Jagged peaks rising straight from the Arctic sea
The Lofoten Islands look almost unreal: steep mountains rise straight out of the sea, with tiny fishing villages such as Reine, Hamnøy and Henningsvær tucked into the bays below. Red and ochre rorbuer, fishermen's cabins on stilts, now house visitors, and wooden racks of stockfish dry in the wind each spring. Hikes like Reinebringen give huge views, Haukland and Uttakleiv have pale sand beaches, and the Gulf Stream keeps winters mild for the latitude, perfect for chasing the aurora.