21,900 NOK

Day 1: We meet in Bodø, and the adventure begins!

We meet at the quay in Bodø at 16:00. We start by getting to know each other and the boats, go through the plan and expectations for the week, as well as go over important points in sailing and safety. After dinner, when everything is ready, we set off under sail. We are aiming for Landegode, the majestic island just outside Bodø. Here we anchor or find a pier for the night.

Day 2: Trip to Landegode and sail to Steigen and Nordskot

We wake up, ready to enjoy the first full day on this adventure, and perhaps jump in the sea for a refreshing morning swim! After breakfast, we take a trip on land and see if we can reach one of the peaks on Landegode. Once back in the boat, we depart and practice boat handling and sailing through the archipelago towards Nordskot. Expedition sailors Børge Ousland and Randi Skaug each have their own little island here, and we aim to land at at least one of them for a coffee. We'll spend the night here, and maybe we'll get the chance for a sauna and night swim in the evening.

Day 3: Kayak on Nordskot and sail to Tranøy lighthouse

Around Nordskot there is a rich archipelago full of small islets and chalk-white beaches. For those who wish, this morning there will be an opportunity for a guided kayak trip. After lunch we raise sail again and move north towards Hamarøy and the Tranøy lighthouse. Tranøy lighthouse is centrally located out in the Vestfjorden and has been a beloved landmark for seafarers for generations. This area is rough, but beautiful. We eat dinner along the way, and when we get to Tranøy we might opt for a little midnight trip to the lighthouse.

Day 4: Over the Vestfjorden to Skrova

Now it is our turn to cross the famous Vestfjorden. We get ready for a proper sailing and set course from Tranøy and directly towards Lille-Molla and Skrova, far east in Lofoten. Maybe we'll also be lucky and get a fish or three on the hook today, which we can enjoy for dinner! Once we arrive at the whaling island of Skrova, we have dinner and there will be an opportunity for a hike to Høgskrova for those who want, or to one of the island's beautiful beaches!

Day 5: Full sailing day out to “Yttersida”

We are now starting to get a feel for sailing. Today we get to test ourselves; we will sail through the Lofoten Wall, and reach the outer side of the peninsula - “Yttersida” as it is called in the local norwegian dialect. The route goes out of Gimsøystraumen and on the north side of the Lofoten Wall, where we pass well-known beaches such as Kvalvika, Eggum and Unstad. We sail to Tangstad on the inner side of Unstad, where we anchor for the evening.

Day 6: Surfing at Unstad and sailing to Nusfjord

Today we are getting ready for another activity out in the waves, namely: surfing. With our friends at Unstad Arctic Surf, you will get the opportunity to surf, if you wish. You can either participate in a course with an instructor, or just rent some equipment and do your own thing. For those who would rather stay on land, there are several great hikes around Unstad, and we can all enjoy Norway's best and most expensive cinnamon buns at the café here for lunch. Once back in the boat, we raise the anchor and sail down through the Lofoten Wall again. The route is steep and goes through Nappstraumen; one of the world's strongest tidal currents. We sail to the small, cozy fishing village of Nusfjord, where we have booked a table at restaurant Karoline, for a wonderful fish meal! Hopefully the Pauline pub will also be open tonight.

Day 7: Regatta day!

In Nusfjord, we have several options for hiking in the morning. Either a shorter hike to the three lakes, or a longer hike up to some of the nearby peaks, such as Mosestind. After lunch we set off on the last leg, and now it's time for our regatta! Which boat team has learned to sail fastest during during the week? The finish line is at the entrance to the harbor in Henningsvær and it is not allowed to start the engine until we are inside the harbor basin ;) We arrive in Henningsvær, perhaps Lofoten's most spectacular fishing village, in plenty of time to have dinner, tidy up onboard, and end the trip with a happy celebration together at Trevarefabrikken.

Day 8: Trip ending in Henningsvær

The adventure is unfortunately over for this time. We pack, clean, and put the finishing touches on the boat this morning, and leave by 10 o'clock at the latest. Those who wish can have breakfast at Lysstøperiet, which has Norway's best buns. Thank you for a wonderful week and we hope to see you onboard again!

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 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. 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.