13th August 2024 to 20th August 2024
Wild Arctic Norway – Southbound
From £1775 per person
Deposit 50%. Balance due 12 weeks before departure
Explore the rugged nature and wildlife of Arctic Norway by sailing through Tromsø to Henningsvær.
7 Nights: 13 - 20 August 2024
From 23,300 NOK / £1,775 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.
Lace up your hiking boots and join us on this sailing trip where we sail and hike around the coolest mountains in Northern Norway. Hike & Sail, Tromsø – Lofoten is for you who itch to get up high every time you see a mountain, and for you dreaming of starting a hike from the beach in a roadless fjord. We take you to places that are the definition of wild and awesome nature. Along the way we’ll cover quite some distance sailing as well, so this adventure suits those who want to sail a lot too. Feel the boat rock and heel, and get wind in your hair! This will be an active and educational week, with lots of sailing, sun, wind, rain, mountains, sea, sweat and laughter!
Hike & Sail to Møysalen and Segla
We plan several hikes on this adventure: the steep and cool mountains in the western fjords of Senja; Hesten and Segla. As well as coastal summits on Andøya in Vesterålen and Lofoten. However the hiker’s highlight of this trip is the summit of Norway’s biggest island Hinnøya; mount Møysalen. This majestic mountain reaches 1263 meters above sea level and is the highest in the area. It towers proudly over the rest of its surroundings. The hike up is said to be the finest mountain trip in Northern Norway, and we completely agree! Not least, the view that awaits us at the top is worth the long hours of toil and effort. The small snow patch waiting to be crossed at the top, adds excitement to the adventure. A real highlight of the trip! Of course the hike is weather dependent, however we always aim for the skies!
From Tromsø to Henningsvær and the Lofoten islands
We start our hike & sail trip from Tromsø, also called “the Paris of the north”. From where we sa south around Senja and into its western fjords to hike, and also into the harbor Hamn to relax and enjoy. We then cross the open stretch over to Andøya’s northern point where many whales feed and mate, and then we do a proper stayover in the village Bleik. The area here has a great mix of steep cliffs and white beaches, lots of birdlife and a special cultural landscape. There is also a local pub which hopefully is open when we arrive.
We continue south through the Vesterålen Islands and towards our main hiking goal for the week; the Møysalen mountain. With the snow covered peak it is easy to spot from afar, and we anchor in Møysalen National Park. On the last days we sail further south into the Lofoten Islands and to Skrova. Passing by Trollfjorden (the Troll Fjord) on our way. From the top of the island Skrova we see Lofoten in all its beauty, and we also can spot Henningsvær where we are ending this trip. Henningsvær is one of the traditional fishing villages in the Lofoten Islands. Where we conclude the trip with a last night out at the cool restaurant and hangout Trevarefabrikken.
Active holiday with unique access
With the sailboat as our mobile base for discovering and traveling in small groups, we get up close to nature, wildlife, and the locals who live in the areas we visit. We combine sailing with as many other fun activities as possible, such as hiking, fishing, kayaking, eating good food and lighting bonfires ashore. Of the planned activities, you are of course free to take part in what you want along the way. If one day you rather take it easy on the boat, write poems, do yoga or do nothing, then of course you do that.
As on all our trips, you also learn to sail along the way. You will have challenges, feel mastery and gain experiences & friends for life!
Day 1: Trip start at 16.00 from “Paris of the north” Tromsø
Check-in and we go through 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 wind is good, we might start sailing this night already.
Day 2: Sail to Senja and hiking Segla and Hesten
After breakfast and possibly a swim in the arctic sea, we sail into the western fjords of Senja, and to the village Fjordgard. From here we have access to three great hikes, to Hesten, Segla and Stavelitippen. Hesten is the neighbor-mountain to Segla, and has a trail all the way to the top. Once we are this far up we might as well head all the way up to Stavelitippen. It may be late when we arrive back in the boats, but the sun is probably still up over the horizon.
Day 3: Sail to Bergsfjorden and the harbor of Hamn
This day we sail out and around the “outer” western side of Senja. The area has long fjords and steep mountains and is made for us to explore by boat. Our destination is the protected harbor Hamn, and on the way we sail through the islands in the fjord around Hamn; the Bergsfjord. In the afternoon, there is the option of a hike up the valley sides or a kayak trip. This evening we have dinner at the local restaurant, and before dinner there is an option for all pirates to enjoy the sauna and hot tub!
Day 4: Whale and sea bird safari on Andøya and to Bleik
Around noon times we set course further south, and north of Andenes the seabed rises from 1000 to 100 meters and here are good chances of seeing whales. We continue sailing south on the west side of Andøya to Bleik, where the island rises straight up from the ocean behind the long and unique beaches. At Bleik we can surf, paddle or swim and we can go hike through the cultural landscape. At Bleik, they also have a very nice and cozy local pub that stays open a few nights every summer, hopefully they keep open for us.
Day 5: Full day sailing towards Møysalen National Park
After a morning swim on the most awesome beach in Northern Norway, we need to slip our lines! Today we have a full day of sailing south into Vesterålen Islands, and to Møysalen National Park which is the best starting point for the hike up to Møysalen. With its glacier covered peak the mountain is easy to spot from afar and gives us direction. In the evening we start to prepare for the hike up to Møysalen the next day, and we anchor as close to the foot of the mountain as we can.
Day 6: Summit hike to Møysalen and sail to the Lofoten Islands
If the weather permits, we will start climbing Møysalen in the morning; perhaps the most beautiful mountain hike in northern Norway. With its 1263 meters above sea level, the towering mountain is by far the highest in Lofoten and Vesterålen. We split into two or three groups, and the hike takes 8-12 hours, depending on the pace. Back down in the boats in the afternoon, we continue south entering the Lofoten Islands, via the spectacular Trollfjorden (Fjord of Trolls). Our destination today is the island Skrova. Due to it being in the middle of the fjord between Lofoten and the mainland, Skrova used to be the main whaling center in Lofoten. It thus offer us a good harbor for the night.
Day 7: Easy hike on Skrova, and a sailing race to Henningsvær
This day we are not in a rush and we can enjoy a good breakfast, a swim and a or a morning hike up to the 231 meter peak of Skrova with its great view over the Lofoten Wall to the west, the entire Vestfjord in the south, and Steigen and the mainland to the east.
Around lunchtime we need to start sailing and now after a week of training and sail trimming it is time for a proper sailing race over to Henningsvær which is our final destination on this trip. Henningsvær is one of the traditional fishing villages in the Lofoten Islands, and we finish the trip with a last night out at the cool restaurant and hangout place Trevarefabrikken.
Day 8: Breakfast and departure
The last morning, we pack and wash the last things, and we are off the boat by 10.00. The nearby coffee shop Lysstøperiet is a great place to continue wrapping up all the impressions. Thank you for a great week! If you have time to continue exploring Northern Norway, your options in the Lofoten Islands are manyfold.
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
- All meals that we eat onboard along the way (from dinner first day to breakfast last day)
- A sustainable, local, eco-friendly, unique, exotic and exclusive Norway holiday
- High-quality inflatable life jackets
- 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/Tromsø
- Our comfy-package: this package costs NOK 1500 and provides guaranteed accommodation in double cabin with hot water/shower in the boat. In the cabin you will find duvets, pillows and bedsheets.
- Additional options/activities where we hire external guides and equipment, for example, guided bird watching trip in Bleik.
- Meals at cafe/restaurants (we plan 1-2 meals ashore for this trip).
- Drinks like wine, beer or exclusive apple juice and other luxuries.
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. Traveling 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
Henningsvær is a 40-minute bus/taxi ride from Svolvær, which is the “main center” of Lofoten.
Travel – Tromsø
The fastest option for getting to or from Tromsø is to fly. But if you have time to travel slowly we recommend doing that instead. Taking Hurtigruten south from Tromsø to Bodø and train from there is one option.
Safety and risk – in general
We take safety seriously and on our trips we train on 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. 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 crewmembers 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 saltwater, 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 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. 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 abundance of fresh water. This means it will not be possible to shower every day, but more or less every other day we are either in a harbor with fresh water 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.
Take an internal flight to Tromsø.
Take a bus/taxi ride from Henningsvær to Svolvær. Fly from Svolvær airport.
Day 1: Trip start at 16.00 from “Paris of the north” Tromsø
Check-in and we go through 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 wind is good, we might start sailing this night already.
Day 2: Sail to Senja and hiking Segla and Hesten
After breakfast and possibly a swim in the arctic sea, we sail into the western fjords of Senja, and to the village Fjordgard. From here we have access to three great hikes, to Hesten, Segla and Stavelitippen. Hesten is the neighbor-mountain to Segla, and has a trail all the way to the top. Once we are this far up we might as well head all the way up to Stavelitippen. It may be late when we arrive back in the boats, but the sun is probably still up over the horizon.
Day 3: Sail to Bergsfjorden and the harbor of Hamn
This day we sail out and around the “outer” western side of Senja. The area has long fjords and steep mountains and is made for us to explore by boat. Our destination is the protected harbor Hamn, and on the way we sail through the islands in the fjord around Hamn; the Bergsfjord. In the afternoon, there is the option of a hike up the valley sides or a kayak trip. This evening we have dinner at the local restaurant, and before dinner there is an option for all pirates to enjoy the sauna and hot tub!
Day 4: Whale and sea bird safari on Andøya and to Bleik
Around noon times we set course further south, and north of Andenes the seabed rises from 1000 to 100 meters and here are good chances of seeing whales. We continue sailing south on the west side of Andøya to Bleik, where the island rises straight up from the ocean behind the long and unique beaches. At Bleik we can surf, paddle or swim and we can go hike through the cultural landscape. At Bleik, they also have a very nice and cozy local pub that stays open a few nights every summer, hopefully they keep open for us.
Day 5: Full day sailing towards Møysalen National Park
After a morning swim on the most awesome beach in Northern Norway, we need to slip our lines! Today we have a full day of sailing south into Vesterålen Islands, and to Møysalen National Park which is the best starting point for the hike up to Møysalen. With its glacier covered peak the mountain is easy to spot from afar and gives us direction. In the evening we start to prepare for the hike up to Møysalen the next day, and we anchor as close to the foot of the mountain as we can.
Day 6: Summit hike to Møysalen and sail to the Lofoten Islands
If the weather permits, we will start climbing Møysalen in the morning; perhaps the most beautiful mountain hike in northern Norway. With its 1263 meters above sea level, the towering mountain is by far the highest in Lofoten and Vesterålen. We split into two or three groups, and the hike takes 8-12 hours, depending on the pace. Back down in the boats in the afternoon, we continue south entering the Lofoten Islands, via the spectacular Trollfjorden (Fjord of Trolls). Our destination today is the island Skrova. Due to it being in the middle of the fjord between Lofoten and the mainland, Skrova used to be the main whaling center in Lofoten. It thus offer us a good harbor for the night.
Day 7: Easy hike on Skrova, and a sailing race to Henningsvær
This day we are not in a rush and we can enjoy a good breakfast, a swim and a or a morning hike up to the 231 meter peak of Skrova with its great view over the Lofoten Wall to the west, the entire Vestfjord in the south, and Steigen and the mainland to the east.
Around lunchtime we need to start sailing and now after a week of training and sail trimming it is time for a proper sailing race over to Henningsvær which is our final destination on this trip. Henningsvær is one of the traditional fishing villages in the Lofoten Islands, and we finish the trip with a last night out at the cool restaurant and hangout place Trevarefabrikken.
Day 8: Breakfast and departure
The last morning, we pack and wash the last things, and we are off the boat by 10.00. The nearby coffee shop Lysstøperiet is a great place to continue wrapping up all the impressions. Thank you for a great week! If you have time to continue exploring Northern Norway, your options in the Lofoten Islands are manyfold.
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
