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Race manualLofoten Stage Run // 100 km
4 stages · Reine to Svolvær · all inclusive.
Welcome
An amazing multi-day run in the never-ending light of the midnight sun. This manual covers the 100 km Stage Run, a west-to-east journey across Lofoten with transport bridging the gaps between the stages.
This is a stage race where the organizers do all support, including your food and your beds.
Back to nature
The Arctic Triple has a strong environmental focus. We want to organize the most environmentally friendly races in the world. Hundreds of support cars on narrow island roads simply doesn't fit that picture, so the organizers provide all support. The roads stay less crowded and safer for athletes and crew.
The route is marked to make the experience safer and better, and we actively avoid producing items that would end up as trash or at the back of a closet.
We are lucky to race in the wild nature of the Lofoten Islands. For that to continue, we take care of it: throwing trash anywhere along the course is strictly forbidden. Use the bins at the service points, and nowhere else.
Leave nothing but a "thank you" behind.
Summary
- About 100 km over 4 stages · about 4 000 m of positive ascent
- All inclusive: food and accommodation from the night before stage 1 to the night after stage 4
- Basecamps in Reine, Nusfjord, Leknes, Rolvsfjorden and Svolvær
- Luggage transported from basecamp to basecamp, so pack and mark your bag well
- Stage maximum times: 10 h · 8 h · 9 h · 10 h
- 1–2 service points per stage; route marked from start to finish
- Age limit 18 years · finish line on Svolvær town square
- Every finisher earns the finisher shirt
Event venue in Svolvær
Everything centres on the harbour in Svolvær: registration and start kits at RETUR, briefings at Thon Hotel Lofoten, and the start/finish on the town square.
- 1 Finish line · Svolvær torg Where every race ends. Ceremonies on the square. ↗
- 2 Transition zone T1 / T2 Triathlon bike check-in and both transitions, on the square. ↗
- 3 Swim start · Svolvær harbour Water start; the full swim course is drawn on the map. ↗
- 4 RETUR · registration and start kits Torget 14. Bib pick-up, gear check and cups for sale. ↗
- 5 Event hotel · race briefings Thon Hotel Lofoten. Briefings, early breakfast, athlete rate. ↗
- 6 Race buses · Svolvær sentrum Race-day transport leaves from the stop just south of the hotel. ↗
Tap a location in the list to zoom to it. Start, finish, transition zone and the swim course are plotted from the official race GPX; the square outline, hotel and bus stop from OpenStreetMap.
What's included
- Accommodation, 5 nights: rorbu cabins, sea houses, fjord camp and hotel
- All meals: breakfast, make-your-own trail lunch, warm dinner every night
- Luggage transport from basecamp to basecamp
- Boat ride to the starting line
- Start kit and The Arctic Triple buff
- Service stations, first aid and evacuation transport
- Timing and live GPS tracking
- Finisher shirt
Mandatory equipment
Packed in your backpack or worn on your body every stage:
- Cup for drinks/soup at the service points (available at RETUR)
- Identification (driver's license or similar)
- Wind- and water-repellent jacket and pants
- Base layer (top and bottom)
- Hat and gloves
- Whistle
- Emergency blanket/shelter
- Credit card or cash
- GPS with the route loaded (watches approved) and sufficient battery
- Fully charged cell phone + power bank
- Basic first-aid kit (tape, bandage/compress, blister tape, safety pin)
Recommended
Trekking poles (if you start with them, you carry them the whole way), a change of clothing, compass, knife, string, sun cream, anti-chafing cream, needle and thread.
The stages
Stage 1 · Wednesday · Kjerkfjorden → Fredvang · 20 km / 1 200 m+
Boat from Reine into the fjord, then the wildest terrain of the trip: mountain passes, technical trails and the beaches of Kvalvika before the pass to Fredvang. Bus from Fredvang to the basecamp in Nusfjord. Sleep: rorbu at Nusfjord Arctic Resort.
Stage 2 · Thursday · Napp → Leknes · 17 km / 250 m+
Through the 1 780 m underwater tunnel and around Offersøykammen past a stone-age cave, where the trail nearly disappears along the rocky coastline, then flat road running towards Leknes. Sleep: sea houses by Leknes.
Stage 3 · Friday · Rolvsfjorden loop · 35 km / 1 400 m+
Transport to Rolvsfjorden, then trails across the mountain, flat running by Borgfjorden, and new trails and a fine ridge on the way back to the fjord camp. Sleep: cabins at Rolvsfjorden.
Stage 4 · Saturday · Kleppstad → Svolvær · 21 km / 1 150 m+
Transport to Kleppstad, then the grand finale: gravel roads to Olderfjorden, the technical ridge section, the descent to the power station, and Tjeldbergtinden as your final summit before the tunnel, the harbour and the finish line on Svolvær square. Sleep: Thon Hotel Lofoten, next to the finish line.
Course map & GPX
Explore the course on the live map. Drag, zoom, and slide along the elevation profile to see exactly where every climb hits. Numbers are measured from the official GPX track.
Route may change with weather and safety conditions. The GPX published before race week is final.
Stage maximum times
| Stage | Max time |
|---|---|
| Stage 1 | 10 hours |
| Stage 2 | 8 hours |
| Stage 3 | 9 hours |
| Stage 4 | 10 hours |
Race support
Race language: English
English is the official race language. All briefings, course markings, manuals and safety instructions are given in English, and our crew must be able to communicate with you quickly and clearly, especially in an emergency in the mountains or on the water.
- Every athlete must fully understand and speak English to start the race
- By registering, you confirm that you meet this requirement
Rules
General
Rules are kept to a minimum. We trust you to use common sense, and to act if another athlete needs emergency assistance. The most important rule of all: read this entire manual. There is nothing in here you can afford to miss.
Classes
Two classes: women and men. Simple. We like simple.
License
All athletes need a national license to start; a day license can be purchased at registration. Foreign athletes use a license from their own country or sign a release-of-liability form at registration.
Mandatory equipment
Random gear checks will happen. Missing or substandard equipment may lead to disqualification.
Navigation & GPS route
The route is marked, but study it in advance. Download the navigation map and GPX files from this site and load the route on your device before the start. The route must be followed at all times. No shortcuts.
Time chip
Wear the time chip on your right ankle, pointing outwards, for the whole race. If you lose it, contact The Arctic Triple crew for a new one (EUR 50 fee).
GPS tracker
Wear the GPS tracker for the whole race. It is a key safety device, and it lets supporters follow you live. Tell the organizer as soon as possible if it is lost. A tracker not returned by Sunday incurs a EUR 400 fee.
Violations & liability
Rule violations, unsportsmanlike behavior or knowingly exposing yourself or others to unnecessary risk can result in time penalties or disqualification. All athletes sign a release from liability at registration.
Withdrawal
If you withdraw, informing the organizers is mandatory. Transport to the basecamp may take a while, but we will keep you safe and warm while you wait.
Anti-doping
The Arctic Triple stands for clean sport. All our races are organized under the anti-doping regulations of Anti-Doping Norway (Antidoping Norge) and the WADA code.
- By registering, you consent to our anti-doping policy, and consent is gathered as part of the registration process
- The use of prohibited substances or methods is strictly forbidden, in and out of competition
- Random doping tests by Anti-Doping Norway may occur at any time: before, during or after the race
Cancellation & transfers
The entry fee is non-refundable, regardless of the reason for cancellation.
You can transfer your entry to another athlete until 14 days before the first race day. Log in at register.thearctictriple.no and start the transfer from your registration. The transfer fee is NOK 150.
Last day to transfer for the 2027 edition: 18 May 2027.
Entries bought with a discount code that does not allow transfer cannot be transferred. If an earlier deadline is set for an edition, the registration system shows it, and that deadline applies.
Norwegian law (LOV-2007-06-29-86) prohibits selling tickets to cultural and sporting events at a higher price than the original.
Weather & safety
Thanks to the Gulf Stream, Lofoten is far milder than Alaska or Greenland at the same latitude. Normal day temperatures in late May and June are 12–18 °C.
Safety
The Arctic Triple has a strong safety focus. Our safety crew is well prepared and works closely with the local rescue teams.
Withdrawal
If you withdraw at any point, informing the organizers is mandatory. Transport back to Svolvær may take a while, but we will keep you safe and warm while you wait.
Travel & stay
Flights, boats, buses and beds. Everything is gathered on our Travel & stay page: four airports, the express boat, the Hurtigruten coastal ferry, and where to sleep by the harbour.