Nordland is a breathtaking stretch of coast where the mountains rise like a wall from the turquoise sea. You move through the Lofoten islands where red fishing huts sit at the base of sharp granite peaks in Reine and Hamnøy. The landscape is a world of white sand beaches and arctic light that feels like a dream. It is a place where the mountains and the ocean are in a constant embrace.
Traveling through this arctic paradise takes you across the Arctic Circle into a world of endless summer days. You can explore the Saltstraumen maelstrom near Bodø or hike to the hole in the mountain at Torghatten. The roads are narrow and follow the curve of the water through the Helgeland coast where thousands of islands create a unique seafaring landscape. Every bridge offers a panoramic view of the islands and the sea.
The drive takes you to the Svartisen Glacier where the ice reaches almost to the shoreline. You can stop at a seaside campsite and watch the sea eagles circle above the cliffs of the Seven Sisters range. The scenery is a mix of wild rocks and Caribbean style beaches. Nordland is a masterpiece of nature where the wild arctic spirit is everywhere.
Nordland highlights
- Reine in Lofoten Visit the most photographed fishing village in the world with its red huts and sharp peaks. The view from Reinebringen is worth the steep climb.
- Saltstraumen Maelstrom Watch the world’s strongest tidal current create massive whirlpools under the bridge. The power of the water is a natural wonder.
- Torghatten Mountain Hike to the massive hole that goes right through the center of this mountain. Legend says it was made by an arrow from a giant.
- Svartisen Glacier Take a boat and a short hike to see the second largest glacier in the country. The blue ice reaches almost down to the sea level.
- Kjerringøy Trading Post Step back in time at this perfectly preserved 19th century coastal village. It provides a look at the wealth of the old fish trade.
- Helgeland Coast Follow the coastal route past thousands of islands and the Seven Sisters mountains. This is one of the most scenic road trips in the North.
- Vesterålen Whale Safari Take a boat out from Andenes to see sperm whales and orcas in the deep sea. It is the best place in Norway for whale watching.
- Borg Viking Museum Explore a reconstructed chieftain longhouse and learn about life in the Viking age. You can even sail on a replica Viking ship.
- Træna Islands Visit this remote archipelago far out in the ocean for a unique island culture. The sharp peaks rising from the sea are unlike anything else.
- Stetind Mountain See the national mountain of Norway which is a massive granite obelisk. Its smooth vertical walls are a challenge for world class climbers.
The local Four
History of Nordland
Nordland’s history is written in cod and salt. For over a thousand years the great winter fisheries of Lofoten provided the dried stockfish that fed most of Europe during Lent. This trade created a unique maritime culture where fishermen lived in cramped red huts called "rorbuer" while waiting for the storms to pass. The wealth from the sea built grand trading posts and gave the region a global connection long before the modern age.
During the Viking Age the island of Borg was home to one of the most powerful chieftains in the north. Archaeologists discovered the largest Viking longhouse ever found there showing that these arctic lords lived in incredible luxury. They traded walrus ivory and furs as far away as Byzantium and Baghdad. The history of Nordland is a story of global explorers who were never afraid of the dark winter or the open sea.
Modern times brought heavy industrial history to towns like Narvik which became a vital port for iron ore. During the spring of 1940 it was the site of the first major Allied victory of World War Two as navies fought for control of the harbor. Today you can see the wrecks of warships beneath the clear water of the fjord. Nordland is a landscape of myth and memory where every island holds a story of the deep.