29th July 2024 to 5th August 2024
Best of Lofoten, Norway – July
From £1750 per person
Deposit 25%. Balance due 12 weeks before departure
Explore rugged mountains, pristine fjords, and charming villages under the midnight sun in Lofoten sailing adventure.
7 Nights: 29 July - 5 August 2024
Price: 23,300 NOK / £1,750 per person*
*Trips are priced in the operator's local currency. The sterling amount shown is a guide only and the amount you pay in sterling will change with currency fluctuations.
Discover the beauty of Lofoten, Norway, with its rugged mountains, fjords, and beaches that make Lofoten one of the world's most stunning destinations. Go hiking, fishing, kayaking, and even surfing, enjoying the endless daylight of the midnight sun. Visit cultural sites and restaurants, immersing yourself in the unique charm of Lofoten. Enjoy the endless daylight of the midnight sun as you make memories both on board and on land. The journey takes you through Nusfjord, Nappstraumen, Unstad (known for its surfing), Skrova, and the Trollfjorden and Raftsundet fjords. The tour concludes in Svolvær with breakfast ashore at "Kringla," the city's finest café and bakery. Along the way, there are opportunities for unplanned activities, such as surfing at Unstad Arctic Surf. All planned activities are optional, allowing you to embrace your preferred experience, be it relaxing on the boat, writing poems, practicing yoga, or simply enjoying the scenery. As you explore Lofoten, you'll also learn to sail, face challenges, and create lasting friendships. Join us on this incredible journey to discover the best of Lofoten in July.
We meet at 16:00. Check-in and go through of the program and safety procedures onboard. In the evening we make dinner, get to know the boat and crew, and prepare for sail. If we are ready and the winds are good, we try to start sailing this first night already.
Day 2: Sail to Reine and Reinefjorden
At morning we set sails with course West towards Lofotodden and to Reine which, with its beautiful harbor, is probably Lofoten’s most photographed spot. With arrival early in the afternoon we prepare dinner on board and when there’s low tide, we sail into Reinefjorden and moor, then go on foot to Bunes beach on the north side. On the beach we can make a bonfire, cook dinner on the bonfire and enjoy life. There will also be an opportunity to climb the “Hell peak”, which rises 660 meters straight up in the air from the beach, if conditions allow.
Day 3: Hiking around Reine, peaks and kayaks
We spend the morning exploring Reine. Depending on the mood you may climb Reinebringen to reach it’s fantastic view of the small town and all the fjords, or rent a kayak, or just stroll around. In the afternoon we continue eastwards to Nusfjord, one of Norway’s best kept fishing town. This evening we can have dinner at “Restaurant Karoline”, one of the best places to eat in Lofoten.
Day 4: Sail to the outer side and the Unstad surfing beach
We enjoy a calm morning and have a nice breakfast in the atmospheric Nusfjord. Little by little we prepare the boat for sailing and set course northwards, through the Lofoten wall, towards the famous beach Unstad on the outer side of the Lofoten mountain range. We moor at Tangstad from where we can cross the hill to Unstad by foot. At Unstad Arctic Surf it’s possible to rent surfing equipment and take lessons for those who wish. Another option is to go to the Viking Museum at Borg. In the evening we have dinner at Unstad and when everyone feels ready and satisfied we head back to the boats and have a good night at anchor.
Day 5: Quiet morning and sail around Austvågøy to Skrova
After a quiet morning with a good breakfast on board, we set sail and navigate around Austvågøy and return to the inner side, through Gimsøystraumen. We pass by Henningsvær and continue to Skrova. At Skrova we go ashore and climb the small mountain peak with its beautiful view to the Lofoten wall in the west and Vestfjorden, Hamarøy and Steigen in the east. We prepare dinner on board.
Day 6: Sail to Trollfjorden and Trollheimen
After breakfast, we sail in the direction of Trollfjorden and Raftsundet, passing both LilleMolla, StoreMolla and Digermulen. Lunch in the Trollfjord will be great! This fjord has become very famous for its steep mountains that go straight down into the narrow fjord. In the afternoon you may hike up to the Trollfjord cabin and get a feeling of the “trollish atmosphere” in Trollheimen. Back in the boats we spend the night alongside the quay in Trollfjorden or at anchor nearby.
Day 7: Cultural experiences in Nyvågar
In the morning we will start sailing early with course for Kabelvåg and Nyvågar. In Nyvågar we find an interesting aquarium, art gallery and museum that gives a deeper insight into traditions and stories from Lofoten, a place that really gives perspectives and new insights. In the afternoon we sail for the last stretch into Svolvær. We wash and clean the boats, pack and get ready for departure the next day. As seafarers, we might check out the local nightlife.
Day 8: Return to Svolvær
In the morning we check out of the boats latest at 10.00, and have breakfast at Kringla, Svolvær’s best bakery. Many thanks for a great trip!
The program
The program should be seen as a rough itinerary that we can adapt to the weather and conditions. We also reserve the right to change and improve our itineraries. We will have a dinghy for beach trips and small expeditions, fishing gear for cod, and gear to hike or make bonfires on the beach on all our trips – we are ready for adventure! Are you?
- Experienced and locally familiar skipper/instructor on board
- Accommodation onboard during the whole trip – 7 nights
- All meals that we eat onboard along the way (from dinner first day to breakfast last day)
- Comfy package, bed in a double cabin with a made bed, warm duvet, pillow and bedsheets
- A sustainable, local, eco-friendly, unique, exotic and exclusive Norway holiday
- High-quality inflatable life jacket available for loan
- Free use of equipment such as ribs, kayaks, fishing gear etc
- All boat-related expenses such as diesel, gas, harbour-fees etc.
- Transportation to/from Lofoten
- Additional options/activities where we hire external guides and equipment, for example surfing in Unstad.
- Meals at cafes/restaurants (we plan 2-3 meals ashore for this trip)
- Drinks like wine, beer or exclusive apple juice and other luxury drinks
Travel – in general
Sometimes we have to fly, but not always. If you have the luxury of time, we always encourage you to travel as environmentally friendly as possible. Travelling slowly also allows you to start your holiday in a special way. Cycling, taking the train, or driving a car together can be good options! Feel free to add some extra time before and after your trip, since up north the weather can be unpredictable and might affect your plans!
Travel – Henningsvær
From Henningsvær the bus to Svolvær takes approx. 45 mins, and from there you can take a flight, sail with Hurtigruta, the express ferry or the regular ferry south to Bodø. From Svolvær there is also a bus to Harstad/Evenes airport.
Safety and risk – in general
We take safety seriously and on our trips, we train on handling different situations that can occur at sea. Onboard a boat and on trips, everyone must know what to do in potentially dangerous situations. For us, it is important that you as a guest and participant are trained quickly enough to be a participant – not a passenger. It contributes to learning, a sense of achievement, and increased safety for all. It’s also why our trips are considered to be sailing courses: you are trained to be one of the crew members on board. Feel free to contact us to discuss risk.
Level of this trip
Sailing wise, our trips are not very difficult, and you are always welcome to join us! Our trips attract both people who have never sailed before, as well as experienced sailors. If you are a beginner, we will turn you into a seaman/woman as soon as possible. If you are experienced, you will be given more responsibility and greater challenges so that you can learn new things along the way. We usually sail along the coast in protected waters, and we often have the opportunity to choose either more or less exposed routes, depending on the weather. The weather Gods decide, so you must be prepared for both windless conditions and sailing in harsher weather!
Equipment/packing
As with all activities, there is plenty of specialized equipment and clothing for sailing. We do not expect you to buy lots of new equipment to join any of our trips, so, use what you have, borrow what you need from a friend, try to purchase used equipment, and if you have to invest in new equipment – buy quality items that will last. What you need is something waterproof and windproof on the outside, and layered clothing underneath. Some jackets may not be waterproof enough, or might not perform well in salt water, so you might want to consider purchasing or renting a set of “oilskins” from us to use on the wettest days. Even in summer, it can be cold at sea, so bring both swimwear and warm clothing. We will send you a detailed recommended packing list in good time before departure.
Food and cooking
On our trips, you will be part of the crew onboard and get the chance to participate in all aspects of the running of the sailboat. This includes the cooking, where everyone is taking turns in the galley! Skippers and guides assist as much as they can along the way. Before the trip, we set up a menu and purchase what is needed. We offer good menus with healthy “boat friendly” food. If you have allergies or preferences, let us know in the registration form and we will take that into account. During the trip, we often sail by a good restaurant or two where we stop and eat.
What we expect from you
We want you to take part in the routines onboard the sailboat, whether it is sailing, docking, navigating, looking for whales and icebergs, washing up, cooking, cleaning the boat, or contributing in other ways when required. Our trips require a little work from the participants – and you must be open to contribute and open up a bit socially. We have many different people with us on our trips, and most people get along very well. Our experience is that doing things with others out in nature, and not least doing things with new people with different personalities than one might be used to, is what creates the best, most interesting and memorable stories :)
Life onboard and accommodation
Life onboard a sailboat is social and pleasant, but for some, it can be perceived as quite intimate and crowded, which one should be prepared for. On our trips, everyone participates in the operation of the sailboat and everyone is considered crew. We would like to get to know you well and hope that you will get to know everyone else on the boat as soon as possible. It requires some patience, generosity, and an open mind to thrive, but the new acquaintances and completely raw nature experiences will take your focus as soon as you become comfortable with life at sea.
Accommodation on the boat is part of the fun. The accommodation is generally in shared cabins, some of which have a double bed and some of which have bunk beds. Figuring out who sleeps where can be a bit of a puzzle, but we do believe we’ve gotten quite good at it. Let us know if you have any special needs or reservations. You must arrange any accommodation before and after the trip on your own. If you have any doubts about where to stay, we’re happy to give you some recommendations.
We have plenty of heating and good food on the boat, but not always an abundance of freshwater. This means it will not be possible to shower every day, but more or less every other day we are either in a harbour with freshwater or we sail through a place where we can borrow showers or enjoy a sauna. A morning swim in the sea is also available all year round!
What kind of people join this trip – and how many will we be on board?
Many come alone, some travel as couples, and others travel as a group of friends. The common denominator for everyone is that these are fun and interesting people you will become friends with almost no matter what. Sharing grand experiences creates strong ties! Many people wonder about the age composition of our trips, but this isn’t so important to us. It doesn’t matter if you are young or old as long as you want to go on a trip and intend to do your part in making this a great trip for everyone. The number of participants varies from trip to trip. If we have many participants, we will expand with more boats and skippers. On most trips, we sail multiple boats in a fleet, with 7-9 people onboard each boat.
Environment and sustainability
In general, sailing is an environmentally friendly activity, and we sail as much as we can and use the engine as little as possible. We encourage crew and participants to travel as environmentally friendly as possible, and we use local ingredients and resources as much as we can. We also run trips where we collect litter and clean ocean trash from beaches.
Philosophically, we often say that sailing is an exercise in sustainability: we move with the wind and we have limitations on things like water, diesel, electricity and food. In order to run sustainably, knowledge, patience, flexibility, and hard work are required. The same can be said about many other things that one tries to do in a sustainable way.
Please see ‘Other Practical Information Section’
Please see ‘Other Practical Information Section’
We meet at 16:00. Check-in and go through of the program and safety procedures onboard. In the evening we make dinner, get to know the boat and crew, and prepare for sail. If we are ready and the winds are good, we try to start sailing this first night already.
Day 2: Sail to Reine and Reinefjorden
At morning we set sails with course West towards Lofotodden and to Reine which, with its beautiful harbor, is probably Lofoten’s most photographed spot. With arrival early in the afternoon we prepare dinner on board and when there’s low tide, we sail into Reinefjorden and moor, then go on foot to Bunes beach on the north side. On the beach we can make a bonfire, cook dinner on the bonfire and enjoy life. There will also be an opportunity to climb the “Hell peak”, which rises 660 meters straight up in the air from the beach, if conditions allow.
Day 3: Hiking around Reine, peaks and kayaks
We spend the morning exploring Reine. Depending on the mood you may climb Reinebringen to reach it’s fantastic view of the small town and all the fjords, or rent a kayak, or just stroll around. In the afternoon we continue eastwards to Nusfjord, one of Norway’s best kept fishing town. This evening we can have dinner at “Restaurant Karoline”, one of the best places to eat in Lofoten.
Day 4: Sail to the outer side and the Unstad surfing beach
We enjoy a calm morning and have a nice breakfast in the atmospheric Nusfjord. Little by little we prepare the boat for sailing and set course northwards, through the Lofoten wall, towards the famous beach Unstad on the outer side of the Lofoten mountain range. We moor at Tangstad from where we can cross the hill to Unstad by foot. At Unstad Arctic Surf it’s possible to rent surfing equipment and take lessons for those who wish. Another option is to go to the Viking Museum at Borg. In the evening we have dinner at Unstad and when everyone feels ready and satisfied we head back to the boats and have a good night at anchor.
Day 5: Quiet morning and sail around Austvågøy to Skrova
After a quiet morning with a good breakfast on board, we set sail and navigate around Austvågøy and return to the inner side, through Gimsøystraumen. We pass by Henningsvær and continue to Skrova. At Skrova we go ashore and climb the small mountain peak with its beautiful view to the Lofoten wall in the west and Vestfjorden, Hamarøy and Steigen in the east. We prepare dinner on board.
Day 6: Sail to Trollfjorden and Trollheimen
After breakfast, we sail in the direction of Trollfjorden and Raftsundet, passing both LilleMolla, StoreMolla and Digermulen. Lunch in the Trollfjord will be great! This fjord has become very famous for its steep mountains that go straight down into the narrow fjord. In the afternoon you may hike up to the Trollfjord cabin and get a feeling of the “trollish atmosphere” in Trollheimen. Back in the boats we spend the night alongside the quay in Trollfjorden or at anchor nearby.
Day 7: Cultural experiences in Nyvågar
In the morning we will start sailing early with course for Kabelvåg and Nyvågar. In Nyvågar we find an interesting aquarium, art gallery and museum that gives a deeper insight into traditions and stories from Lofoten, a place that really gives perspectives and new insights. In the afternoon we sail for the last stretch into Svolvær. We wash and clean the boats, pack and get ready for departure the next day. As seafarers, we might check out the local nightlife.
Day 8: Return to Svolvær
In the morning we check out of the boats latest at 10.00, and have breakfast at Kringla, Svolvær’s best bakery. Many thanks for a great trip!
The program
The program should be seen as a rough itinerary that we can adapt to the weather and conditions. We also reserve the right to change and improve our itineraries. We will have a dinghy for beach trips and small expeditions, fishing gear for cod, and gear to hike or make bonfires on the beach on all our trips – we are ready for adventure! Are you?
Sailing boots
Trainers/ deck shoes (no black soled shoes please – they mark the deck)
Waterproof sailing kit (two sets are recommended. Heavy gear for on-board and lighter kit for trips ashore)
Hat
Balaklava
Sailing gloves – 2 sets
Glove liners
Hand warmers
Hot water bottle
Clothes for on-board and on shore
A small backpack for trips on-shore (30-40 litres)
A water bottle
Thermals, two sets
Thick socks, two sets
Sun glasses (polarized)
Sun cream – SPF50+
Small quick dry towel
Swimming kit
USB cord to charge your phone
Cash
Warm sleeping bag
Head torch
Sailing knife
Passport
Printed out Insurance details
Any medication you require
