose and enjoying little coves and magical camping spots….. what’s not to like. Most importantly, our guide, Jule, was absolutely amazing. Fun, professional, easy going, helpful, and does the best scrambled eggs ever for wild camping breakfasts as well as the best mountainside bbq too!

Had a fabulous and well organised trip in Lofoten. The scenery was stunning with beautiful hills, and beaches at every turn. The mountain walk with bbq and midnight sun was a real treat and also loved the peaceful kayaking and the wild isolated camping spots. Our guide Jules was fantastic with so much passion, energy and willingness to help. We were blessed with wonderful sunshine throughout.

Even if you are not the fittest person in the world, this trip is a great way to get out into nature and have an adventure. I caught a fish in a fjord an hour away from the next shore.

Had an amazing week in the Lofoten on this tour. We were blessed with spectacular weather though we did get some proper Norwegian Rain on the last day..! We enjoyed fantastic kayak, hiking, camping and were unbelievably lucky to see two Orca up ahead of our boats on our crossing between Ballstadt and Mortsund! Another highlight was a stunning evening hiking with the midnight sun and enjoying a bbq en route. Jules, our guide, was incredibly knowledgable on everything surrounding from the geology, geography, history, wildlife and was very hard working in all aspects and made things run as smoothly as possible. It’s a challenging trip but so rewarding, and having never kayaked before I will be doing more in the future!

One of the best trips in my life. Excellent and funny group, a very caring guide, I felt safe even when the sea was choppy and the wind was blowing. Lofoten are a place similar to my idea of heaven.

A really incredible experience. Really well organized. Stunning scenery. Fantastic people. We had such an amazing week!

This trip was the best holiday i have been on. Not only was the trip incredibly well planned, taking you to beautiful remote places, but they are prepared for all the weather changes, which are often sudden in Loften. Carlos and Jules were commited to making sure we had the best possible experience and it didnt disappoint. The days were physical but not impossible, for those worried about the fitness level required, just come ready to stuck in!

A really huge shout out to our guide for the week, Jules, one of the nicest guides ive ever had, he was super knowledgeable about the area, wildlife and history, he was funny, energetic and very engaging, plus he carried a silly amount of food up a mountain so we could enjoy a BBQ with the midnight sun, which was a surreal experience. If you get him as a guide you are incredibly lucky, we loved every moment of it!

The tour was amazing. Despite bad weather on the first day we were still able to make use of the time, and managed to kayak to our first stop. All the camping areas were great, lovely and peaceful with areas to socialise etc. The sea sate meant that for the most part the kayaking was fairly easy, although when the wind picked up it got more challenging. Joules our guide couldn't do enough for us, he was always making sure we were coping okay and ensuring we had lots to eat - there was no way you could get hungry on this trip. All our group were great fun, which really made the trip.

We'll definitely be back to Lofoten

Absolutely stunning kayaking and hiking. Expertly guided by Santi who steered us through diverse weather and honed our wild camping skills . Great group dynamic , lots of laughter. I was the oldest at 62 and loved every minute.

Beautiful scenery, great paddling and challenging hikes. The trip was very well organised and we felt in safe hands at all times despite some challenging conditions at times - I think we experienced every single season in a week. I was lucky enough to be in a fantastic group and our guide Santi was friendly, knowledgeable and more importantly very patient! Great fun.

The most amazing trip in the most stunning landscape with views that are breathtaking. The kayaking and hikes provided enough of a physical challenge to give you a real sense of achievement each day. Our guide was incredibly knowledgeable and friendly. The company was very accommodating to cater for food allergies. Couldn’t have dreamed of a better adventure holiday!!

What an amazing trip! The guide Santi was informative and friendly and couldn't do more for us if he tried! The trip was a once in a lifetime experience I'll never forget. From the food to the wild camping to the midnight sun walk, it was unforgettable. What an amazing week.

Amazing adventure.

Local hosts Kristina and Carlos could not be more helpful (or nicer people) and our guide Mariano was an expert, hard working and all round wonderful guy. I highly recommend this trip.

I went on a multi -day kayaking trip through the Lofoten islands and am trying to find the words to describe how amazing it has been. The sights are stunning, the perspective from the water is incredible... We saw many sea-eagles, a curious seal, oyster catchers, minks, etc. We made stops by cute and quaint fishing villages and wild-camped at the most beautiful spots, including an enchanting abandoned island. The guide went above and beyond to give us the best possible experience, motivating us and taking limitations in the group into account, which enabled us to have the best possible experience. Would give more than 5 stars if I could!

The trip was brilliant. My expectations were high, but the trip was better! If you are debating whether to do it, I would say 100% yes. The scenery was breathtaking. The kayaking was challenging but hugely rewarding. The guide was superb. Go on, do it.