On this trip, experience the launch of our newest tour concept: Freediving & Sailing! Join what will be an unforgettable adventure both above and below water, while sailing around the skerries and the fjords in Helgeland and Salten.
7 Nights: 16 - 23 August 2023
From: 20,500 NOK / £1,685 per person*
Sailing trips combined with activities such as climbing, beach cleaning, skiing, fishing, or hiking are what we consider to be the ultimate active holiday, and the ultimate way to experience Northern Norway!
Start with the basics of freediving on this trip. During the first two days, the skilled instructor will give a thorough introduction and go over the basic skills in the art of freediving. This way you will have all reached a level that will allow you to explore more places underwater throughout the week. This trip is suitable for both novice and experienced divers. Learn to sail, be challenged, and ultimately leave with both a feeling of mastery and memorable experiences for life regardless of experience.
Our experienced skipper will take care of the sail training, instructing and navigation. The freediving instructor, Vidar Holmen, will take you through freediving. Originally from Harstad, in Northern Norway, he has been diving since his teens and is now a professional diver with 20 years of experience. Vidar has worked for the Norweigan Navy, and has the Norwegian record in APNEA deep diving and beat 6 Norwegian records in 2022!
Day 1: Welcome onboard in Bodø
Meet in Bodø at 16:00. Once onboard the boat, get to know the other participants and the crew. Before setting sailing, go through the boat and the equipment on board, and go over basic sailing theory and sail handling. Also, look at the schedule for the week and adapt the itinerary to the weather forecast and expected conditions. Eventually, cast off and start the trip by sailing northwards towards Arnøy and Fugloy where you’ll dock for the night.
Day 2: Freediving ABCs
After breakfast, go through basic freediving theory and safety when diving. Take in the crystal clear water right on the outside of the boat, and test the equipment throughout the day. With good wetsuits and the right equipment, it won’t be cold and it will be comfortable to be in the water for a long time! Keep it simple and practice in the nearby water. Those who have not dived so much before will receive good follow-up and guidance, while those who are more experienced may explore a little more. After a good session in the water, we get warm and dry onboard before we sail further south. If conditions allow, we sail all the way to Rødøy, where we stay for the night.
Day 3: Freediving and hiking on Rødøy
After breakfast, start the day with a new session in the water. Rødøy is known for its beautiful sandy beaches, which are a great starting point for our diving. Here, easily test how deep we manage to get, as the bottom gradually slopes downwards. Those who get the deepest may even be able to pick scallops and crabs, which can be on the table for dinner later! On Rødøy, the well-known Rødøyløva mountain towers over the beautiful beaches, and those who are interested can take the scenic hike to the top. If the weather is nice this evening, sail a little north again to the skerries around Bolga or Støtt, and anchor here for a wonderful night!
Day 4: Diving around the islands by Støtt
Støtt is a beautiful fishing village, which consists of a huge number of islands, islets, and reefs. This morning possibly sail to Støtt if the boat did not make it all the way the previous night. At Støtt, take the dinghy, and explore some of the islets here. Depending on what the weather allows, dive around this beautiful archipelago. In the evening, maybe stop by Støtt Brygge’s restaurant, where you can enjoy something from their rich wine list and seasonal menu.
Day 5: Sailing to Saltfjorden
This will be a full sailing day where the boat will begin to sail north again. Take this as a perfect opportunity to practice all that you have learnt! Eat lunch along the way. Maybe take out the fishing equipment, and see if you can catch today’s dinner. After a full day at sea, it will be good to come to port and have a quiet evening with dinner on board.
Day 6: Underwater hunting with harpoon and sling
Free diving is both a very great nature experience and activity, but also an excellent way to hunt and gather underwater. You’ll have already tried this with diving for shells and crabs, but today take both harpoon and sling water, to see if you can catch a fish or two. Underwater hunting can be challenging: it requires both patience and practice.
Day 7: Saltstraummen, the diving mecca of the North
This day will be our ultimate test: have you become good enough to dive into the world-famous Saltstraumen, the world’s strongest tidal current? Such a dive is very advanced due to the current, but these currents also make for bustling underwater life. Depending on the tidal conditions and the group, find a suitable place in the area around Saltstraumen, for a great end to an eventful week! In the afternoon, hoist sails again and set course back towards Bodø.
Day 8: Goodbye for this time!
After a nice breakfast on the boat, and a discussion of what freediving equipment you might want to get yourself, end the trip at 10:00 in Bodø. From the guest harbour where the boat will dock, it’s a short way to either the train station or the airport.
The program
The program should be seen as a starting point that we adapt to weather and conditions. We also reserve the right to constantly change and improve our itineraries. On board, with us, we will always have a dinghy for beach trips and small expeditions, fishing gear for cod, and gear to hike or make bonfires on the beach – we are ready for adventure! Are you?
Travel – in general
Sometimes flying is the only option, but not always. If you have the luxury of time, always try 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 Bodø
The north-Norwegian train line stops at Grong, and from Grong, take a bus to Brønnøysund. Another “slow” and great way to get to Brønnøysund is with Hurtigruten from Trondheim or from Bodø, see the timetable for Hurtigruta at www.hurtigruten.no. However, if you are flying, and the only airline flying to Brønnøysund is www.wideroe.no.
Safety and risk – in general
Safety is taken seriously on our trips, and staff are trained in handling different situations that can occur at sea. On board a boat and on trips, everyone must know what to do in potentially dangerous situations. It is important that as a guest and participant, you 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 the risk.
Safety and risk-freediving
Our freediving instructor has a high focus on safety. Adapt the program and the diving based on the weather conditions, and set up the underwater sessions to suit the level of the group.
Level of this trip
Sailing-wise, this trip is not very difficult and is open to novice and experienced sailors. If you are a beginner, you will become a seaman in no time! If you are experienced, you will be given more responsibility and greater challenges so that you can learn new things along the way. Sail is usually along the coast in protected waters, and there is often 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
For those who need it, you’ll be provided with the necessary diving gear. If you have your own equipment that you are comfortable with and accustomed to, you are welcome to bring it along, or if you are missing something, we can help you out. Guests are required to report which equipment they need to borrow and their height and weight, well in advance of the start of the tour in order to have all the required equipment. Receive a packing list for the trip before the start of the tour.
For sailing, you need something waterproof and windproof on the outside, and a proper layering system underneath. For the wettest days, a tip is to wear oilskins. Even in summer, it can be cold at sea, so bring both swimwear and plenty of warm clothes and wool.
Food and cooking
On board, you will be part of the crew and will 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, set up a menu and purchase what is needed. Great menu options are offered, with healthy “boat-friendly” food. If you have allergies or preferences, let us know in the registration form and it will be taken into account. During the trip, possibly sail by a good restaurant or two to stop and eat at.
What we expect from you
Guests are encouraged 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. Trips require a little work from the participants – and you must be open to contributing and opening up a bit socially. There are many different people on the trip, and most people get along very well. Take the opportunity to make new friends, and create new and interesting memories!
Life on board and accommodation
Life on board a sailboat is social and pleasant, but for some, it can be perceived as quite intimate and crowded, which one should be prepared for. Everyone should participate in the operation of the sailboat and everyone is considered crew. 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 have a bunk bed solution. Let us know if you have any special needs or reservations. If you want to stay a night on shore under the starry sky or in your own tent, then, of course, you can do it! Any accommodation before and after the trip must be arranged on its own. If you have any doubts about where to stay, we are happy to give you some recommendations.
There is plenty of heating and good food on the boat, but not always an abundance of fresh water. This means it will not be possible to shower every day, but more or less every other day when in a harbour or when sailing through a place with available showers. A morning swim in the sea is also available all year round!
What kind of people join this trip – and how many are we 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 great experiences creates strong ties! 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 there are many participants, there will be more boats and skippers. On most trips, sail with multiple boats in a fleet, with 7-9 people onboard each boat.
ECO, Environment, and sustainability
Both sailing and hiking/alpine/backcountry trips are environmentally friendly activities with skippers sailing as much as possible and using the engine as little as possible. Crew and participants are encouraged to travel as environmentally friendly as possible, and local ingredients and resources are used as much as possible. There are also trips to collect litter and clean ocean trash from beaches.
Philosophically, sailing is an exercise in sustainability: to move with the wind and have limitations on things like water, diesel, electricity, and food. In order to run sustainably, knowledge, patience, flexibility, and hard work are required.
Take an internal flight to Bodø.
Take an internal flight from Bodø.
Day 1: Welcome onboard in Bodø
Meet in Bodø at 16:00. Once onboard the boat, get to know the other participants and the crew. Before setting sailing, go through the boat and the equipment on board, and go over basic sailing theory and sail handling. Also, look at the schedule for the week and adapt the itinerary to the weather forecast and expected conditions. Eventually, cast off and start the trip by sailing northwards towards Arnøy and Fugloy where you’ll dock for the night.
Day 2: Freediving ABCs
After breakfast, go through basic freediving theory and safety when diving. Take in the crystal clear water right on the outside of the boat, and test the equipment throughout the day. With good wetsuits and the right equipment, it won’t be cold and it will be comfortable to be in the water for a long time! Keep it simple and practice in the nearby water. Those who have not dived so much before will receive good follow-up and guidance, while those who are more experienced may explore a little more. After a good session in the water, we get warm and dry onboard before we sail further south. If conditions allow, we sail all the way to Rødøy, where we stay for the night.
Day 3: Freediving and hiking on Rødøy
After breakfast, start the day with a new session in the water. Rødøy is known for its beautiful sandy beaches, which are a great starting point for our diving. Here, easily test how deep we manage to get, as the bottom gradually slopes downwards. Those who get the deepest may even be able to pick scallops and crabs, which can be on the table for dinner later! On Rødøy, the well-known Rødøyløva mountain towers over the beautiful beaches, and those who are interested can take the scenic hike to the top. If the weather is nice this evening, sail a little north again to the skerries around Bolga or Støtt, and anchor here for a wonderful night!
Day 4: Diving around the islands by Støtt
Støtt is a beautiful fishing village, which consists of a huge number of islands, islets, and reefs. This morning possibly sail to Støtt if the boat did not make it all the way the previous night. At Støtt, take the dinghy, and explore some of the islets here. Depending on what the weather allows, dive around this beautiful archipelago. In the evening, maybe stop by Støtt Brygge’s restaurant, where you can enjoy something from their rich wine list and seasonal menu.
Day 5: Sailing to Saltfjorden
This will be a full sailing day where the boat will begin to sail north again. Take this as a perfect opportunity to practice all that you have learnt! Eat lunch along the way. Maybe take out the fishing equipment, and see if you can catch today’s dinner. After a full day at sea, it will be good to come to port and have a quiet evening with dinner on board.
Day 6: Underwater hunting with harpoon and sling
Free diving is both a very great nature experience and activity, but also an excellent way to hunt and gather underwater. You’ll have already tried this with diving for shells and crabs, but today take both harpoon and sling water, to see if you can catch a fish or two. Underwater hunting can be challenging: it requires both patience and practice.
Day 7: Saltstraummen, the diving mecca of the North
This day will be our ultimate test: have you become good enough to dive into the world-famous Saltstraumen, the world’s strongest tidal current? Such a dive is very advanced due to the current, but these currents also make for bustling underwater life. Depending on the tidal conditions and the group, find a suitable place in the area around Saltstraumen, for a great end to an eventful week! In the afternoon, hoist sails again and set course back towards Bodø.
Day 8: Goodbye for this time!
After a nice breakfast on the boat, and a discussion of what freediving equipment you might want to get yourself, end the trip at 10:00 in Bodø. From the guest harbour where the boat will dock, it’s a short way to either the train station or the airport.
The program
The program should be seen as a starting point that we adapt to weather and conditions. We also reserve the right to constantly change and improve our itineraries. On board, with us, we will always have a dinghy for beach trips and small expeditions, fishing gear for cod, and gear to hike or make bonfires on the beach – we are ready for adventure! Are you?
PS: This is a recommended packing list. Please take into account if there are other items you may need on board.
