Sortland is situated in the beautiful Vesterålen archipelago in the county of Nordland, and gives you the opportunity to experience its fantastic nature all year long. You can hear the blows of the majestic whales that suddenly come up from the depths of the sea, or let yourself be amazed by nature’s own fireworks, the northern lights, dancing all over the sky on a dark winter’s night.
Sortland is the perfect place to visit if you are after extraordinary nature experiences, and one of its most exotic ones is the whale safari. You should not miss the opportunity to see these giants playing in the deep blue arctic water. The area around Sortland is home to six whale species, and chances are that you will come back from your trip with memories you will remember forever.
The sea outside of the Vesterålen archipelago is also a paradise for fishing enthusiasts, and every year, many visitors from Norway and all around the world travel to the region just for the fishing. There are large populations of cod, pollock, angler, flounder and several other species, so you are likely to go back home with a record catch. Boat fishing trips leaving from Sortland are arranged by experienced guides, and on your way out to the sea you will pass old fishing villages and fishermen’s cabins, which tell their own story about how important the fishing industry has been for this part of Norway.
Many choose to come on holiday to Sortland and the Vesterålen archipelago in the winter, and it is often the northern lights they are here to see. The Vesterålen archipelago is located in the centre of the so-called northern lights oval, and you would be hard pressed to find better conditions to see this spectacular natural light show. On Andøya Island, north of Sortland, you can also visit the Spaceship Aurora interpretation centre, which is right by the Andøya Space Centre, to see exciting, interactive exhibitions that explain the science behind the northern lights phenomenon.
Harstad/Narvik Airport Evenes is situated approximately two hours away from Sortland, and regular flights connect it to Oslo, Trondheim, Tromsø and Bodø, allowing for varied arrival options from the UK. To travel to Sortland from the airport, you can take the airport bus, and buses also run between Sortland and all the major towns in northern Norway. If you fancy renting a car, the well-developed road network makes it also simple to drive to Sortland on your own.
