On our Sail & Hike expeditions, we try to find the most beautiful hiking areas accessible by sailboat. What can you expect from mountain hiking in Northern Norway? How fit do you need to be? And what equipment should you bring? You can read all about it below:
Choose the Route That Suits You
If you regularly do long-distance hikes in your home country and aren’t afraid of a steeper climb or descent when hiking abroad, then Norway will certainly satisfy you. Are you more the type for long walks along the beach or through the forest, followed by a drink at a nice spot? Then choose the routes along the foot of the mountains, over the (rocky) beaches, or along the shore of a fjord.
Norway boasts an extensive hiking network, often with well-marked routes. If you start at the official beginning of a route, you’ll almost always find a sign indicating the length of the hike in kilometers and the approximate time it will take. Apps and sites like alltrails.com also provide a good starting point for exploring the possibilities. For each area, you can see which hikes are laid out, how long they are, and how difficult. (Please note: we don’t know in advance where we will land during the Sail&Hike, and therefore not which hikes you might be able to do.) A detailed map is available on board, showing how flat or steep (and thus how challenging) the area you wish to hike in is.
What Do You Need?
A good pair of (mountain) hiking boots is, of course, essential. Make sure you’ve broken them in properly. It would be a shame to return to the boat with sore feet after a day of walking in new shoes. Besides good shoes, also bring a daypack with a pair of dry socks, a cap, and sunglasses. And, of course, you can also pack your lunch, water bottle, and some snacks for the hike. If you like walking with poles, be sure to bring them into the mountains. A simple compass can also be useful (keep in mind that your phone may not always have reception in the mountains).
If you want to do longer mountain hikes, make sure you have a good basic fitness level. A moderate mountain hike in Norway can easily take 4 hours or more, so good stamina will certainly benefit you. Because parts of the routes can go over slopes, rocks, or ridges, and you might have to cross a stream, it’s important to have good balance and coordination. If you haven’t done mountain hiking before, it’s smart to start doing some longer walks with a daypack at home before you leave for Norway. The more flexibly you move through the mountains, the more you will enjoy it.
And as mentioned: a walk along the beach or the shore of the fjord is also an option. You don’t necessarily have to go to the top of that mountain. Perhaps from the shore, you’ll spot that sea eagle flying above the fjord much sooner than your travel companions who are climbing a mountain. So, you can make the hikes as easy or as challenging as you wish.
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Will You Join Us for Hiking in the Mountains of Vesterålen and Senja?
Read all about our Sail & Hike Expedition | Legendary Senja
