As always, the journey from Ukraine was long. We took trains to Krakow, spent the night at the airport, then flew to Oslo, and took another flight to the small airport in Narvik.
There, the team leader met us and drove us to our first overnight stop in his minivan. We were already above the Arctic Circle.
The next day, according to the plan, we were supposed to go out to sea on boats for a whale safari. However, the capricious northern weather prevented this. Snow, rain, hurricane-force winds — this is how Lofoten welcomed us.
We watched the stormy ocean for a while, then went to the whale museum, watched a film about their mating behavior, and saw the real skeletons of these huge animals.
By the way, no whales were harmed in the making of this film, as they were found already dead. Usually, during the winter season, they come closer to the coast, and there is a chance to see them in the sea.
In the morning, the weather improved, and light snow began to fall. We took a ferry to a neighboring island, where we began our ascent of Mount Floya. We put on crampons to prevent slipping on the rocky slopes.
The summit offered a magnificent view of the surrounding islands and fjords. The most daring even walked across a stone bridge over a precipice. After the descent, we stopped at a restaurant to try the local cuisine.
It turned out to be quite tasty, with a large selection of fish dishes, which is not surprising for the islands. Another morning greeted us with a surprisingly clear sky.
On the way, we often stopped, walked along deserted beaches, and enjoyed the snowy landscapes in the rays of the morning sun. Finally, we reached the start of the route to Mount Festvagtind.
We walked carefully because the climb was steep and difficult. But with each step, the view expanded, revealing new distant places.
Every few dozen meters, we turned around to admire the incredible views. Mountains covered with clouds, the sun reflecting off the sea, frozen lakes. It was impossible to take our eyes off such beauty.
And the view from the top was simply breathtaking. When you stand at the very top, you feel acutely that you are on an island, with water everywhere you look.
From above, everything looks like a toy: fishing villages, small one-story houses, surrounding islands connected by bridges, and even a real stadium.
We couldn't help but stop by the northernmost stadium and play a friendly match between our participants. It was already snowing heavily, so we hurried to our next accommodation.
We settled into a cozy cottage with a sauna and jacuzzi. But the biggest surprise (gift) of that evening was the northern lights. We watched this magical spectacle while lying in the jacuzzi on the roof of the cottage.
Green and pink waves rolled across the sky, disappeared, then reappeared. Their color, intensity, and width changed. Each new wave caused a sea of excitement and screams.
Tourists poured out of neighboring houses and also watched the colorful sky with excitement. An unforgettable experience!
The next day, we visited the interactive Viking museum, which is housed in a real ancient dwelling.
In the museum, you can learn about the history of Norway's settlement and touch traditional handicrafts: processed skins, clothing, shoes, woolen blankets, and rag dolls.
Guides dressed in national costumes conduct master classes in weaving, knitting, embroidery, and coinage. One of the halls is dedicated to sailors.
It displays ship parts, totems, and idols carved from wood. Another room houses various types of antique weapons that you can examine, hold in your hands, and even try on helmets and chain mail.
Another unusual adventure awaited us the next morning—winter kayaking. I had been on summer rafting trips before, but this was a completely new experience.
The instructor handed out waterproof clothing and footwear, life jackets, and gave detailed instructions. We got into the kayaks and followed the instructor.
It was an unreal feeling—paddling across the sea surrounded by mountains. It was an incredible experience. Everywhere you looked, there were mountains and snow. And we were in the middle of all this beauty. It seemed like we could look at it forever.
But when we reached the opposite shore of the bay and got a little cold, the instructor treated us to hot tea from a thermos. It was so nice to relax and warm up.
The way back was faster, perhaps because we had learned to row better, or perhaps because we were simply rushing home.
According to our plan, we still had one more climb to the top of Reinbringen. Despite the steep ascent, all participants reached the summit.
It was another opportunity to admire the rocky islands, the winter sea, and the sunset.
Unfortunately, this was the end of our adventure. It was time to go back. Our team leader drove us to the airport, and we said goodbye.
But there is no need to be sad. We had a busy week, saw amazing places, and made new friends. We will always have the impressions, memories, and joy of overcoming our fears and difficulties.
I am grateful to all the participants of the group, our team leader Alexander, who showed us many interesting things, and the club consultants for a wonderful vacation.
Organizing trips with Kuluar always leaves only positive impressions.