Vesterålen – Islands, Wildlife Watching and Coastal History

Vesterålen offers sandy beaches, historic fishing villages, rugged mountain peaks and thousands of small islands. When planning your stay, it is worth considering the time of year: in summer, you can experience the midnight sun; in winter, you may have the chance to see the Northern Lights. The season also matters for wildlife watching.

Landscape and hiking trails

Møysalen National Park encompasses wetlands, a rich variety of berry plants, two glaciers and alpine mountains. Møysalen is the highest mountain in Lofoten and Vesterålen. It can be hiked with a guide. If you are planning a hike, details on the distance and duration are also provided for two trails.

The signposted Dronningruta runs between the historic fishing villages of Nyksund and Stø. The circular route is about 15 kilometres long and takes five to eight hours. Along the way, the terrain alternates between mountains, shoreline, marshland, beach and rocky ground. There is no access to drinking water along the route, so bring enough drinks and, if possible, a packed lunch.

The Stave–Bleik coastal trail in Andøy is nine kilometres long and leads to Måtind, at an elevation of 408 metres. Conditions and difficulty can vary. Take this variability into account when planning, rather than treating the stated distance as an indication of how challenging the hike is.

Puffins, seabirds and whales

Bleik Island is home to Vesterålen’s largest puffin colony. A bird safari to see the 80,000 puffins near Bleik can be combined with the Norwegian Scenic Route Andøya; this safari operates only in summer. The scenic route runs between Bjørnskinn in the south and the ferry terminal at Andenes in the north, and is 58 kilometres long.

In summer, whale-watching tours depart several times a day from Stø, on the outer side of Vesterålen, heading out to the deep waters of Bleiksdjupet. Check timetables and operators before your trip. Seal and bird safaris to the bird sanctuaries of Bleiksøya and Anda Fyr are also offered in Vesterålen. Hundreds of thousands of seabirds breed there; sightings and safari availability depend on the season and weather.

Coastal history and culture

In central Stokmarknes, the 1956 museum ship MS Finnmarken is a monument to Norwegian coastal history. At the Hurtigruten Museum, visitors can explore the bridge, old cabins and exhibitions. The museum also has a café serving drinks and meals.

Atelier Nøss is an artist-run gallery and studio in Nøss, a small village on the island of Andøya in Vesterålen. Outside the summer gallery season, visits are possible by arrangement. The gallery and museum provide cultural stops to complement the trails and wildlife watching, without requiring a separate travel itinerary.

Boat trips and experiences on the water

From Stokmarknes, you can travel with Hurtigruten or Havila through Raftsund to Trollfjord. For a different kind of outing, Vesterålen Tours offers a combined tour: visit Inga Sami Siida, meet reindeer and feed them by hand, learn about Sami culture, and then take part in a fjord and wildlife safari. Check booking and seasonal conditions before your trip.

In the wider destination of Øksnes

The municipality of Øksnes consists of 220 islands, islets and skerries. The Anda nature reserve is a Ramsar site in Øksnes, at the northern end of Langøya. To protect nesting seabirds, landing on Anda is prohibited from 15 April to 31 July; check the current rules when planning your visit.

The Dronningruta is also a marked hiking trail in the wider destination of Øksnes, running between the historic fishing villages of Nyksund and Stø. The distance of about 15 kilometres and duration of five to eight hours give you an idea of the time involved; when preparing, also take into account the lack of drinking water and the varied terrain.

Discover more destinations: Sigerfjord, Godfjord, Sortland.

Back to the wider travel guide: Sortland.