Evenes - Harstad - Sortland - Svolvær - Evenes
Best for travellers flying into Harstad/Narvik Airport, Evenes who want to explore the Hinnøya region, Vesterålen and Lofoten without renting a car.
Explore Harstad, Vesterålen and Lofoten without renting a car on this 7-day / 6-night independent winter journey. Travel from Evenes Airport through Harstad and Vesterålen to Lofoten using airport buses and the Norwegian Coastal Express, with guided excursions providing access to landscapes and experiences beyond the main towns. Along the way, experience dramatic fjords, Arctic island landscapes, wildlife and multiple opportunities to see the Northern Lights.
Want the accommodation already arranged?
Book our corresponding 6-night Winter Hotel Package, with stays in Harstad, Sortland and Svolvær selected around this itinerary.
Book the 6-Night Hotel Package
Want a Journey Built Around You?
Use this itinerary as inspiration, or let Hinnøya Travel create a Flexible Travel Framework around your own dates, destinations and travel style.
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Trip Overview
Duration: 7 days / 6 nights
Best for: Winter and Northern Lights season
Travel style: Independent, car-free
Start and finish: Harstad/Narvik Airport, Evenes (EVE)
Main bases: Harstad, Sortland and Svolvær
Transport: Airport bus, Hurtigruten/Havila Coastal Express and public bus
Car required: No
Overnight Stays
Harstad: 1 night
Sortland: 2 nights
Svolvær: 3 nights
Route at a Glance - Recreate This Journey
This car-free journey connects three bases — Harstad, Sortland and Svolvær — using airport buses and the Norwegian Coastal Express.
For the simplest booking option, Hinnøya Travel offers a corresponding 6-night hotel package covering the accommodation used along the route:
Harstad – 1 night
Sortland – 2 nights
Svolvær – 3 nights
The package is available with Tuesday and Wednesday start days, selected around the planned itinerary.
Transport is not included and must be booked separately. You can also add selected excursions or use the recommendations below to plan your own activities.
Prefer different dates? Book the hotels individually and use this itinerary to create your own version of the journey.
7 days / 6 nights
Evenes Airport - Harstad - Sortland - Svolvær - Evenes Airport
Booking note: Links on this page may take you to Hinnøya Travel’s own booking portal or to third-party booking partners. Where you book directly through Hinnøya Travel, this will be clearly indicated.
Day 1
Evenes Airport - Harstad
Airport bus to Harstad. Settle in and explore the waterfront.
Overnight: Harstad
Day 2
Harstad - Sortland
Travel north aboard the Norwegian Coastal Express through the islands towards Vesterålen.
Overnight: Sortland
Day 3
Explore Vesterålen
Choose a guided Vesterålen experience suited to the season. During the Northern Lights season, keep the evening available for an aurora tour.
Overnight: Sortland
Day 4
Sortland - Svolvær
Continue south aboard Hurtigruten or Havila through the spectacular island landscapes between Vesterålen and Lofoten.
Overnight: Svolvær
Day 5
Explore Lofoten
Use Svolvær as your base for a scenic tour, Trollfjord experience, cultural visit or seasonal outdoor activity. During winter, snowshoeing and Northern Lights tours add further options.
Overnight: Svolvær
Day 6
Lofoten & Northern Lights
Use your second full day to explore more of Lofoten and keep the evening available for a Northern Lights tour.
Overnight: Svolvær
Day 7
Svolvær - Evenes Airport
Airport bus to Harstad/Narvik Airport for departure.
Accommodation
Harstad – 1 night
A relaxed introduction to Northern Norway.
Sortland – 2 nights
Your base for exploring Vesterålen without a car.
Svolvær – 3 nights
Your base for exploring the Lofoten Islands.
Book with Hinnøya Travel: 6-night hotel package
Getting Around
Evenes Airport - Harstad / Svolvær - Evenes Airport
Take the Flybussen airport bus from Harstad/Narvik Airport, Evenes to central Harstad and from Svolvær to Evenes.
Harstad - Sortland / Sortland - Svolvær
Travel with the Norwegian Coastal Express.
Check Your Transport Options
Full Itinerary – Day by Day
Day 1 – Arrive at Evenes and Travel to Harstad
Arrive at Harstad/Narvik Airport, Evenes (EVE) and take the Flybussen airport bus directly to Harstad. Harstad’s compact centre makes it an easy first stop, with accommodation, restaurants, cafés and the waterfront within walking distance
Ideas for the Evening
For a scenic evening walk, follow the shoreline walking path north from Harstad town centre towards Trondenes, where you’ll find open coastal views and the historic Trondenes Church. During the Northern Lights season, this can also be a good option for independent aurora viewing when skies are clear and conditions are favourable, with darker surroundings as you move away from the town centre.
Stay
Harstad – 1 night
Book with Hinnøya Travel: Accommodation in Harstad
Getting Here
Harstad/Narvik Airport Evenes - Harstad
Take the Flybussen airport bus.
Day 2 – Harstad to Sortland by Coastal Express
Early next morning, board the Norwegian Coastal Express in Harstad and sail north towards Vesterålen. Both Hurtigruten and Havila operate along the Norwegian coast, so check departures for your actual travel date. Leaving Harstad, the ship travels north through the coastal landscapes around Hinnøya, passing islands, fjords and small coastal communities on the way towards Vesterålen.
One of the highlights is the scenic passage through Risøyrenna, the narrow channel that allows the Coastal Express to sail between Andøya and Hinnøya. This is a particularly attractive part of the journey, with the mountains and shoreline close on either side of the ship. Relax on board and enjoy the journey — on this route, the transport is very much part of the experience.
Arrive in Sortland
Disembark in Sortland and check into your accommodation.
Sortland is a practical regional base in Vesterålen, with accommodation, shops and guided excursions that make it easier to explore the wider archipelago without a rental car.
Optional Evening – Northern Lights Chase
If you’re travelling during the Northern Lights season, you can use your first evening for a small-group Northern Lights chase from Sortland. Rather than staying at one viewing location, the guide follows local weather and cloud conditions, sometimes remaining within Vesterålen and sometimes travelling towards inland valleys in search of clearer skies.
Book the Northern Lights Chase
Check Your Transport Options
Harstad - Sortland with Hurtigruten
Harstad - Sortland with Havila
Stay
Sortland – Night 1 of 2
Day 3 – Explore Vesterålen
Today is your full day in Vesterålen. One of the challenges of exploring the archipelago without a car is reaching the landscapes beyond Sortland. Guided small-group tours solve that problem, with pickup in Sortland and transport included.
We recommend choosing one of the following daytime experiences.
Recommended – Andøya Scenic Route & Wildlife Tour
Best for discovering Vesterålen
For a first visit, this is our preferred excursion. Travel from Sortland towards Andøya and explore part of the Norwegian Scenic Route Andøya, one of the most impressive coastal drives in Northern Norway. Andøya has a noticeably different landscape from Lofoten. Expect open ocean, long beaches, moorland, mountains and small coastal communities rather than the densely packed jagged peaks found farther south. The guide combines sightseeing with wildlife spotting, adapting the route according to conditions and recent wildlife activity.
Book the Andøya Scenic Route & Wildlife Tour
Alternative – Arctic Moose Safari
Best for wildlife
If seeing moose is your main priority, choose the Arctic Moose Safari instead. Travel with a local wildlife guide through the valleys, forests and fjord landscapes around Vesterålen in search of wild moose. There is no fixed sightseeing route. Instead, the guide adjusts the journey according to the season, time of day and recent wildlife activity. The safari is conducted primarily from a vehicle, so there is no hiking required.
Evening – Northern Lights Chase
If you didn’t take the Northern Lights tour on Day 2, tonight gives you another opportunity.
Book the Northern Lights Chase
Stay
Sortland – Night 2 of 2
Day 4 – Sortland to Svolvær by Coastal Express
Today is one of the highlights of the itinerary. Board the southbound Norwegian Coastal Express and travel from Sortland towards Svolvær in Lofoten. As you travel south, the character of the landscape changes and the mountains of Lofoten become increasingly dramatic. One of the highlights is Raftsundet, the narrow strait between Hinnøya and Austvågøya.
Arrive in Svolvær
Svolvær is the main activity hub in Lofoten and works particularly well as a base when travelling without a car.
You’ll spend three nights here, giving you two full days to explore Lofoten.
Check Your Transport Options
Sortland - Svolvær with Hurtigruten
Sortland - Svolvær with Havila
Stay
Svolvær – Night 1 of 3
Day 5 – Explore Lofoten: Full-Day Scenic Tour
Today, head beyond Svolvær and explore the landscapes that make Lofoten famous. For travellers without a car, we strongly recommend joining a guided sightseeing tour. Choose the two-day tour if sightseeing across the islands is your main priority. Choose the one-day tour if you want to leave your second full day open for Trollfjord, culture or another seasonal experience.
Recommended – Lofoten Highlights Photo Tours
A guided Lofoten tour allows you to reach fishing villages, beaches and viewpoints spread across the archipelago while keeping Svolvær as your base. One particularly comprehensive option operates as a two-day Lofoten Highlights Photo Tour, with both days beginning and ending in Svolvær. Despite the name, you don’t need to be a serious photographer. The tour works equally well as an introduction to the islands for travellers who want to see considerably more of Lofoten without renting a car.
Book the 2-Day Lofoten Highlights Tour
Alternative - Lofoten Sightseeing Day Trip – Top Highlights
If you only want one day for sightseeing, this is one of the most comprehensive ways to see Lofoten without a car.
Starting in Svolvær, the small-group tour travels across the islands towards Å, visiting many of Lofoten’s best-known landscapes and fishing villages.
Explore the Lofoten Highlights Tour
Add Experiences to Your Hotel Package
Staying three nights in Svolvær gives you two full days to explore Lofoten. If you’re booking the Hinnøya Travel hotel package, selected Lofoten experiences can be added to your booking, subject to availability for your dates. Choose from available sightseeing tours, Northern Lights experiences, cruises, fishing trips and other activities.
Book with Hinnøya Travel: View Lofoten Experiences
Stay
Svolvær – Night 2 of 3
Day 6 – Choose Your Lofoten Experience
If you’re following the full two-day Lofoten Highlights tour, today is your second day exploring the islands. Alternatively, dedicate today to a more active Arctic experience around Svolvær.
Evening Option – Northern Lights Tour
Your final evening in Lofoten gives you another opportunity to search for the Northern Lights.
Svolvær has some light pollution, while conditions can vary substantially across Lofoten because mountains and changing coastal weather create very localised cloud cover. A guided tour provides the advantage of mobility.
Explore Northern Lights tours from Svolvær
Stay
Svolvær – Night 3 of 3
Day 7 – Svolvær to Evenes Airport
Take the Flybussen service from Svolvær towards Harstad/Narvik Airport, Evenes. Check the current timetable carefully against your flight, as schedules vary by season and date.
Getting to the Airport
Svolvær - Harstad/Narvik Airport Evenes
Take the direct Flybussen service
Ready to Recreate This Journey?
Book the Accommodation in One Package
Hinnøya Travel’s Northern Lights Without a Car – Harstad, Vesterålen & Lofoten Winter Hotel Package brings together the six hotel nights used in this itinerary in one booking. Stay one night in Harstad, two nights in Sortland and three nights in Svolvær, with breakfast included at all three hotels.
Book the 6-Night Hotel Package
Add Your Experiences
Personalise the journey with selected activities in Vesterålen and Lofoten, from wildlife and sightseeing experiences to Northern Lights tours.
Book Your Transport
Airport buses and Coastal Express journeys are not included in the hotel package. Use the transport information in this itinerary to book the connections separately.
Prefer Different Dates?
The ready-made hotel package has Tuesday and Wednesday start days. If these don’t suit your travel plans, you can book the hotels individually and use this itinerary to build your own version of the journey.
Or create your own version
Hinnøya Travel can create a Flexible Travel Framework around your dates, destinations and preferred travel style.
Extend Your Journey
Not ready to leave Northern Norway?
Explore alternative itineraries, destination guides and ways to extend your journey through the region.
Continue planning