Sandy beaches, historic fishing villages, rugged mountain peaks and thousands of small islands define Vesterålen. There are several ways to plan your trip, depending on your interests: coastal history in Stokmarknes, trails between fishing villages, trips out to sea and nature experiences that depend on the season. This lets you tailor your trip to the things that interest you most.
Landscape and seasons
In summer, you can experience the midnight sun in Vesterålen; in winter, there are opportunities to see the Northern Lights. The seasons also change the way the landscape looks. If either of these phenomena is important to your trip, plan accordingly for summer or winter.
Routes and hikes
The Norwegian Scenic Route Andøya runs between Bjørnskinn in the south and the ferry terminal at Andenes in the north, and is 58 kilometres long. Another marked route, the Dronningruta, runs between the historic fishing villages of Nyksund and Stø in the Vesterålen archipelago. The Stave–Bleik coastal trail on Andøy is nine kilometres long and leads up to Måtind at an elevation of 408 metres. Conditions and difficulty on this trail can vary.
In the wider Øksnes destination, the Dronningruta is an approximately 15-kilometre circular hike, with a stated duration of five to eight hours. It passes through mountains, coastal areas, marshland, beaches and rocky terrain. There is no access to drinking water along the route; bring enough drinks and, if possible, a packed lunch. The distance and walking time are a guide for planning, while the varied landscape defines the character of the trail.
Birdlife and trips out to sea
Bleik Island is home to the largest puffin colony in Vesterålen. The Norwegian Scenic Route Andøya can be combined with a bird safari to see the 80,000 puffins at Bleik; this safari runs only in summer. Seal and bird safaris to the bird sanctuaries of Bleiksøya and Anda Fyr are also offered in Vesterålen. Hundreds of thousands of seabirds breed there. Sightings and safari availability depend on the season and weather.
In summer, whale-watching tours depart several times a day from Stø on the outer coast of Vesterålen, heading for the deep waters of Bleiksdjupet. Check dates and operators before your trip. From Stokmarknes, you can travel with Hurtigruten or Havila through the Raftsund to Trollfjord. Vesterålen Tours also offers a combined tour that includes a visit to Inga Sami Siida, encounters with reindeer and hand-feeding them, an introduction to Sami culture, followed by a fjord and wildlife safari. Check booking and seasonal conditions in advance.
Coastal history and culture
In the centre of Stokmarknes stands the museum ship MS Finnmarken, built in 1956, a monument to Norway’s coastal history. At the Hurtigruten Museum, visitors can explore the bridge, old cabins and exhibitions. The museum also has a café serving drinks and meals.
On the island of Andøya, in the small village of Nøss, you’ll find Atelier Nøss, an artist-run gallery and studio. Outside the summer gallery season, visits are possible by arrangement. This offers a different cultural focus from the maritime history of Stokmarknes and can be considered as a separate interest when planning your trip.
Møysalen and Øksnes
Møysalen National Park encompasses marshland, a diverse berry flora, two glaciers and alpine mountains. Møysalen is the highest mountain in Lofoten and Vesterålen and can be hiked with a guide. The wider Øksnes destination also includes the Anda Nature Reserve at the northern end of Langøya; it is a Ramsar site. Anda is home to one of the largest puffin colonies in Nordland. To protect breeding seabirds, landing on Anda is prohibited from 15 April to 31 July. Check the current regulations before planning a landing.
Discover more destinations: Godfjord, Sortland, Sigerfjord.
Return to the wider travel overview: Sortland.
