TRAVEL TO LOFOTEN
The Lofoten International Chamber Music Festival would never have existed had it not been for the loyal audience in Lofoten. At the same time, more and more people outside Lofoten are noticing the festival . In addition to individuals, there is also a growing interest from groups and travel companies who travel long distances to participate. Read more about the possibilities of coming to the festival, alone or with others.
Svolvær​, photo: Peder Pedersen
Tour operators
There are currently several tour operators who organize group trips to the festival. Many of these are based abroad. It is therefore not unusual to join the tour from Oslo or in Lofoten. Tour operators have their own package offers, but most offer packages that include festival tickets, hotel, meals and transports during the festival. Several also offer several other attractions during the festival week, such as museums and excursions in Lofoten's beautiful nature.
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Tour operators 2026
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Maestro Touring (United Kingdom and USA)
Maestro Touring has traveled with groups to the festival several times. Here they offer a tailor-made program for the entire festival week.
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This is their offer for 2026:​
https://maestrotouring.com/music-arts-tours/450
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Martin Randall (England, Australia, USA)
With offices on several continents, Martin Randall is one of the major players in cultural travel. They visited us for the first time in 2019, and only the pandemic has prevented more visits. They visited us in 2024 and 2025, and their trip in 2026 is already sold out. But they already plan for coming in 2027!
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Visit heir homesite:
https://www.martinrandall.com
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​Intermedes (Paris)
French Intermedes is a great company with both traditional sightseeing tours and trips with a cultural focus. They have tried several times, but were hindered by the pandemic and staff changes, among other things. They visited us in 2025 and are planning a new trip in 2026.
Here is their offer:
https://www.intermedes.com/voyage/festival-des-lofoten-8280/
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Artful Journeys
This is an American company with its base in Massachusetts. They visited for the first time in 2018. Normally they travel with small groups.
More information on their homesite:
https://www.artfuljourneysllc.com/
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Mundo Amigo​
This Spanish company is based in Madrid and visited us for the first time in 2017. They plan to come also in 2026, but the trip is not yet out on their web pages.
More information on their homesite
:https://www.mundoamigo.es/es/viaje/Festival-de-las-Islas-Lofoten
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Dr Michael Downes OBE
Director of Music at the University of St Andrews, musical director of St Andrews Chorus, and founding artistic director of Byre Opera.
He has lectured for the UK’s leading opera companies and writes notes for Wigmore Hall and Aldeburgh Music. Publications include books written both with and about British composer Jonathan Harvey, and a collaboration with Nike Wagner, great-granddaughter of Richard.
Story of the Century, his new book on Wagner’s Ring, was published in November 2024 by Faber and was named by Presto Music as one of the five best music books of 2024; it will be published in the US by Pegasus Books in July 2025 as Wagner and the Creation of The Ring.
Michael’s next book will be a biography of Elgar, to be published by Oxford University Press
Flying
Widerøe lands at Svolvær Airport, 5 kilometers from Svolvær. SAS and Norwegian land at Harstad Narvik Airport Evenes, about three hours by bus or car from Svolvær.
Boat
Hurtigruten calls at Svolvær both northbound and southbound every day. There is also a fast ferry between Bodø and Svolvær.
Train
Take the train all the way to Bodø and combine with a flight, costal ship or the fast ferry over to Lofoten
Car
You can come to Lofoten from the north without taking the ferry. If you come from the south, you can take a car ferry from Bodø to Moskenes, or from Skutvik to Svolvær. You can also come by ferry from Bognes to Lødingen and drive E 10 from there to Lofoten.