Through the magical light of the midnight sun — from Lofoten to Tromsø

It's one o'clock in the morning and it's still bright enough to ride along fjords full of crystal clear water. Here, this far north, the sun doesn't set for weeks. You're in the Arctic Circle, a place where the word night has different connotations; a place where the sun bathes the landscape in a mystical type of light during the midnight hours, compelling you to get out and go. Here, during the hours you'd normally be fast asleep, you feel enlivened to explore and even in the wee morning hours—sleep couldn't be further from your mind.

Riding through northern Norway is an experience you will never forget. The region is one of the wildest and most interesting landscapes Norway has to offer.

The starting point of this ride is at the southern tip of the Lofoten Islands. Vertical rock formations rising from the sea, deep fjords and picturesque fishing villages make Lofoten a magical place. The ride runs mainly along the coast, taking you over fairly simple and flat terrain. The individual islands are connected by a chain of bridges and tunnels, although you'll take a ferry to Vesterålen on the third stage of the ride. Here, the landscapes become less dramatic in comparison to those before it, but you'll still encounter miles of sandy beaches, wide bogs and green hills.

Senja, Norway's second largest island, will be explored after another ferry trip. The region is sparsely populated and can easily compete with Lofoten with its beauty. But beware, here it gets a bit hillier and you can expect some mile-long tunnels. Fortunately, the island has so far been spared from mass tourism and there is practically no traffic. Light vests for driving through the tunnels are also available to you free of charge.

On the last stage you will reach Tromsø, the largest town in northern Norway. An incredibly colorful place, Tromsø really is full of energy and is not known as "Paris of the North" for nothing.

The routes detailed below are not built to take you as fast as possible. Instead, the routes favor lonely side roads and places where experience trumps performance. Therefore, don't expect to follow the EuroVelo 1 (Atlantic Route) for the full duration of the ride.

The midnight sun is best enjoyed on a lonely beach, the open sea to the north. In Norway, the "Allemannsretten", allows you to pitch your tent practically anywhere you'd like—so you can enjoy this untamed wilderness in the way it should be experienced. If you prefer to spend the evening in a red fishing hut, on a camping site or hotel, you will also find what you are looking for along the ride.

The ferry to Senja is in operation from mid-May to the end of August. July and August are the two months with the lowest average rainfall. While this is good for your ride, just bear in mind that because of the better weather, these two months are also the region's busiest, especially in terms of traffic.

Outward journey
You can reach Moskenes either by ferry from Bodø or by bus from Narvik.
68north.com/info/getting-to-lofoten

Departure
You can depart from Tromsø by bus, plane or via one of the Hurtigruten ferry services.
visittromso.no/en/Travel_by_bus
global.hurtigruten.com