Northern Norway is a land of spectacular fjords, amazing wildlife – and the Midnight Sun. North of the Arctic Circle, night never quite succeeds in ducking the sun under the horizon during the summer months. For locals and visitors alike, it’s a time to venture outdoors, get active, and often to party well into the small hours.
To make the most of the long days and sublime landscapes, all you need is a pair of walking boots. Throughout the whole region you’ll find thousands of miles of well-signposted trails to suit afternoon strollers and energetic ramblers alike.
Near Narvik, for instance, is the Rallarveien Trail – a railway workers’ path that snakes through the beautiful valley wilderness of Hundalen, where the only sound is the rushing of waterfalls.
If you’re keen to test your head for heights, head for the Gorsa Gorge – Europe’s deepest natural canyon. The bridge not only grants superb views over the Kåfjord Valley and the nearby falls, but offers a quick route down to the canyon floor on the end of a bungee cord!
Though Norway is known for its fjords and cliffs, there’s plenty of gentler terrain that’s ideal for discovering on two wheels. A classic cycling route takes you from the northern city of Tromsø to Svolvær, crossing from island to island as you wind your way south-west into the celebrated Lofoten archipelago.
Take to the water and you’ll get another perspective on Northern Norway’s magnificent coast. The thousands of tiny islets and skerries around Svartisen are a kayaker’s paradise: you can paddle through the emerald-green glacial meltwater of the Holandfjord, land at abandoned coastal settlements and visit delightful fishing settlements such as Bolga island. You’ll also find great places to enjoy kayaking around Helgeland, Lofoten, Vesterålen, Senja and Tromsø.
If you prefer to share the oarsmanship in a two-person canoe, consider a trip down the Alta River – a scenic stretch of water that’s legendarily rich in salmon. By custom, the fishermen who camp along the riverbank in great numbers may only cast their lines outside the hours of noon and 6pm, so this is the time to get paddling.
You’ll need to board a larger vessel to reach the country’s remotest beauty spots. A rigid inflatable boat is the easiest means of travelling up the Jøkelfjord to the only place on Europe’s mainland where a glacier plunges directly into the sea.
Alternatively, an hour’s trip by riverboat up the River Reisa brings you to the 269m (883ft) Mollisfossen waterfall. If conditions are right, you’ll join the select few people to have seen the mysterious rainbow rising from its misty spray.
For the ultimate wildlife adventure, head to the Svalbard islands, halfway between Norway and the North Pole and reached via regular summer flights from Oslo and Tromsø.
This untouched arctic wilderness is the realm of the polar bear and you can ski on mighty glaciers even in the middle of summer. What’s more, you’ll find a surprising selection of first-class bars and restaurants in the main town of Longyearbyen.
Meanwhile, whale watching is possible all summer long around the Vesterålen archipelago, where the continental shelf is at its closest to the shore – and nothing will prepare you for your first sight of the tell-tale water spout, followed by the vast creature breaching the surface and gliding back into the deep.
Sperm whales are the most common species to be spotted, but you may also be lucky enough to see pilot, minke or killer whales.
Bird life is another big draw. The inland waters are home to loons and wading birds, while the coast and islands support colonies of auks, common guillemots, northern gannets, cormorants and kittiwakes, among many other species.
Puffins are an emblem of Northern Norway, arriving at the isle of Lovund in vast numbers each April. King over them all is the white-tailed eagle: witnessing one swoop down to pluck a fish from the water with inch-perfect accuracy is an electrifying experience.
The eider duck is a seasonal visitor, and has a special place in the life of the Vega archipelago. For centuries, the island dwellers have looked after the migrant birds, building shelters for them and then collecting the precious feathers to sell as a natural insulating material.
Northern Norway’s traditional culture surrounds the Sami, the northernmost indigenous people of Europe. At The Sápmi Culture Park you can meet Sami people in colourful local costumes, hear their traditional songs and try their cuisine by an open fire.
Fishing has long been important to the northern coast’s way of life. To this day, you’ll see tall wooden racks weighed down with cod drying in the pure air to make stockfish – a delicacy that’s exported around the world.
The giant king crabs that scuttle around in the Barents Sea are a more recent arrival in Norwegian waters. A fishing trip followed by a lavish feast on the succulent crab meat is now a time-honoured way to pass a long, light evening.
For more information on trips to Norway, go to visitnorway.com
Source from:http://www.telegraph.co.uk
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