Legendary Senja: The journey from day to day

On foot and from the water we will discover the island of Senja. The route we describe below is a suggestion for your trip. Depending on the wind and weather conditions, we decide where we will sail to and which hikes we will make. The exact route therefore remains a surprise, but you will certainly enjoy the beautiful views during the hikes in the mountains of Senja.

Dag 1: At the end of the afternoon you step aboard our sailing ship, in the harbor of Harstad. While enjoying a drink, you will meet your travel companions for this Sail & Hike. The crew makes you familiar with the ship, so you will quickly feel at home. Once you’re settled, a tasty, vegetarian meal has been prepared for you. After dinner it is time for a safety instruction by the captain and you will hear what the sailing plans for tomorrow will be. Then IML-guide will tell you everything about the hikes we will make on the island of Senja.

Dag 2: We’ll set sail early and sail out of Harstad harbour. You can help hoist the sails and if you want you can steer the ship. Today is a short trip to the south side of the Island of Senja. This offers you a good opportunity to get used to the movements of the ship. We have lunch on board and then the International Mountain Leader takes you for the first hike, a trip of about 4 hours in the mountains around Skrolsvik. From here you have a beautiful view of the Andfjorden, the water that we crossed this morning. When you come back on board, it’s time for dinner. Then we sail in an hour or two to Flakkstadvåg, where we will spend the night.

Dag 3: Today you will make a hike on the peninsula at Flakkstadvåg. Take your backpack with water and provisions for the whole day. Do not forget your photo camera. Perhaps today you climb the highest peak (about 700m) of the peninsula, where you have a magnificent view of Senja and the fjords, or you go paddling in one of the mountain lakes. At the end of the day the ship is waiting for you on the other side of the peninsula. You get on board where a cup of steaming soup is waiting for you. Then we sail into one of the fjords and anchor for the night. (photo: Kristoffer Trolle)

Dag 4: After yesterday’s intensive hiking day, a sailing day is on the program today. Together with a crew member and a couple of traveling companions you are assigned a 3 or 4 hour watch. You help to set sail, steer and navigate. In the meantime you can see the impressive rocky coast of Senja glide past you from the cockpit. On the port side you look out over the Atlantic Ocean. The next piece of land that you encounter is … Greenland. At the end of the afternoon we arrive in the harbor of Husøy, on the northwest side of Senja. Together we prepare dinner and for those who want to, the guide organizes a short evening hike. The sun does not set here at this time of the year, so you still have a good number of hours for a hike.

Dag 5-6: You will be woken up early. One of the most beautiful hikes of Senja is on the program today. We sail from Husøy a bit further into the fjord and take you off to the other side. From here you go for a pretty tough hike. But once you reach the top of the mountain range, the reward is great: the most phenomenal view of perhaps all of Norway is waiting for you here. Of course, the IML-guide takes the time to fully enjoy this. You will probably shoot dozens of photos (think of an extra battery for your camera, in the cold it will last less). Then it is time to slowly descend and return to the ship. We spend the night again in the harbour of Husøy.

Dag 7-8: After breakfast we hoist the sails again and continue north. We leave the Vesterålen archipelago today and sail into the Troms region. Right on the border of both areas lies the island of Hekkingen and one of the oldest lighthouses in Norway: Fyr Fences. If the sea and the weather permit, we make a landing on this island. The island is a little 100m high, but apart from a few houses you only find rugged nature and lots of birds.

In the afternoon a hike is planned over the island, with beautiful views over the ocean or the mountains of Senja. Of course you can also view the lighthouse yourself. Then we sail in an hour to the island of Sommarøy, which is surrounded by even smaller islands and boulders. We look for a good place for dinner to moor in the harbour of the old fishing town.

Dag 9: Today we sail from Sommarøy between the islands of Senja and Kvaløya. We left early. Left and right you will see one mountain top appear after the other. If you want to stay at the helm for a few miles while you pass by the beautiful landscape of this region, this is your chance. Or maybe you would like to learn to determine your position while sailing using bearings on lighthouses, mountain peaks and islands? In the course of the afternoon we moor in a small harbor on the east side of the island of Kvaløya. For the last time this trip you put on your walking shoes and the guide takes you for a beautiful hike into the mountains. From above you look out over the Troms fjord and you see the city of Tromsø below you.

Dag 10: With a rich breakfast, this expedition comes to an end. The last eight days you have been enjoying the, perhaps, most beautiful island in Norway, from water and from landside. Now it’s time to pack your things and go back home. You can take the bus to the airport of Tromsø, but we can also imagine that you will stay a bit longer in the Troms region. To visit the interesting Polarmuseum for example or for a spectacular hike with huskies.

For whom is this Sail & Hike the most suitable?

The hikes that we will make during this trip are suitable for everyone with a basic + condition. Can you walk in normal situation for 4-6 hours with a daypack and do you still have some energy left? Then these hikes will fit you. Experience with walking abroad (mountainous) or in snow areas is not necessary. Of course you have good footwear and a sporty attitude. It is always possible during the trip skip a day hiking, to go out on it yourself or to sail with the ship to the place where the hikers are picked up again.

What to bring – additionally – for the hikes?

• good, waterproof mountain shoes (keep in mind that there may be snow)
• small backpack
• sunglasses and sunscreen
• drinkbottle (1 litre)
• small first-aid kit
• pocketknife
• rain gear or waterproof outdoor clothing (also think of Gamaschen)
• possibly walking sticks (recommended)
• warm clothing, hat, gloves etc. (what you would take for a trip in Northern Norway anyway)

Sail & Hike | Legendary Senja

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