Senja. A guide to exploring Norway s wild northern coast

Transcription

1 Senja A guide to exploring Norway s wild northern coast

2 About Senja 4 When to go 5 Permits 8 Good to know 8 Outtt for Android and ios 9 Getting to and from Senja 10 Oslo 10 Lofoten and Vesterålen via Andøya 11 Tromsø via Kvaløya 12 Traveling around Senja 13 Two days on Senja 14 Day 1: Gryllefjord to Ersfjord beach 14 Day 2: Ersfjord beach to Botnhamn 16 One week on Senja 18 Day 1: Finnsnes to Skrolsvik 19 Day 2: Ånderdalen National Park 20 Day 3: Flakstadvåg and Grunnfarnes 21 Day 4: Hamn, Bøvær and Ersfjord Beach 22 Day 5: Husfjell and Mefjordvær 23 Day 6: Segla 24 Day 7: Husøy, Botnhamn and Laukvik 25 Hiking trails 26 Maps 26 Åndervatnet lake 27 Barden 30 Breidtinden 33 Husfjell 36 Segla 39 2

3 Sukkertoppen 43 Accommodation 46 Camping 46 Hotels and apartments 49 Public cabins 51 Services 53 Overview 53 By location 55 This guide is published by Outtt AS. Please send any feedback to Last updated September 5th,

4 About Senja Senja is an island along the coastline of Northern Norway, well above the Arctic Circle. The island sits between Tromsø and Lofoten and has become an increasingly popular destination for adventure lovers in recent years. Often described as a miniature Norway, Senja is a compact destination with beautiful and diverse landscapes. Hiking trails are sprinkled all over the island, and commonly lead to the top of the nearest mountain. On the northern and western sides of the island sit dramatic mountains that plummet into the Atlantic ocean, alongside beautiful sandy beaches. View from Segla 4

5 To the south, by Ånderdalen National Park, lie pine forests, lakes, and wetlands. A short drive away is Kaperskaret with the sensation of traveling over a high mountain pass. In the east the landscape softens once again with birch woods and small farms. Small fishing villages showcase the local spirit and hospitality. All areas offer excellent opportunities to hike, explore, and learn about the island s cultural heritage. Senja is best explored by car, and cycling is also popular. Norwegian Scenic Route Senja runs for 102 kilometers over the northern edge of the island. Ferry connections towards Tromsø and Vesterålen/Lofoten, as well as a bridge to the mainland at Finnsnes, ensure Senja is an easy addition to any Northern Norway itinerary. Wild camping provides some of the best experiences on Senja, whether by staying along the sandy beaches or trekking into the woods for some true solitude. There are campgrounds with facilities available as well as self-catering apartments and fullservice hotels. When to go The best time to go to Senja for hiking is from mid-june through late August. Expect daily high temperatures between 10 and 20 C and cool evenings. Rain is always a possibility, along with thick fog. The midnight sun is present between late May and late July, opening up possibilities for night hiking. On summer evenings the 5

6 western and northern coasts offer stunning sunsets. If you plan on camping, thinking about packing an eye mask to help block out the light at night. The northern lights can be seen between September and April, though there are unfortunately no guarantees with natural phenomena. If you want the best chance of seeing the lights, spend at least a few days on the island. The lack of light pollution on Senja makes it a wonderful northern lights destination. Tungeneset Federico Bottos From October the days quickly become shorter and the polar night closes in. From the end of November the sun is no longer visible, setting the scene for even more mesmerizing northern lights experiences. The weather is more unpredictable during this 6

7 time of year and while there may be moments of sunshine, the chance for poor weather is high. Only in mid-january does the sun begin to climb above the horizon again. Senja is beautiful in winter with snow cover from the mountain peaks down to the coastline. Temperatures at this time are surprisingly mild considering how far north Senja is. Expect temperatures between -10 and 0 C into April. The true beginning and end of the seasons varies depending on snowfalls and general weather conditions. The Norwegian national weather service provides detailed weather reports and forecasts for Senja in English. Additionally, a weather forecast is available with each adventure in the Outtt app. Bergsfjord 7