Our Stay at Hamn i Senja in Norway

I went on a trip to northern Norway for about 10 days in early September. If you don’t know too much about Norway, it’s a Scandinavian country which is essentially a gold mine for avid hikers, photographers, and wanderers. During our travel to Norway, we stayed at the Hamn i Senja resort. We saw bioluminescence and the Aurora Borealis in Norway on the island of Senja.

Why is Norway a Great Place to Visit?

Why is Norway such a great place to visit—especially for avid hikers, photographers, and wanderers? That’s because it’s covered with awe-inspiring natural formations such as fjords, glaciers, and mountains.

Lofoten Islands

Our first stop in Norway was the Lofoten Islands, which is an archipelago with dramatic, sweeping scenery. It has lots of cycling paths and hiking trails throughout, so it’s a wonderful destination for anyone who loves the outdoors. It also boasts some of the most profound and unique sights such as the northern lights and the midnight sun.

The Lofoten Islands are sprawled across the Norwegian Sea, and located north of the Arctic Circle. What’s really cool about Lofoten is its connection to Viking history. If you’re a history buff, you should hit up the Lofotr Viking Museum. It also has some great fishing opportunities in its many quaint villages. This area has a surprisingly mild climate considering its location and latitude, which is due to the warm Gulf Stream. You can also see the midnight sun between late May and mid-July. However, we really wanted to see the Norway northern lights. Therefore, we came during the best-known times to catch a glimpse—September through mid-April.

Hamnøy

We caught more than a glimpse, though during our travel to Norway. We saw an amazing show of colours in the Norway aurora—but more of that later.

The first stop on our journey was four nights staying at the Eliassen Rorbuer in Hamnøy. It is definitely a place to add to your bucket list if you plan to travel to Norway one day.

Senja

During the second part of our Norway trip, we spent two nights in Senja and stayed at the Hamn i Senja resort. We drove about six hours north of Hamnøy to get to Senja, and it was such a beautiful drive. We passed by lots of quaint fishing villages, non-stop epic scenery, and seemingly endless photo opportunities.

The Hamn i Senja is a resort which is located off highway 86. It’s in a fishing village from the 1800’s and is right on the water. The area consists of cottages, a conference facility, and a lighthouse. The island is very sparsely populated, so to find this beautiful resort there was like finding an oasis in a desert. It’s definitely a great vacation destination—especially if you live in Europe.

The Hamn i Senja Cabins on the Island of Senja

The cabin suites at the Hamn i Senja were the perfect size and had a view facing right out to the water. Our cabin had a deck, as well. It came complete with a kitchen and a very comfy bed. In Scandinavia, the beds are actually made with two duvets, which I found interesting. Each person gets their own, so no sharing needed!

Since the Hamn i Senja is right on the water, you can enjoy activities like kayaking and boating in the summer. We were there during mid-September, so it wasn’t exactly summer anymore.

Although we spent the whole morning out on the water, it was extremely cold indeed. It is the Arctic, after all! When we got back to the cabin, we had a few cups of tea to warm ourselves up!

You might also like My Stay at the Borealis Basecamp – Fairbanks, Alaska, My Trip to Fairbanks or 15 Photos to Inspire a Trip to Norway.

Aurora Borealis in Norway

Once again, we were able to catch the Aurora Borealis in Norway at the Hamn i Senja. I was incredibly lucky to have seen it so much on this trip to northern Norway. Those serene lights dancing through the sky certainly made for some unforgettable evenings during this trip To northern Norway.

Soft Serve News is a resource you can use in order to track where the Aurora will show up each night.

You will love this video that I posted on Instagram. Hit PLAY TO WATCH!

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A post shared by Bella Bucchiotti 💗 💗 💗 💗 💗 (@bellabucchiotti)

Since the Aurora is soooo amazing, I will also share this video that Joel posted on his Instagram. Hit PLAY TO WATCH!

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A post shared by Joel (@joelschat)

I was saving the best video for last! This video shows the Aurora Borealis and bioluminescence in the water. The combination of these two phenomena gave us so much to gaze at in complete wonder. It truly was a night I will never forget. Hit PLAY TO WATCH!

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A post shared by Joel (@joelschat)

Mount Segla

We also did a hike on Mount Segla, which happens to be Senja’s most popular hike. If you are planning to visit Senja you really should do this one. Keep in mind that it is a short, but steep hike.

If you can handle a brief but intense workout, then definitely go for it. It takes about an hour to get to the top. The view is so beautiful from up there!

If you’re planning a travel to Scandinavia, you should ensure you add in a stop at the Lofoten Islands, then Hamnøy, and finally, Senja in northern Norway. You will find lots of great fishing opportunities and plenty of amazing photography opportunities along the way.

Once you reach Senja, check out the Hamn i Senja resort on the island of Senja. From there, you can venture out as you please in order to have your outdoor adventures. Check out tips for northern lights spotting. If you’re a nature-lover, you also shouldn’t miss out on the hike to the top of Mount Segla.

This blog post is brought you in collaboration with the Hamn i Senja .  Thank you for supporting the destinations that support me.

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