FATHER AND SON ARCTIC OUTDOOR ADVENTURE NORWAY
WINTER 2019/2020 (7 days)
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Taking your son with you in nature is great for the connection between father and son. Most fathers often do not spend time for a more extended period one-on-one with their son. And we think that is a missed chance... You can learn a lot from yourself and from the other. And it is also very cool to give your son skills for being safe and comfortable in the outdoors. So that's why we organise these father-son outdoor weeks now for several years. We take you and your son to wild places in the north of Norway. These trips are loaded with activities in the outdoors, but there is also a lot of time to relax or to do your own thing. We stay overnight in tents, tipi-tents with woodstove, cabins. and other cosy accommodation. Costs are from 1175 Euro per person (7 days). Age of your son is more or less between 12 and 18 years old.
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FACTS, DATES, COSTS AND GENERAL INFORMATIONHere are the facts of this trip. Feel free to contact us if you have questions or if you want to discuss your plans. Check also our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for answers on general questions.
Dates and booking information
DATES
Dates on request in October, November, January, February, March and April. Contact us to discuss the dates. We prefer arrivals at Sunday and departure on Saturday Already available: 16 Februaty - 22 February 2020 (7 days) 23 Februaty - 29 February 2020 (7 days) On request other dates BOOKING INFORMATION Name: FATHER-SON OUTDOOR ADVENTURE NORWAY Booking code: DUTCHFS 
COSTS
COSTS
1175 Euro per person (7 days) Flights and transfers are not included. Daily expenses like food and diesel are shared among the participants and the staff (around 15-20 Euro per day per person). We stay overnight in a mix of tents, tipi tents, (mountain) cabins and other accommodation. The costs of cabins and cottages are shares amongst participants and staff (around 35 Euro per night per person). Our decision to sleep in tents or cabins is based on weather conditions and your preferences. 
LOCATION and how to get there
TRAVELLING TO NORWAY
This outdoor adventure starts in the small fishing village named Helnessund in the municipality of Steigen in the north of Norway. You fly to Bodø (usually with a stop and a change of flight at Oslo). Bodø has a small and convenient airport and you can walk to the city centre or take a bus or taxi. A fast ferry takes you in 1 hour from Bodø to Helnessund, where our base is located. The ferry leaves from Bodø at 19:00. At the end of the trip, you take a catamaran ferry in the morning from Helnessund to Bodo. This takes around 1 hour and you will cruise through some great fjords. You can also use our pick-up service by car and we will drive 250 km (5 hours) through the Norwegian Mountains with awesome views of the fjords. This service costs 250 EURO (for 2 persons) and is highly recommended. We make great stops along the way. TRAVELLING THROUGH NORWAY BY TRAIN An option to get from Oslo to Bodø is to enjoy a 17 hours train ride. We advise an overnight stay in Trondheim and cut the trip in two parts. So, you can travel both parts in the daytime and enjoy the scenery. Check www.vy.no for more information about traveling by train. The so-called minipris ticket can be an economical way to travel (only online available and you have to buy it well in advance). TAKE YOUR TIME We recommend that you arrive 1 day before the start of this outdoor adventure in Bodo and take some time to acclimatise and get rid of travel and work stress. We can give you suggestions for (budget) hostels or hotels in Bodø if you like. LEVEL AND SKILLS
Everybody who is a good basic shape can join this trip. All outdoor activities are not very demanding, but you will be a bit tired at the end of the day. Note that we are in the Arctic and weather changes quickly. So, in case we are surprised by non-forecasted weather all outdoor activities can become a bit more tough or could be a bit out of your comfort zone. We understand that a child of 12 and a child of 18 have different capabilities. So don't worry about that. In case of bad weather we will choose for staying overnight in cabins instead of tents if possible.
AccomModation
We will stay overnight in expedition tents, tipi tents with a wood stove and (mountain) cabins. In case of bad weather or bad weather forecasts (storm or heavy rain) we always choose for cottages or cabins. We cook our own meals (inside or outside on a bonfire) and like to work with local products like dried fish and other ingredients.
AVAILABILITY and group size
AVAILABILITY
Yes NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS Max 8 participants (bigger groups on request). REMARKS The age of your son is more or less between 12 and 18 years. 
REMARKS
LEARNING NEW SKILLS
If (mountain) hiking, kayaking, snowshoeing and other outdoor activities are new for you, then we will teach you everything you need to know. NORTHERN LIGHTS The northern light season is from early September to late April. So, if we are lucky (no clouds and enough solar activity) you have chance to observe the aurora borealis. 
gear and preparations
This outdoor adventure is organized north of the Arctic Circle. So, you need warm clothing, good shoes and outdoor gear like sleeping bags and more. You receive a detailed packing list after you made your booking. This packing list tells you about the things you need to have and also gives you a lot of practical information. In case you do not have all the gear or if you do not want to invest, you can rent gear from us, like backpacks, sleeping mattresses, snowshoes and more.
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THE ROUGH SKETCH OF THE father-son adventure
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After your arrival at our base in Steigen we will make together a plan for the coming days. Based on the weather forecasts we plan outdoor activities and decide how and where we stay overnight. You and your son will be involved in building up camps and cooking for instance. We will put a lot of elements of our outdoor courses in this week, so you and your son can learn a lot of essential outdoor skills like fire making, working with wood, fishing and more. We will visit totally different areas and you will be amazed about what the Norwegian nature has to offer. We will go out snowshoeing with sleds and hiking through remote valleys, forests and crossing frozen lakes. On other days we go out on sea for sea fishing or visit some of the islands. We will try to reach higher areas in the mountains to get great views of the fjords. At the end of the week the fast ferry will take you back to Bodø or you choose for a 250 km drive by car through the mountains (optional).
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Explore the amazing nature of steigenThis father and son outdoor adventure takes place in magnificent surroundings. In the municipality of Steigen you can find all the typical landscapes that Norway has to offer. Impressive fjords, stunning islands and islets, jagged mountains, huge lakes and valleys with pine and birch forests. It is very easy to get remote and the Arctic wilderness is quite accesible. Encounters with moose, reindeer, foxes, sea eagles´and otters are quite common.
Learn more about STEIGENnature of steigen
So, here is some information about the area that we explore during this trip. Steigen is 1000 km2 big and has a variety of landscapes and terrain.
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). We can use our car to go to great spots to watch the northern lights or do a hike on a hill to get a good view. The northern light season ends late April and starts again in September. 
facts about the WEATHER AND CLIMATE here
The temperature around our base (at the coast is just above or just below 0 degrees Celsius. The lowest temperatures are around minus 10 and the highest +10 probably. The warm Gulfstream provides a mild climate and there is not always snow along the coastline, but a few miles inland we have snow conditions. In the mountains and on the higher areas (plateaus) there is snow this time of year.
Weather changes quickly in the Arctic, so we have to be prepared for all kinds of weather. Because our plans are depending on weather conditions we make daily plans for our activities. So you need a flexible mindset and expect that the plans we make can change due to weather or road conditions. Roads are often icy and gear like crampons or spikes are very useful. In case we have deep snow, snowshoes are needed for hiking. Water temperatures are just above zero. So you need a drysuit for sea kayaking. You can also rent the suits from us. 
wildlife in the area
There are not many people living in this area (2500 in 1000 km2) and there is a lot of wild nature. So, this makes it a perfect place for encounters with wildlife. Remember it is not a ZOO and we have to be lucky, silent and determined.
There is a huge amount of the giant sea-eagles living in Steigen and they can be spotted in the mountains and also near the coastline. We will certainly spot these amazing birds. Moose and (wild) reindeer can be spotted in the forest, valleys and sometimes close to the beaches. While driving we have to be careful, because they can cross the roads. Well, there is more to see for example foxes, hare, lynx, grouse, and seabirds. Near the coast and on the islands we might see seals, otter and sometimes small whales or dolphins. When we are out on the sea with our small expedition vessel we even might see killer whales, but we have to be very lucky for that. 
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE FATHER-SON ADVENTURE
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Here are answers on questions you might have. Please contact us if you cannot find the answer that you are looking for. Answers on other topics you can find in our FAQ.
can i take more than one child with me?
Yes, you can, but for the best experience we recommend one child.
MY SON IS YOUNGER OR OLDER?
Contact us and we can discuss things to make it happen or to find another adventure that suits you and your child.
DO I NEED OUTDOOR EXPERIENCE?
No that is not nescessary, we can teach you and your son a lot. And even not so experienced parents have some skills that you can teach your son.
IS THIS TRIP NOT TOO TOUGH FOR MY SON?
During this outdoor adventure we will check frequently that you and your son have a great experience. Our daily plans will be based on weather forecasts, physical abilities of our participants and your preferences. The actual weather and the forecasts are the most important ingredients of our decision making process.
CAN I TAKE MY DAUGHTER WITH ME?
Yes that is possible, but we check if this matches with the other participants. IS THERE ALSO A MOTHER-DAUGHTER version?
Yes, we organise that on request. The approach is a bit different and we can tell you more about it. contact us for more details. do you organise YOUTH CAMPS?
Yes, we organize youth camps in the summer holidays. 
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