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Hattvika Lodge
@hattvikalodge
Lofoten Islands, Norway
In March 2024, Nomadict organized its first photography workshop in Lofoten, Norway, in collaboration with Ronald Söthje. Our accommodation was Hattvika Lodge, our ideal base camp for countless adventures and a cozy retreat after long evenings chasing the mesmerizing northern lights.
In this interview, we delve into Kristian’s entrepreneurial journey as the visionary behind Hattvika Lodge in Lofoten. From his early tech career to the beginning of Hattvika Lodge and its evolution into a haven for adventure seekers, Kristian shares insights into the inspiration behind the lodge, its unique offerings, and the role of collaboration, particularly with photographers, in its success. We also explore Kristian’s vision for the future of Hattvika Lodge and his commitment to sustainable tourism practices in the face of Lofoten’s increasing popularity.
Interview
Welcome Kristian! First, where does your passion for entrepreneurship come from?
Born and raised in Lofoten, I’ve been an early advocate for education and have spent 20 years in the tech industry, working for renowned companies like IBM, HP, and Oracle, among others. The vision for business and brand awareness runs deep in my DNA.
My passion for entrepreneurship got me when starting the Hattvika Lodge project eight years ago and has been ever since driving the momentum for the vision of the business – become the best basecamp for adventurous guests worldwide. By looking at the front runners in Norway, such as Børge Ousland, a Norwegian polar explorer, and the entrepreneur and CEO of Up Norway, Torunn Tronsvang, I achieved higher goals, and my passion for sustainable growth has only grown.
What was and still is the inspiration behind Hattvika Lodge?
I aim to create interesting and sustainable work opportunities for people in Lofoten who have the same adventurous spirit and a desire to show the beauty of our island at its best. This, together with an adventurous mindset and passion for nature, is keeping me going forward and continue to design new products and facilities to offer memorable activities to guests visiting Lofoten
Can you tell us more about the history and atmosphere of the fisherman’s area surrounding Hattvika Lodge? How does staying in this authentic environment enhance the overall experience for travel and landscape photographers?
Daily, fishing boats set out or return to the harbor. The village’s rich fishing heritage permeates every corner of Ballstad, with locals expressing warmth and cheerfulness. The center of Ballstad, the downtown area, pulses with fishermen’s energy, while the maintenance shipyard’s echoes narrate its history.
When staying at Hattvika Lodge or elsewhere in the area, visitors/ photographers can always find authentic motives for their photography with majestic mountains as the backdrop. Due to the ever-changing weather conditions, the landscape of Ballstad is always different, shifting day and night. Guests can effortlessly immerse themselves in the rhythm of Ballstad by simply gazing out the window or dining in the restaurant, where they can observe the harbor and the life of the fishermen.
Can you provide more details about the guided activities available at Hattvika Lodge, such as sea kayaking, hiking, and trail running? What makes these experiences memorable for guests, especially those interested in photography?
We are rooted in the outdoors and driven by a passion for the islands. My guides and I know all of the Lofoten islands by heart and are capable of designing all levels of hiking, trekking, snowshoeing, and ski mountaineering activities. If guests want a safe and memorable adventure, we are ready. The outcome is always better with local guidance, as you get history and heritage, and most likely, you will be off the tourist track.
As Ballstad is located by the ocean and surrounded by a multitude of islets and small islands, the sea kayak is a great adventure for gaining perspective on the scenery outside the fisherman village. Sitting close to sea level with no sounds of buzzy city life offers special moments (and compositions/views for the photographers among our guests).
How do these experiences showcase the region’s unique landscape and culture?
The Lofoten Islands’ infrastructure and roads are located very shoreline/at sea level, so you mostly need to look up to admire the landscape (or go onto the water, as mentioned above).
By moving up and gaining altitude, you can see the perspective from above, looking down at this beautiful landscape. This is truly something else. It gives the complex jagged mountains full perspective, and you can overlook the small fisherman village, which is sheltered between mountains and small fjords.
Can you share some insights into the process of establishing and growing Hattvika Lodge into a successful hospitality business? And which role has collaboration (with photographers in particular) played in its success?
A single image tells more than a thousand words, and in today’s digital age, most businesses maintain an online presence. In the competitive tourism industry, the demand for high-quality visuals has grown. The enhanced digital presence of businesses, tourism boards, cities, and countries significantly influences millions of people daily. As the Hattvika Lodge has expanded in accommodation units, facilities, and the number of guided activities, the need for good footage has become higher, too.
One of Hattvika Lodge’s first success factors was collaborating with landscape and adventure photographers. The resulting visual content has helped enormously in building brand awareness and improving the conversion rate.
Recently, a collaboration in SOME has peaked our followers to large numbers, which has also built organic growth for the website.
Which photography spots would you recommend any photographer visiting the area to see at least once?
I am a mountain lover, and if you ask me, all the views from above are closest to my heart. After spending so many hours in the mountains around Ballstad, Nonstinden, and Ballstadheia are my favorite spots. I highly recommend them to photographers for creating images. Some amazing verticals show up just after 30 minutes of hiking.
Other areas everyone should see (and capture!) are the beaches on the other shore of Lofoten. Some are very accessible, like Skagsanden, Vik, Haukland, Kvalvika, and Unstad. More remote beaches like Horseidfrom are also very much worth the effort—from above, the view is simply breathtaking.
Where do you see yourself as an entrepreneur ten years from now?
Building a hospitality business from scratch is a never-ending story as the travel industry is dynamic. New trends are coming to the market extremely fast, and we, as businesses, must adapt immediately.
A key element in success as an entrepreneur is people/staff with the same passion for creating the best guest experience. We can never go the extra mile without these people. For me, learning from staff daily gives the best perspective for the future, all blended with daily feedback from guests that brings future vision. The horizon is constantly changing in the travel industry, and this gives me faith to continue my journey as a business owner, continuously developing Hattvika Lodge to meet the needs and requirements of the changing industry and the desires of guests.
Our starting point was abended fisherman cottages, restored to your HOME AWAY FROM HOME in the heritage of the Jentoft family. Today, it is the base camp for guests from all over the world.
"I am very much looking forward to what Hattvika Lodge will become while holding onto its origins and using its heritage to create something unique and sustainable at all times."
Our biggest concern these days is the unmanaged growth of tourists to the Lofoten islands; local and central governments have to quickly adapt to the “people pollution” issues, damage to nature, waste issues, and native infrastructure issues. We have narrow roads, small airport capacity, few ferries, and limited public transportation, which does not align with the needs we have since the boost in visitors.
Without restrictions and better alignment for travel behaviors, our visitors could quickly outplay us. However, as a community, business owners and government officials can preserve and maintain the beautiful scenery on the bucket list for so many people around the planet.
Lofoten Islands
Workshop 2025
Join Ronald Söthje and Nomadict in Lofoten, Norway, for a unique photography and videography workshop and aurora hunting!
This workshop focuses on iconic arctic landscapes and the northern lights.
We will venture out to explore different locations across the Lofoten Islands, Norway. We will hold class-based lectures to dive deep into technical, creative, and ethical aspects of landscape photography.
A workshop that follows the rhythm of a photographer at work – flexibility, night shifts, changes in schedule and taking advantage of the moments that present themselves are part of the deal. You will learn what does it mean to be a full-time photographer and filmmaker, and how to become one.
