Nusfjord Resort & Village

Set to a permanent scene of dancing light and shadows, a tangle of Arctic wilderness, North Atlantic waters, the heady scents of briny seaweed, frontier beaches lined with lyme grass, sea sandwort, silverweed and Jurassic rock formations rising like sentinels hugging the emerald fjord are the purest form of luxury here.

A supporting cast of nature to hotel Nusfjord Resort & Village, located on the famed Lofoten Archipelago at the northern tip of Norway. 

A conservation basecamp, Nusfjord is one of the best preserved and complete old Norwegian fishing villages left dotted along the shoreline harbour on the island of Flakstadøya. For centuries, skippers and their crews went fishing with rowing boats on the trail of spawning skrei (Atlantic cod) in winter and springtime – it was the gold ticket and fortune maker in the heydays of Nusfjord village. 

A naturally protected safe haven, the fjord is home to a community of rorbuer cottages painted in the traditional falu reds reaching out like prongs on stilts over the sea. As larger out-at-sea vessels replaced the traditional smaller boats, eventually, the harbour fell into an unloved abandoned era and was used as a tourist backdrop. Fortunately, Nusfjord's present-day curators and guardians, Carl Erik Krefting and daughter Caroline (Carucel Eiendom), were just on the horizon on a fishing and bird-watching trip.

As environmentally conscious nature-lovers, they had always held Lofoten in their hearts, and what better way to give back, than to convince the family to take on the challenge of giving Nusfjord a new lease of life while keeping the natural 10,500 hectare-estate untouched, the heritage preserved, and the experience as memorable as their own visits to this corner of Norway.

The Sea Waltz

Rethought, salvaged and conserved over the past eight years, Nusfjord Resort narrates maritime heritage and raw nature with modern comforts. It is a cosseted and cosified wilderness spot set within harbourside clusters of hotel suites and cottage cabins that beautifully hang on to their original storied DNA, escorted by the constant waltz of the sea and those amazing nighttime skies and stars. 

Undivorced - Humble Luxury  

From the exteriors, the once humble single-storey fishermens’ rorbuer cottages are unabbreviated, set in time, simple, protective and enchanting. Step through the chunky wooden door of your rorbu cabin cottage, however, and you enter into a clever interior of authentic heritage laced with smooth Norske design and a nod to the fisherman who huddled down here, protected from the harsh elements. Grilles on the windows lend an eye towards the seas, birch trees or the stern of the still-in-use fishing boats in the harbour. Über comfy bedding, luxurious bathrooms and lazy, loungey snugs are set to a colour chart of misty moss and sail cloth whites conquering the lovely exposed detailing of well-trodden wooden flooring and the old, up-in-the-rafters sleeping quarters once used as a fisherman's dorm. Gestures of marine life, antiques and artworks capture the spirit of Nusfjord – it is pleasingly not divorced of its past. Standalone or terraced rows of clapboard cottages, designer lodge houses, a private island retreat 'The Isolated Fisherman' or the former merchant's posh residence 'Dahl House' now converted into a complete hire for ten people (signified by its two-floor height and architecture) populate Nusfjord.

Cloudberries or Prawns on Toast Cape Cod Style

History continues to headline the social life at Nusfjord, which aptly lines the water's edge, and a cluster of aged storage warehouses, the old post office, the general store and lockups painted in their distinctive ochre-yellow tones gather around the quayside boats and nesting Black-Legged Kittiwakes. Hosting numerous dining outlets, from a cafe serving lighter snacks and cakes and a place to take in the panoply of relics, a boutique store selling crafted pieces, a village bakery to the former whiskey cellars turned Oriana Tavern serving up a cracking rustic pizza. Restaurant Karoline is the fine-dining option, serving up line-caught fresh fish (maybe you have your own catch on the grill), langoustines to grilled radishes or a duck breast from Gårdsand farm. You have to give the famous Cloudberries a try; these are some of the menu highlights created by gourmand chef Björn Svensson of Restaurant FAN in Oslo. There's a terribly snug bar called the Loftet Lounge and a new seafood den Auroro Matbar on the pier that takes in Cape Cod style to feasting. There are a number of local gourmet restaurants, too, for those staying longer in the region.

Royal Imaging

A nod to the Krefting family's passion for art, in the heart of Nusfjord is Salteriet. This former salt house is now an art gallery with seasonal vernissages and exhibitions in collaboration with QSPA (The Queen Sonja Print Award).

Elementary Vibes

A Norwegian tradition of outdoor bathing had been playfully translated here by recent graduates from the Oslo School of Architecture and Design. On its fringe of seawater rocks, timber architecture mimics the terrain and affords infinity views from wood-fired hot tubs and sun decks. Again, a former warehouse has been converted to house with massage suites and treatment rooms while keeping the historical elements. Wild swimmers can take a cooling Artic dip from the pier or any of the little pristine beaches that dot the headland. 

Adventure concierge comes hand in hand at Nusfjord with an in-house experienced team - whether that be hitting the waves in the hotel's twin-engine RIB or fishing aboard a fishing vessel, Elltor. Boarding, surfing, rock climbing, bird watching (including sea eagles), winter skiing, hiking or just a picnic out by the lighthouse. Fresh air pursuits are never far within this extensive nature enclave. 

Accessible Remoteness

On paper, Nusfjord seems to be an arduous journey, but that's not the case - the beauty of this destination is that it is relatively easy to reach with a few hops on planes, ferries, or drives. Travelling nomads will primarily arrive through Oslo's international airport and, from here, take a regional flight to Bodø and lastly, from Bodø to Leknes. Leknes Airport is a 30-minute drive from Nusfjord. Travellers could also take advantage of the summer timetable by booking additional seasonal flights to Harstad/Narvik Airport. It is also possible to take the ferry from Bodø to Moskenes (3-4 hours) and drive from Moskenes to Nusfjord which takes about an hour.