Provided by:
Arctic Route by Best Arctic
Our Arctic Route Airport transfer brings you from Svolvær to Evenes/Harstad airport and even further to Narvik (from 15/06/2024).
To find more content and listen to free audio guides, download the Voice of Norway app.
In need of assistance: - Booking Point in Tromsø: Sjøgata 7 in Tromsø - daily from 9 am to 4 pm (from April to September) - info@bestarctic.com - 0047 953 03 888 - www.bestarctic.com - if emergency: call 0047 953 03 888 - don't use Instagram messages of Facebook messages in case of emergency We love help creating your magical Arctic holiday in the North.
Please find the timetables for the Arctic Route Airport Transfer, from Svolvær to Evenes/Harstad Airport and Narvik. Be on time at the bus stop. Look for: Red Arctic Route bus number 931. Timetables Svolvær > Airport transfer/Narvik - 08:10 - Departure from Svolvær Centrum - 08:15 - Departure from Svinøya Rorbuer - 11:15 - Departure from Evenes Suite Hotel (Best Western) - 11:20 - Arrival at Evenes/Harstad Airport - 12.15 - Arrival in Narvik (train station, Quality Hotel, Scandic Hotel)
Arctic Route Bus Stop: at the bus stop Hurtigruten terminal, close to Thon Hotel. Svolvær is a vibrant and lively place for those who want to experience Lofoten’s urban life, nature and culture. Attractions here include the War Memorial Museum, where you will find Norway’s largest exhibition of uniforms and artifacts from the Second World War. Close to town, you can hike up to Djevelporten (or the Devil’s Gate). This famous Lofoten photo spot offers wonderful views from a rock that is apparently wedged between two mountains to create a bridge. Not far away is the spectacular Svolværgeita (or the Svolvær Goat). People have been climbing up this 150m pinnacle since 1910. Visitors who enjoy steep heights and excitement can book a guided climbing tour. A more relaxing option is the floating sauna at Svinøya Rorbuer followed by a refreshing dip in the sea. For a memorable nature and wildlife adventure, you can sail from Svolvær to the famous Trollfjord – one of Lofoten’s true gems. This narrow Arctic fjord can only be reached by boat or a 10 km hike across the mountains. After an active day, you can choose between a variety of restaurants in Svolvær. While you are in Northern Norway, we recommend trying fresh seafood.
Arctic Route Stop: in front of the entrance of Scandic Hotel - please be outside before departure time. Narvik is a small town with a rich history and a big personality! This charming town offers something for everyone. Whether you are interested in history, nature, adventure or culture, Narvik has it all! Narvik has a majestic setting on the shores of the Ofotfjord. You can explore the rich history of Narvik at the Narvik War Museum and learn more about the battles and the brave resistance that took place here during the Second World War II. Can you see the impressive silver freedom monument in front of the war museum? If you stay in Narvik, walk into the Scandic hotel and take the lift to the top floor where you can enjoy stunning views of Narvik from the Scandic Skybar. Narvikfjellet is a great choice for skiing enthusiasts! Fjellet means 'mountain' in Norwegian. The ski resort has a combined ski slope length of 9.7 km as well as 3.8 km of cross-country ski trails. During the summertime, when it's not possible to ski, the slopes are used for downhill mountain biking. We invite you to walk up Narvikfjellet and admire the view or take the cable car up to the restaurant at the top.
Arctic Route Bus Stop: in front of Quality Hotel - please be outside before departure time. The iron ore made Narvik a strategic target during the Second World War, and the town was invaded on 9 April 1940. Norwegian, French and Polish soldiers fought bravely together to push back the Nazi German forces. The Battle of Narvik was one of the first Allied victories of the war and became a symbolic resistance against fascism. During the occupation of Narvik, the Nazi demanded a hostage list from the mayor. These hostages would be arrested and shot if the residents of Narvik did not obey the Nazi orders. This was a strategy that had been highly successful previously, as the occupied cities would typically make a list of people the city could manage without. By making such lists, the mayors were also accomplices. The Mayor of Narvik bravely did the opposite. He made a list of Narvik's leading men that the Germans would not manage without. In a very bold and honourable move, Theodor Broch put himself at the top of the list. He was awarded several medals for his service, including the War Cross with Sword, Norway's highest military decoration. In 2022, the Battle of Narvik was made into a film, which was filmed on location in Narvik. In January 2023, this was the most streamed film in 86 countries.
Arctic Route Bus Stop: next to the train station entrance. Narvik was founded in 1902 as a port for exporting iron ore from Swedish Lapland. This natural resource made a necessary connection to the mining town of Kiruna, 180 km to the east. Trains still arrive in and depart from Narvik every day. It's possible to take a train ride along Ofotbanen, one of Europe's most scenic railway lines. The Arctic Train takes you to the Swedish border in the heart of the Abisko National Park and back again. You can even hop on the night train from Narvik to Sweden's capital: Stockholm. This comfortable journey takes around 15 hours - a green way of travelling in Scandinavia. When you wander around the train station, visit the statue of 'Svarta Bjørn', located 100 m from the station. The statue with a bowl in her hand overlooks the area. Svarta Bjørn took care of the hardworking navvies who built the railway. You can explore Narvik by foot or by bike, organised by the Narvik Museum. When you enter or leave Narvik, you will drive over an impressive suspension bridge. The total length of the Hålagaland Bridge is 1,533 m. After five years of construction, the bridge opened on 9 December 2018. The old route, which leads around the fjord, is 17 km longer.
Norway is a constitutional monarchy. This means that His Majesty the King is the head of state, but that his duties are mainly representative and ceremonial. The legislative and executive powers have been transferred to elected bodies. Do you remember the King on the tram? Back in 1973 under the oil crisis, King Olav took the tram to Holmenkollen to go skiing. He could have taken a royal limousine from the castle but chose to take the tram like the ordinary “man in the street”. Today, members of the royal family grow up as influencers on social media and inspire awards. King Olav V’s Road is a popular hiking and cycling trail in Northern Norway that runs between Evenes and Svolvær. The route follows the path that King Olav II Haraldsson, better known as Saint Olav, is believed to have travelled during his mission to Christianize Norway in the 11th century. During the Second World War, everyone in Norway had a picture of the King in their toilet. This became iconic, so if you stay in a cabin or old house, you may find the King in the toilet!
Arctic Route Bus Stop: In front of the airport Arctic Route bus stop: 100 meters down from Evenes Hotel. Evenes is part of the traditional district of Ofoten, not to be confused with Lofoten. Ofoten consists of four municipalities: Narvik, Evenes, Lødingen, and Hamarøy. This area is known for its coastal and Sami culture and has a Sami centre called Várdobáiki. Sami are the indigenous people of Northern Europe. Evenes, which is situated between Narvik and Lofoten, has gone to great lengths to mark the hiking trails in this area. You will find a lot of hidden gems and scenic hikes, if you take the time to explore! Evenes is often referred to as the Gateway to Lofoten and Ofoten. The Harstad/Narvik airport is located here, and you can easily discover many unknown parts of Northern Norway from this airport. The area is characterised by many red, white and yellow farm buildings close to the fjord. Do you know why red is the most common colour? It’s a pigment made from iron oxide, which was readily available and inexpensive. This type of paint was also durable and helped protect the wooden houses from the harsh Nordic climate. It also adds colour to the amazing scenes in your photos.
The Sami people are the indigenous people of Northern Europe. They are descendants of the original inhabitants of Sápmi, who likely followed the glaciers north about 10,000 years ago. Throughout their history, the Sami have faced colonisation, assimilation and discrimination. The Sami have their own languages, culture and traditions and are perhaps best known for their reindeer herding, hunting, fishing and traditional handcrafts known as “duodji”. The Sami traditionally lived as nomads, following their reindeer herds across borders and through different seasons. Some still live like this and practice reindeer herding as a way of life, although you will now find more Sami in Oslo working in various professions than in the rural districts. The Sami beliefs are rooted in animism, the belief that everything has a soul. Consequently, they have a great respect for all living beings. Shamanism, which is the practice of communicating with spirits, is also strongly connected to nature. Keen on joining a Sami Festival in the area in July? See Markomeannu, a Sami culture and music festival.
The largest island off the coast of the Norwegian mainland is Hinnøya, which is situated on the border between Nordland and Troms counties. Hinnøya’s varied landscape is characterised by fjord, mountains and forest. Lofoten, Vesterålen and Harstad are all a part of Hinnøya. Lofoten is famous for its beautiful scenery, rich fishing industry and artistic environment. Vesterålen is a paradise for wildlife enthusiasts who want to see whales, birds and seals. Harstad is a city with a rich history, culture and festival scene. Hinnøya is a popular place for outdoor activities year-round. You can hike in Møysalen National Park, cycle along the coastal road or paddle in a sea kayak. In winter, you can ski at alpine resorts or on cross-country trails or experience the Northern Lights on a dark night. Hinnøya is an island with something for everyone wishing to experience Norway’s diverse nature and culture.
As you cross Raftsund bridge, try to spot an iconic Hurtigruten ship sailing under it. You can also try to spot the small islet in the water that looks like a troll face. If you don’t see it immediately, just wait until it appears. Have you heard about trolls? There is a strong link between Norway and trolls. Many fairy tales have been written about trolls. Some have even been turned into movies. Trolls apparently date back to the Viking Age. According to legend, they live in the dark underground because they cannot stand sunlight. Trolls are often described as being gigantic, mean, scary and ugly monster-like creates, while others are small dwarf-like creatures. Common features are that all trolls are anti-social, act in the dead of night and have no specific gender. Further south on the Hurtigruten route is the famous Trollfjord. This beautiful yet narrow fjord is surrounded by high mountain peaks up to 1,100 m above sea level, glaciers and beautiful waterfalls. If this sounds exciting and you wish to experience this unique place, check out our product: Round trip by bus and Hurtigruten in Trollfjord from Lofoten. This incredible 13-hour daytrip departs from Svolvær.
Arctic Route photo stop: at the parking. The bus will stop for a 15-minute break, which is the perfect chance to take some beautiful photos, or even selfies, before you hop back on the bus to discover what Lofoten has to offer, if that’s the direction you are heading. Keep an eye out for the iconic red fishermen’s cabins, Hurtigruten, mountain climbers and the many fishing boats. If you have already explored Lofoten, you will be heading towards Andøya, Senja and Tromsø! You have so much to look forward to. Get ready to spot whales, eagles, wildlife, majestic mountains and small islands with white sandy beaches. The Norwegian word for mountain is “fjell”. When the concept of selfies became popular, we often took a selfie on a mountain hike and used the hashtag #Fjellfie on social media. This was our own little twist. Enjoy the beautiful scenery but make sure you are back on the bus on time!
The geology of Norway is quite complex and diverse, with many different rock types and geological formations found throughout the country. Granite is a common rock type found throughout Norway, which forms many of the country’s mountains and hills. Northern Norway is a region with a diverse and fascinating geological history. The area is characterized by rugged mountains, deep fjords and a dramatic coastline that reflects the complex geological processes that have shaped the region over millions of years. Did you know that in Lofoten you can find some of the oldest stones in Norway? The islands are made up of a rock type called anorthosite. In the Lofoten Islands, this is estimated to be around 3 billion years old. During the Ice Age, which ended around 10,000 years ago, the region was covered by thick sheets of ice that carved out the fjords and valleys that are visible to this day. One of the most notable features created in Northern Norway during the Ice Age is the Svartisen Glacier, which is the second largest glacier in mainland Norway.
Arctic Route Bus Stop: at the parking 10 meters next to Svinvøya Rorbuer Reception. The historical fishing village of Svinøya in Svolvær offers a glimpse of the traditional way of life in Lofoten. Svinøya is the perfect example of the old and traditional being preserved for future generations. It consists of several smaller islands that have been connected by fillings and small bridges. Svinøya is connected to the mainland connection by the Svinøy Bridge. This 359meter long bridge opened in 1964. If you wish to stay overnight, you can book accommodation in traditional fishermen’s cabins, suites, apartments or the exclusive manor house. You can enjoy local cuisine at Børsen Spiseri, a historic restaurant situated in a venerable wharf building dating from 1828. A monument called “Fiskarkona” stands at the end of the pier to keep an eye on the boats entering the harbour or going out to sea. The name means “fisherman’s wife” in English. The locals say this monument represents all the women who were left at home in days gone by waiting while their husbands to return from fishing trips at sea. The stroll from Svinøya to the Fiskarkona monument takes about 20 minutes. You will pass original wrecks along the way.