what to do with 6 nights in norway: lyngen alps + svalbard
The combination of the Lyngen Alps and Svalbard is an amazing trip: two very different parts of Norway (though Svalbard is different from, well, everything). They’re relatively close (north and further north), though you’ll still need to fly between them.
Lyngen is classic Norway: fjords, towering peaks, purple wildflowers, and little fishing cabins.
Svalbard is unlike anywhere else on Earth: remote, stark, and fascinating — truly one of the most unique places I’ve visited.
If you’re short on time, you could choose just one. But if you can, do both.
LYNGEN
Stay: Lyngen Lodge — only 8 rooms, owned and run by the kindest family - you feel very taken care of. The lodge is cozy and intentional, with:
Beautiful common spaces designed for gathering
A sauna overlooking the fjord
Amazing meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner, even packed hiking lunches) served family-style
Small, simple rooms that encourage you to spend time in the common areas or outdoors
Guided activities (boat trips, kayaking, biking, hikes), usually shared with other guests
Day 1
Arrival: Fly into Tromsø, then drive ~3 hours to the lodge.
Afternoon: Take a walk from the hotel (there’s an easy trail, but make sure you get clear directions!). Then the daily ritual: hot tub → sauna → cold plunge in the fjord.
Evening: Relax outdoors with a book and a drink, then gather for family-style dinner. The food is exceptional.
Day 2
Morning: Breakfast at the lodge.
Activity: Hike up the mountain behind the lodge — one of the hardest hikes I’ve ever done, but the views are truly incredible, almost 360° across the Alps (Note: there are a lot of flies in summer).
Afternoon: By the time we returned, we could hardly walk — which made the hot tub → sauna → fjord plunge that much better. The lodge also sets out a delicious afternoon cheese plate/snacks for guests.
Evening: Drinks outside, followed by another family-style dinner with fellow guests.
Day 3
Morning: Breakfast, then a boat trip across the fjord to see the Lyngen Alps up close and grasp the scale of the mountains. We stopped in a hidden bay, walked to a waterfall, and explored the idyllic area — highly recommend this excursion.
Lunch: Fire-cooked salmon and veggie skewers at the lodge. Later: waffles for afternoon snack.
Afternoon: Reading outdoors, hot tub → sauna → cold plunge.
Evening: Drinks and dinner.
Note: We didn’t kayak due to weather, but other guests did and said it was incredible. It depends on tides, so timing is arranged through the lodge.
Next day, drive back to Tromsø to fly to Svalbard.
SVALBARD
Stay: Funken Lodge — the nicest hotel in town, with comfortable rooms, a gym + sauna, and excellent service.
There’s no other word than fascinating to describe Svalbard. As the world’s northernmost inhabited place, it comes with realities you won’t find anywhere else, like:
4 months of sun, 4 months of darkness, 4 months of in-between
You need a rifle + flare for “polar bear protection” if you leave town (and you must be certified to carry a rifle)– If you encounter a polar bear, you must call the governor for permission to shoot (!) and it has to be a last resort, life-or-death situation. Killing one can mean up to 21 years in jail.
Strict alcohol rations — one bottle of hard liquor/month — to support mental health in the harsh climate
Home to the world’s largest seed vault (the “doomsday vault”)
Day 1:
Activity: Walk to Svalbard Bryggeri, the world’s northernmost brewery. Great beer!
Explore: Wander town, browse shops, stop by the liquor store to pick up local beer.
Dinner: Funken Lodge.
Day 2:
Morning: Guided glacier hike (you must hike with a guide for #polarbearprotection). We booked with Snowfox Travel. Highlights: fossils from 60M years ago scattered on the ground, and hiking directly on the glacier. Lunch was included — a dehydrated meal, surprisingly good (though a far cry from Lyngen Lodge’s packed lunch!).
Afternoon/Evening: Boat tour with Snowfox. See massive glaciers up close and search for wildlife — we spotted beluga whales, but missed polar bears and walruses (though other boats that week did see them!). Dinner on the boat. Being out on the water feels like the very edge of the world — a must-do.
Day 3:
Activity: Full-day hike — Fuglefjellet (highly recommend). Remote cabins, reindeer following along the trail, and vast, otherworldly scenery. The route also passes near an old mine. Again, feels very edge of the world.
Afternoon: Stop by the Seed Vault (can’t go in).
Dinner: Huset — a 7–14 course tasting menu with creative, inventive dishes. They had reindeer antlers and fossils as serveware, and forage locally for garnishes and sauces. A very special experience, especially given the remoteness.