LOFOTEN - SENJA
1 - 6 March 2025
EXTENDED VERSION: 1-8 March 2025
In a nutshell
Group
only 6 people
Duration
6 days
Price
from €2200
Fitness
Low
Intro
Welcome to our exclusive 6-day photography tour, where you'll embark on a journey to capture the beauty of the Northern Lights and explore the stunning picturesque fjords of Lofoten and Senja Island. This tour is designed for passionate photographers, travelers, and nature enthusiasts seeking to witness and capture the Aurora Borealis phenomenon, in some of the most unique locations on Earth. The trip is led by two world-known professional astrophotographers, who will help you to capture the most stunning shots!
Lofoten 1-3/3
Lofoten, an archipelago of islands jutting out of the Norwegian Sea, has unparalleled natural beauty and rugged charm. Located well above the Arctic Circle, Lofoten is famous for its dramatic, jagged peaks, picturesque fishing villages, and pristine white-sand beaches with beautiful stones. The region's unique scenery includes towering mountains, crystal-clear fjords, and vibrant fishing huts. We aim to see those most iconic places on Lofoten, which is a must-see. And at night if the skies are clear, enjoy the world's most splendid and colorful phenomenon.
Senja Island 4-6/3
Senja offers a perfect blend of rugged charm and unspoiled natural beauty. Nestled above the Arctic Circle, Senja is renowned for its dramatic coastline, steep mountains, and serene fishing villages. The island's unique scenery includes crystal-clear fjords, lush forests, and pristine beaches. Our photography tour aims to capture the most iconic spots on Senja, with a special focus on the mesmerizing Northern Lights
A few timelapses from our 2024 tour
Itinerary
Start: 1/3/25 at Bodo port to take the ferry to Lofoten
End: 6/3/25 evening at Tromso
It’s important to mention that the schedule and time frames are very fluid and may change depending on the weather conditions and aurora activity in order to create the best experience for you. Below, you can see the backbone of the itinerary.
There will be also a day of a photo critique and basic post-processing lessons during the trip. However, we will add this lesson to the itinerary after we experience the northern lights.
Upon our late evening return on 6/3 to Tromsø it’s possible that you’ll not find a suitable flight. We highly recommend spending one more night in the city and flying the next day. There is a lot of nice stuff to do and see around the city!
Having a travel insurance that covers you for trip and flight cancellation is always the best option. Better safe than sorry!
Arrival in Lofoten
To save a lot of traveling hours from Tromso to Lofoten and back, we decided to start our journey this time in Bodo and sail to Moskenes together with our car. To reach Lofoten, we will pick you up from the airport or a city. We have to take the ferry from Bodø in the afternoon. We highly advise you to fly to Bodø a day before on the 28th to get a proper rest before our departure. Unfortunately, we can’t book the ferry for you as it requires sensitive personal data, but you can do so through the webpage we will send you later when the new schedule for next year is published. You need to book a one-way ticket only. Have in mind that our return flight should be from Tromso.
Beach & Mountain Exploration
Enjoy a full-day photography tour exploring Hauklangstranda, one of the most iconic beaches on Lofoten. In the afternoon, we hike up to the Mannen viewpoint for breathtaking views.
Picturesque Villages & Photography
Arrival to Senja Island
In previous days, we saw the best views that can be seen on Lofoten. Now it's time to move on and continue all the way to Senja island for our next adventures. It's a long journey with a beautiful stop at the well-known place, Polar Park. There is nothing more beautiful than seeing lynx, wolves, or mooses from a close distance. Have You ever pet the cutest polar fox in the world? You will, there!
Night photography in Senja
Arrival in Tromso
Upon our late evening return on 6/3 to Tromsø it’s possible that you’ll not find a suitable flight. We highly recommend spending one more night in the city and flying the next day.
We provide an extra 2 day oprion with checkout on 8th of March. The extra cost for this plan is +575€ of the original ticket price.
Real-time Aurora videos
Equipment to bring
Photography
Tripod
Any DSLR/mirrorless camera
Wide-angle light lens f/2.8 and faster ( - we recommend focal lengths such as 14mm, 24mm to 35mm, best with f/1.4 if possible)
2x spare battery, memory SD card
Intervalometer for time-lapses (if your camera hasn’t an internal one
Star tracker - just optional - not suitable for aurora photography (but in case you want to try, we’ll provide a few)
Dew heater and power bank
Headlamp – ideally with white and red colours. At night, we ONLY use the red light while taking photos. It is important (we will explain why) and at the same time, you’re respectful to the other members of the tour.
Clothing & gear
Temperature can drop up to -10°C in Lofoten. We highly recommend not to underestimate your clothing choices. Also if there is wind and humidity, the feeling temperature can drop even lower. Luckily, average temperatures are higher, but we need to be ready for this, especially while standing for a longer time for a night shooting. Having the warmest clothing is highly advisable.
Our recommendations are:
Puffy down jacket
Warm winter trousers
Winter hiking shoes or warm winter boots in general
Winter hat
Two pairs of gloves (base layer and warm layer)
Scarf or balaclava
Laptop
Powerbank for your phone or camera
Book Your Ticket
Upon booking, you’ll be asked to pay a non-refundable deposit. You’ll have to pay the remaining amount by 31/01/2025.
Past participants will have 100€ off their ticket price (valid until 31/10/2024)
We provide an extra 2 day oprion with checkout on 8th of March. The extra cost for this plan is +575€ of the original ticket price. Please inform us if you wish this plan after making the deposit. FYI the whole team has already booked the extended plan.
Please read the cancellation terms below, before booking.
Basic
€2200
- 8-night accommodation in Lofoten and Senja Island (shared double rooms with two common bathrooms)
- Cars (with insurance), fuel, and parking fees
- Photography tour by Tomas and Constantine
Master Class
€2300
- Everything included in Basic
- 7-hour editing webinar valued at 300€, priced at 100€
- Send an email after paying the deposit and state that you want the Master Class.
and pay in 3 interest-free instalments
What’s not included
Travel/Health/Accident insurance
Your plane tickets to/from Bodo and Tromso
Tickets to polar park and Tromso cable car.
Meals. Eating at restaurants is really expensive in Norway. If you want to save some money you can shop and cook at our accommodations, which is a popular option. especially in Lofoten, we will have a nice kitchen so we can prepare our food together.
Private rooms. If you don’t agree to stay in shared rooms you have to take care of your personal accommodation. Some operational fees will be withheld. Contact us before booking to let you know the final price.
Personal expenses, gifts, tickets to museums, etc., and anything that is not mentioned in the “What’s included” list.
TERMS & CONDITIONS
The participant must be at least 18 years old.
Deposit is non-refundable.
The participant must bring with him all the mandatory equipment listed on the tour page.
The participants should pay the rest of their ticket by the 1st of January 2025. If not, the hosts have the right to remove the participant and return the deposit.
The participant has the full responsibility to judge whether he/she can participate in the tour without compromising his/her health, as well as to ensure that he/she will not endanger his/her physical integrity or that of the other participants. For this reason, the hosts are not responsible for the cancellation of the trip or change of planning for this reason. Also in case, the participant is in danger of either injury, loss of body part, or life itself, the responsibility of the organizer is limited to the correct preparation and correct decision/choice/change of design, and the provision of instructions to ensure as much as possible physical integrity and mental and spiritual health of the participants.
The participant is responsible and accountable for the honest statement of his health status, acknowledges and accepts that the hosts are not responsible for injuries or health problems that existed before, as well as for any burden that may be suffered by his/her health condition, from his/her participation in the activity. In case the participant due to a false or insufficient declaration of health status or unavailability (due to his/her fault) of the equipment required so that he/she can not cope with the planning of the trip/activity, the hosts have the right to remove the participant from the activity, with the sole obligation to ensure a safe return and to call for rescue assistance, if and when needed. The cost of the rescue is paid solely by the participant. In case he/she puts the whole team or another member at risk due to false or inadequate health status or problems, he/she has the sole responsibility for any financial claim or any legal decision taken by the other members.
The organizers reserve the right to modify the program unilaterally.
The invoice/receipt will be issued after the end of the tour.
CANCELLATIONS
Any change/update by the hosts will be done at info@starlight-adventures.com or the group chat.
Cancellations must be required formally via email only. You should expect to get a validation email from us to consider your cancellation complete. Any refunds or charges will be applied after that.
UNTIL 1st OF JANUARY 23:59 EET: deposit is non-refundable. You get back 100% of the remaining, if paid.
FROM 2nd OF JANUARY 00:00 EET AND ON: no refund if we can’t replace your spot. If your spot is replaced 50% of the remaining amount will be returned.
The tour will take place only if the minimum number of people (5) is met. If that criteria is not met, the full amount will be refunded.
In case of cancellation due to extenuating circumstances within the last 48 hours, the right to withhold reasonable expenses (fees that cannot be refunded) is reserved. In any case, an attempt will be made to postpone the trip to a later date.
In case of cancellation by the participant, the invoice will be sent after the tour for the amount that may have been withheld.
FAQs
I don’t want to stay in shared rooms. Can you arrange something to fit my needs?
As we stated, we are not a travel company, if sharing a room is too difficult for you, you can arrange a different accommodation. A part of your accommodation expenses will be held as administrative fees.
I want to bring a friend/relative with me, but he/she isn’t a photographer. Should he pay?
Your friend would eventually be a part of our group, so yes, the full ticket must be paid.
Can I participate in only a part of the trip?
This is not possible due to logistics, booking accommodations and cars. Subsequently, the full ticket must be paid.
Is it certain that we’re gonna see the northern lights?
As we approach the solar maximum, the activity of our sun is reaching its peak, presenting increased opportunities. Also, in spring and autumn due to different events, chances to see aurora are higher. While solar activity enhances the likelihood of experiencing this natural phenomenon, it's important to note that predicting solar activity for specific dates remains uncertain. Additionally, the presence of clouds significantly influences the visibility of the Northern Lights, adding an element of unpredictability to the phenomenon. Therefore, while the chances of encountering the Aurora Borealis are greater during this period, we cannot guarantee its occurrence due to the dynamic interplay of solar conditions and atmospheric elements.
Is there a difference between a workshop and a tour?
Yes, workshops are designed for people who also want to learn some fundamental and expand their knowledge in astrophotography. Tours are suitable for people who have already a good grasp on astro and just want to visit beautiful places to photograph. For that reason, workshops tend to be more expensive.
Are we alone in the universe?
We sincerely hope not.
