The PhotoPills Expedition to the Lofoten Islands is SOLD OUT!

Wow!

All 12 spots are already gone!

Thanks so much :D

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We’re going to the Lofoten Islands (Norway)...

Are you in?

Around the New Moon...

From February 23rd to March 1st 2025, Felix Inden and Francesco Gola (PhotoPills Masters) will be traveling across the Lofoten Islands to photograph the Aurora Borealis and the magical winter’s Golden Light along with Arctic frozen landscapes, wild beaches, dramatic mountains and picturesque fishing villages...

Right when the Sun is in the period of solar maximum, which means we will be more likely to see and photograph the dancing green lights of the Aurora!

Of course...

We’ll be taking photos all day long...

At the end of February, the total golden hour time exceeds the 4 hours per day in Lofoten!

But...

Can you imagine it?

To photograph the Aurora Borealis and the beautiful winter Golden Light along with massive snow-capped peaks, stunning rock formations, vibrant red cabins (known as rorbu), endless Arctic fjords, brave seascapes, remote beaches, lonely trees and the frozen landscapes...

We’re dreaming about it!

To achieve it, we’ll use the planning power of PhotoPills and the expert knowledge of Felix Inden and Francesco Gola to always be at the right place at the right time.

Top secret: we have quite a few legendary photos planned already ;)

The Deal (Only 2 Spots Left)

Since you subscribed to the Priority Access list...

We're offering you a €500 discount on the regular price!

All you have to do is to book 1 of the 2 spots available before Sunday August 4th.

Read carefully all the details of this unique adventure.

And when you’re ready, click here to book your spot.

Please, book as soon as possible. The seats are sold on a first come, first served basis.

The Adventure

12 PhotoPillers | 2 PhotoPills Masters | Lofoten Islands | Endless legendary photos

Warning! This is not a honeymoon...

We’re recruiting 12 brave PhotoPillers (PhotoPills and photography nerds) to join us on a 7-day expedition to photograph the Aurora Borealis and the magical winter’s Golden Light along with some of the most precious treasures hidden in the Lofoten Islands.

It’s winter and it’s going to be cold!

The average temperature is between 1ºC (33ºF) and -3ºC (27ºF). The mountains and hillsides will be covered in a white blanket of snow, creating a picturesque winter scenery.

Also...

The Sun is in the period of solar maximum, which means we will be more likely to see and photograph the dancing green lights of the Aurora!

And the golden hour lasts for more than 4 hours per day.

So...

This is a non-stop adventure to chase legendary photos and you are a key asset!

We have planned tons of photos, and we’ll travel many kilometers (and hike a few more) to capture them...

But we also want to maximize our flexibility in terms of itinerary and schedule in order to take advantage of all the opportunities that the changing weather will surely put in our way.

If we're fortunate enough to be out photographing the Aurora at night and it takes us into the late hours, we'll take a little extra sleep the next morning, skip Sunrise and kick start our day a bit later.

On the other hand, if the conditions make us skip the nighttime photography session, we'll rise and shine early to catch the Sunrise.

Whichever path we take, you can count on us to seize every photo opportunity and be right where the magic happens!

You are about to embark on a PhotoPills’ style journey. And it’s not going to be a honeymoon precisely... :P

You’ll be a true PhotoPiller!

Are you in?

Day 1. Sunday, February 23rd - Welcome to the Lofoten Islands

It’s Sunday afternoon, and you land at Leknes airport in Lofoten, located at the 68th and 69th parallels north of the Arctic Circle in North Norway.

Welcome to the Arctic Ocean!

With its dramatic mountains, picturesque fishing villages, pristine beaches, and ever-changing light, Lofoten offers a plethora of opportunities to capture mesmerizing images...

And we’re all ready for action!

After collecting your luggage, take the exit door to the main hall to meet Felix Inden and Francesco Gola... And probably a few more PhotoPillers :)

2:00 pm

Our next stop is Hattvika lodge, our base camp for the first 3 days of the expedition :)

The lodge is located in an authentic fisherman’s area, where ambient oozes of history and a great view to the harbor of Hattvika. You’ll be surrounded by the islands’ typical fishermen cottages or rorbu – the distinctive red cabins lining much of the coastline.

Here you’ll be sharing a traditional fisherman cottage or rorbu with a few other PhotoPillers. You’ll enjoy your own private room and share the bathroom (1 bathroom for 2 PhotoPillers) and living room area.

3:15 pm

We arrive at a viewpoint where we’ll enjoy the view over a long fjord. It’s the viewpoint over Sortland & Steinsfjorden. The peaks on both sides perfectly frame the tong of water going inland...

As we shoot here for the first part of the golden hour, which begins at 3:18 pm, let’s practice a bit our planning skills with PhotoPills.

So open the Planner and try to understand where exactly the Sun will be setting:

With jagged peaks surrounding us and two fjords below us, this spot can't get any better...

Oh yes, it can!

At this time of the year, we will have the Sun in the frame leading the eye to the end of the fjord.

What else?!

4:15 pm

We get to our Sunset spot.

The beautiful white sand covers half of Unstad beach, and big rounded rocks the other half. This place is equally loved by both surfers and photographers!

It’s a fantastic spot to shoot long exposures in the afternoon golden hour. Also, the Sun is setting right by the cliffs of the tall peaks in the west :)

The perfect setting to capture the "sunburst."

And when the Sun sets, we’ll be ready, with our cameras mounted on the tripods, just right at the planned shooting spot.

Golden hour begins at 3:18 pm, Sunset is at 4:49 pm, golden hour ends at 5:25 pm and blue hour ends at 5:48 pm.

6:30 pm

Expedition briefing.

Francesco and Felix will go over the itinerary for the week, explaining the logistics, the locations and the photo opportunities we’ve specially planned for you. They’ll also cover the recommended gear and some important safety instructions.

Nighttime begins at 7:59 pm. And the Moon (22%) is under the horizon.

7:30 pm

Dinner in a local restaurant. This will be our first opportunity to taste the local cuisine.

Lofoten is a fishing hub, so get ready to enjoy lots of fish and seafood... But there are meat, vegetarian and vegan options too!

Ah! And don’t forget the knekkebrød, the traditional Norwegian crispbread that is often served alongside meals.

9:30 pm

In mid February, nighttime lasts for more than 8h in Lofoten...

All we need (and long for) when we’re out there in the cold, at night, is a clear sky and the greens, the blues and the reds of the Aurora dancing above our heads.

For the first night here, If the aurora forecast looks promising, we’ve chosen the beautiful white-sand beach of Skagsanden, in the municipality of Flakstad.

Here we have Mt. Hustinden in the background and ever-changing options for the foreground. Sometimes ice, sometimes beautiful textures on the sand, a stream, reflection ponds, and beautiful rocks.

Plan & Pray!

And if the sky is not clear, what about shooting a few cool dramating night long exposures to capture the moving clouds above the white landscapes and the sea?

It seems like a great idea to me :)

2:00 am

Time to go to bed... I hope with the Aurora still dancing in our minds!

Photographic Pills:

• Golden hour at the viewpoint over Sortland & Steinsfjorden.
• Sunset at Unstad beach.
• Aurora at Skagsanden beach (if clear skies and Aurora activity).

Day 2. Monday, February 24th - The Triangle

7:00 am

At a 30-minute drive from our lodge, we find Stortinden (866 m or 2,841 ft), a spectacular and pointy triangle shaped peak, our main subject for Sunrise.

At this time of the year in Lofoten, the Sun rises in the southeast. And we’ll be shooting towards the west, so we expect the morning golden light to fall on the peak from the side :)

It’s our job to find a nice foreground to play with the peak at the back... It’d be cool to find a bit of broken ice creating a guiding line to Stortinden.

Blue hour begins at 6:48 am, golden hour begins at 7:10 am, Sunrise is at 7:46 am and golden hour ends at 9:15 am.

9:45 am

Breakfast at Hattvika lodge.

11:30 am

PhotoPills Class with Felix and Francesco. Get ready to learn lots of tips and tricks that will make planning your photos much easier and faster!

12:45 pm

Lunch at the cabins.

3:20 pm

We’ll photograph the first part of the golden hour at the always stunning Vareid beach, on the island of Moskenesøya.

There might be snow everywhere. The water is slowly moving among the big rounded rocks located by the shore. Far away, the tall peaks try to scrape the clouds above them.

The Sun, which sets at 4:54 pm next to the background mountains, is now filling the sky in oranges and reds.

At least, this is the scene we have pictured in our minds. And we’ll be there to try to capture it!

Golden hour begins at 3:25 pm.

4:30 pm

Vikten is our Sunset spot.

The beach offers diverse vantage points for framing our shots. We can capture wide angle scenes that take in the curve of the shoreline, the frozen or frothy waves, and the towering mountains in the background.

Foreground elements such as driftwood, rocks, or ice formations can lend depth to our compositions.

At Sunset, we will be photographing toward the Sun.

Sunset is at 4:54 pm, golden hour ends at 5:30 pm and blue hour ends at 5:52 pm.

7:00 pm

Dinner at a local restaurant.

8:45 pm

After dinner, if the sky is clear and the Aurora forecast looks promising, we’ll hit the road towards one of our favorite Aurora spots in Lofoten...

Vik is open to the north, making it a great location to photograph northern lights during winter, as the lights move towards the north above the stunning Mannen mountain (400 m or 1,312 ft).

Also, if the sea is calm, it’s a fantastic spot to photograph reflections :)

So get ready for action!

Nighttime begins at 8:03 pm. The Moon (14%) is under the horizon.

1:15 am

Bed time! Tomorrow is the secret day!

Photographic Pills:

• Sunrise, golden hour and blue hour at Stortinden (if we didn’t photograph the Aurora the night before).
• First part of the afternoon golden hour at Vareid beach
• Sunset, Golden hour and blue hour at Vikten beach.
• Aurora at Vik Beach (if clear skies and Aurora activity).

Day 3. Tuesday, February 25th - The Secret

I’ve been giving you lots of details of this amazing expedition to the Lofoten Islands.

Maybe far too many...

But on February 25th we’ll do something completely different...

What will that be?

Well, you'll have to be there, with us, to figure it out :P

Day 4. Wednesday, February 26th - The Wonders of Hamnøy

6:30 am

With a surface of 0.76 km2 (0.29 mi2), Storvatnet (the big lake) is the biggest lake on Averøya island.

The broken ice layers in the frozen lake, the surrounding tall mountains and the golden light (remember that we’re in golden hour) are the elements we need to work with to get our shot.

The Sun is rising in the southeast, so we hope the peaks in front of us will be nicely lit :)

Blue hour begins at 6:40 am, golden hour begins at 7:02 am, Sunrise is at 7:38 am and golden hour ends at 9:03 am.

Having said that...

If conditions are not looking good at Storvatnet, the ice sometimes is fully covered by snow, we’ll keep on driving to Nusfjord.

This place could be the perfect scenario of a fairy tale...

Nusfjord is one of the oldest and best-preserved fishing villages in Lofoten. Some of the cabins date back a couple of hundred years.

28 people live here.

Our planned shooting spot is located on a small hill, it’s a fantastic vintage point to capture the beauty of the red (and ochre) cabins and the peaks at the back.

Time to press the shutter!

9:40 am

Breakfast at Hattvika lodge.

11:00 am

Check out! We’re moving south.

Today we’ll sleep at the iconic red cabins of Eliassen Rorbuer in Hamnøy.

12:15 am

Lunch at a local restaurant.

1:20 am

Felix and Francesco will do a post processing class in a conference room we’ve specially booked for the occasion.

2:30 pm

Check-in at Eliassen Rorbuer in Hamnøy.

3:30 pm

At a short walking distance we find Toppøya. From here the composition is different. The view of the landscape and the peaks will surely surprise us.

From the planned shooting spot, we’ll be photographing Olstinden (675 m, 2214ft), a stunning peak rising from the sea.

Golden hour begins at 3:38, Sunset is at 5:03 pm, golden hour ends at 5:39 pm and blue hour ends at 6:00 pm.

7:00 pm

Dinner at a local restaurant.

8:40 pm

If the aurora forecast looks promising, right after dinner, we will head out to photograph the northern lights above the iconic red cabins at Hamnøy.

Hamnøy is one of the best spots to photograph the northern lights in Lofoten!

As the night progresses and based on the conditions, we might go to Toppøya as well.

1:00 am

Our bed at Eliassen Rorbuer feels so comfortable tonight. It’s been a long day. Rest well my friends because the adventure continues!

Photographic Pills:

• Sunrise, golden hour and blue hour at Storvatnet lake or the village of Nusfjord (if we didn’t photograph the Aurora the night before).
• Sunset, golden hour and blue hour at Toppøya.
• Aurora at Hamnøy and Toppøya (if clear skies and Aurora activity).

Day 5. Thursday, February 27th - The Two Bridges

6:30 am

For sunrise, we will be photographing the fishing village of Reine from a panoramic viewpoint. Since there are no obstructions, the mountains will catch the very first light at Sunrise.

Here, we will have the opportunity to photograph both wider scenes and tight shots with the beautiful cabins, peaks, and fishing boats.

This bay is quite sheltered, and if there is no wind, we will get the reflection of Olstinden in the water.

Since the golden hour is pretty long (2h), we will have time to try different compositions with great light.

Blue hour begins at 6:37 am, golden hour begins at 6:59 am, Sunrise is at 7:34 am and golden hour ends at 8:58 am.

9:15 am

Breakfast at Eliassen Rorbuer and down time.

12:00 pm

Lunch at a local restaurant.

1:30 pm

Felix and Francesco will do a post processing class in a conference room we’ve specially booked for the occasion

3:00 pm

Before sunset we will be at Flakstad beach. This beach offers many options, from abstract scenes of textures on the sand to big landscape scenes.

With the tide, the beach is always changing, and so are the textures on the sand, which means you can always find new and different foregrounds. Additionally, you will also have streams, reflection ponds, and beautiful rocks to use in the foreground.

4:45 pm

It’s time to photograph two beautiful bridges and a spectacular super pointy mountain at Sunset.

The Fredvang Bridges are iconic structures, renowned for their stunning and picturesque setting.

The south bridge is called Kubholmleia Bridge and the north bridge is Røssøystraumen Bridge. The length of both bridges is 240 m (787 ft) and the main span is 115 m (377 ft).

These bridges serve as a gateway to breathtaking landscapes, connecting the small village of Fredvang with the neighboring islands.

Set against a backdrop of dramatic mountains, serene fjords, and the clear waters of the Norwegian Sea, the Fredvang Bridges offer a captivating blend of human engineering and natural beauty.

These bridges have become a symbol of the Lofoten Islands, drawing photographers, hikers, and travelers who seek to experience the harmonious convergence of rugged terrain and graceful architecture in this remote and captivating corner of the world.

And we won’t miss the opportunity to photograph them in golden hour, as the Sun is setting in the southwest!

Tip: It’s also a great location for a drone shot.

There is a lot to do this afternoon :)

Golden hour begins at 3:41 pm, Sunset is at 5:06 pm, golden hour ends at 5:42 pm and blue hour ends at 6:03 pm.

6:30 pm

Early dinner at Eliassen Rorbuer.

8:10 pm

Once again, we’re ready at the planned shooting spot, waiting for the perfect conditions to occur (let’s hope they do!).

Reine is a great spot to photograph the northern lights in Lofoten!

Check the Moon using PhotoPills. It has a phase of 0.3% and sets at 3:50 pm, so it’ll be under the horizon when we shoot the dancing green lights.

12:30 am

Bed time at Eliassen Rorbuer. Sweet dreams!

Photographic Pills:

• Sunrise, golden hour and blue hour at Reine (if we didn’t photograph the Aurora the night before).
• First part of the golden hour at Flakstad beach.
• Sunset, golden hour and blue hour at Fredvang Bridges.
• Aurora at Reine (if clear skies and Aurora activity).

Day 6. Friday, February 28th - The Cabin

6:30 am

Situated against a backdrop of steep mountains and open sea, the little fishing village of Sund offers breathtaking natural landscapes.

The village is surrounded by rugged terrain that meets the water's edge, with traditional red and yellow fishermen's cabins (called rorbuer) adding a splash of color to the landscape. These rorbuer often stand on stilts and line the water, offering a picturesque view that seems to leap straight out of a postcard.

According to PhotoPills, as the Sun rises in the southeast, the peaks in front of us will be lit from the side filling them with volume and texture.

The goal here is to photograph during the golden hour until Sunrise.

Blue hour begins at 6:33 am, golden hour begins at 6:54 am, Sunrise is at 7:30 am and golden hour ends at 8:53 am.

9:20 am

Breakfast at Eliassen Rorbuer and down time.

12:20 pm

Lunch at a local restaurant.

2:20 pm

Felix and Francesco will do a post processing class in a conference room we’ve specially booked for the occasion

3:35 pm

At a short driving distance we find Sakrisøy, a fishing village known for its cluster of distinctive red and yellow fisherman's cabins standing along the shoreline.

Sakrisøy's harbor, with its small boats and fishing paraphernalia, adds to the village's authenticity and offers a glimpse into the daily lives of the local fishermen.

Here we know a few good shooting spots to photograph the cabins and the mountains behind them.

There’s one yellow cabin that is perfectly placed for a super cool composition...

Wait and see!

Golden hour begins at 3:48 pm, Sunset is at 5:11 pm, golden hour ends at 5:46 pm and blue hour ends at 6:07 pm.

7:00 pm

Dinner at Eliassen Rorbuer.

8:30 pm

One last dance...

It’s our last night in Lofoten! I can’t believe it... time flies!

And we’ll try our best to photograph the Aurora one last time.

So, based on the cloud and Aurora conditions we’ll decide where to go: Hamnøy, Reine or Flakstad (Skagsanden beach).

All of them are amazing spots for photographing the northern lights :)

1:00 am

Bed time...

What a week!

But wait, don’t hurry... There is one last Sunrise to capture!

Photographic Pills:

• Sunrise, golden hour and blue hour at Sund (if we didn’t photograph the Aurora the night before).
• Sunset, golden hour and blue hour at Sakrisøy.
• Aurora at Hamnøy, Reine or Flakstad (if clear skies and Aurora activity).

Day 7. Saturday, March 1st - The Farewell

6:30 am

Today is our last day in Lofoten... And there is one last shot we want to capture before heading to the airport :)

The plan is to photograph the iconic red cabins in Hamnøy with Festhæltinden in the background.

And since there are no obstructions, the mountains will be catching the very first light at sunrise!

(if lucky with clouds!)

Blue hour begins at 6:29 am, golden hour begins at 6:51 am, Sunrise is at 7:26 am and golden hour ends at 8:48 am.

8:30

Breakfast at Eliassen Rorbuer and checkout.

9:45 am

We arrive at Leknes airport...

Thank you Lofoten Islands, we'll be back!

And see you soon my friends!

Life goes on...

Book now and save €500 (Only 2 Spots Left)

To book your spot to join the expedition to the Lofoten Islands at a reduced price of €5,500 (the official price is €6,000), a €1,000 deposit is required by Sunday, August 4th.

Payment in full is required by October 20th, 2024.

Please, finalize your booking as soon as possible. The seats are sold on a first come, first served basis.

BOOK NOW

What’s included in the price

• PhotoPills Welcome pack.
• A 7-day expedition photographing the Lofoten Islands with the Winter’s long lasting Golden Light and the Aurora Borealis.
• 7 days of learning, fun and adventure with Felix Inden, Francesco Gola and the funniest geek community – the PhotoPillers.
• Full immersion in the PhotoPills method (Imagine.Plan.Shoot!).
• 6 nights of lodging sharing a traditional fisherman cottage (rorbu) with a few other PhotoPillers. You’ll enjoy your own private room and share the bathroom (1 bathroom for 2 PhotoPillers) and living
• room area.
• The activities on the Secret Day.
• Beakfast.
• Ground transportation during the expedition.
• All permits and passes.
• All transfers.

What’s not included

• Flights to/from the Lofoten Islands.
• Tourist visa (if necessary).
• International medical and travel insurance coverage (strongly recommended).
• Lunch & dinner.
• Snacks, alcohol and beverages.
• Anything not mentioned in the “included” list.

Do you want an example of how huge this will be?

This is a glimpse to what happened in the 2016 PhotoPills Expedition to Iceland. We had so many adventures and so much fun... We can’t wait for Lofoten!

But you don’t have to take our word for granted. Here’s what some PhotoPillers say about the PhotoPills adventures:

“I went to Iceland expecting to have the opportunity to photograph the marvelous landscape and master nightscapes. What I encountered was so much more – 14 kindred souls from across the globe who share a passion for photography. Together we expanded our creative boundaries, learned from one another and had an insane amount of fun in the process. I am confident that everyone came away from the experience a better photographer.”

“From the very moment the guys from PhotoPills announced the expedition to Iceland... I didn’t think it twice! I was using PhotoPills but not at its full capacity, so I had no better chance to learn from the creators of this amazing app. The experience was even more amazing than anything I could have imagined. In Iceland, I discovered a bunch of folks as crazy about photography as I am. I had a blast!

Photography is a continuous learning process, you always find something new that motivates you to improve. And this adventure made me improve more than I could imagine.”

"The PhotoPills guys know how to create a fantastic experience. They bring an infectiously fun energy and are always willing to drop some handy photography knowledge on you that you will take with you. You take their trip and you'll for sure have a good time, get some amazing pics and leave a better photographer."

“During my experience in Iceland I lived wonderful moments and had surprises that were beyond the expected. It completely exceeded my initial expectations! Sharing knowledge, experiences and ways of working and living photography with such a great group has been one of the most enriching life experiences I have ever had.

Who he said that learning and knowledge sharing can not be wonderfully fun?”

“I can't say enough about what a fantastic time I had during the PhotoPills Iceland photo tour! The guys from PhotoPills and Donal Boyd were so knowledgeable, accommodating, and especially lots of fun. Never a dull moment – nonstop action and shooting of amazing landscapes for 10 days. I came away with enough images and memories to last a lifetime!”

FAQs

What’s the temperature in the Lofoten Islands in February?

It’s winter and it’s going to be cold.

The average temperature is between 1ºC (33ºF) and -3ºC (27ºF). The mountains and hillsides can get covered in a white blanket of snow, creating a picturesque winter scenery.

It’s key to wear different layers of clothing (base, middle and shell layers) to be able to adapt to any temperature change, snow and rain.

What do you recommend I bring along for the expedition?

Your sense of adventure and fun, your camera and of course your sense of humor.

Besides that? We’ll send you an Information Package that will give you further details and suggestions about what to bring (gear, clothing, etc.).

Is travel insurance included in the price of the expedition?

No. Participants are suggested to purchase national or international medical and travel insurance coverage.

Also, we recommend you to choose a travel insurance that:

• Covers trip cancellation costs.
• Covers Covid-19 health, travel and cancellation costs.

What is the cancellation policy?

We hope you don’t need to cancel your spot, but if a situation arises where you don’t have a choice, our cancellation policy is the following.

If you cancel and the expedition is otherwise filled, we'll refund you the full booking fee you have paid, minus a €300 administrative fee, and the non-refundable costs that are withheld by our travel partners.

If you cancel and the expedition doesn’t fill, then you’ll be refunded according to the following schedule, based on the full fee of the expedition:

• 91 days or more before the expedition: 100% refund, minus the deposit payment and the non-refundable costs that are withheld by our travel partners.
• 90 days or less before the expedition: No refunds will be given.

Refunds will be paid using the same original method of payment.

Credits: All images by Marco Grassi, Laura Oppelt, Albert Dros and Antoni Cladera.