Discover Lofoten
Recommended activities
There are many exciting activities to choose
from near Kvalnes:
​
Ocean safari with Lofoten Opplevelser
in Henningsvær
Horse riding with Hov Hestegård
Surfing med Unstad Arctic Surf
Golfing with Lofoten Links
Fishing with MS Sira in Ballstad
Horse riding with Lofothest
Kvalnes is located in the center of Lofoten and is the perfect starting point for exploring the whole archipelago
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This is a dramatic landscape, nestled between the sea and the mountains, outside the main tourist track.The weather is ever-changing. In the course of one day you could see sunshine or rain, storm or calm. When the weather is at its most intense, you can hear the
seas crashing and the houses shaking.
Cycling
Villa Lofoten owns 10 retro bicycles for the use of our guests. There are many beatufiul rides: Around Haveren, to Vestresand and Sandøya, Eggum and Gimsøya or even further on.
Kayaking
We also have four kayaks for rental. One of the guests needs to be certified. We have all the necessary equipment
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See a film from the harbour on a beautiful winter's day
Art and architecture excursions with Villa Lofoten
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In Lofoten you can experience art ranging from works by the American artist Dan Graham and the Swiss Marcus Raetz to the local blacksmith
Tor-Vegard Mørkved and the painter Gunnar Berg. The main road E-10 is an oficially designated "Norwegian Scenic Route" with rest stops, viewpoints and service buildings designed by accomplished Norwegian architetcs. Lofoten also has interesting church and vernacular architecture, which tells a story of local living conditions.
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Villa Lofoten offers one or two day art and architecture excursions in West-Lofoten and East-Lofoten. The excursions are led by the art historian Aaslaug Vaa. As former Head of Culture in Nordland County, Aaslaug was responsible for developing and executing projects like Artscape Nordland, the Hamsun Centre and Fotefar mot nord.
She now owns and runs Villa Lofoten. Contact Villa Lofoten for further information and booking.
Life in Kvalnes
Food in-house
Villa Lofoten cooperates with the chef By Petrini. By Petrini can cook for our guests by appointment, whether you want a simple meal or a more elaborate tasting menu with local produce.
The restaurant Am Haveren, a short drive away, also offers catering for our guests.
Recommended activities
There are many exciting activities to choose from near Kvalnes:
​
Ocean safari with Lofoten Opplevelser in Henningsvær
Horse riding with Hov Hestegård
Surfing med Unstad Arctic Surf
Golfing with Lofoten Links
Fishing with MS Sira in Ballstad
Horse riding with Lofothest
Festivals
There is a number of international festivals taking place in Lofoten. Many guests choose to combine a stay at Villa Lofoten with a visit to one of the following festivals:
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Lofoten International Photo Festival
Stamsund International Theatre Festival
Lofoten International Chamber Music Festival
Lofotr Viking Museum Viking Festival
Lofoten International Art Festival
Trevarefest
Museums in Lofoten
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Lofoten museum (Storvågan)
Lofoten aquarium (Storvågan)
Lofoten War Museum (Svolvær)
Lofotr Viking Museum (Borg)
Norwegian Telecommunications Museum (Sørvågen)
Norwegian Fishing Village Museum (Å)
Alpine touring - Summer
Recommended hikes within a 40
minute drive:
Easy
Hoven (Hov, Austvågøy)
Mannen (Haukland, Vestvågøy)
Hellostind (Hellosan, Vestvågøy)
​
Intermediate
Limstrandtind (Limstrand, Vestvågøy)
Blåtind (Slydalen, Vestvågøy)
Stornappstind (Nappskaret, Flakstadøy)
Justadtind (Hagskaret, Vestvågøy)
Himmeltind (Haukland, Vestvågøy)
Middagstind (Bø, Vestvågøy)
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Advanced
Festvågtind (Henningsvær, Austvågøy)
Vågakallen (Henningsvær, Austvågøy)
Alpine Touring - Winter
Recommended trips for the Winter season, some easy and others more advanced
Blåtind (Slydalen, Vestvågøy)
Stornappstind (Nappskaret, Flakstadøy)
Justadtind (Hagskaret, Vestvågøy)
Småtindan (Kabelvåg, Austvågøy)
Kvittind (Laupstad, Austvågøy)
Torskmannen (Kvitforsen, Austvågøy)
Geitgaljen (Liland, Austvågøy)
Welcome to Lofoten!
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It is said that the name "Lofoten" means "lynx foot" from Old Swedish "lo" for lynx and Old Norse "fotr" for foot.
In earlier times the name was used only for Vestvågøy, but now designates the whole archipelago.
The most important islands in Lofoten are from East to West: Austvågøy, Gimsøy, Vestvågøy, Flakstadøy, Moskenesøy, Værøy and Røst. Today there is a continuous road network from Fiskebøl in Ausvågøy to Å in Moskenesøy (168km).
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The Lofoten Mountains are of a volcanic type, and you can find some of the oldest rock types in the world here, nearly three billion years old. The mountain range acquired it's shape, with pointy peaks, through erosion during the last ice age. In the middle of Vestvågøy there is rich, fertile soil, and there has been found traces of agriculture dating back 4000 years.
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​Lofoten has been inhabited for at least 6000 years. Stone age man has left cave paintings and rock carvings, burial sites and tools. Back then Lofoten was covered in pine and birch forests full of deer, bears, beaver, lynx and reindeer. Then as now the ocean was full of fish, seals and whales (but absolutely no plastic).
The coastal climate means that the weather changes fast. In just one day you can experience a wide range of nuances and variations. During the summer the sun is above the horizon 24 hours a day from May 27th until July 17th. Lofoten has a mild winter and a relatively cool summer. January and February are the coldest months, with an average temperature of -1°C. July and August are the warmest with an average
temperature of +12 °C. May is the driest month. The warm Atlantic current from the Gulf stream is close to Lofoten and is crucial to the Lofoten climate.
The difference between high tide and low tide is substantial, approximately 3 meters. Between the islands in Lofoten there are some powerful tidal currents. Most famous is the original Maelstrom of Moskenes between Lofotodden and Værøy, described in literature by Edgar Allan Poe and Jules Verne.
Lofoten is a modern society with widespread contact with the rest of the world. Communications infrastructure is up-to-date, the fishing fleet and processing industry is high-tech, and the school system is well developed.
There are about 25000 people living in the region. Like in the rest of the Arctic region, the average age in high, and young people leave the islands to pursue higher education.Lofoten hospital is in Gravdal in the middle of Vestvågøy. There are secondary schools in Leknes and in Svolvær, and Nordland kunst- og filmfagskole is in Kabelvåg. The University of Bodø offers desentralised studies in Lofoten.
