Most tourists head straight to the Lofoten Islands, but in my opinion, Vesterålen shouldn't be skipped. It offers many epic hikes, beaches, and nature that feels just a bit different from other places.
What's beautiful about the North is that it doesn’t matter if you come in summer or winter – you're guaranteed to witness sights that’ll blow your mind. It's true winter comes with less stable weather, and catching a glimpse of the sun during a 5-day stay can be a huge win.
On the other hand, the weather changes fast here, so you'll likely experience every kind of weather in just a few days :)
I visited in early April and unfortunately arrived in rainy and foggy conditions, which made hiking to any peaks impossible. I had to play the "Asian tourist" game – snap a photo and move on.
The rain was also accompanied by strong winds, and throughout our trip, we kept checking road conditions to make sure nothing was closed. But you know what they say – every cloud has a silver lining. I was pretty exhausted after the season, so just driving around and soaking in the moody landscapes had its charm.
You can visit islands like Langøya, Andøya, or Hadseløya. Due to a lack of time, we mainly explored Langøya. Next time, I want to focus on Andøya – the land of moose and amazing hikes.
If you make it to that island, don’t miss out on the village of Sto, Mt. Mælen, and Mt. Reka. In my opinion, the biggest highlight of Vesterålen is Mt. Reka – it rises like a sharp tooth among molars, just a few kilometers from the main town of Vesterålen, Sortland.
One particularly interesting place is Nyksund – a small village in the north of Langøya. The road there leads from the larger town of Myre, and be prepared for a gravel road with the occasional pothole that can cause some serious trouble for your car, so please, drive carefully!
The route winds along massive cliffs with stunning views of the open ocean. From Nyksund, you can hike up to Mælen – one of the most beautiful peaks in the area. Unfortunately, due to the rain, I wasn’t able to make the hike this time.
Along the way, I was constantly accompanied by seagulls – one of my favorite animals to watch. These birds are true pranksters, always messing around and seemingly making fun of someone. Honestly, watching them for a while is more entertaining than Netflix.
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