Arctic Circle Outdoor Adventure (January)
Adventure travels
If you have never been to Norway then this beginner level outdoor adventure is a perfect start. We plan a great variety of outdoor activities like deep-sea fishing, kayaking, hiking in nature reserves, Arctic floating, exploring the mountains and much more. This trip takes place in the municipality of Steigen, just 100 km north of the Arctic Circle. This scenic destination is absolutely off-the-beaten-track, wild and a great place to enjoy the Arctic. An awesome trip if you want to refuel in wild nature. Interested in learning some outdoor skills? We are happy to teach you some! This outdoor adventure is one of our most popular ones!
how long do you want to travel with us
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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
Arctic Circle Outdoor Adventure
DATES
23 January 2021 - 29 January 2021 (7 days, short version)
23 January 2021 - 31 January 2021 (9 days, standard version)
23 January 2021 - 03 February 2021 (12 days, extended version)
Arctic Circle Outdoor Adventure
DATES
23 January 2021 - 29 January 2021 (7 days, short version)
23 January 2021 - 31 January 2021 (9 days, standard version)
23 January 2021 - 03 February 2021 (12 days, extended version)
COSTS (WHAT IS INCLUDED)
COSTS
The costs of this trip are:
1075 EUR (short version)
1275 EUR (standard version)
1650 EUR (extended version)
INCLUDED
Included are all transports during the trip, guiding, use of kayaks, local transport with our boats, tents, use of fishing rods and cooking equipment.
NOT INCLUDED / SHARED COSTS
Flights and transfers to the starting / ending point are not included. Daily expenses like food and drinks are shared among the participants and the staff. Usually these costs are around 10-15 EUR per day. You can also bring some food from your home country.
ADDITIONAL NIGHTS IN ACCOMMODATION
If we (like to) stay more in cabins or cottages, we share these costs as well. Our decisions how to stay overnight are based on weather forecasts, conditions, temperatures and what we like. The cabins are around 30-35 EUR per person / per night. You can find more information about our accommodations below.
The costs of this trip are:
1075 EUR (short version)
1275 EUR (standard version)
1650 EUR (extended version)
INCLUDED
Included are all transports during the trip, guiding, use of kayaks, local transport with our boats, tents, use of fishing rods and cooking equipment.
NOT INCLUDED / SHARED COSTS
Flights and transfers to the starting / ending point are not included. Daily expenses like food and drinks are shared among the participants and the staff. Usually these costs are around 10-15 EUR per day. You can also bring some food from your home country.
ADDITIONAL NIGHTS IN ACCOMMODATION
If we (like to) stay more in cabins or cottages, we share these costs as well. Our decisions how to stay overnight are based on weather forecasts, conditions, temperatures and what we like. The cabins are around 30-35 EUR per person / per night. You can find more information about our accommodations below.
LOCATION AND ARRIVAL INFORMATION
LOCATION
This trip starts at our base, a small fishing village named Helnessund, in the municipality of Steigen (Nordland) in the north of Norway. It's located 50 km north of Bodø and can be reached by ferry daily. This fast ferry (hurtigbåt in Norwegian) takes you in approximately one hour from Helnessund to Bodø. Check the timetable for departures in the FAQ.
AIRPORT
To fly to Bodø you usually take a connecting flight from Oslo. There are multiple flights daily between Oslo and Bodø with different airlines such as SAS, NORWEGIAN, WIDEROE or WIZZ Air.
TRAVELING BY TRAIN IN NORWAY
If you want to travel economically friendly we can recommend you a 17 hours train ride from Oslo to Bodø. Check vy.no for more information about traveling by train.
OUR ADVISE: TAKE YOUR TIME
We would like to recommend you to arrive one day before the start of this trip and take some time to acclimatize yourself. It's also good to reduce the travel and work stress.
We can give you suggestions for (budget) hostels or hotels in Bodø if you like. An overnight stay in Bodø after the trip has ended is also a good idea. In case of bad weather ferries can be cancelled or delayed.
This trip starts at our base, a small fishing village named Helnessund, in the municipality of Steigen (Nordland) in the north of Norway. It's located 50 km north of Bodø and can be reached by ferry daily. This fast ferry (hurtigbåt in Norwegian) takes you in approximately one hour from Helnessund to Bodø. Check the timetable for departures in the FAQ.
AIRPORT
To fly to Bodø you usually take a connecting flight from Oslo. There are multiple flights daily between Oslo and Bodø with different airlines such as SAS, NORWEGIAN, WIDEROE or WIZZ Air.
TRAVELING BY TRAIN IN NORWAY
If you want to travel economically friendly we can recommend you a 17 hours train ride from Oslo to Bodø. Check vy.no for more information about traveling by train.
OUR ADVISE: TAKE YOUR TIME
We would like to recommend you to arrive one day before the start of this trip and take some time to acclimatize yourself. It's also good to reduce the travel and work stress.
We can give you suggestions for (budget) hostels or hotels in Bodø if you like. An overnight stay in Bodø after the trip has ended is also a good idea. In case of bad weather ferries can be cancelled or delayed.
LEVEL AND EXPERIENCE
LEVEL
For this trip you need to be in a normal shape. The hikes are usually 2-5 hours, but sometimes the trails are steep or include parts where there is no path (cross-country). The kayaking trips are 3-4 hours with some possibilities to stop on an island. Weather and terrain (especially snow) can make short distances tougher.
EXPERIENCE
You do not need to have experience in hiking, kayaking or even tenting. We will teach you the things you need to know. No problem!
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 trip you need to be in a normal shape. The hikes are usually 2-5 hours, but sometimes the trails are steep or include parts where there is no path (cross-country). The kayaking trips are 3-4 hours with some possibilities to stop on an island. Weather and terrain (especially snow) can make short distances tougher.
EXPERIENCE
You do not need to have experience in hiking, kayaking or even tenting. We will teach you the things you need to know. No problem!
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
You will stay overnight in (mountain) cabins, expedition tents and a tipi tent (with wood stove). Depending on the version you choose, one (short version), two (standard version) or three (extended version) nights in (mountain) cabins are included.
You will stay overnight in (mountain) cabins, expedition tents and a tipi tent (with wood stove). Depending on the version you choose, one (short version), two (standard version) or three (extended version) nights in (mountain) cabins are included.
GEAR AND PREPARATIONS
PACKING LIST
This trip 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.
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.
This trip 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.
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.
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 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.
WEATHER AND CLIMATE
You can find detailed information about the climate and temperatures here.
MORE ABOUT THE DESTINATION
If you want to learn more about the region Steigen click here.
THE ROUGH PLAN OF THE STEIGEN ARCTIC WILDERNESS ADVENTURE
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The municipality of Steigen (1000 km2) is located in the north of Norway just above the Arctic Circle. We find here excellent beaches, jagged mountains, dense forests, wild valleys, waterfalls and coastline full of fjords and islands. Nature is breathtaking. It is the perfect playground for all kind of outdoor activities and an impressive area to explore new trails, hardly visited areas and tempting mountain summits. We will take you to different places and guide into the Norwegian wilderness. On other days we will use one of our boats to get to remote islands and camp on sandy beaches that will remind you of the Mediterranean. We will use our hiking shoes, snowshoes and kayaks frequently to visit nature reserves and try to observe wildlife.
How it works...After your arrival in the fishing village of Helnessund, we will set up a basecamp on a scenic spot looking over the ocean. From there, we do our first hikes and outdoor activities. During this trip, we stay overnight in cabins, wood-stove heated tipi-tents and expedition tents. Choices are based on weather forecasts and what we like as a group. After the first nights, we travel to other places to set up a camp or hike to a remote (mountain) cabin. On most sites, we stay two nights to avoid too much logistics. At the end of the trip, we return to our base in Helnessund, and you take the ferry back to Bodo or make an optional 250 km road trip through the Norwegian mountains (if weather permits). |
THE THINGS WE PLAN TO DO |
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SNOWSHOEING
Snowshoeing is a great and fun way to wander through terrain with a lot of snow. We can even take sleds with us (pulka), so we do not have to carry big backpacks. You get a short course if you are not familiar with snowshoe hiking.
INCLUDED |
KAYAKING THE FJORDS
The archipelago near our base is an amazing place to kayak. There are many islands and islets. Also with some wind and waves there is a sheltered place to find. Explore the fjords and we teach you how to kayak if this is new for you.
INCLUDED |
CABINS AND TENTS
We often stay overnight in our cozy tipi-tents with a wood-stove or expedition tents to give you a real Arctic experience. Another great thing is to stay overnight in cabins. It is an adventure to stay overnight in places far away from civilization.
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WILDLIFE OBSERVING
Experiencing Arctic nature is not only about scenery. Encounters with wildlife is an essential part of it. Of course we need to be lucky, but there are good chances to spot moose, sea-eagles, otters, dolfins, foxes and haren on this trip,
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MOUNTAIN TRAILS
Mountains are tempting and we like to take you up to get this awesome views of the fjords and the ocean. Some of the trails leads to mountain cabins where we can stay overnight, cook some meals and experience the silence of the Arctic.
INCLUDED |
ARCTIC FLOATING
One of our favorite outdoor activities is Arctic floating in between the islands. We use survival suits in which you stay warm and dry, It is a very relaxing experience to float in crystal clear water with great views.
INCLUDED |
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DEEP-SEA AND ICE FISHING
We love to catch our own food instead of going to the supermarket. You can learn how to catch fish at sea (like cod and pollock) and how to do the filleting. If lakes are frozen we can try some ice-fishing.
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EXPLORE THE FJORDS
We will use our boats to explore the Steigen archipelago. Cruising between the islands is a superb experience. The water is crystal clear and the views over the fjord are stunning and we can go ashore on some of the islands.
INCLUDED |
REMARKS
Remember we are in the Arctic and here the weather is the boss. So, only short term plans are realistic. We make our decisions on what is possible and when to do it, based on weather forecast, conditions and what we like.
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Background information about Steigen
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We like to tell you some more about the area where this trip takes place.
nature of steigen
So, here is some information about the area that we explore during this expedition. The municipality of Steigen covers 1000 km2 and has a variety of landscapes. That is huge. So, in 9 days you will only see parts of it. THE COASTLINE The coastline is characterized by dramatic jagged mountains that reach sea level. The coastline has many sandy beaches and very typical are the birch and pine forests that almost meet the sea. There are many islands and islets close to the shore, but also further away. The water is crystal clear and is full of life. It is a great playground for kayaking or (if you dare) some Arctic snorkeling with a drysuit. Some of the archipelagos are nature reserves or bird sanctuaries. There is also a lot of history and remains of older times. There are interesting fjords to explore and just a hike up a hill and get a view over the wide Vestfjord with the Lofoten islands in the background is a treat for your eyes and camera. THE MOUNTAINS OF STEIGEN The mountains are steep, but there are trails that also can be done in wintertime (we take crampons or snowshoes with us). The views are magnificent and there are cozy cabins in the mountains and also in the lower areas that we can use for staying overnight. Most of the mountain lakes freeze in the winter time and offer possibilities for ice fishing. THE VALLEYS AND FORESTS The valleys in Steigen offer great opportunities for hikes on sea level, snowshoeing or cross-country skiing. If the temperatures are above zero the valleys can be quite wet and swampy with many small streams to cross. So hiking is quite adventurous out here. There are a lot of waterfalls and some of them will be frozen in the winter. Encounters with foxes, moose and reindeer are quite common. Pine and birch forests are inviting for a hike and we like to stay overnight in tents or (heated) tipi in wild surroundings. GLACIERS, NATURE RESERVES, AND NATIONAL PARKS In the south of Steigen, we find the Helldalsisen glacier and this area is part of the Sjunkhatten national park. There are no roads here and the area can only be visited by boat. HISTORICAL SITES Steigen has quite some interesting things to see of the iron age, the times of the Vikings and more recently fortifications from WWII. observing the Northern lights
In the evening and at nighttime the northern lights, also known as the aurora borealis, may be visible. We need enough solar activity, no clouds (that's an important thing because it blocks the view) and it's necessary that we frequently check outdoor. It appears at certain times in the evening or at nighttime, but we never know when. Sometimes it lasts for 10 minutes on other times it goes on for hours. Also, the strength might vary every day. If you are serious about taking pictures then an important accessory is a tripod. So don't forget (it is on the packing list that you receive from us). |
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