THIS IS THE 8 NIGHT 'LOFOTEN ISLANDS ONLY' VERSION OF THE TOUR - IF YOU ARE INTERESTED TO ADD A NIGHT ABOARD HURTIGRUTEN AND VISITS TO MAGICAL SENJA & TROMSO - PLEASE SEE THE PREVIOUS TOUR LISTING
Sandi Toksvig talking about her honeymoon and arriving on the Lofoten Islands said "It is as if you are breathing fresh air for the first time... it is so pristine and the sea so clear - I don't think I have ever been so happy". Milena Grenfell-Baines and I had a similar experience ten years ago when Jean-Efflam Bavouzet (who was Artistic Director that year) encouraged us to travel 1,000km north from Oslo into the Arctic Circle and experience the Lofoten International Chamber Music Festival. We return in 2026 for our 6th visit to share this magnificent part of the world with you as we enjoy keyboard & chamber music of the highest quality with around 15 concerts & recitals over six days (performed in Svolvær, Kabelvåg and at churches across the archipelago).
The complete programme will, be published in January but the line-up for 2026 is already mouthwatering with Roderick Williams, Leif Ove Andsnes and Benjamin Grovenor!
We have set out to create a unique itinerary that combines some wonderful music with the breathtaking beauty of this archipelago situated within the Arctic Circle between the 68th & 69th parallels - as far North as the Canadian Yukon, Greenland and Siberia!
No matter what you read in advance about the Lofoten Islands the first-hand experience surpasses your expectations. Often when you see tourism photos of a place you think to yourself – “we will never get to see that view without our own boat or helicopter” but the reality on these islands is that these beautiful views are completely accessible and you WILL see them with you own eyes!
We stay eight nights at the 4* Thon Svolvær located directly overlooking the harbour in main town of Svolvær (pop. 4,500) which is situated on Austvågøy, the largest island of the archipelago. We include a complete extra day after the music has finished so that we have the time to get down to the southwestern end of the islands and see some of the magical scenery of Å, Reine and Hamnøy. You can choose just this 8 night stay but, when you have made so much effort to head this far noth, why not finish off with 4 additional nights, one night aboard Hurtigruten (dinner & cabin onboard) as we sail from Stamsund to Finnsnes, one night on the edge of the Norwegian Sea (next stop Greenland!) at Hamn I Senja on the magical island of Senja and finally two nights in the 'Capital of the Arctic' Tromsø (see separate listing for the 12 night version and costs).
Apart from the first and last evening in Svolvær, there are two concerts each evening while in the Lofotens (at 7pm and 9pm) with each in a different venue - sometimes in and around Svolvær and others further afield. This year the concerts will be performed WITHOUT interval so that the second concert will start 30 minutes earlier and end almost an hour earlier than in past years. This should allow us to be back in Svolvær by 1130pm on the two days that we have concerts further afield.
During our time staying in Svolvær we build our itinerary around the concert programme dining most evenings around 5pm so that we can visit some of the glorious beaches, hilltops & waterside hamlets (including Gimsøy, Vikten, Ramberg, Nusfjord, Moskenes, Henningsvær, Haukland and Kabelvåg) as well as visiting the unique Lofotr Viking Museum and the Lofoten Museum. We spend 3 hours aboard the sea cruiser MS Øykongen as we visit the unique Trollfjord with an entrance just 100m wide, home to white-tailed eagles and many seabirds. This day includes a delicious hot fish-soup lunch!
Travelling to Lofoten:
We offer included flights to Narvik/Evenes - from Heathrow & Manchester via Oslo with SAS. From Evenes Airport to Svolvær we travel by private coach and the journey takes around 2 hours 20 minutes. We expect to arrive at the hotel in time for a late dinner (in full daylight!).
Flight details (subject to confirmation)
5 July from Manchester, Gatwick or Heathrow to Oslo and on to Narvik/Evenes
13 July Svolvaer - Oslo and on to Manchester, or Heathow
If you prefer to make your own travel arrangements and meet us at the hotel in Svolvær please let us know and we will deduct GB£500 from your tour balance. If you fly independently to Evenes you must arrive by 1730 to be able to use the group transfer.
Priority Booking is now available.
Deposit is £1000 per person and final balance is due April 15th 2026.
