Sail & Hike | Legendary Senja

In the late afternoon, you'll board our sailboat in the harbor of Harstad. While enjoying a drink, you'll meet your fellow travelers for this Sail & Hike. The crew will show you around the ship so you'll quickly feel at home. Once you're settled, a delicious plant-based meal will be prepared for you.  After dinner, it's time for a safety briefing from the captain, and you'll hear about tomorrow's sailing plans.

We cast off early and sail out of Harstad harbor. You'll help hoist the sails, and take turns at the helm, trimming the sails, or preparing lunch for your fellow travelers. Today, we'll make a short trip to one of the islands north of Harstad. This offers a good opportunity to get used to the ship's movements.

We'll have lunch onboard, and afterward, you can take your first hike. While walking, you'll have a beautiful view of the Andfjorden. When you return to the ship, it's time for dinner. After a good night's rest, we'll sail on to another fjord the next day, where you can also enjoy a beautiful hike.  

After yesterday's hike, today's program is a sailing day. You'll be assigned to a 2 or 3-hour watch with a crew member and a few fellow travelers. You'll help hoist sails, steer, and navigate. Meanwhile, you'll watch Senja's impressive rocky coast glide by.

In the late afternoon, we'll arrive at the small harbor of Husøy, on the northwest side of Senja. We'll prepare dinner together, and those who wish can explore the town's surroundings in the evening. The sun doesn't set here at this time of year, so you'll still have several hours for a walk.

You'll be woken up early. One of Senja's most beautiful hikes is on the agenda today. We'll sail a bit further into the fjord from Husøy and drop you off on the other side. From here, you'll set off on a rather challenging hike. But once you reach the top of the mountain range, the reward is immense: perhaps the most phenomenal view in all of Norway awaits you here. Of course, you'll take your time to fully enjoy it. You'll likely snap dozens of photos. Then it will be time to slowly descend and return to the ship. We'll spend the night back in Husøy harbor.

After breakfast, we'll hoist the sails again and continue north. Today we leave the Vesterålen archipelago and enter the Troms region. Exactly on the border of both areas lies the island of Hekkingen, home to one of Norway's oldest lighthouses: Hekkingen Fyr. If the sea and weather permit, we might be able to make a landing on this small island. The island is just under 330 feet (100m) high, but apart from a few houses, you'll only find rugged nature and many birds there.

Then we'll sail on to the island of Sommarøy, which is surrounded by even smaller islands and rocks. We'll find a good spot to moor in the harbor of the old fishing town or drop anchor.

From Sommarøy, we'll sail today between the islands of Senja and Kvaløya. We departed early. To your left and right, one mountain peak after another will appear. If you want to spend a few more miles at the helm while the beautiful landscape of this region passes by, this is your chance. Or perhaps you'd like to learn how to determine your position while sailing, using bearings on lighthouses, mountain peaks, and small islands?

In the course of the afternoon, we'll dock in the harbor of Tromsø. Those who wish can put on their hiking boots for the last time this trip and climb the mountains around the city (or take the cable car). From above, you'll overlook the Troms fjord and see the city of Tromsø below you. An hour's stroll in the city is, of course, also an option.

With a hearty breakfast, this journey also comes to an end. For ten days, from the water and from land, you've been able to intensely enjoy perhaps the most beautiful island in all of Norway. Now it's time to pack your bags and head home. You can take the bus to Tromsø airport, but we can also well imagine that you might want to stay a little longer in the Troms region. For example, to visit the interesting Polar Museum or for a spectacular husky hike.