The fascination of the Arctic Circle

12 days Northern Norway tour


Tromsø – Narvik – Eastern Lofoten – Western Lofoten – Harstad – Tromsø

Your journey at a glance

This 12-day tour of Northern Norway takes you on varied routes from Tromsø via Narvik to the East and West Lofoten Islands and on to Harstad. The route combines tranquil natural panoramas with small towns that tell stories of fishing, trade and life in the far north. Sometimes the focus is on the vastness of the landscape, sometimes on encounters with regional culture or culinary specialities. Enjoy new perspectives on a region characterised by light, weather, space and rhythm. A journey that slows you down – and has a lasting effect.
This 12-day tour of Northern Norway takes you on varied routes from Tromsø via Narvik to the East and West Lofoten Islands and on to Harstad. The route combines tranquil natural panoramas with small towns that tell stories of fishing, trade and life in the far north. Sometimes the focus is on the vastness of the landscape, sometimes on encounters with regional culture or culinary specialities. Enjoy new perspectives on a region characterised by light, weather, space and rhythm. A journey that slows you down – and has a lasting effect.
  • The stops on your journey:
  • Tromsø (2 nights)
  • Narvik (1 night)
  • Eastern Lofoten (3 nights)
  • Western Lofoten (3 nights)
  • Harstad (1 night)
  • Tromsø (1 night)
  • Further highlights:
  • The island Senja
  • City of Sortland
  • Famous beach Hauklandstranda

Geotoura - Hotel concept

When we include a hotel in our programme, it is not only a high standard of quality that is important to us. We prefer typical local accommodation, often boutique hotels with a special ambience. They emphasise the character of an individual trip: Panoramic views, particularly lovely furnishings, location in historic centres, no mass tourism and, of course, exceptionally friendly hosts – these are important criteria for us.

We categorise our accommodation in the British Isles into four separate Geotoura categories. Of course, you have the choice and can also combine the categories on one trip.

Boutique Hotels - Four categories

Encantador (‘Charming’): Privately run bed & breakfast guesthouses with a small number of cosy rooms and a lovingly prepared breakfast.

Especial (‘Special’): Enjoy stylish interiors and comfort in the mostly family-run boutique hotels with historic charm. Stay in the city centre or in beautiful natural surroundings.

Extraordinario (‘Extraordinary’): Centuries-old buildings, such as historic manor houses or castles, sometimes also modern design hotels with special architecture. Usually equipped with a restaurant, bar or spa area.

Luna de Miel (‘honeymoon’): For your honeymoon – or if you want to treat yourself to something out of the ordinary …

 

Character of this travel idea

A 12-day tour through northern Norway takes you to the most beautiful places in the Lofoten Islands. Starting and ending in Tromsø, you will get to know life in the Arctic Circle up close and enjoy the unique experience of the Northern Lights.

Experience culture in Northern Norway

Northern Norway surprises visitors with its cultural diversity, which oscillates between tradition and modernity. Tromsø, often referred to as the ‘gateway to the Arctic’, not only offers a lively cultural scene with museums, galleries and concert halls, but also a university that brings a breath of fresh air to Europe’s northernmost city.

Narvik still bears traces of its turbulent past: the War and Peace Museum illustrates the strategic importance of the city during the Second World War. In Lofoten, you will encounter the roots of the country: old fishing villages such as Henningsvær and Nusfjord tell of the cod trade era, while the Viking Museum in Borg provides fascinating insights into the history of the Norsemen. In the southern part of the round trip, Harstad offers an exciting introduction to the coastal culture of Northern Norway. The Trondenes Historical Centre combines exhibitions on Viking history, the Middle Ages and the occupation with authentic finds from the region. A visit to Trondenes Church – the northernmost medieval stone church in the world – located right next to the museum, is particularly atmospheric..

Stunning nature at the Artctic Circle

Between fjords, rugged coastlines and snow-capped peaks, a natural backdrop unfolds that is second to none. Your journey from Tromsø to Narvik takes you through wide valleys and over impressive bridges, while the light of the midnight sun or, depending on the season, the flickering northern lights appear in the background.

The Lofoten Islands are dominated by dramatic mountain ranges that rise steeply from the sea. In between: quiet bays, white beaches and clear lakes. The drive along the E10, which winds its way through the islands like a ribbon, is particularly impressive. In Harstad, the view opens up again onto the mainland, without nature losing any of its drama. Those travelling by hire car experience northern Norway not only as a backdrop, but as a constant companion that changes with every bend in the road.

The rugged rocks and steep cliffs of the Lofoten Islands are a paradise for seabirds. A boat trip to the breeding grounds of puffins, white-tailed eagles and guillemots – around the islands of Røst or Værøy, for example – is particularly impressive. In small groups and with experienced guides, you can observe this Arctic bird life in peace, often accompanied by the rough sound of the waves and the wind blowing through the boat.

Traditional Cuisine of the Lofoten

On your 12-day round trip from Tromsø to the Lofoten Islands, you will encounter not only spectacular landscapes, but also surprisingly diverse culinary experiences. In Tromsø, small, Nordic-inspired restaurants invite you to enjoy seasonal menus featuring fish from the Arctic Ocean – freshly caught, sustainably sourced and expertly prepared.

Stockfish, reindeer and cloudberries are not exotic delicacies here, but integral parts of the regional cuisine. In Lofoten, it is worth stopping at one of the traditional rorbuer restaurants – often located right on the waterfront – where local produce is served in a rustic setting with views of the mountains. The proximity to the Arctic Circle also shapes the culinary identity: regional, clear and down-to-earth – with a touch of Nordic elegance.

The authentic North

During a visit to a microbrewery in Harstad, you can sample the local beer of the far north. A glass of aquavit with a view of the North Sea rounds off your culinary and traditional Lofoten adventure. A vibrant craft scene has developed in Lofoten, closely linked to the landscape and history of the region. In small workshops – often in former fishermen’s huts or old warehouses – unique pieces are created from wood, ceramics, wool or fish leather. In places such as Henningsvær and Nusfjord in particular, local artisans invite visitors to watch them at work or try their hand at crafting themselves.

Why can't I find any prices on geotoura.com?

We do not offer standardised packages. Your Geotoura trip is customised according to your wishes.

We make this possible thanks to our high level of expertise and in-depth knowledge of the country as well as our excellent network of partners. You can look forward to extraordinary experiences, charming boutique hotels and very special insider tips on site.

Geotoura stands for the perfect planning of your personalised dream trip. Your individual price will therefore only include what really enriches your holiday.

Compared to standard holidays, this price is competitive. You will usually receive the comprehensive holiday design within 24 hours on working days.

Highly personalised trips are our speciality and the pleasure you deserve.

The special moment ...
... when we learned stories about Sami culture in Lofoten.

Experiences
of our customers

January 2025
Anita D.
Germany
Thanks to Geotoura, we had a wonderful time in Apulia. Our wishes for small hotels were catered for, all the accommodation was close to the centre and quiet and offered an individual flair. The suggestions for changes to our round trip turned out to be very good, and the detailed descriptions in the personal travel guide enabled us to plan our days well. This was the most relaxed holiday preparation for an individual trip we have ever had and we can recommend Geotoura with a clear conscience. Everything was one hundred per cent perfect. Many thanks for that!
February 2025
Katja K.
Germany
A wonderful trip through Scotland, customised according to my wishes. Uncomplicated, fast contact with very friendly and competent support. Absolutely recommended.
November 2024
Christoph F.
Switzerland
We decided to visit Portugal for the first time at very short notice. Geotoura advised us very quickly and well. The trip was an absolute success. As we were travelling in November, we never had the feeling of being involved in unpleasant overtourism. We can highly recommend Portugal as a destination and Geotoura as a tour operator.
November 2024
Hans Peter H.
Germany
I would like to thank the Geotoura team for their advice and support during our trip to Sicily. The travel information provided was very helpful and the hotels we booked all met our requirements in terms of location and facilities. The Organic Farm Resort Fontes Episcopi will remain a special memory for us. We were particularly well looked after and spoilt with culinary delights. The location and facilities of the former country house are unique. The hire car was big enough for our group (6 people) so that we could travel comfortably with our luggage.
November 2024
Joachim W.
Germany
It was our first time in Andalusia and thanks to the personalised recommendations of the Geotoura staff, which were based on their expertise and regional experience, we were able to enjoy a wonderful round trip with an incredible number of positive and interesting impressions!
November 2024
Alexander K.
Austria
Thank you for a wonderful week in Albania, during which we were able to switch off and let ourselves be carried away by your preparation. We will see you again!
November 2024
Susanne M.
Austria
We had a great round trip through Andalusia with nice different hotels and changing landscapes. A scratch on the car, which we had picked up, was quickly dealt with and we were able to continue our journey without any worries.
November 2024
Silke K.
Germany
We had a wonderful holiday in Andalusia which, as always, was far too short to see the many interesting sights and still have time to relax, go hiking or simply swim in the Atlantic. The hotels were again very well chosen. We love staying in small, special hotels and enjoying the Spanish flair. Thank you very much and see you next time.
October 2024
Edeltraud T.
Germany
With Geotoura, we were able to customise our trip to Portugal according to our wishes. Geotoura took a lot of the organisation off our hands with the choice of accommodation and completely fulfilled the trust we had placed in Geotoura.
October 2024
Thomas W.
Germany
Our tour of Andalusia was very well and individually organised. We had as much time as we wanted, the hotels were very different and, apart from one alternative, all very individual and pleasant. The guided tours, an excursion to the Sierra Nevada and the evening events were excellent. Overall, we got a good impression of Andalusia and the organisation was perfect.

Many more possibilities are waiting for your

What kind of traveller are you? Just a few steps to your individual round trip
With our vacation planner, you can easily customize your own trip.
Individual planning
We accompany you to your personalized dream holiday.

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