I spent two weeks camping with a tent in the Lofoten Islands in Norway this June, and honestly, it was one of the most unreal trips I’ve ever done.
Because of Norway’s right to roam, you can camp in a lot of places, as long as you’re respectful, keep your distance from houses, and leave no trace. That made the whole trip feel incredibly free. Some of the best spots were on absolutely insane beaches that you can’t even reach by car, like bunes beach, where you have to take a ferry and then hike in, but waking up next to turquoise water, white sand, and dramatic mountains is 100% worth carrying the gear.
June felt like a decent time to go. It was just before the main season, so it wasn’t too crowded yet. From July onwards it apparently gets much busier, and I can imagine that finding good camping spots becomes a lot harder.
One of the craziest parts was the midnight sun. It never really got dark, so you could go hiking at night and still have this endless sunset feeling the whole time. It completely messes with your sense of time in the best way. Hiking there doesn't really compare to places like the alps, the trails are usually way shorter and steeper, so its more about getting to the top and enjoying the view than enjoying the way there, tbh.
That said, it’s definitely not a classic summer holiday. Even in June it was pretty cold, and we had a few nights with proper storms. So you really need decent gear and a tent you trust. But the landscape more than makes up for it.