Mile Builder | Ålesund & Helgeland

In the harbor of Ålesund, the Baltic—your 'home' for the next 12 days—is already waiting for you. Today, you'll have plenty of time to explore this beautiful Art Nouveau city, and history lovers shouldn't miss the Ålesund Museum. In the late afternoon, you'll step on board our ship, where the crew will warmly welcome you. Settle into your cabin, get to know your fellow travelers, and join us for dinner in the salon (or on deck if the weather cooperates). Afterward, we'll run through a comprehensive safety briefing, so once we're out at sea, you'll know exactly what every line is for, how to properly fit your life jacket, and how to move around deck safely.

After breakfast, it's time to leave Ålesund behind for the first leg of our journey north. Today, we'll sail to one of the many small islands off the coast of the Møre og Romsdal province. Throughout the day, you'll have ample opportunity to get familiar with sailing on the Baltic. You'll take the helm, trim the sheets while tacking, and help flake the sails. When we dock in a small harbor at the end of the day, you can stretch your legs ashore. Then, get a good night's rest, because tomorrow we head out to the open sea.

When you wake up, the coffee will already be brewing. Over breakfast, you'll find out which watch you've been assigned to and who your watchmates are. Then we'll cast off the lines and hoist the sails. Over the next few days, we'll sail 24/7, standing four-hour watches on the ship in teams of two or three. Under the guidance of an experienced crew member, you'll take the helm, help tack the ship, keep a sharp lookout, or reef the mainsail when needed.

After those four hours 'on,' you'll have eight hours 'off' watch. During that time, you can kick back with a book or listen to a podcast in the salon, lend a hand in the galley—making sure the crew on watch have fresh coffee and a bite to eat—and, of course, catch plenty of sleep so you're refreshed and ready for your next watch.

Under sail, we've entered the Helgeland region. With its jagged peaks, countless islands, rocky skerries, and narrow channels, this area is often called the little sister of the Lofoten Islands. Less vast, less well-known, but incredibly stunning. We navigate our way through the islands, keeping a watchful eye on the many rocks that sit just above sea level or lie just beneath the surface.

As we cruise past the small island of Vikingen, we cross the Arctic Circle, marked by a massive globe standing on the island's shore. We are now truly in the Arctic. Passing the Arctic Circle introduces us to an extraordinary phenomenon: the midnight sun. From here on out, it will be light day and night, as the sun no longer sets.

From the Arctic Circle, it's just a few more hours to the island of Rødøy. Here, after a voyage of about 300 nautical miles, we moor the ship in the tiny harbor. We'll raise a glass to a successful crossing and enjoy a well-deserved night's sleep. Anyone interested can hike the next day to the island's highest peak (1,440 feet / 440 meters), which offers fantastic panoramic views across the surrounding islets and the mountains in the distance.

From Rødøy, it's a short sail to Svartisen National Park, home to Norway's second-largest glacier. The glacier cascades almost down to sea level, while its highest point reaches roughly 5,250 feet (1,600 meters). We sail through Holandfjord and, at the head of the fjord, tie the ship securely to a pontoon. From there, we continue on foot, hiking along the glacial lake and over rocks deposited here during the Ice Age by advancing ice. After a challenging hike of about 1.5 to 2 hours, we arrive at the edge of the glacier, where you can marvel at the ancient ice up close. Pure magic!

Our journey along the Norwegian coast continues as we weave between fjords and islands. We'll seek out a few more scenic anchorages or quaint harbors, such as near the island of Bolga or the craggy Fugløya. This mountainous island covers 5 square miles (13 km²) and is a favorite among hikers. Uninhabited since the 1960s, it's home to various seabird colonies, including a resident puffin population.

After a voyage of over 400 nautical miles, we've arrived in Bodø. As one of Northern Norway's largest cities, city life might take a little getting used to after all the deserted fjords and remote islands we've been surrounded by over the past weeks. Today, it's time to pack your bags and bid farewell to the ship and your fellow crewmates. You'll disembark around 10:00 AM, leaving you with time to explore the city depending on your travel plans. Bodø boasts a major aviation museum and a brand-new cultural center, Stormen. If you haven't had your fill of the fjords yet, you can book a RIB excursion from Bodø to Saltstraumen, home to one of the world's strongest tidal currents. Or perhaps you'll tackle the world's northernmost Via Ferrata—just outside Bodø—where part of the route traverses open sea. There's truly something for everyone.