Although I chose most of the destinations during our road trip through Norway, Iva also had the chance to influence the planning. One of the places she added to the itinerary was Leka Island. Honestly — we’d never heard of this place before. It was all the more interesting to discover that it’s not just another unassuming island, but a place that is exceptional on a global geological scale.
The ferry itself is a surprise
Leka Island is located on the coast of central Norway, north of the town of Namsos, in the Trøndelag region. It covers an area of approximately 57 km² and around 580 people live there. On the map it looks inconspicuous, but its surface reveals something completely different.
We set off for the island after a night spent at the Haran campsite by the main E6 route. In the morning we’re again accompanied by rain and wind — the kind of weather we’ve gotten used to during our trip around Norway.
The ferry to Leka Island sails from the small harbor village of Sør-Gutvika (Gutvik) and is completely free. You can wait for the ferry in your car or in the small harbor building.
That’s the thing that surprises us the most. The waiting room is heated, has Wi‑Fi, drinking water, electrical outlets and a toilet. There are a few tables with chairs, magazines and a nice view of the bay. And this is exactly what characterizes Norway — the quality of services and infrastructure pleasantly surprises you even in places where you really wouldn’t expect it.
The crossing itself lasts only a few minutes, yet the ferry is comfortable, offers refreshments and is fully accessible.
First impressions of the island
Leka is not a large island; you can drive around it in under 30 minutes. Right after disembarking from the ferry, the island doesn’t look particularly special. Everything changes when we manage to drive to its western part. Suddenly it feels like we’re looking at something you don’t normally see in Norway.
The western part of the island is made up of so‑called ophiolites — rocks that are normally found deep beneath the Earth’s crust. They were brought to the surface by movements of tectonic plates, when oceanic crust was forced under continental crust. The result is a landscape that in places more closely resembles Mexico or the southwestern United States than typical Norway.
Interestingly, similar rocks are also found on the eastern coast of North America, which points to ancient geological processes that once connected these regions.
The contrast on the island is striking. The western part is drier, rockier and visually atypical, while the east of the island has a classic Norwegian character — green, softer and more tranquil. In a small area we find several lakes, varied terrain and we even get a view of one of the local waterfalls.
There are a number of maintained hiking trails, shelters and viewpoints. The highest point of the island is the peak Vattind, which is accessible to hikers and offers views of the island and the surrounding sea.
Facilities are simple but functional — apart from a few cafés, some shops and a quirky mini gas station, you won’t find much infrastructure here. That makes the roadside shelters all the more welcome. The one we visited had fully functioning and clean toilets, an electrical outlet and seating.
Solsemhula Cave
The island is also home to the Solsemhula Cave — one of the most famous archaeological sites in Norway. It is renowned for prehistoric rock paintings that date to around 2500 BCE. The cave itself is open to the public only via organized tours.
A short hiking trail leads to the cave from the parking lot. I chose this short section as a walk to give Iba some exercise. It’s an easy hike, roughly 30 minutes there and back. The terrain is light, but you should expect wet ground and mud in places. Nevertheless, the trail is safe and completely ideal for a dog.
The entrance to the cave itself was, of course, locked. We only found an information board and, not far from the entrance, a bench with a view of the coast. We didn’t stay long, and after a quick lunch in the parking lot we returned to the harbor and then to the mainland.
Conclusion
Leka was exactly the kind of place I might not have included in my plans on my own. Visiting the island doesn’t take much time, but it offers an unusual landscape, an interesting geological story and peace away from the main tourist routes.