trail Running:
The Lofoten Islands
8 Day Guided trip
AUGUST 4-11, 2025
$5,600 /person
Single (+250)
Group Size: 8-10
With Guides Mimi & Jonas Hill
& Jenni Nettik of Mercuria Running
Spaces Remaining: 9
VELKOMMEN
WELCOME
Above the Arctic Circle, the Lofoten Islands of Norway blur the line between imagined myth and reality. With landscapes and culture that feel as if they belong in your favorite folklore legend, something within you is bound to awaken in this numinous environment.
TRIP ESSENCE
This is a hybrid trail running and trekking trip for advanced hikers and runners. We will be doing a bit of both, running and hiking, mostly dependent on the weather and the trail conditions.
Full of texture and rich in color, the trails of Lofoten are wild and unique. We’ll find a balance between pushing ourselves on the trail, getting to know the local landscape, and finding time to relax and enjoy moments of peaceful tranquility.
This is a trail focused trip with daily cultural experiences. Each day might look a little something like this:
Breakfast at our hotel/resort
A long hike or run in possibly the most beautiful landscape your eyes have ever seen
Picnic lunch with mountain views
An afternoon traditional sauna on the edge of a fjord
Downtime to walk around town and do self-care things
Local dinner shared with group
Cozy night of sleep in your very own rorbu (restored fishing cabins)
Due to the challenging nature of this trip, we will be taking applications for all booking requests. This is a way for us to ensure that each traveler is joining the trip that is best suited for the adventure they’re looking to have.
Mountain Running:
We reference this trip as a “mountain running” trip because running in the mountains oftentimes looks a lot different than running on roads or on less-technical trails. Mountain running can include steep, technical, and rocky terrain, therefore moving through this terrain includes many different forms. Sometimes we’re moving fast with small rapid steps, sometimes we’re using our hands on steep inclines, sometimes we’re side-stepping bogged-out sections of trail! Mountain running holds an element of adventure that brings a little bit of extra freedom into the act of running and that’s why we love it.
ITINERARY
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This adventure begins in the small fishing village of Henningsvær, Norway on the eastern side of the Lofoten Islands. Over the next 8 days, we will make our way west across all 5 of the major islands as we explore lush green peaks, shimmering blue fjords, and idyllic sandy beaches. We will stay in 3 of the most charming old fishing towns in Lofoten: Henningsvær, Nusfjord, and Reine. We will hike up to 6.5 miles per day with up to 3000ft of elevation gain.
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We will pick you up from the Svolvaer Airport and make the short drive to the beautiful town of Henningsvaer, where we will spend the next 2 nights. We will have a welcome dinner at our hotel and brief you on all the exciting adventures we have in store over the next week.
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After a traditional Norwegian breakfast, we will head out for our first hike. Depending on the weather, we will choose a perfect warm-up hike near Henningsvaer as we start to experience the magic of the Lofoten Islands. In the afternoon, we will have some time to explore the charming town of Henningsvaer before a special evening at one of our favorite local hangouts, where we have booked a private yoga class, a seaside sauna, and wood-fired pizzas.
3.5 to 5 miles / 1,500 to 2,000ft ↑↓
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We begin our day with a beautiful drive to Haukland beach. Today’s hike will take us to two different beaches, as well as a dramatic summit with 360-degree views of the surrounding fjords. After a picnic lunch on the beach, we will make our way back to the trailhead. From here, we will make a short stop at a local farm before we head to the town of Nusfjord, where we will spend the next two nights. We’ll have time for a sauna before enjoying dinner together.
6 miles / 1700ft ↑↓
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There are several incredible options for today’s hike near Nusfjord and we will choose the best one depending on the weather. You can expect stunning views, a picnic lunch, and maybe even a polar plunge for those brave enough to try. In the afternoon, there will be time to enjoy the resort spa and to book a massage or other spa services, before dinner as a group.
4 miles / 2000ft ↑↓
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Today we will continue along our Lofoten road trip to the famous Ryten & Kvalvika Beach hike. This hike is spectacular and the views from the summit are among the most beautiful in all of Norway. We’ll then spend our final night in Nusfjord before we head further south.
6 miles / 3500ft ↑↓
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We’ll make the drive from Nusfjord to Reine in time to board a private boat that will take us across Reinefjorden to the hamlet of Vinstad, a town that is only accessible by boat. Our walk begins from the dock and leads to Bunes Beach. The scale of this place is hard to comprehend with 2000ft granite walls soaring straight out of the sand. After lunch on the remote beach, we will take the boat back to Reine. After dinner we have a special treat, an opportunity for a midnight hike to watch the glow of the midnight sun dance along the horizon.
6 miles / 2000ft ↑↓
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After a relaxing morning we will take a short drive to the town of Sørvågen where we’ll begin our hike. The trail will take us past crystal clear mountain lakes and towering jagged mountains to a small mountain hut. We’ll stop here for a picnic lunch as we enjoy the 360 degree views of this arctic paradise before retracing our steps back to the trailhead. As our adventure comes to a close we will celebrate a wonderful week with a banquet dinner at another one of our favorite restaurants.
6.5 miles / 2500ft ↑↓
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We’ll enjoy breakfast together before we head to the Leknes Airport. It will be a bittersweet farewell to the magic of Lofoten!
Comfort Level 4/4
CHALLENGE LEVEL 3/4
Important Note: We will try our best to follow the set itinerary, but please know that each day is subject to slight changes in the itinerary due to unforeseen circumstances like weather. Also, while the trail distance each day is only between 3 - 6.5 miles, the trails often cover a lot of elevation over a short distance. Clients should feel comfortable on steep, rocky, and muddy terrain.
On this trip, we will be staying in traditional Norwegian Rorbuer and local seaside hotels. Historically, fishermen from all over Norway would come to the Lofoten Islands in the spring to fish for cod in the abundant waters near Lofoten. Rorbuer were the seaside cabins originally built to house these traveling fishermen and have now been beautifully renovated to host travelers like us! We will be sharing 2-3 bedroom cabins with communal living rooms.
Lodging
Our Lodging:
Towns:
Henningsvaer
Reine
Nusfjord
On this trip, we will set out on daily hikes/runs to see the natural wonders of this landscape. Besides our daily mountain wandering, we plan to visit charming small towns, enjoy delicious meals, deeply relax in a private yoga class, and enjoy many sits in the traditional Norwegian sauna.
Activities
Yoga at Trevarefabrikken
Sauna
INCLUDING:
WEATHER
The weather this far North can be quite unpredictable. Because of this, appropriate gear and positive attitudes are necessary! One moment it might be foggy and drizzling and the next moment the sun might shine through to reveal a rainbow. It is all a part of the experience of this beautifully unique climate above the arctic circle.
IN COLLABORATION WITH:
MERCURIA RUNNING
Mercuria Running is a running coaching company based in Denver, Colorado. They specialize in form coaching, training plans, and online coaching for runners of all levels and all ages.
Training Plan Add-On:
+ $600 for a 3 month custom training plan and personalized 1 on 1 coaching 2-3x per week.
Please submit the form below to request a training plan for this trip:
JENNI NETTIK
Jenni Nettik founded Mercuria Running in 2012. She’s a life-long lover of the outdoors -- growing up in Montana, running, hiking, and camping. Jenni has a background in the arts, she attended art school at Carnegie Mellon University where she gained a strong appreciation for contemporary art, conceptual art and art installations. Prior to starting Mercuria Running, Jenni taught art for 10 years all across the country -- from Texas to Boston to Colorado.
Becoming a running coach was a natural transition for Jenni, she’s been a runner her entire life. Her first memory of running was racing at recess in first grade. When she beat all the boys, she knew she must be fast, and started training by running laps around the park in her backyard & “coaching” her classmates after school on a team they named “Runners for Fun”.
Jenni ran her first marathon, the Vermont City Marathon, in 2006. While training for the race she combined her love of art and running by documenting the process with a small painting for each training run, drawing a parallel between the practice that goes into both art and sport.
As a coach, Jenni draws from her unique background to keep running fun. She encourages athletes to keep running in perspective -- while building mental strategies, healthy form, consistency and intention. Jenni works with all levels of athletes from beginners to elite.
TRAINING PLANS:
Offered as an optional add-on, we have partnered with our friends at Mercuria Running to offer 3-Month Custom Training Plans with online coaching that will be catered to the elevation and mileage of the trip.
Training plans include:
Online access from anywhere
Effort and/or personalized pace charts
Mental strength drills
Dynamic routines
Strength exercises
Descriptions of types of runs
Speedwork (if desired)
Online coaching with Coach Jenni or another Mercuria coach
Paired with your training plan, get weekly support from your coach 2-3 times per week, plan adjustments as needed, plus basic fueling help, trail running tips & tricks, and adjustments for your personal fitness and abilities.
Our goal is to safely get you to a fitness level that will help you feel ready for adventure!
WHAT’S INCLUDED IN YOUR TRIP?
✔ All lodging in traditional rorbuer and local hotels
✔ All meals: local & delicious
✔ All in-trip transportation
✔ All in-trip activities
✔ On-trip form coaching
✔ Private yoga class
✔ Private saunas
✔ Professional guides
✔ Trip Photographer - digital photo album delivered after the trip
INCLUDED:
✘ International travel
✘ Travel insurance
✘ Personal gear
✘ Alcoholic & Non-Alcoholic Beverages
✘ Training Plan
Not Included:
BOOK HERE↴
Photos from our Norway Adventure 2023 & 2024:
POLICIES:
A non-refundable deposit of $500 will be due upon enrollment.
The remainder of the payment will be due 90 days prior to trip departure.
A minimum of 6 participants must enroll in order for the trip to operate.
See more trip policies here.