What are the best seasons in the Lofoten Islands? This is a big question for everyone who plans to visit the Lofoten Islands. Of course, the traveller is primarily interested in what time it is best to travel. The answer to that question is not easy.
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Seasons on Lofoten Islands
I will tell you about the four seasons of Lofoten.
Winter
If you arrived in the Lofoten Islands from early December to mid-January, the sun will not rise at all. Since photography is all about light, what can we do when it just isn’t there?
Winter is the best time of year if you want to see the Aurora and the snowy mountains. If you’re lucky and the ground is covered in fresh snow, the snow-white scenery will be amazing.
I believe that the best time for photography is between early February and the second half of March.
Also, the days are relatively long from the beginning of February. But at the same time, the sun does not rise high above the horizon, which gives long shadows that look so good in photos. Aurora can be photographed at night.
Spring
Not surprisingly, this time of year is absolutely uninteresting for travel and filming in the Lofoten Islands. The mountains are full of melted and wet snow. The vegetation has not yet woken up from winter hibernation.
Summer
For your first visit to the Lofoten Islands, summer is the best time. Summer is the best time to relax on the beaches and go hiking. Despite the crowds of tourists, you will love it there. From early June to mid-July the kingdom of the Midnight Sun is a period without dark time. It’s a great time to shout from the mountain peaks, where you can see the sun and the valleys it illuminates.
Summer is, of course, the best time for those who like to travel with tents and prefer wild camping to hotels.
Autumn
Autumn is the time for a thoughtful photo trip suitable for an experienced photographer who knows exactly what you want.
In addition to the usual coastal landscapes and mountains, two more themes can be added. One of them is Aurora, which, if you are lucky, can be seen since late August.
Autumn is a riot of colours. I love the arctic nature in autumn. The surrounding landscape, evenly green in summer, now blooms in all colours: all shades of yellow, orange and red. It is time to pay your attention to shooting inside the islands: by the lakes and in the forest.
It is advisable to stay no later than mid-October, otherwise, there is a risk that the winds will tear away all the leaves from the trees, storms and bad weather will start and your journey will turn into anticipation of an opportunity to go out.
The best time for hiking
From the first half of July to mid-August. Arriving before July may be an error. The problem is that by that time snow in the mountains and on the passes had not melted yet.
It will be very humid in the mountains, even if the weather is good. Some routes will be covered with snow and they will be difficult or impossible to pass.
In autumn it often rains, temperatures drop, and the day is much shorter than in high summer. This makes hiking not very comfortable.
In winter, hiking in the mountains is associated with the probability of avalanches and cold. This makes it very dangerous to go hiking in the Lofoten mountains without special equipment and experience.
It is warm from early July to mid-August. It may rain, but the chances are lower than at any other time of year.
If you arrived in the Lofoten Islands before July 17, you will find a unique natural phenomenon. The midnight sun. It’s amazing. You stand on the beach or at the top of the mountain at 1-30 am and admire the sun.
In early August the sun sets behind the horizon, but for a while, it is still possible to hike at any time of day or night (depending on the desire and weather, of course)!
The best time for photo shooting
From early February to the second half of March in winter. And from the second half of July to the end of October in summer and autumn.
Everyone likes to shoot in the Lofoten Islands in winter.
But I like to shoot mostly in the autumn. In autumn you don’t risk standing in line to take a convenient shooting point. The cost of living is lower. Aurora, for which everyone comes here in winter, starts in August.
Plants and trees turn yellow, orange in September and October. The grass is still green. That makes for a very strong color contrast.
But everyone has their own preferences.
The winter season begins in mid January and lasts until the second half of March.
In December and January there is the Polar Night. The sun is not rising from behind the horizon. Twilight is only a few hours a day. It is best to shoot the Northern Lights, if the sky is clear and the weather is bad, you may be stuck in a hotel.
Maybe you’ll be lucky and the snow will cover everything around you. It’s beautiful. It makes for a superb landscape contrast.
The geography of your trip will expand significantly in the summer. You can reach the mountains, hard-to-reach beaches, climb the mountain peaks and shoot the Lofoten Islands from the top.
It is better to concentrate on this summer. You can always come back here at other times of the year and shoot places available all year round.
The best time for Aurora
The Lofoten Islands are my main photographic topic. If you want to find out the best points of view on Lofoten Islands and extend your personal knowledge about taking photos on Lofoten – you should read my book “Lofoten Islands Travel and Photo Guide”.
LOFOTEN ISLANDS: Photo and Travel Guide Yes, I want to read it
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