Svolvaer LOFOTEN ISLANDS 2018

Transcription

1 Svolvaer LOFOTEN ISLANDS 2018

2 WELCOME TO Svolvaer These islands are said to be one of the most beautiful archipelagos in the world, and although they lie around 200km north of the Arctic Circle, the extraordinary climate experienced on the islands is caused by the warming effect of the Gulf Stream. Although the mountains are not very high, and the highest peak, Higravstinden, reaches only 1,161m, the fact that they rise straight from the sea makes them spectacular, extraordinary and very often rugged underfoot. The islands are studded with lakes, and the coastline with its white sandy beaches and many islets offers great walking opportunities. During most of the summer months the islands will also be bathed in the beautiful light created by the midnight sun. During the week we visit attractive lakes nestling amidst the mountains, walk along the coast offering opportunities to spot sea eagles and whales, ascend a few of the smaller mountains and passes, visit charming fishing villages with their traditional rorbu (fishermen s cabins), and take the ferry to the neighbouring islands of Hadseloya and Skrova, the latter reputed to be the sunniest place in Lofoten. 2 Call or visit hfholidays.co.uk

3 ACCOMMODATION SCANDIC SVOLVAER HOTEL Lamholman 8305 Svolvaer Lofoten Tel: This hotel is based in Svolvaer, the capital of Lofoten, which lies right in the heart of the islands. Svolvaer successfully captures the atmosphere of a bustling harbour, a small town and an artists environment all in one. The hotel sits on its own island, Lamholmen, in the harbour, and from here you can watch the coming and going of the fishing boats, the pleasure boats, and Norway s famous coastal vessel, Hurtigruten. Svolvaer offers an excellent base for exploring the many different faces of Lofoten. Bedrooms: There are 146 en-suite bedrooms, all simply decorated and with a telephone, television, en-suite bathroom with shower and hairdryer. Many rooms have small balconies and views over the harbour; some rooms face inland. Facilities: The hotel has large picture windows in both its ground and first floor restaurants. There is a small bar on the ground floor. There is also a decked area with tables and chairs, a good place to sit and admire the superb views across the bustling harbour and to the nearby towering mountains. There are a few items for sale at reception such as postcards and soft toys. Near to reception on the ground floor are some comfy chairs and a television area. WiFi and internet facilities are available. Meals: All our holidays include breakfast and evening meal. Breakfast: A self-service continental and cooked buffet breakfast is available offering a wide selection of hot and cold items. Evening Meal: A typical Norwegian self- service buffet is available with a choice of soup, salads, fish, meat, potatoes, rice or couscous, and a range of desserts, fruit, and cheese. Lunch: You may be able to purchase a picnic lunch from the hotel. The hotel has a weekly rate to be paid in advance allowing guests to make their lunch as they wish from the breakfast buffet. Alternatively it is possible to buy ingredients from local supermarkets, and sandwiches from a nearby bakery/cafe. Flasks can be filled free of charge at the hotel. Your leaders will advise you further on all these options. Call or visit hfholidays.co.uk 3

4 Guided Walking Easier Walks: 4 to 7 miles (6.5-11km) on rough and rocky paths. Up to 1,100ft (330m) of ascent in a day. ITINERARY A unique feature of our Guided Walking holidays is the daily choice of walks. Each evening your leaders will give a short talk about the options for the next day and answer any questions that you may have. In Svolvaer you ll have a choice of two guided walks on each walking day Day 1: Arrival day This is an opportunity to meet your fellow guests over your first evening meal and your leaders will talk to you about the week s walking programme. Day 2: Svolvaer to Kabelvåg A lovely introduction to the spectacular landscapes of the Lofoten islands, with today s walks passing through the picturesque town of Svolvaer with its colourful houses and traditional red and yellow fishermen s cabins called Rorbu, which nestle by 4 Call or visit hfholidays.co.uk Harder Walks: 6 to 10 miles (9.5-16km) with some steeper ascents. Pathless terrain and rough rocky paths. Up to 2,700ft (810m) of ascent in a day. Please note that the itinerary outlined below is provisional and could be subject to change. For the most up to date information, please check our website. A finalised itinerary will be available at the resort and your leaders will talk every evening about the next day s walks the harbour, the sea and the inlets. Today s walks are also a wonderful introduction to the distinctive towering mountains and craggy pinnacles which are so characteristic of these islands. We walk by two major lakes through a landscape shaped by glaciers, beneath or to the top of the bulk of Svolvaer s local mountain Tjeldbergtinden, and continue under the shadow of the mountain of Kongstinden surrounded by glacial scraped rock denuded of all vegetation which is so typical of the arctic. We end our walk in the historic town of Kabelvag, the oldest town in the

5 north of Norway, with its beautiful square and rorbu, and have time for a beer or coffee overlooking the harbour, before catching the bus back to Svolvaer. Easier Walk: 6 miles (9.5km) with 300ft (90m) of ascent.. Harder Walk: 7 miles (11km) with 1,200ft (360m) of ascent. Day 3: Hills and Coast around Haukland and Utakaleiv The beaches of Haukland and Utakaleiv are the most famous beaches on Lofoten with their white sands and turquoise seas, and a backdrop of towering mountains. We take a coach for both walks, through stunning scenery to the Haukland and Utakaleiv areas on the island of Vestvågøy to explore the hills and coastline surrounding these beautiful hamlets and beaches. Easier Walk: The easier walk starts at Haukland beach and ascends and descends over the hills via the old road, now a path and a grassy track, to the isolated hamlet of Utakaleiv. Here there is an option for guests to take the coach to the Viking Museum or to continue the walk along the coast and round the headland affording stunning coastal scenery and views. 7 miles (11km) with 500ft (150m) of ascent. Harder Walk: The harder walk ascends the delightful round, but surprisingly steep hill of Holandsmelen, descending to the farm of Kjellbogen and then following a grassy track and unsealed road to Haukland. From here the harder walk walks ascend and descend over the old road to Utkaleiv and follow the good track round the headland with its marvellous coastal views. 9 miles (14.5km) with 2000ft (600m) of ascent. Day 4: Free day Each week there is a free day when no guided walks are offered. This is an ideal opportunity to relax around the hotel, walk independently or visit local places of interest. Some options for your free day may include: Cruise down to the spectacular Trollfojrd A spectacularly steep fjord narrowing to only 100m. Visit the vibrant little fishing town of Henningsvaer, perched on the end of a thin promontory, its nickname is The Venice of Lofoten. Local information website: For information on the Lofoten Islands please visit: www. visitlofoten.com Day 5: Exploring the Apnesfjellet Ridge or exploring Justadtinden Today we travel south west to the area around Stamsund, one of Lofoten s traditional fishing ports. The area provides a relatively accessible way for all walkers to reach some stunning viewpoints. The easier walk starts from Apnes nestling below the Apnesfjellet ridge, and takes a path, occasionally steep and very rocky in places, to reach a lovely grassy ridge. Once here, the ridge can be explored, where, weather permitting, there are views of indescribable beauty, especially east, out to sea, and down to a network of islands. We then descend to the ski trails, and pass two tranquil lakes, making our way to the attractive pub/ cafe in the lovely village of Stamsund, by colourful houses in a residential area. The harder walk starts at the Hagskardet car park on the road to Stamsund and ascends gradually to the col below the mighty summit of Justadtinden. We then continue round the ridge to the summit of Steindalstinden, enjoying exhilarating views if the weather permits. En route we walk through a wild upland area studded with lakes and wetland. We return by the same route, enjoying far reaching views of sea, islands and mountains. Easier Walk: 4 miles (6.5km) with 900ft (270m) of ascent. Harder Walk: 8 miles (13km) with 1,400ft (420m) of ascent. Day 6: Hadseloya Both walks take the coach to the island of Hadseloya, which forms part of the archipelago of Vesterålen. The journey alone makes the day memorable. The easier walk follows a track up the Annstad valley to a series of beautiful secluded lakes. Then we ascend on paths to the small hill, Barheia, from where, if the weather permits, we will be rewarded with superb views of the west coast of the Lofoten islands, the island of Hinnoya, and the mainland mountains. We then follow a path down to the small village of Melbu for the ferry and bus back to Svolvaer. The harder walks starts at the same place but soon turns off the track to ascend a delightful grassy path to a wide open plateau, and after following the edge of the plateau, beneath the wonderful mountain of Seaterfjellet, we descend through birch and conifer trees to a small lake, then continue to the next lake visited by the easier group, ascend the shoulder, and if time allows ascend to the summit, of Barheia, then descending by a pleasant path to Melbu for the ferry and bus back to Svolvaer. Easier Walk: 7 miles (11km) with 1,100ft (330m) of ascent. Harder Walk: 8 miles (13km) with 1,600ft (480m) of ascent. Call or visit hfholidays.co.uk 5

6 Day 7: The island of Skrova Today both groups walk from the hotel to the nearby ferry terminal and take the short, but fabulous ferry journey over to the island of Skrova. With its wonderful sandy beaches Skrova is the pearl of the Lofoten islands. It also offers the best view back to the Lofoten wall (as the island chain is often called). Skrova has the least rainfall in the entire region, and the longest hours of sunshine, and as it has been a centre for fisheries and whaling for many decades, it is a fascinating island to explore. Both groups circumnavigate the island, and whilst the easier walk passes beneath the mighty bulks of Hogskrova and Stappen over to the beautiful Merrvika Bay, the harder walk ascends a rocky path to the top of Hogskrova, the highest point on Skrova. Although the mountain rises only to 282meters it is a very steep rocky path aided by handrails. After descending from Hogskrova the harder walk also continues over to Merrvika Bay. Both walks continue in an anti-clockwise direction round the island, and from Merrvika Bay there is a good chance of seeing sea eagles, until the path turns away from the beautiful coastline to go over the pass between the mountains of Hogskrova and Tuvene, and back to the village, where there are art galleries and cafes for a beer or coffee before taking the ferry back to Svolvaer. Although the distances are not great today, the ruggedness and the beauty of the island make up for any lack of distance. Skrova is an island not to be missed. Easier Walk: 4 miles (6.5km) with 400ft (120m) of ascent Harder Walk: 6 miles (9.5km) with 1,100ft (330m) of ascent Day 8: Departure Day In the evenings: The friendly atmosphere of our holidays continues into the evening. We ll enjoy a leisurely meal and then you may also like to join your leader for an evening stroll, listen to local musicians, relax with a book in a quiet lounge or enjoy a drink at the bar with your fellow walkers talking about your day. TRANSFER INFORMATION If you have booked your holiday with flight you will arrive at Harstad / Narvik, Evenes Airport via Oslo. From the UK we offer flights from London Heathrow. Hold luggage needs to be collected in Oslo and checked back in for the onward flight to Evenes, even though the baggage will have been checked all the way through. Where possible you will be met as you enter the arrivals hall by an HF Holidays leader. Your leader may be on the same flight as you or may arrive on another flight. Occasionally we will ask our transfer coach company to meet you. The driver will be in the arrivals hall holding an HF Holidays sign. The onward journey to Svolvaer by coach takes approximately 2½ hours. For independent travellers: For guests who have booked their holiday without flight HF Holidays can help you to reach the hotel in the following ways: HF Holidays transfer coach from Harstad /Narvik, Evenes Airport. These are timed to meet the HF Holidays flights (provisional flight times can be found on or by calling +4 (0) ). Cost per single journey is 71. Please note that HF Holidays is not responsible for your onward travel if you fail to meet the transfer coach under any circumstance. Transfers and taxis must be pre-booked. If you have not already booked your transfer or taxi please call +44 (0) Airport parking and accommodation If you require airport parking or accommodation before your flight, we recommend our partner Holiday Extras. Call and quote HX031 or book online at holidayextras.co.uk/hfholidays Two Weeks or More holidays: Lofoten Islands and Ulvik If you have booked a two centre holiday the transfer between resorts is included. You will travel back to Harstad / Narvik airport, Evenes with the main group, but you will catch a slightly later flight to Oslo. You will have time at Oslo airport for lunch before taking your next flight to Bergen. The coach journey to Ulvik will take approximately 2½ hours. You will arrive at the Hotel Brakanes in time for a slightly later dinner. 6 Call or visit hfholidays.co.uk

7 WALKING INFORMATION Your walking leaders: HF Holidays leaders are a pivotal feature of our Guided Walking holidays. During the day they will guide you on the walks in a caring and considerate way, showing you places of interest en route. All our leaders have been selected on an intensive residential course so you can relax and enjoy your holiday knowing that you are in safe hands. Our leaders welcome your comments on the holiday survey; constructive suggestions for things that they might do differently are very helpful. We take pride in the quality of our holidays and work closely with all our providers to ensure our holidays meet your expectations. If for any reason you are not satisfied with any element of your holiday, our leaders are the best people to help. Local interest guides: In some of our resorts we may employ the services of a local interest guides who will accompany you on a walk to enrich and enhance your enjoyment of the area by giving you an insight into its history and culture. Tips for local interest guides have not been included in the price of your holiday. This is at your own discretion and we invite you to do this directly with the local guide. Maps: Your leaders will of course carry all the maps and detailed walk instructions needed for the walks. The map available for this area is Norge Serien Svolvaer 1:50,000. Maps can be obtained by mail order from The Map Shop, Tel: or visit www. themapshop.co.uk Children: We welcome unaccompanied children of 14 or over on our walks on the basis that they can take full responsibility for themselves. Children under the age of 14 must be accompanied by an adult. WALKING SAFETY Hydration: In warm weather it is very important to keep hydrated. You will need to carry water with you on walks, more during hot weather or on more demanding walks. One good way of hydrating is to use a hydration pack which allows drinking without constant stopping. This can then be filled up from additional water sources as required. Insurance: Insurance is a condition of booking. Therefore if you have not already arranged insurance, it is imperative that you do so, and advise us of the insurance company and policy number. We have negotiated special holiday insurance and full details of this cover can be found in our brochure or at hfholidays.co.uk. There is no extra charge for pre-existing illnesses. If you would like to purchase insurance from us please call us on or holidayservices@hfholidays. co.uk. Even with an EHIC card, medicines and out-patient treatment normally have to be paid for at the time and the costs reclaimed afterwards details are available at dh.gov.uk/travellers. Therefore insurance is extremely important, as is access to emergency money, preferably a credit card. WHAT TO WEAR & BRING To enjoy your walking comfortably and safely, it is essential that your footwear, clothing and equipment are suitable for the conditions likely to be encountered. Changeable weather is possible throughout the year, so our advice is to come prepared for all eventualities: comfortable outdoor clothing waterproof jacket and overtrousers ankle supporting footwear with non-slip soles small rucksack water bottle (at least 2 litres, more for hot climates) and a thermos flask if you wish sunhat, sun cream and sunglasses In addition to the above, the following are recommended to all walkers, and are essential for mountainous and hilly areas: walking boots spare pullover or fleece hat and gloves spare high-energy food e.g. chocolate bar or Kendal mint cake torch You may also wish to consider bringing: walking pole(s) many guests find these useful, particularly for descents camera personal first aid kit Footwear: We recommend wearing walking boots on all our walks, as these provide the best ankle Call or visit hfholidays.co.uk 7

8 support and grip. Modern approach shoes offer appropriate levels of grip and may be worn on some low level walks, but users should be aware that they offer less ankle support. Lightweight trainers, denim jeans and waterproof capes are not recommended for any walks. HOLIDAY TIPS Language: Norwegian Currency: Norwegian Krona Changing money: There are several ATM machines in Svolvaer where you can obtain money. Electricity: 220 Volt AC with round two pin plugs; you will need an adaptor for any appliances brought from the UK. Tap water: Is considered safe to drink, but if you prefer, bottled mineral water can be purchased from the hotel or local supermarkets. Telephone code: If the international number you wish to call starts with a 0, you must drop the starting digit when dialing the number. To dial a UK number 0044 To dial a Norwegian number Call or visit hfholidays.co.uk

9 RECOMMEND A FRIEND AND SAVE 50 Do you know someone who would enjoy our holidays as much as you do? Invite them to book a holiday and you ll receive 50! If you recommend HF Holidays to a friend who subsequently makes their first ever booking with us, we will give you 50 off your next holiday for each person recommended. Plus, as a welcome, we will also give your recommended friend or friends 50 per person off their holiday, meaning savings for everyone! Claim your 50 in three easy steps When your friend books a holiday, ask them to mention at time of booking your name and address. If they have never travelled with us before, we will give them a discount of 50 per person. We will send you a 50 voucher off a future HF Holidays break for each friend you have recommended. Terms & conditions apply, visit hfholidays.co.uk/raf for details. PATHWAYS FUND Last year guests donated 19,500 to our Pathways Fund and we spent 25,000 on projects. For more information on the projects the Pathways Fund has supported, plus how to donate, please visit hfholidays.co.uk/pathways HF Holidays continues to work in partnership with the Family Holiday Association to provide Feel Good Breaks designed to reward families who could not otherwise afford it with the gift of a break in the outdoors and the chance to spend quality time together. Help us continue this work by donating to the Pathways Fund. JOIN US TODAY AND BENEFIT TOMORROW HF Holidays is the only UK holiday provider that s a co-operative. We re owned by our members who help shape our business for future generations. Join our award-winning and sociably responsible society that s passionate about helping others to enjoy holidays in beautiful countryside. For a minimum purchase of shares you can benefit from: Members loyalty scheme earn points on your holidays and use as a discount on your next holiday Member-only events and holidays Members come first with advance registration for the holiday you want 10% discount at our country house bars 15% discount at Cotswold Outdoor 15% discount at Rohan 25% discount at Hi-Tec Annual interest on your shares ALREADY A MEMBER? There are many ways for you to further your support: Help choose our Board Attend member events Encourage others to join us Increase your shares at any time Top up to 1,000 shares to become an investment member with enhanced benefits Give membership as a gift To join or increase your investment call our Membership team on , membership@hfholidays.co.uk or visit hfholidays.co.uk/membership Call or visit hfholidays.co.uk 9

10 linger a little LONGER If you enjoyed your holiday in Svolvaer, we recommend our Guided Walking and Sightseeing holiday at Ulvik, on the Western Fjords of Norway. Enjoy the peaceful setting of our hotel on the shores of Ulvik Fjord. Two weeks or more Make the most of your break and enjoy a longer holiday either two weeks of walking at one resort or by combining complementary holidays, such as Sorrento on the Neapolitan coastline and Altamura, in the undiscovered region of Puglia. We arrange the transfers between the resorts so that you don t have to. See our brochure or website for more information. Self-guided Walking For those who prefer to explore independently, we recommend our Self-guided Walking holidays. In selected European destinations you can discover unspoiled scenery, historic sites and the local culture at your own pace by following our carefully planned walking routes. Leisure Activities We offer a range of Leisure Activities holidays at some of our European destinations, including Discovery or Garden Tours, Photography, Painting, or Yoga. Worldwide From Alaska to Australia our Worldwide Journeys invite you to explore world famous destinations, and some lesser known gems, on six continents including Europe. SAVE ON OUTDOOR CLOTHING From time to time our outdoor clothing partners have special offers for our guests. Visit hfholidays.co.uk/partnerships to see the current offers. 10 Call or visit hfholidays.co.uk

11 Contact details HF Holidays Ltd Catalyst House 720 Centennial Court Centennial Park Elstree Borehamwood, WD6 3SY hfholidays.co.uk For any questions before your holiday, we re here to help, so please contact us on: (local rate) +44 (0) (from outside the UK) Monday-Friday: 9am-7pm. Emergency contact details: In all instances during your holiday, your first point of contact should be our HF Holidays leaders. If for any reason this is not possible, HF Holidays emergency contact details are as above or between the hours of Friday 7pm to Monday 9am are: +44 (0) or Call or visit hfholidays.co.uk 11

12 EXPERTS IN ADVENTURE SINCE 1913 Call Visit hfholidays.co.uk