Scenery and activity: discover adventure in Lyngenfjord and Senja
From bungee jumping to riding a snowmobile, you’ll find plenty to give you an adrenaline rush in this majestic stretch of northern Norway
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On a finger of land stretching from the north-west corner of Norway into the Atlantic is the majestic Lyngen peninsula. Ice ages have left their imprint here; deep ravines, glaciers, huge valleys, fjords and a 60-mile-long mountain range that is the Lyngen Alps — the highest of which soars to 6,014 feet.
It’s a 90-minute drive, or a two-hour bus journey, from the nearby city of Tromsø to these mountains and fjords.
The awe-inspiring geology has created a surprising climate: the mountains shield against wet Atlantic weather leaving the valleys on the east side of the Lyngenfjord relatively dry.
Clear skies
That means conditions for seeing and photographing the Northern Lights don’t get much better. With clear skies more likely, the prospects of a sighting of the Aurora Borealis improve. Indeed, the Lyngenfjord area is where the professionals come to take iconic photographs of this natural phenomenon — and where Joanna Lumley was filmed staring into the night sky fulfilling a lifelong ambition and making a moment of TV gold.
A lot of visitors who come to Lyngenfjord get a room in nearby Tromsø, but if you’ve come this far you may as well stay locally. That way you can be up all night to catch those elusive Northern Lights. For a trip that includes tips on photography try Green Gold of Norway.
The drama of the landscape also lends itself to high-adrenaline adventures, with winter no obstacle to excitement.
Driving a snowmobile is a different experience here: it’s more of a technical challenge than a straightforward romp through the snow. It takes skill to navigate steep and windy roads but Aurora Alps can show you how to do it.
If you’d prefer to be driven through the snow then you can run your own team of huskies. Two people share a sled while four to six Alaska huskies race you through this arctic wilderness. All these activities can be booked through visit-lyngenfjord.
In February, when the days are getting lighter, off-piste skiers emerge enjoying these resort-free slopes. Ski-touring is a draw, as is the unique opportunity to Sail & Ski, where you ski down to a harbour and sail to a different slope. For the less-experienced skier there is cross-country skiing in small groups.
The island of Senja
More awe-inspiring landscapes and activities are found on the island of Senja. A bridge from the mainland town of Finnsnes takes you over to Norway’s second-largest island. The elemental beauty of Senja is special: sheer mountains emerging out of the Arctic Ocean and a coastline virtually untampered with by humans. Express ferries from Tromsø and Harstad call at Finnsnes as does the Hurtigruten cruise.
There’s little light pollution to get in the way of seeing the Northern Lights from Senja on a clear night. Guides from the Hamn I Senja resort will either drive or take you on foot to prime light spotting territory. Along the way you’ll be given insights into the science behind this natural wonder and how best to capture it on camera.
You can also book guides to take you on some of the most exclusive off-piste skiing in the world. Exclusive in the sense that you may well find yourself the only skier on these very natural, ungroomed slopes with no ski lifts to ease your trek to the top.
For cross-country skiing head to the picturesque village of Mefjordvær on the island’s North West coast where there’s 5km of cross-country tracks taking you past the foothills of those unpeopled mountains. Local company Mefjord Brygge will set you up with skis and a guide.
Mefjord Brygge also run whale watching safaris. Between December and February large numbers of killer and humpback whales arrive to feed on the abundant herring in the Mefjord. Fin whales have also been spotted recently.
But if it’s puppies rather than whales you’d rather see then Senja Husky Adventure arranges puppy visits as well as husky rides through this most magical of winter wildernesses.
For more inspiration and to book your break to Norway, visit visitnorway.com