Destination Harstad official travel guide

Official touristinformation for: Harstad, Kvæfjord, Bjarkøy, Tjeldsund, Skånland.

Bjarkøy Municipality

The historical kingdom of Bjarkøy consists of 365 islands and islets. Bjarkøy is known for its beautiful nature, a fantastic island landscape with high mountains and white sandy beaches, which form a very popular and exciting archipelago.

Bjarkøy is rich in cultural monuments and has many visible traces from the past. The municipality also offers different organised activities, including deep-sea fishing or mountain hikes.

Municipal administrative centre: Nergårdshamn

Facts about the municipality:

  • Population: 535
  • Area: 75 km2
  • Municipal website: www.bjarkoy.kommune.no
  • E-mail: fellespost@bjarkoy.kommune.no
© Einar Veimoen

CULTURAL HERITAGE TRAIL – ANCIENT MONUMENTS

The marked cultural heritage trail on the island of Bjarkøy goes through an area with many ancient monuments. The area through which the trail goes is rich in finds from the Iron Age and Viking era up until the 19th century. Best known are the finds from the chief residence of the most powerful family in Northern Norway in Viking times: the Bjarkøyætta (clan).

A brochure containing more information is available from Krambua, the town hall and the library. There are memorial monuments in honour of Viking chieftain Tore Hund and the Bjarkøyætta, who had their seat on Bjarkøy.

Contact information: Bjarkøy Municipal Council.

© Einar Veimoen

VALHALL – a sea of adventures!

- a natural pearl with beaches that are as white as chalk and a total of 365 islands. Krøttøy is part of the realm of Tore Hund. There are cultural monuments here from the Viking era. The island is lush and has a rich diversity of plants, animals and birds. From the top of the island, there is a 360 ° panoramic view from where you can quickly gain an overview of all the fishing spots. We hire out fishing boats so you can try your fishing luck.

A rigid inflatable boat (RiB) trip in this archipelago is a fantastic experience as a bird and white-tailed eagle safari. You can visit the local seal colony and we pass the bird cliff on the island of Helløy, which is home to more than 6000 breeding pairs. Steinavær, which lies further out in the Andfjorden, is an island group where a population of 127 lived in the early 20th century. You will discover traces of ancient settlement here on guided tours where we share stories about what life was like here. The archipelago is ideal for canoeing and diving in pure, clear water.

Krøttøy offers good opportunities to see the Midnight Sun and the Northern Lights in all its glory without interfering bright lights.

Set aside time for an unforgettable archipelago adventure...!

For more information, please ring +47 77 09 00 00 or visit www.valhall.no

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