24,500 NOK

Day 1: Tour start in Bodø

Meeting in Bodø at 16:00. Onboard the boat we get to know the other participants and the crew. Before we start sailing we go through the boat and the equipment on board, and we go through basic sailing theory and handling of sails. We also look at the schedule for the week and adapt this to weather forecast and expected conditions. When we are ready, we cast off and start the trip by sailing northwards towards Kjerringøy where we dock for the night.

Day 2: Sailing to Nordskott and Mannshausen

After breakfast, we sail further north and into Steigen to Mannshausen and Nordskot. During the day we stop for fishing fresh fish for dinner, and on Mannshausen we go for a walk and stretch our legs.

Day 3: The Nordskot-travers and evening sailing to Hamarøy

After breakfast, we tie our hiking boot laces and go climb the Nordskottraversen. The trip takes 6-8 hours and goes from Nordskot up to Sørskottind, and from there on to the ridge. It's a short but vertical rappell of 4-5 meters before you get on the actual ridge that connects the southern and northern mountains. Down the mountain we can walk Skotsdalen back or walk down on the other side, towards Lundvatnet. After the trip, we eat some hot food in the boat before continue sailing to Hamarøy that evening. Here we anchor in the archipelago by the foot of the mountain and prepare for a new climb the next morning.

Day 4: Hamarøyskaftet 613 m.a.s.l

In the morning we will land on Hamarøy with the dinghy, and start the trip to the top of the spectacular Hamarøyskaft landmark. The trip takes 6-8 hours, and offers a little more climbing than the previous climb. This is another nice trip that will make us well prepared for the challenges at Stetind. After the trip we make a bonfire on shore and enjoy ourselves without rushing forward this evening.

Day 5: Sailing north

Sailing further north to Tranøy Lighthouse and into Tysfjord towards Stetind. This day we take it easy after two days in the mountains. This is also a reserve day that can be used for a mountain trip, if weather and weather forecasts have made it difficult to complete one of the day 3 and day 4 tours. Underway towards Stetind we will pass Tranøy Lighthouse. Here we go for a coffee and learn some local history about this characteristic place. It was granted money for the construction of a lighthouse here in 1863, and the place has an exciting story.

Day 6: "The ugliest mountain I ever saw" - Stetind

It was the mountain climber William Cecil Slingsby who used these well known words of what is now Norway's national mountain. Stetind is the highlight of this trip, as it will be a full mountain- and climbing day at Stetind. The trip can take anywhere from 10-18 hours, depending on weather, conditions and group dynamics. However, after being together for almost a week, we will be a well functioning group, well prepared for Stetind. The mountain was first summited in 1910 by a Norwegian group of 3 persons led by Ferdinand Schjelderup. When Stetind was named Norway's National Mountain in 2002, Arne Næss said the following about the mountain: "Stetind is a fabulous journey. The mountain comes straight up from the sea, gets steeper in an absolutely beautiful way. Stetind is delicious granite, hard, good stone to hold in. It's as if the mountain is on your side ». If the weather would not allow Stetind this day, then we'll find something different. Probably we will know this a little in advance and can plan it out. This day we eat both lunch and dinner in the mountains.

Day 7: Sailday to Bodø (reserve day for Stetind)

After a long day climbing yesterday we will only enjoy the last sailing out on the Vestfjord and back to Bodø. There will be some hours of sailing today, and we arrive in Bodø late in the evening. Today is also a reserve day for Stetind if we did not walk it yesterday. If we go to Stetind today, there will be a long and demanding night passage back to Bodø, but it would be worth it! If everything goes according to plan, we will be in Bodø this last night and celebrate a perfect trip with dinner and drinks on land.

Day 8: Goodbye for this time!

Anyways if we are in Bodø the night before or this last morning, we will be ready packed, cleaned and tidied out of the boat by the end of the trip at 10.00am. For those who want we have breakfast at Thon hotel, right by the harbour, after check-out from the boat. Thanks for a great experience, and welcome back next time!

The program

The program should be seen as a rough itinerary that we can adapt to weather and conditions. One of the special things about being on a sailing trip is that the plan is often up to the weather! On this trip, it is not certain that we will reach all the peaks described in the itinerary, but we will make a plan together based on weather and wind, and we’ll have a whole week available in one of the country's best playgrounds! 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?

Deposit and payment

You pay a 6000NOK deposit when you book the trip, and the rest of the payment is due 60 days before the trip begins.

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 - Bodø

The Nordlandsbanen train line goes all the way to Bodø, and can be taken overnight from Trondheim or Oslo. This is a great way to travel and a beautiful journey from southern Norway. For timetables and prices see www.vy.no. If you live along the coast, the speed ferries or Hurtigruta are possible options either northbound or southbound. Another option is a flight to Bodø, and there are some reasonable tickets.

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.

Safety and risk - climbing

The guides on the trip are certified climbing instructors and active climbers, and they place utmost importance on safety. They will thoroughly discuss safety with the whole group both before the trip and along the way. In the mountains, as at sea, it is important that you as a participant know the risk factors and how you should possibly behave in potential situations if something should happen. It is also very important that everyone follows the instructions from the guides when in the mountains. Guides and expedition leaders will make a continuous assessment of safety along the way. Our high focus on safety, both at sea and in the mountains, could also mean that the program will need to be changed along the way. The peaks/climbs described in the program can be replaced with other climbs in the area depending on the weather and other conditions.

Level of this trip

Sailing wise, this trip is 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.
The actual climbing on the trip is not technically challenging, but there are some airy sections on some of the mountains we might visit, and these might make your heart race! In general, climbing is graded from 3 (which is very easy) to 9 - 10 (which is very, very difficult). The most difficult climbing we will do on this trip is around 4. If you have climbed a little before, are accustomed to the mountains, have a steady foot and are not afraid of heights, then you will manage this trip perfectly.

Equipment/packing

We provide all common equipment for climbing. Those who sign up for the trip will receive a detailed equipment list before departure. Personal climbing equipment that you should bring includes a helmet, harness, screw carabiner, belayer, 2x prusik cords. Alternatively, you can rent this equipment package for 650NOK per week.
Sailing wise, you’ll need something waterproof and windproof on the outside, and layered clothing underneath. 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. 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.

Special conditions

Conditions when it comes to the mountains/climbing trips: Occasionally we might have to cancel one or more of the climbs, because of factors like injuries/weather/other, but if that is the case we will find some other activity to do that day. Participation is at your own risk. No reimbursement will apply if there is a cancellation of one or more climbs, as a result of unforeseen events, such as injuries/weather or other conditions. However, we have a full week available and we will play around in an area rich in nature and opportunities for alternative activities.