ITINERARY

There are two planned swims per day based on how you progress during the week. Please realise that the below is a very rough guide and that that we will adapt the week carefully for each individual. Swim guides will advise you each day on what is best for you, but in all cases the main objective will be to encourage you to achieve your personal goals.

Saturday 

A SwimQuest representative will meet you at Svolvær airport and drive you to the hotel. You can settle into your room, and meet your fellow guests and guides at the safety briefing and acclimatisation swim at around 5pm.  We will then go for a drink before we take your out for dinner in a local restaurant.

Sunday 

After breakfast we will drive to Kabelvag for a gentle bay swim, allowing to to acclimatise to the ocean and get to know your fellow swimmers. After lunch, we will continue round the coastline, swimming from Kabelvag towards Ørsvågvær. Keep an out of for gigantic sea eagles circling above this section of coastline.

Monday 

An early start for breakfast before we hop in the boat and travel to Ornses. This morning's swim takes us alongside imposing mountains, and eventually bends round into Kalle harbour, where if you’re lucky – we can hop into Kalle’s sauna to warm up before lunch. After lunch, we will swim from geitvika bay, north – under Henninsgsvaer bridge and back towards the hotel.

Tuesday 

In the morning, we will head north to visit Lilje Bjønnerøya. This morning’s swim will be circumnavigation of this island, potentially crossing to Lilje Bjønnerøya before boarding the boat to head back to the villa for a warm lunch. In the afternoon, we will head back to the white beaches and shallow bay north of Henningsvær, to enjoy the scenery with some easy bay to bay swims.

Wednesday 

After breakfast we start from the beach in Kalle and finish with a dramatic swim into Henningsvær Harbour. Enjoy the dramatic Svolvær coastline and neighbouring islands followed by lunch. In the afternoon, there will be some time to rest / be at lesiure before we meet for dinner.

Thursday

Today will be a big day, with lots of swimming! We start by the bridge to Grundstadvelen, and swim with the tide through the wonderful rocky outcrops and small islands out into the Norwegian Sea. This open section of the swim allows you stunning, panoramic views of the Arctic Circle, passing Rødholmen Island where you will finish in Sineset Bay for a welcome lunch. The final swim of the week is a short coastal swim where you finish on the sandy beach in Kleivan Harbour – a fine swim to complete a great week. We then motor back to the cabins for a relaxing evening and final dinner.

Friday

On the last day, you will have breakfast at the accommodation before departures.

Nyvågar Rorbuhotell

Nyvågar Rorbuhotell is idyllically located on the waterfront in Storvågan, just a 20 minute drive from Svolvær airport. We stay in bright, comfortable wooden cabins , each consisting of two twin bedrooms, a kitchenette and a living area. Backing onto stunning mountain vistas, these cabins are a perfect base for your swimming adventure. Our safety boat is moored outside, minimising our travel to and from swim start points.

A hot and cold breakfast buffet will be served in the hotel’s cosy dining room overlooking the bay - a perfect way to start a day of adventure in The Lofoten Islands.

ROOM OPTIONS

Each cabin sleeps 4 persons with two twin bedrooms plus a shared bathroom (shower, sink & toilet) and a shared lounge area (with small kitchenette - sink, cooker, microwave, kettle & coffee machine). Your room options are:

• Twin share room within a two bedroom cabin £2,999
• Your own private room within a two bedroom cabin £3,819
• If you require your own 2 bedroom cabin please contact SwimQuest to discuss

GETTING THERE

TRIP START / FINISH TIMES

• Our accommodation is a 20 minute drive from Svolvaer. We will meet you at the airport and will take you to the hotel. We plan to have the safety briefing and acclimatisation swim at around 5pm on the Saturday. Do get in touch if you need to be flexible with your arrival / travel arrangements and we will do our very best to help you.
• The trip finishes after a sunrise swim and breakfast on the final day. Please note your guides will also be getting a morning flight on Friday so if you do plan to stay on you may need to book a taxi back to the airport via reception.

Often guests find it is easier to land on the Friday evening, depending on where they are flying from.

getting there

Lofoten is most easily reached by air. The best airport to fly into is Svolvær (via Oslo and Bodø). Most guests fly into Oslo, and then through to Bodø via Norwegian airlines, and then make a short hop to – Svolvær via Widerøe airlines. Widerøe airlines operates the final flight to Lofoten, with multiple daily flights available. Tickets can be booked individually, or via SAS airlines or other Star Alliance partners to keep the journey as a single booking – which may be beneficial in the case of delays or lost luggage.

We recommend booking at least your original destination through to Bodø as one booking. You may wish to search for flights through a slight search engine such as www.skyscanner.net before booking to find your cheapest options.

By ferry from Bodø to Svolvaer

Bodø – Stamsund/Svolvær: The Hurtigruten coastal ferry proves a link from Bodø – Stamsund and Svolvær. The northbound Hurtigruten leaves Bodø at 15:00 – Arrives in Svolvær at 21:00. Southbound Hurtigruten leaves Svolvær at 20:30, Stamsund at 22:30 – Arrives in Bodø at 02:30.

In Bodø, the Hurtigruten and Bodø-Moskenes ferry share the same terminal building and waiting room. The waiting room is open 24 hours, heated and contains toilets and luggage lockers. In summer there is a small cafe and gift shop also in operation.

If walking from the airport, it is a distance of roughly 2.5 kilometres. The train station is just around the corner.

Bodø – Svolvær: Operated by Torghatten Nord. This is a passenger only express boat connecting Bodø – Svolvær. The express ferry terminal is located at the tourist information centre/bus station in the centre of town.

What do I pack?

• At least three swimming costumes (putting on a wet cossie is never fun!)
• Wetsuit - our Partners at Zone3 offer a wide range of wetsuits, including the eco Yulex natural rubber range HERE and you get 20% OFF all full price Zone3 products with code : SWIMQUEST
• Two pairs of swim goggles – one clear and one tinted
• Tow float (required) - if you haven’t got one yet, you can purchase from our online shop here
• Rash vest (optional) - available from our online shop here
• Towel(s)
• Small daypack/rucksack to use for your personal equipment/clothing during the day (please note, you will receive a SwimQuest 10L dry bag)
• Sandals/aqua shoes/flip flops – for getting wet
• Warm clothes! Fleece or warm jumper, tracksuit trousers/sweat pants, warm coat, hat, gloves and warm shoes are essential
• Dryrobe / similar may be useful but thermal suits are provided which you can wear whilst travelling on the boat to/from swims
• Warm shoes for before and after your swim, preferable suitable for walking short distances
• Waterproof
• Sun hat, sun cream and glasses
• Waterproof watch (optional)

READY TO BOOK?

We’re excited about meeting you on tour. To book your trip, simply click 'BOOK NOW' for your chosen trip below. A deposit of 30% is required to secure your place, and the final payment is due 10 weeks prior to departure. Payments can be made by debit/credit card or by bank transfer. If you are not yet ready to book and require more information, please click 'ENQUIRE'. Once you have complete the form, Sarah (our bookings co-ordinator) will be in touch to help you with any additional requirements.

LOFOTEN  |  9-15 August 2025  |  BOOK NOW |  ENQUIRE

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In booking with us, you accept our terms and conditions, which can be found here. If at any point you have any questions, feel free to contact us:

• Sarah Broadley | +44 7917 033670 | sarah@swimquest.uk.com
• Charlie Beere | +44 7563 389238 | charlotte@swimquest.uk.com
• Alice Todd | +44 7825 301443 | alice@swimquest.uk.com

Travel Insurance

As a SwimQuest guest, you are required to have in place travel insurance that covers you for all activities you will be taking part in during your trip. It is your responsibility to ensure that you are fully covered for these activities.

Whatever travel policy you decide on, you will need to bring a copy of your current Certificate of Insurance to the safety briefing at the start of your SwimQuest holiday. Your swim Guides will need to take a note of your insurer, policy number and the number to call in case of an emergency claim.

Please note, if you are a UK resident and eligible for free health cover via the NHS, you do not need to take our a travel insurance policy for our UK based trips. You may still wish to take out insurance to cover you for events such as trip cancellation, luggage and personal liability.

If you are travelling from the US or another country, we suggest you use a travel insurance comparison site based in your own country in order to decide on a suitable policy.

You can find more information on our Insurance page.

Columbus Direct offers three levels of cover Bronze, Silver and Gold, with differing levels of emergency medical, cancellation and baggage so you can choose the cover to suit your needs. All levels of cover include over 150 sports and activities covered as standard including open water swimming within 12 miles of shore (you will not be swimming more than 12 miles away from the shore on SwimQuest Holidays).

You will also benefit from free airport lounge access if your flight is delayed for 1hr or more*. Optional cover is available including Gadget, Winter Sports and Cruise, along with cover for many pre-existing medical conditions subject to online screening.  Columbus Direct offer single trip cover up to 85 years old and annual multi trip cover up to 74 years old.

*The policyholder can register both themselves and up to four additional travelling companions for Columbus Direct’s Airport Delay service. They will then be eligible to receive free airport lounge access in the event a delay of one or more hours is announced for their flight. View terms and conditions here