Glamping takes on a new twist when you stay in a richly decorated Sami tepee known as lavuu, outfitted with beds with fine linens and Scandinavian decoration on the Lofoten Islands in Norway.
Set on the Norwegian archipelago on the Norwegian Sea above the Arctic Circle, the three-day program has been introduced by soft-adventure specialists Off the Map Travel and is available June through August 2018.
The Lofoten Islands, a collection of landscapes marked by fjords, mountains and fishing villages, are the home to a wide variety of wildlife including white-tailed sea eagles, porpoises and whales. The glamping stay includes a visit to a goat farm where local artisanal foods are produced and served in a three-course dinner overlooking the archipelago; a Trollfjord and wildlife cruise among the islands; a photo-worthy hike; and a cultural walk including a museum visit with a focus on the history of the land. Kayakers will marvel at the vivid-blue Caribbean-like water where many seabirds make their home. During June and July, guests will enjoy 24 hours of uninterrupted sunlight, the famous “Midnight Sun.”
A special part of the program are the “Fish Your Dish” cooking experience where guests fish for their own dinner and learn foraging and wilderness techniques for its preparation; and a give-back “Beach Clean Up” day with a naturalist who explains the impact of plastic on the oceans and a photo exhibition which shows off the beautiful light conditions on the islands and offers photos for sale with all profits funding conservation projects. Each can be added as part of Off the Map Travel’s bespoke programming.
The campsite consists of six tepees accommodating two people each, a bathroom tepee, and a dining tepee. The program is priced starting at £1499 per person based on double occupancy inclusive of all meals, accommodations, cruise, kayaking, hiking, and farm and Lofotr Viking Museum visits. Available add-ons include “Fish Your Dish” and “Beach Clean Up” as well as surfing and ocean rafting (the Gulf Stream keeps the water and climate warmer than other areas at the same latitude).
Notes Jonny Cooper, founder of Off the Map Travel and an Arctic travel expert, “Northern Norway isn’t your usual Arctic glamping site. The temperature is mild here during the summer and the water is warm. Plus having a backdrop of mountains and fjords creates a perfect setting for photography, conservation programs, and exploration by water and land.”
