Lofoten: A winter odyssey by sailboat, snowshoes, and northern lights
In summary
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Sports
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Duration6 days
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LevelIntermediate
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DestinationNorway / Lofoten Islands
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AgeFrom 6 - 72 years
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CO₂-Emissions100.08 kg CO2
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Type of stayIn a group
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Languages
English
French
Norwegian
In a few words
Discover the Lofoten Islands on an unforgettable winter odyssey ! This trip offers a complete adventure, combining land and sea exploration of the Norwegian Arctic . Aboard the comfortable and welcoming sailboat SKADI, you'll enjoy an intimate and unique experience, ideal for discovering the region off the beaten track.
Starting from Stamsund, let yourself be carried away by the waves and learn about sailing and fishing . The days will be punctuated by outings on snowshoes or on foot, to conquer the magnificent panoramas of this mythical archipelago.
As evening falls, enjoy a well-deserved rest after a revitalizing sauna , before sharing a hot meal in a convivial atmosphere. And if luck is on your side, be amazed by the magical spectacle of the Northern Lights dancing across the night sky. This trip adapts to your pace, offering a perfect balance between activity and relaxation. For an even more personalized experience, chartering the sailboat is possible.
The highlights
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A complete journey between land and sea
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Visit the most beautiful sites and viewpoints of Lofoten
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Supervised by local French/English speaking experts on the area
Photos
Sport
Level
Hiking / Trekking
The expert's opinion
Land portion: If you charter the sailboat privately with friends or family, we will offer you a tailor-made trip based on your preferences and fitness level. If you join us on a non-private date, it will be a trip geared towards "active" hikers with a relatively rugged mountain background. Indeed, even though the elevation gains (averaging 500 meters/day) and distances (5-10km/day) are reasonable for accessing the most beautiful viewpoints, the paths are snowy, steep, and progress is slow!
For the "sailboat" section:
Safety for life on board:
Each passenger must be able to board and move around on board without assistance. Each passenger must have no difficulty climbing a small ladder (mooring to a quay), hoisting themselves onto a step approximately 50cm high (boarding from the side of the boat), moving around on cluttered, potentially slippery, moving ground (boat deck).
Participation in the maneuvers:
No prior sailing experience is necessary. The crew is responsible for all maneuvers. However, if you would like to participate and learn the basics of fjord navigation, the crew will be happy to share their knowledge with you.
In figures
Snowshoes
- Average duration/day: 3h30
- Average distance/day: 8 km
- Average daily elevation gain: 384 m
- Average daily descent: 384 m
Sailing
- Average duration/day: 3h30
Management
English
French
Norwegian
Paul is the skipper. He ensures your safety on board and optimizes navigation based on the weather to guarantee you an unforgettable week. Paul has been sailing in polar regions since 2015 and is still just as passionate about this place! He is your main point of contact on board, as he is always present on the sailboat. He also manages the logistics with you (meals, maintenance).
Paul is not always the captain of the sailboat. All our skippers are experts in this sailing area, are cautious, and are there to make choices that guarantee your safety and comfort throughout your cruise.
Maud is a mountain leader and nature guide. She's the person who accompanies you on hikes and excursions. She picks you up in a minibus on the days to take you to the most beautiful peaks, visit villages, and of course, the beaches!
She knows the polar regions well, having travelled extensively in the Arctic for the past 10 years (Norway, Spitsbergen, Finland, Siberia,...).
We also work with other sailor-guides who are also experts in these sailing areas and will be just as happy as Maud to share their passions with you!
Paul and Maud live in Lofoten all year round and are now well integrated into the local community.
They have a young child who attends school in Lofoten, which is why Maud is only with the group during the day!
When Maud and Paul are not at sea, they are the ones who take care of the logistics of your trip.
Maud prepares you as best as possible to answer your questions in advance (equipment, health, transport, etc.) and Paul takes care of the maintenance and monitoring of the ship all year round.
Program
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Sunday: Boarding and heading for the Lofoten Islands
- Activity Snowshoes
- Duration of the activity 4h
- Distance 10 km
- Positive elevation gain 500 m
- Negative elevation 500 m
- Accommodation Sailing cruise ship
- Breakfast not included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
The adventure begins as soon as you board in Stamsund at 9:30 am.
Once your belongings are settled in the cabin and the safety instructions are in place, put on your snowshoes for an enchanting ascent above the ski resort onto a plateau towards the Steinetinden ridges.
Up there, the view is breathtaking: a 360° panorama overlooking the village and the dark waters of the Skifjorden.
Back at the water's edge, after a good, carefully prepared meal, a digestive stroll under the starry sky may offer you your first magical glimpses of the Northern Lights.
First peaceful night in the port, lulled by the lapping of the sea.
Note: The daily program is indicative and will be adapted to weather conditions. The goal is to ensure you have the best possible trip, sailing when sea conditions are favorable, and traveling by minibus when sea conditions are not, or if it best suits the itinerary!
Day 1 -
Monday: sailing to Ure and a charming fishing village
- Activity Sailing
- Duration of the activity 4h
- Activity Snowshoes
- Duration of the activity 2h
- Distance 4 km
- Positive elevation gain 100 m
- Negative elevation 100 m
- Accommodation Sailing cruise ship
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
Hoist the sails! The day is dedicated to the first day of sailing towards Ure, weaving the boat through the rocky islets of Finnstad-pollen.
On the way, try your luck fishing for cod to bring back dinner.
Once docked, treat yourself to a moment of absolute relaxation in the warmth of a traditional sauna overlooking the fjord, before a nighttime stroll to hunt for the Northern Lights.
Note: The daily program is indicative and will be adapted to weather conditions. The goal is to ensure you have the best possible trip, sailing when sea conditions are favorable, and traveling by minibus when sea conditions are not, or if it best suits the itinerary!
Day 2 -
Tuesday: Magnificent summit and snowy beaches
- Transportation Minibus - 01h - 40km
- Activity Snowshoes
- Duration of the activity 5h
- Distance 10 km
- Positive elevation gain 500 m
- Negative elevation 500 m
- Accommodation Sailing cruise ship
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
A short minibus transfer from Ure takes you to one of the most iconic locations in the archipelago: the majestic Haukland Beach.
From there, the snowshoe climb to the summit of Mannen will reward you with a spectacular plunging view of the turquoise waters bordered by snow.
After the exertion, return to the comfort of the sauna in Ure for another relaxing evening.
Note: The daily program is indicative and will be adapted to weather conditions. The goal is to ensure you have the best possible trip, sailing when sea conditions are favorable, and traveling by minibus when sea conditions are not, or if it best suits the itinerary!
Day 3 -
Wednesday: The preserved authenticity of Nusfjord
- Activity Sailing
- Duration of the activity 3h
- Activity Snowshoes
- Duration of the activity 3h
- Distance 5 km
- Positive elevation gain 300 m
- Negative elevation 300 m
- Accommodation Sailing cruise ship
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
Set sail for Nusfjord, one of Norway's oldest and best-preserved fishing villages.
Arriving by sea in this "museum village" is a unique and privileged moment.
Glide between the fjords before disembarking to stroll among the historic red rorbuer cabins.
As night falls, we will go hiking to chase the dancing lights of the Northern Lights in a magical setting.
Day 4 -
Thursday: Reine village and hike to the little snowy paradise
- Transportation Minibus - 02h - 80km
- Activity Snowshoes
- Duration of the activity 4h
- Distance 10 km
- Positive elevation gain 500 m
- Negative elevation 500 m
- Accommodation Sailing cruise ship
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
Hit the road in your vehicle for a day of land exploration.
Head south to the mythical village of Reine, making stops at the most beautiful viewpoints in the region.
Between jagged peaks and cabins on stilts, every turn reveals a postcard.
Depending on the weather, we hike towards the peaks of the South Lofoten or towards what we like to call "the little paradise".
In the evening, we returned to our floating cocoon in the port of Nusfjord.
Note: The program is indicative and subject to change depending on weather conditions. In case of bad weather, it is also possible to schedule visits to local craft workshops, cheese dairies, etc.
Day 5 -
Friday: sailing and landing on a deserted island
- Activity Sailing
- Duration of the activity 4h
- Activity Snowshoes
- Duration of the activity 3h
- Distance 6 km
- Positive elevation gain 400 m
- Negative elevation 400 m
- Accommodation Sailing cruise ship
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
Hoist the sails one last time to return to Stamsund.
Will we be lucky enough to spot the resident orcas of the Lofoten Islands? Let's keep our eyes peeled, because seals, white-tailed eagles (sea eagles), and sometimes whales can also be found hiding in the landscape!
If the weather is good, we will land like Robinsons on a deserted snowy island to wander around and enjoy these magical places.
End this unforgettable journey with a final drink, a good dinner and a peaceful night in the port of Stamsund, your eyes still filled with Arctic magic.
Note: it is also possible, depending on the skipper's choice and the weather conditions, to sail during the week towards Reine, Ballstad, Henningsvær or Svolvær.
Day 6
Note
Note: each day's program is indicative and will be adapted to weather conditions.
Our desire and objective is to give you the best possible trip, to sail when sea conditions are OK, and to travel by minibus when sea conditions are not OK or if it favors the program!
Therefore, every trip is unique and memorable, so... let yourself be carried away!!
Accommodation
The SKADI sailboat is a 15.5-meter sailboat equipped for polar regions. It is a 2009 Bavaria 51-footer. It has 5 cabins (4 of which are for guests) and 3 bathrooms (to be shared with the group).
Access
Boarding the sailboat at the start of the trip is at 9:30 am on Sunday morning at the meeting point (port of Stamsund).
The disembarkation of the sailboat at the end of the trip is at 9:00 am on Saturday morning at the meeting point (port of Stamsund).
-> A shuttle from Leknes city centre (Idrettsgata 6, Leknes) to Stamsund port will be organised on Sunday morning at 9:10am.
-> A shuttle service from Stamsund port to Leknes airport/city center will be organized on Saturday morning around 7:30 am
Transportation advice:
If you are coming by plane: we advise you to land at Leknes airport.
We advise you to avoid "self-connections" between your flights in case of flight delays, so that the airline will take care of booking you on a later flight / accommodation / etc.
Go to the starting point
We recommend Leknes Airport as it is 15 minutes from Stamsund Port and we offer an included shuttle service on Sunday mornings from Leknes.
You can also arrive in Bodø, Svolvær or Evenes but you will have to take different transport to reach us (ferry and/or bus).
Remember to allow extra time for your transport so you don't miss the start of your trip and have your luggage with you!
We can park your vehicle in our private car park in Stamsund.
You can reach Stamsund by sea via the coastal express!
The companies are Hurtigruten and Havila.
You can also arrive from Bodø at Svolvær or Moskenes and then take a bus to Stamsund.
Price details
The price includes
- Accommodation for 6 nights in a shared double cabin on the Norwegian professional sailing yacht "Skadi"
- Full board
- Sea supervision by a professional French skipper residing in Norway
- The trip will be supervised on land by a professional French guide residing in Norway.
- minibus travel, including the shuttle between Leknes and Stamsund if needed, according to the scheduled timetable
- The bedding on board
- Loan of hiking equipment (snowshoes + poles)
- Drinks (non-alcoholic)
The price does not include
- Meals before boarding the sailboat and after disembarking
- Personal expenses (museum visits, souvenir purchases, restaurants, etc.)
- Alcoholic beverages (however, you can bring your own drinks on board)
- Optional sauna visits (approximately €30 per person) or museum visits
Options
- Flex fare and insurance
Practical information
Specific formalities
Specifics
Before your departure, check with the embassy or consulate regarding the entry and stay requirements for your destination country. You can also find this information on the France Diplomatie website ( https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/dossiers-pays/ ).
In the case of flights with stopovers operated by different airlines, also check the entry requirements of the countries you are transiting through.
It is your responsibility to ensure you are in compliance, particularly regarding the validity of your identity documents (for example, some countries require your passport to be valid for at least six months after your return) , visa requirements, necessary vaccinations, and health recommendations. And don't forget to consider any customs restrictions and other potential requirements of your destination or transit country.
ℹ️ Information may change up to the departure date, remember to regularly check official websites.
Equipment
Equipment provided on site
- Snowshoes
- Hiking poles
- Small crampons for walking on icy terrain
Equipment to bring
- 1 hiking backpack (30L) with its waterproof rain cover
- 1 bath towel
- 1 microfiber towel for swimming/sauna
- 1 toiletry bag (moisturizer, sunscreen, etc.)
- Refrigeration gloves ( very practical if you want to participate in the operations: https://coolsafety.fr/p/gants-thermo-impermeables-showa-temres-282/?srsltid=AfmBOor2KSabFXztQq6XWXp8pE1oT_gyCxzZeGwgc5jEW10dcvCXbZNs )
- 1 gourd
- 1 pair of sunglasses, a ski mask (useful on windy days)
- 1 pair of slippers or Crocs (optional)
- 1 good pair of hiking shoes or snow boots
- Earplugs, your medication, bandages...
- An aperitif ( a specialty from your region )
Clothing to bring
- 1 pair of winter hiking boots (example: https://www.decathlon.fr/p/bottes-de-randonnee-neige-chaudes-et-impermeables-en-cuir-homme-nh900-jaune/305000/c247c344m8640885)
- 1 duffle bag type travel bag (example: https://www.decathlon.ch/fr/p/sac-de-transport-de-trekking-80-la-120-l-duffel-500-extend/156360/c153c71m8383302)
- Pants: 1 winter hiking pants + 1 goretex overpants OR 1 ski pants
- Jacket: 1 down jacket + 1 Gore-Tex jacket OR a ski jacket
- 1-2 pairs of wool or fleece tights
- 2 technical base layers in wool or fleece
- 1 fleece sweater
- 1 beanie
- 1 thin neck warmer
- Thin gloves
- Ski gloves or mittens
- wool socks
- 1 swimsuit
- A comfortable outfit for the evening
