Lofoten Winter Tour: An Adventure of a Lifetime

In this blogpost, I’ll show some of the behind the scenes images of what it is like to be on a tour with me! We will be going on an adventure of a lifetime to the staggeringly beautiful Lofoten archipelago. This pearl is regarded by National Geographic as the third most beautiful island group in the world. Lying within the Arctic circle, the Lofoten offers a spectacular landscape; mountains, snow, incredible fjords, and crystal clear water. And, when it gets dark, there is a chance to see the magical aurora borealis.

To experience the aurora borealis is something you will never forget! Tamron SP 24-70 f/2.8 @ 24 mm | f/2.8 | 15 sec | ISO 1600 with NiSi NaturalNight filter.

The style of my winter tour is like being on an expedition. We will be driving a lot but also go on hikes and explore less well-known areas, often only accessible by foot. Therefore a good health and good condition are mandatory. Next to shooting great images, the emphasize lies on being outdoors, enjoying nature and being in the moment. If the weather allows us to, we’ll definitely hike to some epic venture points. But we’ll also visit the more popular and iconic places, because they aren’t iconic places for nothing. We’ll visit these places when the light is at its best.

With fast changing weather, you often get dramatic skies. Combine a red hut, a dark sky and the white snow and you have a recipe for an amazing image! Photo taken by Joke Schaper.

We will be staying in a lovely 110 year old guest house in the middle of the picturesque village Reine. This village lies in the heart of what I think is the most dramatic part of the Lofoten, here the landscape is compact, the mountains are steep and the sea is everywhere. Next to the guesthouse there is an awesome coffee bar that sells amazing coffee and cakes, so if you suffer from caffeine and chocolate cravings, this is the place to be!

Reine lies at the foot of the iconic mount Olestind. In this village alone are so many photo opportunities to be found. Tamron SP 17-50 f/2.8 @ 24 mm | f/14 | 3.2 sec | ISO 100.

Reine is an awe-inspiring place. It is surrounded by beauty! I’ve photographed the aurora here, seen white-tailed sea eagles hunting for fish, photographed killer whales, and shot amazing sunrises and sunsets. All in all, a perfect place to call home for the week.

The view from the guesthouse coffee table. With the harbor and famous mount Reinebringen across the street. Image taken with my phone.

In and around Reine, there are tons of amazing photo opportunities for both sunrise and sunset, but also at night when suddenly the aurora appears. Even in the middle of the day, when there are nice fluffy clouds and no wind, you can shoot amazing reflections of little boats, houses and mountains. From Reine it is easy to travel to various other photo locations across the Lofoten.

Just across the street lies the harbor. When there is no wind, reflections are insane! Image taken with my phone.

When both the weather and the snow conditions allow us, we will be going on some epic hikes. These hikes will bring us to venture points only accessible by foot! Thanks to this, we’ll often be alone at the peak and take images that are unique and often breathtaking.

It is so rewarding to hike in this landscape (it looks quite steep, but it is totally safe). The views are stunning and you know, you will take amazing images when golden hour starts! Image taken with my phone.

I’ve selected a couple of hikes of which I know can be done by people without experience, but you need to have a good overall condition and health. It is a bit of work and you will get tired, but once you reach the summit, the views are spectacular! It is so rewarding to stand on top of a mountain when the golden light hits the peaks around you!

Photographing the amazing view after a hike is super rewarding! Image taken with my phone.

Next to hiking, we will be visiting some amazing beaches, villages and other iconic places that are a must when on Lofoten. I see it as my duty to make this tour into a trip of a lifetime!

If you would like to join my Winter 2019 Tour, and go on a trip that you will never forget, make sure to book soon! I have only one spot left for the tour in March 2019. If you have any friends or family of who you think would enjoy this tour, feel free to share this article!

If you like my photography, please follow me on Instagram @harmenpiekema and Facebook. Check out my YouTube channel to see behind the scene vlogs, learn how to use certain gear and follow me on my adventures. If you want you can check out my webshop. Your support means a lot!

We will be visiting both sandy- and rocky beaches with lots and lots of amazing photo opportunities. Tamron SP 17-50mm f/2.8 @ 36 mm | f/14 | 0.3 sec | ISO 100.



Leave a Reply