the Vesterålen ISLANDS RESEARCH EXPEDITION
MAY 2022
Join our team backstage on this research trip where we explore different new areas of the Vesterålen Islands. The mission of the team is explore different routes in (almost) spring time, find great places to camp, reach some summits to get these great views and much more adventurous stuff. You must love a bit tougher challenges in northern Norway and like to stay in tents and back-to-the-basics cabins. For this research expedition, you need to be a sporty person and be in a (normal) good shape; you must like to be outside a lot and see it as an adventure not to have a shower for some days. During this trip you might at times feel out of your comfort zone. No problem, we help you with that. The Vesterålen Islands are located north of the touristic Lofoten and are absolutely off-the-beaten-track. This trip is perfect if you are a single traveller looking for adventure with a small team. Costs are 1700 EUR per person (9 days, max 2 participants can join).
general information
Here you can find all important information about this trip. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us.
You can also check our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for general questions.
You can also check our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for general questions.
DATES AND BOOKING INFORMATION
NAME
The Vesterålen Islands Research Expedition
DATES
Sunday 22 May 2022 - Monday 30 May 2022 (9 days)
The Vesterålen Islands Research Expedition
DATES
Sunday 22 May 2022 - Monday 30 May 2022 (9 days)
COSTS / WHAT IS INCLUDED
COSTS
The costs of joining this research trip are 1700 EUR per person.
INCLUDED
Included are all transports during the trip, guiding, use of kayaks, fishing equipment, use of tents, use of flotation suits, cooking equipment for hikes and other activities. Equipment like snowshoes (if needed) and kayak suits are provided. You can rent sleeping mattresses, sleeping bags, crampons, etc...) can be rented from us. Included are all overnight stays in (mountain or fjord) cabins. The costs of food (breakfast and dinner) are included. You take care of lunch snacks and in-betweens (bars, chocolate, cheese, nuts or what you like).
NOT INCLUDED
International and domestic flights are not included..Transfers (buses) from EVENES Airport to our base in Bø and return are not included. The costs of buses are 45 EUR one way. . Alcoholic drinks not included. Meals can be adapted to for example vegetarians. If you have a very special diet you can bring your own ingredients too (no problem). We invite you to assist in cooking or cook a meal. We love local products and we like to cook Norwegian dishes. We often catch our own fish. We love outdoor cooking on a fire and are happy to teach you more about this.
The costs of joining this research trip are 1700 EUR per person.
INCLUDED
Included are all transports during the trip, guiding, use of kayaks, fishing equipment, use of tents, use of flotation suits, cooking equipment for hikes and other activities. Equipment like snowshoes (if needed) and kayak suits are provided. You can rent sleeping mattresses, sleeping bags, crampons, etc...) can be rented from us. Included are all overnight stays in (mountain or fjord) cabins. The costs of food (breakfast and dinner) are included. You take care of lunch snacks and in-betweens (bars, chocolate, cheese, nuts or what you like).
NOT INCLUDED
International and domestic flights are not included..Transfers (buses) from EVENES Airport to our base in Bø and return are not included. The costs of buses are 45 EUR one way. . Alcoholic drinks not included. Meals can be adapted to for example vegetarians. If you have a very special diet you can bring your own ingredients too (no problem). We invite you to assist in cooking or cook a meal. We love local products and we like to cook Norwegian dishes. We often catch our own fish. We love outdoor cooking on a fire and are happy to teach you more about this.
LOCATION AND ARRIVAL INFORMATION
LOCATION
This trip takes place on the magnificent Vesterålen Islands in northern Norway (a few hundred kilometres north of the Arctic Circle). Our base is located in the municipality of Bø in the south of the Vesterålen islands with great views over the ocean and impressive mountains all around you.
AIRPORT
You can reach our base in the Vesterålen easily with a flight from Oslo Airport (Gardermoen) to EVENES (Harstad/Narvik) Airport. After arrival on Evenes Airport you take a bus to our base while enjoying a great road trip. To fly to EVENES Airport you take a connecting flight from OSLO (Gardermoen). There are multiple flights daily between Oslo and EVENES Airport with different airlines such as SAS, NORWEGIAN, WIDEROE or FLYR.
At the end of the trip you take the bus back to EVENES Airport for your flight to Oslo.
HOW-TO-GET-THERE
You can reach our base in 1 or 2 days depending on your flights and the country you are travelling from. For most travelers it is most convenient to stay in one of the hotels around OSLO (Gardermoen) and take a flight to to EVENES Airport the next day in the morning. The costs of transfer by bus is approximately 40-47 EUR one way. Ask us if you need help with your travel schedule. We are quite good in that. Ask us about flights, bus connections and places to spend the night. You can check-in any time on the starting date.
Ask us for assistance if you need help with choosing transfers or flights!
This trip takes place on the magnificent Vesterålen Islands in northern Norway (a few hundred kilometres north of the Arctic Circle). Our base is located in the municipality of Bø in the south of the Vesterålen islands with great views over the ocean and impressive mountains all around you.
AIRPORT
You can reach our base in the Vesterålen easily with a flight from Oslo Airport (Gardermoen) to EVENES (Harstad/Narvik) Airport. After arrival on Evenes Airport you take a bus to our base while enjoying a great road trip. To fly to EVENES Airport you take a connecting flight from OSLO (Gardermoen). There are multiple flights daily between Oslo and EVENES Airport with different airlines such as SAS, NORWEGIAN, WIDEROE or FLYR.
At the end of the trip you take the bus back to EVENES Airport for your flight to Oslo.
HOW-TO-GET-THERE
You can reach our base in 1 or 2 days depending on your flights and the country you are travelling from. For most travelers it is most convenient to stay in one of the hotels around OSLO (Gardermoen) and take a flight to to EVENES Airport the next day in the morning. The costs of transfer by bus is approximately 40-47 EUR one way. Ask us if you need help with your travel schedule. We are quite good in that. Ask us about flights, bus connections and places to spend the night. You can check-in any time on the starting date.
Ask us for assistance if you need help with choosing transfers or flights!
EVENES (HARSTAD/NARVIK) AIRPORT
SORTLAND (VESTERÅLEN)
OUR BASE IN BØ (VESTERÅLEN)
LEVEL AND EXPERIENCE
LEVEL (INTERMEDIATE)
For this expedition you need to be in good shape (basic fit). The hikes are around 3-6 hours, but sometimes snow and steep trails can slow us down and make it a bit more adventurous. Weather, terrain, and wind can make outdoor activities more tough. The kayak routes are 2-3 hours long (including stops).
EXPERIENCE
This expedition is on intermediate level and you must have some outdoor experience. You are a lot outside and sometimes weather can be harsh and terrain can be difficult. You must like to be challenged at times. We are happy to teach if some of the outdoor activities are new for you. No problem. Our trips are about learning and getting new experiences.
COMFORT ZONE
Everybody has a comfort zone and it always differs from the comfort zone of other people. It is a personal thing. Being in wild nature away from civilization is adventurous, but can also cause stress or might scare you a bit occasionally. These feelings are natural and not a problem. Just be open and share things or ask questions. They say life starts at the end of your comfort zone. We believe that this is very true.
For this expedition you need to be in good shape (basic fit). The hikes are around 3-6 hours, but sometimes snow and steep trails can slow us down and make it a bit more adventurous. Weather, terrain, and wind can make outdoor activities more tough. The kayak routes are 2-3 hours long (including stops).
EXPERIENCE
This expedition is on intermediate level and you must have some outdoor experience. You are a lot outside and sometimes weather can be harsh and terrain can be difficult. You must like to be challenged at times. We are happy to teach if some of the outdoor activities are new for you. No problem. Our trips are about learning and getting new experiences.
COMFORT ZONE
Everybody has a comfort zone and it always differs from the comfort zone of other people. It is a personal thing. Being in wild nature away from civilization is adventurous, but can also cause stress or might scare you a bit occasionally. These feelings are natural and not a problem. Just be open and share things or ask questions. They say life starts at the end of your comfort zone. We believe that this is very true.
ACCOMMODATION
ACCOMMODATION
We will stay overnight and tents (expedition tents and tipi-tents) and sometimes probably a simple cabin in the wild. We return also to the base for a during the trip (and stay overnight there). Usually we have a wood-oven on in the evenings in the tipi-tents (not at night). In case of storm we might also sleep in other types of accommodation then tents.
We will stay overnight and tents (expedition tents and tipi-tents) and sometimes probably a simple cabin in the wild. We return also to the base for a during the trip (and stay overnight there). Usually we have a wood-oven on in the evenings in the tipi-tents (not at night). In case of storm we might also sleep in other types of accommodation then tents.
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PACKING LIST AND PREPARATIONS
PACKING LIST
This expedition is organized north of the Arctic Circle. So you need warm clothing, good shoes and outdoor gear like sleeping bags and more. You can find a detailed packing list here. On this packing list you can find all the gear and equipment you will need and other practical information. For this trip you need a day-sack (35-50 L) for the day-trips and a bigger backpack for multi-day trips (we might use sleds/pulks for transporting baggage and equipment on longer trails).
RENT GEAR FROM US
In case you do not have all the gear and you do not want to buy, then you can rent equipment from us, for example backpacks, sleeping mattresses and more.
In case you do not have all the gear and you do not want to buy, then you can rent equipment from us, for example backpacks, sleeping mattresses and more.
REMARKS
THE ARCTIC
Remember we are in the Arctic and here the weather rules. There is no day-to-day itinerary, only short term plans are realistic. We make our decisions on what is possible and when to do it based on weather forecast and conditions. Of course we love to hear your ideas and wishes. And we do our best to make it happen. A bit flexible mindset is a good thing to have here in northern Norway. Remember we can have for seasons in one day. So prepare for all types of weather.
GROUP SIZE
Max 2 participants
Remember we are in the Arctic and here the weather rules. There is no day-to-day itinerary, only short term plans are realistic. We make our decisions on what is possible and when to do it based on weather forecast and conditions. Of course we love to hear your ideas and wishes. And we do our best to make it happen. A bit flexible mindset is a good thing to have here in northern Norway. Remember we can have for seasons in one day. So prepare for all types of weather.
GROUP SIZE
Max 2 participants
WEATHER AND CLIMATE
In this period we probably have snow in the higher part of the mountains and rarely on sea-level sometimes, but with the climate change it is hard to predict. So prepare for all times of weather.
You can find detailed information about the climate and temperatures here.
You can find detailed information about the climate and temperatures here.
THE ROUGH PLAN OF RESEARCHING THE VESTERÅLEN
The Vesterålen islands are a wild, non-touristic and remote destination. We are looking forward to discover unique places that are off-the-beaten-track. The idea of this research expedition is to explore new areas and try -out trails based on the research of our (assistant) guides. You can join us and get a backstage view on how we develop new trips. In this research expedition, you can expect some physical and mental challenges, overnight stays in wild places (tents and cabins) and other ingredients for great adventures. Take a look at the rough plan below.
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ARRIVAL AT EVENES AND ROAD TRIP TO OUR BASE After you arrive at Evenes Airport you will travel by bus to our base in the Vesterålen. The 2-hours bus ride from Evenes to Sortland (the capital of the Vesterålen) is an awesome road trip with Nordic scenery all around you. In Sortland you take a break and change buses. It takes a bit more than 1 hour of adventurous road tripping through mountainous landscapes of Øksnes to reach our base in Bø in the Vesterålen. WELCOME AND RESEARCH BRIEFING After arriving at our base, it is time to unpack your luggage, and we will brief you about the research plans for the coming days. We will make a plan based on weather forecasts, possibilities and research goals. After that, it is time to discover the near surroundings and have some views over the fjord. In the evening we will prepare a tasty meal for you (of course you can help us with that). EXPLORE DIFFERENT PLACES OF THE VESTERÅLEN ARCHIPELAGO In this research expedition, we visit several parts of the Vesterålen Archipelago. Bridges connect the islands, and some are only reachable by boat. This expedition will focus on hiking, snowshoeing, and kayaking to explore the north Norwegian wilderness. We will do day trips and multi-day trips (2 days) where we take tents to stay overnight in remote surroundings. So you can also learn more about setting up a basecamp. Once a while, we sleep in simple (mountain) cabins. We will explore routes in valleys, forests and mountains. To get to the different places, we do fantastic road tripping on small coastal roads with great views over the fjords and the ocean. Our staff is always happy to teach you new things. It is possible that we return to the base once a while to refresh, collect equipment or other preparations. In this period we probably have snow in the higher part of the mountains and rarely on sea-level sometimes, but with the climate change it is hard to predict. So prepare for all times of weather. HELP US WITH PROCESSING THE RESEARCH If you like you can assist our team with processing the results of our research. Like do some writing, draw maps and routes or work on photos that we took during the trip. ROAD TRIP TO SORTLAND AND EVENES At the end of your stay with us we don a debriefing and after that you will travel back to Evenes Airport. Depending on your travel schedule, you can choose an overnight stay in a hotel/hostel close to the airport or fly to Oslo. |
OuTDOOR ACTIVITIES DURING THE research EXPEDITION
During this trip, we focus on the outdoor activities listed below. If some activities are new for you, we are happy to teach you all you need to know. We do not have a day-to-day research program because we plan the expedition on weather forecasts and what we like to prioritize. Read more about our plans below.
THINGS YOU CAN ENJOY ON THIS RESEARCH EXPEDITION
The expedition is not only about exploring and overcoming physical challenges. It is also about meeting the locals, relaxing close to a bonfire, listening to the stories of others and enjoying the phenomenon that nature has to offer.
FAQ about research trips
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE WITH A STANDARD TRIP?
The main differences between one of our regular trips are that you embed in the team and that our main goal is to explore the areas that are in the research plan. So the setting is different. You get a backstage view on how we work and you are part of the fun and rewards when we succeed, but there will be also moments that a route we planned does not work. We think it is one of the most adventurous forms of adventure and exploring. Go backstage!
WHAT IS THE PLAN EXACTLY?
We make rough plans based on research, maps we study, books, stories of others and so. Sometimes projects of the research plan are straight forward and it is just checking out a route or find camp spots. In other occasions it can be more a struggle to pass a steep cliff while hiking. Sometimes planned routes does not work, sometimes we need unexpectedly alternative transportation (for instance kayaks) to reach our goal.
CAN I PUT MY OWN WISHES IN THE PROGRAM?
The research plan is leading, but there is a lot of flexibility. To achieve our goals the weather is an important factor. But it also about what we like as a group. We are serious, but not too serious. Fun is important and a good time too!
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