Brilliant sunshine over the snow-covered Lofoten

Finally back in the Lofoten: Hamnøy in the winter light, the yellow houses of Sakrisøy, the drive out to Å and northern lights over the mountains at night.

Annina & Nicolas 11 February 2024 · 3 min read

In short

What a welcome: A seal swims right in front of our accommodation, and then Hamnøy, Sakrisøy and Å show off their finest winter dress, complete with a cinnamon-knot break at Anita's Sjømat. We've barely finished dinner when the aurora app sounds the alarm, and at Hamnøy we witness a show deep into the night.

We wake up to a beautiful sunrise and have breakfast afterwards.

Sunrise colours the peaks above the still fjord at Ramberg — Sunrise at our accommodation · 2 photos

The red houses of our accommodation on the jetty in the morning light — Sunrise at our accommodation · 2 photos

We’ve finally arrived in the Lofoten, after two days of travelling! We’re delighted to be back and to be greeted by a gorgeous day. First thing in the morning we even spot a seal swimming in the still sea, right from our accommodation. After breakfast we drive to Hamnøy, a classic photo spot in the Lofoten. We’re amazed by how many tourists there are, far more than we’re used to from our September trips here. We would definitely have expected fewer. Most are Asian visitors moving somewhat unsteadily across the snow.

The red rorbuer of Hamnøy on their snow-covered rocks — Hamnøy, the classic Lofoten photo spot, with its red rorbuer below snow-covered mountains · 4 photos

Hamnøy from the other side with Festhæltinden behind — Hamnøy, the classic Lofoten photo spot, with its red rorbuer below snow-covered mountains · 4 photos

Naturally we also pay another visit to the yellow houses of Sakrisøy, and a drive to the end of the Lofoten, to Å, can’t be missed either! We soak up the beautiful atmosphere, surrounded by mountains, sea and a stunning snow-covered landscape. We photograph and film a lot and send the drone up. We round off the afternoon at Anita’s Sjømat with a cinnamon knot and hot chocolate. It is mainly a fish shop with a sweet little café.

The yellow rorbu beside the stockfish racks, mirrored — The yellow houses of Sakrisøy, the drive out to Å and a drone flight over the snowy landscape · 6 photos

Two yellow houses below the pointed summit, drift ice in front — The yellow houses of Sakrisøy, the drive out to Å and a drone flight over the snowy landscape · 6 photos

What a beautiful day! Once the sun has set we drive back to our accommodation, where we edit photos and make a potato gratin. We’ve barely finished eating when our aurora app sounds the alarm: We’re in the orange zone with more than a 30% chance of seeing the northern lights overhead. A glance outside confirms it, and off we zoom. We drive to Hamnøy, which gives us a lovely view of the mountains without much light pollution. We set the camera to interval shooting and enjoy the show. Only late at night, when the aurora display is over, do we drive back to our accommodation.