Untouched. Untamed. Unspoiled...the terms used to describe Lofoten paint a picture of a forbidden landscape that hasn’t been trampled upon by unchecked human ambition. Its rapidly changing Arctic weather and ethereal natural lighting have long inspired artists, as can be seen in the long tradition of Norwegian art and literature. With their colourful fishing villages, icy blue waters, craggy mountains and, of course, the Northern Lights, the Lofoten Islands are the very definition of postcard-pretty.

For the adventurer at heart, the Lofoten Islands are a fertile land of opportunities. Also known as the islands of the gods, they offer everything an adventurer could wish for — majestic cliffs, deep fjords, frozen beaches….Here, you can choose your strain of adventure — from hiking and skiing to kayaking and scuba diving. This is also one of the northernmost surfing sites in the world.

The beauty of Lofoten Islands is haunting and unforgiving, but ultimately rewarding for those who dare. Such was the experience of Chris Burkard, a Californian surf photographer, who chose them as his next muse.

Chris already had a dream job, photographing the world’s sunniest beaches. But even the sun, the surf and the sand can get monotonous. He needed something more to satisfy his hunger for adventure. He began to seek more radical locations, ultimately arriving at bone-freezing Lofoten. In his own words, “I traded touristy beaches for harsh wilderness. This was the best decision of my life.”

At Lofoten, Chris plunged in icy waters till he couldn’t feel his fingers. That’s all it took to make him a convert. He now seeks the remotest, harshest cold climate in the pursuit of his new passion. Chris will use every means to get to the remote bays: track icy surf on Google Maps, travel for kilometers through snow storms in discarded military helicopters...the sheer struggle of it all makes every shot he takes more precious than ever. “If shivering is a form of meditation than I consider myself a monk,” he says. Watch Chris talk about his life transforming experience at Lofoten Islands in the video below.

Play

Chris Burkard’s journey prompts one to ask the question ‘how much of who you are is where you’ve been?’ That’s the insight behind Lufthansa’s #LifeChangingPlaces campaign which inspires people to seek life changing experiences through travel. Chris Burkard’s is one of the inspiring journeys featured in the campaign.

With this campaign, Lufthansa seeks to help people find the destination that can change the course of their lives. When you visit the website on your smartphone, you will see an option to click and upload a photo of your surroundings. Based on where you are, Lufthansa will show you where you can be — surfing on sunny beaches, skiing through fresh snow, strolling in lush green forests. You might just be pleasantly surprised, and may be even inspired by the recommendations. To plan your life changing trip, explore Lufthansa’s #LifeChangingPlaces, click here.

This article was produced by the Scroll marketing team on behalf of Lufthansa and not by the Scroll editorial team.