'''Lyngen''' is a municipality in the Region of Troms in Nortern Norway. The municipality is characterized by the towering mountains that rise 1833 metres right up from the Arctic Ocean. Geographically, the municipality is a peninsula. There are some 3200 inhabitants in Lyngen.
Settlements
'''Lyngseidet''' is the main settlement, and has some 1000 inhabitants. It is a rather picturesque place, with old, wooden houses and the 1731 Lyngen Church.
'''Furuflaten''' is an industrial village at the root of the peninsula.
'''Nord-Lenangen''' is a fishing village at the tip of the peninsula.
'''Svensby''' is a settlement some 20 minutes' drive west of Lyngseidet, from where there is a ferry to the Tromso peninsula.
Understand
The municipality is tricultural. The original inhabitants were the Sami. The outer villages got a Norwegian population rather early on, and in the 18th c., people from Finland settled in the area. Today, almost everyone speaks Norwegian only, but Sami and Finnish is still spoken by a few elderly people.
The area is immensely suited for off-piste skiers. However, visitors will soon discover that the infrastructure is lacking. Book your accommodation early and bring all your gear, the rest the flexible inhabitants will fix on the spot.
Talk
The main language today in Lyngen is Northern Norwegian dialect, with slight variations within the municipality. However, some Sami and Finnish is still understood by the elderly.
English is widely spoken, especially by the young.
Get in
To reach the peninsula, there is a ferry from Breivikeidet in the borough of Tromso to Svensby. The drive from Tromso to Breivikeidet is about 50 minutes. From Svensby, there is 25 minutes' drive to Lyngseidet. From Lyngseidet there is a ferry onwards to Olderdalen on the east side of Lyngen. [http://www.bjorklid.no] for updated info.
There are a couple of buses a day from Tromso to places like Svensby, Lyngseidet and Furuflaten. The northern tip of the peninsula is served by a bus a day, approximately, and a catamaran a couple of times a week. [http://www.177troms.no] for bus timetables.
Get around
There are precious few buses in the area. Having your own transportation is not a bad idea.
See
You go to Lyngen for the outdoor activities and the scenery. Heritage places of note include:
'''Lyngen Church''' from 1731 in Lyngseidet
'''Gamslet Museum''' with old houses at Svensby
'''Solhov folkehogskole''' at Solhov, just south of Lyngseidet. This was built as a boarding school around 1920, and is a huge wooden building.
Do
In winter
Off-piste skiing
Cross-country skiing in the foothills near Svensby.
Organizing off-piste
The infrastructure for off-piste is not fantastically developed, which is maybe part of the attraction. There are several ways of doing it:
If you know what you're doing, hire a hut or a room and do it yourself. Are you up to it?
If you need a guide (recommended), there are organized alternatives, including:
- Skiing by boat: You stay on board a boat, and ski with a guide during the day. Organisers include: [http://www.polarcharter.no] and [http://www.northlandcruise.no].
-The "Cetacea" leaves Tromso Thursday-Sunday in March/April with guides on board. [http://www.arcticseacruises.no]
- Hire a guide: [http://www.sunalp.no/]
In summer
Hiking
Glacier walks
Kayaking
Eat
'''Stigen Vertshus''' offers home cooking in Lyngseidet. Watch out for their goat specialities. All accommodation has cooking facilities, as the restaurant offer is rather thin.
Drink
Sleeping
Book early for the off-piste season in March-May. Groups of budget conscious travellers could consider the top end alternatives, as they get less pricy if many people share.
Budget
'''Svensby Tursenter''' offers tenting
'''Stigen Vertshus''' has some unrenovated rooms at lower rates.
Mid range
'''Svensby tursenter''' has got three huts with bath and lounge/kitchenette, along with two bedrooms.
'''Stigen Verthus''' has rather nice rooms centrally located in Lyngseidet.
'''Toften Husflid og Ferie''' is in fact a single house that easily sleeps four. Lovingly restored, it combines character with comfort.
Splurge
'''Koppangen Brygger''' is a resort geared for deep sea fishing. The huts sleep many people, and have all equipment necessary. The location in Koppangen north east of Lyngseidet is magical.
'''Lyngen Havfiske''' also caters for the deep sea fishing set, and is equally well equipped. It is situated in the middle of the fishing village of Nord-Lenangen.
Stay safe
Crime is more or less unheard of. The main danger is also the big attraction: The mountains are highly dangerous for the untrained.