20,800 NOK

Day 1: Trip start in Bodø

We meet at 16:00. Check-in and 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. We will probably set sails this first afternoon to some of the islands outside of Bodø.

Day 2: Sailing over Vestfjorden to Værøy

We want you to be real sailors as soon as possible onboard with us, so we head out for a propper sailing day already now. Vestfjorden is a good playground for sailors like us and the leg across to Værøy will take us between 8-10 hours. We will learn alot about sailing, navigation and how the boat, the sails and everything works already this day. And when we get across we have dinner and an "ankerdram" (important Norwegian tradition) onboard. If it's not too late already, we have the chance to do a sunset hike to the viewpoint at the mountain Håen this evening.

Day 3: Morning sail to Reine and hike to Reinebringen

Now it is time to visit Reine, and there is no better way to arrive in Reine than by boat. Todays sailing leg is around 4 hours long, and the harbour waters in Reine are surrounded by steep mountains, making for breathtaking views. In the afternoon this day we plan to hike Reinebringen for our Instagram-pictures. We stay in the harbour in Reine for the night.

Dag 4: Kajakk in Reine, Bunes beach and dinner in Nusfjord fishing village

This day we won’t sail as far so we can have the day available for activities in Reine. Those who want can join a kajakk-trip in the harbour basin and fjords here in the morning, and the rest will take the passenger ferry into the fjords and to the little place of Vinstad. From here we have a short hike across the hill to one of Lofotens best beaches; Bunes, where we like to both do some beach clean-up and also have a beach party with a bbq. Well back onboard we set sails to Nusfjord. Nusfjord is Lofotens most iconic and best-maintained fishing village, and the whole place is a museum. Of course we will go to shore and explore! This evening we eat dinner at Restaurant Karoline, one of the best places to eat in Lofoten. There is also a fun pub in town, so we might choose to have a few rounds before spending the night in Nusfjord.

Day 5: Sailing to the northside of Lofoten and Unstad surfing beach

After breakfast we will sail up Nappstraumen and to the northside of Lofoten, and then head east towards the well-known surfing beach of Unstad, which is our goal for the day. We moor at Mærvoll, from which we can go over the hill to Unstad. At Unstad Arctic Surf those who are interested can rent surfing equipment and take a surfing class. Another option is to go to the Viking Museum in Borg. In the evening we eat in the boats, and let the gentle waves rock us to sleep.

Day 6: Sailing to Henningsvær and Skrova

After our morning swim, coffee and breakfast, we lift anchor and set sail to navigate through Gimsøystraumen towards Henningsvær. We will moor in Henningsvær; probably Lofotens most famous place, after lunch and have a few hours here to look around. We both find good coffee in Lysstøperiet and can have sauna at Trevarefabrikken here. In the afternoon we sail towards Skrova; the small and venerable whale hunting island which lies in the middle of Vestfjorden. On Skrova we have dinner, and for those who wish its possible to do an evening hike to the little summit of the island, with it’s impressive views of the “Lofoten wall” in the west, all of Vestfjorden, and Hamarøy and Steigen in the east.

Day 7: Raftsundet and Trollfjorden

After breakfast we sail towards Trollfjorden and Rafstundet, past Lille Molla, Store Molla, and Digermulen. Lunch in Trollfjord will be nice! This fjord is very well-known for the steep mountains that shoot down into the narrow fjord below. After lunch here we make ourselfs ready for the last sail for the week, which will be our final regatta if we are several boats on the trip. The finish line is just around the statue of "Fiskarkona" which stands at the end of the Svolvær breakwater. Well in harbour we have dinner, tidy and clean up the boats and find ourselfs a beer or coke at the closest pub to celebrate a very well spent week!

Day 8: By for now in Svolvær

In the morning we pack, tidy and clean out of the boats ready to leave latest at 10.00. We take the breakfast at Kringla, the café at the city square in Svolvær. Thank you so much for an unforgettable 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?

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.

Travel Svolvær

If you have time then take the “Nordlandsbanen” train line to Bodø and the express boat (catamaran) or Hurtigruta (coastal express ferry) from Bodø to Lofoten. But Lofoten is far away for many, and most people end up flying. Then Svolvær is the nearest airport, or you can also fly to Leknes. Flights to Svolvær or Leknes are mostly with a connection in Bodø, and are possible to book through Widerøe, SAS and Norwegian. You can also fly directly from Oslo to and from Harstad/Evenes airport, and then take a bus from there to Lofoten and Henningsvær/Svolvær.

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.