LOFOTEN - What a wonderful world?

I dedicate this blog post to my stay in the Lofoten. I first came across the Lofoten while researching for my trip. I had never heard of it before, but according to travel reports, it must be incredibly beautiful.

Ferry ride

On June 16, 2025, I boarded the ferry from Bodø to Moskenes in the Lofoten. The (semi-)archipelago spans the northwest of Norway, extending on a long, tapering tongue into the Norwegian Sea. Moskenes is almost at the tip. Before that are just the small fishing village of Å and the islands of Rost and Værøy, which can only be accessed by another ferry.

Same, same but different

From the very beginning, I felt the vibe here was completely different from that on the Norwegian mainland. My first photos of the small red houses in Å, built on stilts by the shore, enchanted me despite the gloomy weather.

What I've learned here in Norway is to take the weather as it is. Don’t watch the weather report because it’s usually wrong.

Gray nothingness

My first hike involved about 1900 steep stone steps leading up to Reinebringen at 448 meters above sea level. The hike did not provide the famous view of the town of Reine that I was hoping for, as the summit was shrouded in thick clouds when I arrived there. However, I did not regret it, since when I stood on the platform and saw only ominous gray in every direction more than 15 meters out, it felt like I was having a date with myself. The exertion had brought me closer to myself than I had felt in a long time.

Then from below Reine

In the evening, I took a stroll through Reine and was rewarded with a mystical, mirror-like lake among the small islands where the houses stood, creating beautiful photos.

Screensaver material

I again noticed how much I love photography. How much I enjoy waiting for the perfect moment, finding just the right angle, and noticing that one small detail that might escape others' eyes. I have become addicted to photographing mountain peaks, with their snow, waterfalls, and the color gradient transitioning from a rich green over reddish-brown to a rocky gray. The sun, when it peeks through the clouds, throws spotlights on various spots, and capturing the whole scene with the camera is just exhilarating.

Blue water, gray sky

On another day, I hiked to Kvalvika Beach, where I also found no view at the summit, but I enjoyed the hike and the glimpses of the beach I could catch along the way even more.

The landscape here is unreal in its beauty. The large plateaus with their yellowish-green grasses and meadows. The view extending far over the next fjord into the open sea. The mountain ranges all around, simply magical.

White beaches and steep coast

In the following days, I drove a lot and saw several beautiful white sand beaches. I danced on the beach with music in my ears, competing with the waves. I captured the beautiful evening light that the almost-setting midnight sun created between the grasses and flowers by the sea.

Henningsvær

In Henningsvær, I fell a little in love. The evening sun enveloped the place, built on several small islands along the southern coast and featuring the