Eagle Safari — A Different Ending to Lofoten

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Part of: Lofoten — From Å to Svolvær → [Full series]

To round off my long hike through Lofoten — from Å to Svolvær, with more than a few detours along the way — I decided to do something entirely different.

Trollfjorden — narrow, dramatic, and just wide enough for visitors.

I booked a RIB boat for an eagle safari.

The destination was Trollfjorden, a narrow and relatively short fjord, but impressive enough that even the Hurtigruten makes a daily detour into its depths.

Out on the Water

We were properly dressed for the occasion. Out here, you’re fully exposed to the elements, and the wind has a way of reminding you who’s in charge.

Speed as a change of pace after days on foot.

The landscape does its part as well. Dark rock faces rising sharply beneath snow-covered peaks give everything a slightly theatrical contrast — dramatic without trying too hard.

At one point, we passed a solitary house, sitting alone by the water.

A quiet place. Perhaps a little too quiet.

I found myself wondering if I could live there. No job to return to, no cafés, no theatre. On paper, perhaps. In reality — probably not. Still, it must have been a fine place once. And the location is hard to argue with.

The Eagles

Precision, timing — and considerably better flying skills than mine.

Eventually, we reached the area where the eagles live.

The crew knows where to go. The eagles seem to know it too.

There’s a certain choreography to it all — a quiet understanding between boat and bird. Fish is tossed into the air, and within seconds, the eagles descend. Fast, precise, and entirely in control.

It may feel slightly staged, but then again, we are only here for a few hours. If this is what it takes to meet them up close, it seems a reasonable compromise.

Effortless. Which somehow makes it more impressive.

Photographically, it’s another matter. With a phone camera and a lot of zoom, the results become… ambitious. But that’s secondary.

Being this close is enough.

A Fitting End

Still watching the sea. Or possibly waving goodbye.

It felt like a fitting end to an ambitious walk through Lofoten — trading hiking boots for speed, wind, and wings.

From here, it was simply a matter of taking the express boat back to Bodø, and then flying home.

As we passed the statue of Fiskerkona — forever watching the sea for her returning fisherman — it felt, just for a moment, as if she was waving me off instead.

Given more time, I could easily have done the whole journey again. But time is limited, and the world is full of places like this.

Still, Lofoten stands apart — something Norway has every reason to be proud of, and every reason to protect.

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