With interest in the Lofoten Islands on the rise, Arctic Coliving’s Lofoten Pier Lodge is a haven for travellers seeking winter relaxation in a wild, remote place.
By Julia Atkinson
Wellness is getting wilder. Travellers are seeking wild wellness: the combination of restorative relaxation with rugged nature. And Arctic Coliving’s Lofoten Pier Lodge is bringing rugged wellness to the Arctic Circle.
The only coliving lodge on the Lofoten Islands, it’s a place where you can come for backcountry skiing and stay for late-night conversations in the Nordic sauna.
As founder Kyle McClenahan puts it: “Over the years, the Lofoten Islands have become more accessible and broadly known. The atmosphere here is rooted in an international culture of mountain life and sports that people pursue together.”
Relaxation in the Magic Islands
Located above the Arctic Circle, the Lofoten Islands are where the mountains meet the sea. Known for towering slabs of granite and colourful fishing villages, Ed Webster’s 1994 climbing guidebook, Climbing in the Magic Islands, first put the destination on the map. The islands have attracted international big wall climbers and backcountry skiers for thirty years.
For some travellers, this isolated part of Northern Norway is a return. Others discover the islands’ quiet cliffs and dramatic Arctic fjords anew.
Guests strap on skis, hike epic mountains and come back to the warmth and community of Lofoten Pier Lodge. Travellers spend weeks or months coliving here. Cooking meals together in one of two shared kitchens. Rolling out yoga mats side by side. Sharing conversations in the Nordic sauna.
A Winter Escape
The adventure starts on the journey to Arctic Coliving Lofoten Pier Lodge. Guests take planes or ferries to the remote fishing village of Henningsvær off the southern coast of Austvågøya, the largest island in the Lofoten archipelago.
Once the home of brave fishermen who battled Arctic waters to make a living, today the lodge draws intrepid travellers seeking the Northern Lights. In the crisp Arctic air, guests find community among fellow adventurers seeking skiing, snowshoeing, and hiking followed by cold plunges topped off with cozy evenings in the sauna.
“The best things to experience in the mountains are with other people.”
– Kyle McClenahan
Exploring Wild Nature, in Community
The winding story behind Lofoten Pier Lodge is as riveting as the lodge itself. A former tech founder, Kyle spent much of the pandemic working remotely from Lofoten, where he fell in love with the history and community of the islands.
“Arctic Coliving was born from a desire to spend more time in the mountains with other stoked people from around the world.”
After an attempt to buy a property with friends fell through four years ago, his dream of founding a coliving lodge to share Lofoten’s nature with coliving guests went on the back burner.
Then six months ago, Kyle took a second chance at his dream. This time, he spoke his dream of creating a coliving lodge in the mountains out loud—to friends, former colleagues, and new connections. This time, he got the company and Lofoten Pier Lodge lined up within a couple of months.
“I know so many people who are in the city most of the time. They don’t have a home base out in the mountains, but they love skiing and climbing.”
– Kyle McClenahan
From events with local groups for sober dance parties, yoga retreats, and guided adventure trips, the lodge partners with nature and the community of the islands.
A Lodge Designed for Coliving
Accommodation here embraces Nordic simplicity without sacrificing comfort. Built over a hundred years ago and surrounded on three sides by the Norwegian Sea, the lodge is in communion with nature. Freshly renovated, original wooden panelling and exposed brick are juxtaposed with modern amenities.
The lodge’s nine rooms are a mix of private and shared. Guests can watch the Northern Lights from a private waterfront deck, coffee in hand. With multiple lounges and work areas for remote work, guests can extend their time in the magic islands without sacrificing their responsibilities.
“Our needs have to accommodate the real work and responsibilities we have in the day-to-day. It can’t be either/or. Coliving is a format where you don’t have to sacrifice one for the other to have a meaningful experience for weeks or months in a beautiful place.”
– Kyle McClenahan
Guests can do yoga while gazing through floor-length windows into the frigid Norwegian Sea. A combination of a restorative, centring practice with wild, untamed nature completes the experience.
Your Turn
Arctic Coliving — Lofoten Pier Lodge
– Lofoten Islands, Norway
– Shared and private rooms, two spacious kitchens, a lodge sauna, wood-fired brick pizza oven, multiple lounge and work areas, and a yoga space
– Open September 15th – end of February
– Adults only (19+)
Plan your stay at arcticcoliving.com