Kayaking in Lofoten

6 min read Updated October 2026 Compare all tours

Lofoten is a chain of mountain islands about 200 kilometres long, and the guided kayak tours are spread along it. In Svolvær you paddle out of the town harbour. On the outer side of Vestvågøy the tours start from the beaches at Eggum and Haukland. In the far west they launch into the Reinefjord from Hamnøy, Reine and Sakrisøy.

The choice of area decides the rest of the day. Svolvær needs no car. Eggum is a drive of about an hour from Svolvær, Hamnøy about two. Pick the tour that matches where you sleep, or plan the paddle as part of a day out west.

Paddling from Svolvær harbour

Several companies run short tours from the harbour. XXLofoten offers a two-hour evening trip in double kayaks: a safety briefing, then out of the harbour and along the coast in front of town. Children under 10 and non-swimmers cannot join. In winter the same company runs a two-hour winter tour in drysuits with spray covers, open to adults only and to paddlers up to 118 kilograms.

Go2Lofoten meets at its office at Sjømannsgata 5, thirty minutes before departure, for a two-hour guided tour. Reviewers from several summers mention that the group stayed in or close to the harbour, and one guest only learned on arrival that the boats were doubles. Lofoten Aktiv takes four hours, includes the transfer to the put-in and heads for islands, bays and beaches; you bring your own lunch.

Winter on the beach at Eggum

Eggum is one of the white sand beaches on the western, ocean side of Vestvågøy. The half-day winter tour starts with a briefing on the beach, then heads north-east between small islands, with a stop for a snack and hot drinks. Drysuits, kayak gloves and double kayaks are provided. The minimum age is 16, and the tour is not recommended for people prone to seasickness.

Reviewers describe weather that changes within the three hours, from sunshine to sleet or a snow shower and back. They also advise arriving on time, because getting into the drysuits takes a while, and stopping at a rest area on the way, as there are no toilets at the beach. Without a car you cannot reach Eggum; from Leknes the drive is about half an hour.

Northern Explorer works the same coast. Its full day follows the shoreline and channels off Eggum with lunch on an island, in groups of two to ten. A three-hour half day leaves at 10:00 or 14:00 for four to twelve paddlers with snacks and coffee or tea, and runs in all weather. A combined day adds a hike and an abseil to the kayak; its length is given as six hours in one place and eight in another, so check the timing before you plan the evening.

Haukland and Vik in small groups

Haukland is about 13 minutes by car from Leknes. Epic Lofoten paddles along the coast between Vik and Haukland with at most six guests, with stops on the beaches. There are morning, afternoon and sunset departures of three hours each. A splash jacket, waterproof gloves and a dry bag are part of the kit, and photos from the tour are included. Guests must be 14 or older, able to swim and under 110 kilograms.

The Reinefjord

Hamnøy sits on its own island at the mouth of the Reinefjord. Saga Adventures Lofoten starts here and has no fixed route: the guide picks the water according to the wind. Its activity centre has toilets, a sitting room and a free warm drink, and parking is free. Waterproof jackets and trousers are not included on the summer tour, so pack rain gear and a change of clothes. Reviewers of the summer tour in 2026 mention more than an hour of preparation out of the three, a rudder that did not work, and a French-speaking guide who was advertised but did not appear.

In winter Saga runs a three-hour tour from Hamnøy in drysuits and kayak shoes, out towards the open sea with Reinebringen in view. It includes a hot drink and a discount on a second activity such as snowshoeing. The minimum age is 14.

In Reine itself, Reine Paddling meets in the garden of Catogården about five minutes before the start and paddles past rorbuer and bridges, with a stop to taste edible seaweed. It accepts beginners from age 10. From Sakrisøy a three-hour tour leaves from Sakrisøya 2 for paddlers aged 14 and over. For stand-up paddling, SUP Reine meets at the guest harbour outside the Circle K by the pier, takes at most five people from age 12, lends paddling clothes and brings a local snack. You must be able to swim.

Paddling under the midnight sun

At Reine the sun stays above the horizon from 28 May to 17 July 2027, in Svolvær from 26 May to 18 July. Visit Lofoten gives a shorter window of 28 May to 14 July. Around the villages the mountains can hide a low sun even while it is above the horizon. Northern Explorer starts its midnight sun paddle every day at 22:00. Saga Adventures runs a three-hour night tour in the Reinefjord, and Epic Lofoten paddles the Haukland coast at night with at most six guests. More on the light and these tours is on the midnight sun page.

Weather and clothing

The weather in Lofoten turns quickly, and in the Reinefjord the guides choose the route by the wind on the day. The average July temperature at Svolvær airport is 13.3 °C, and from December to March it stays close to zero. The tours lend the boats and paddling gear. Winter tours add the drysuit, but what goes underneath is yours: warm layers, extra thick socks and spare gloves. Several summer tours ask you to bring sunglasses, a hat and a change of clothes. Our page on what to wear covers layers for both seasons, and the Reine and Hamnøy page helps if you combine a paddle with a day in the west.