Vestfjord SEA kayaking and HIKING EXPEDITION (SEPTEMBER)In this very adventurous expedition we focus on kayaking and hiking in wild and scenic Arctic surroundings. We plan multi-day kayak trips to an uninhabited islands which are located in the wide Vestfjord. On the islands we build camps and stay overnight in tents. After that we prepare ourselves for a multi-day trekking through mountainous areas, valleys and forests where stay overnight in different cabins or a tipi. In between there is time to go out fishing, observe wildlife and enjoy the Arctic. Costs are 1575 Euro (9 days). Check dates, facts and details below.
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FACTS, DATES, COSTS AND GENERAL INFORMATIONHere are the facts of this expedition. 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
23 September 2019 - 1 October 2019 (9 days) Ask us for alternative dates this month if you want to make a reservation for a group of two or more people. We will try to arrange that for you! BOOKING INFORMATION Name: VESTFJORD KAYAKING AND HIKING EXPEDITION Booking code: DUTCH09F WHICH MONTH TO CHOOSE? This expedition is also organised in other months. The period of the midnight sun is from the end of May until the end of July. There is some snow left in the mountains in June. The northern lights may appear in the second half of August, but chances are better in September. March and April can have a lot of snow. In May we have to go to the higher parts usually to have good snow conditions. There is some snow left in the mountains in June. Choose a month and check the details:        COSTS
COSTS
The costs of joining this expedition are 1575 Euro. Flights and transfers are not included. Daily expenses like food, diesel are shared among the participants and the staff (ussualy around 15-20 Euro per day per person). We stay overnight in a mix of tents, and (mountain) cabins. In some cabins we pay a fee to stay overnight. The costs are around 30-35 Euro per night per person. In case of bad weather or bad weather forecasts we always try to stay in cabins. 
LOCATION and how to get there
TRAVELLING TO NORWAY
For this expedition you have to travel to Bodø (direct flights from Oslo). This expedition starts and ends in a small fishing village named Helnessund in the municipality of Steigen (Nordland) in the north of Norway. There is a good ferry connection from Bodø. This fast ferry (hurtigbat in Norwegian) takes you in approximately 1 hour from Bodø to Helnessund. Daily departures in the afternoon (around 18:00 on most days). It is a 20 minute walk from the airport to the harbor in the city center where the ferry departs. TRAVELLING THROUGH NORWAY BY TRAIN Another 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.nsb.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 road trip 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
You can join this expedition without a lot of outdoor experience and a good basic shape. The hikes will be 2 to 6 hours with a backpack in mountainous terrain. There will not always be trails, so this can make it a bit tougher, but also fun.. Mountains are steep here. There are no alpine techniques involved (ropes and so).
You can also join on beginners level, but then you have quite a steep learning curve, but that's no problem if you like it. Feel free to discuss this with us. Every day starts with a briefing, and we discuss plans and what to take with you. LEARNING NEW SKILLS It is no problem if some activities are new to you. We are happy to teach you the skills needed. THE ARCTIC IN GENERAL 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 tougher or be a bit out of your comfort zone. AccomModation
We will stay overnight in expedition tents, tipi tents and (mountain) cabins or traditional cottages. In case of bad weather or bad weather forecasts (storm or heavy rain) we always try to choose for cottages or cabins.
AVAILABILITY and group size
AVAILABILITY
Yes NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS Max 8 participants (bigger groups on request). REMARKS Minimum age is 18 years. If you like to travel with a family contact us and we will try to make it happen. 
REMARKS
LEARNING NEW SKILLS
If (mountain) hiking or kayaking is new for you, then we will teach you everything you need to know. NORTHERN LIGHTS AND MIDNIGHT SUN There are no northern lights visible because of the arrival of the midnight sun (24 hours of day light from the end of May). gear and preparations
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 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 and more.
WHY CHOOSE THIS expedition...?This expedition is for people that like to combine sea and mountain and like to multi-day hikes and multi-day kayak trips in typical Norwegian surroundings. Good weather is essential for island-hopping with kayaks, so here you can expect some expedition-style decision making if the weather gets a bit rough and we have to change plans (and kayak in more sheltered waters). If you like adventurous exploring at sea and on land surrounded by superb Arctic scenery, then this trip is an excellent choice. During this expedition we visit several remote areas. 
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SEA kayaking along the spectacular coast of norwayThis adventurous expedition has two main goals. The first goal is to explore the coastal islands of what we call the Andholmen archipelago. This group of islands are located at the East side of the wide Vestfjord with a fantastic view of the Lofoten islands in the distance. There are at least one hundred coastal islands, islets and rocks rising out of the Arctic sea. Small sandy beaches, an abundance of wildlife and pure nature. The idea is to explore several of them and enjoy the wilderness, look for remains of the past and have a good time. Water is crystal clear here, and we will use our kayaks to catch some fish too. We build a small basecamp (tents) on uninhabited islands where we stay overnight and cook outside on a bonfire if we have fair weather. Probably we will use our expedition vessel Xplore1 to bring supplies to the islands. Routes, distances and plans are based on weather forecasts and things we like to do. We teach you the basics if kayaking is new for you.
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multi-day BACKPACKING through arctic landscapesIn the second part of this expedition, we will travel to a completely different area to do a multi-day trekking to a mountainous area called Asjorda with freshwater lakes, impressive mountains, waterfalls and wild streams. We will travel with backpacks and take supplies with us. Depending on weather and conditions we will decide if we transport equipment to pick-up points, so we don't need to carry all gear (like tents and cooking equipment). We will stay overnight in simple (mountain) cabins or occasionally a tent or tipi. Probably we will have encounters with moose or reindeer on these trip. Life will be simple, and you will experience the silence of the Arctic. At times we are out of reach of cell phone networks. If hiking in mountainous areas is new for you, we will help you with your first steps. There will be opportunities for freshwater fishing, photography and we will take a drone with us on some occasions to get some nice shots (if you like to we can teach you the basics of drone flying). We will explore areas where there are no trails, so we hike cross-country style. You can learn a lot about navigation, camp in the outdoors, weather forecasts and hiking. Fun, sweat, challenges and adventure are guaranteed.
SPECIAL FACTS ABOUT SEPTEMBERThe period of the northern lights has started. So, if we are lucky and we have no clouds we might be able to observe the aurora borealis. It is a great period for picking berries and mushrooms (we will hunt for cantharel). We expect that we can catch some mackerel at sea. Maybe we have the first snow in the mountains.
THE BEST MONTH FOR MUSHROOMS GREAT TIME TO CATCH MACKEREL ARRIVAL OF AUTUMN NORTHERN LIGHTS |
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Map of the area
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Here is a map of the area in which this expedition takes place. Take a close look and you get an idea of the natural environment, distances and possibilities.
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