Sailing the Lofoten and Vesterålen

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Your journey starts today in Svolvaer, the capital of the Lofoten. In the late afternoon, you'll step on board our sailing ship, the Baltic. While enjoying a drink, you'll get to know your fellow travelers and the crew. We'll show you around the ship so you'll quickly feel at home. After dinner, it's time for a safety briefing, and you'll hear about tomorrow's sailing plans.

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In the morning, we cast off and slowly sail out of the harbor. Together, we'll hoist the sails, and you'll take turns helping to steer or trim the sails. At the end of the day, we'll dock in a charming harbor or drop anchor, for example, near the island of Skrova, where we can take a trip in the dinghy through the shallow and rocky waters.

Of course, we'll also set course for one of the most special places in the Lofoten: the famous Trollfjord. The narrow entrance to this fjord only becomes visible when we are very close. We slowly sail inside. The mountain wall rises almost vertically from the water. If there's space, we'll try to dock at the pontoon at the back of the fjord. You can walk along the waterline or take a challenging hike through the mountains. Or put on your swimwear for a refreshing dip in the fjord. Your camera will certainly be working overtime. For bird lovers: this is one of the best places to spot sea eagles!

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After our visit to Trollfjord, we head portside, northwards. Our route passes deserted islands and rocky coasts. The water will sometimes be extremely narrow, and the high mountains further enhance that feeling. We'll drop anchor in a bay or dock in the harbor of Stokmarknes or Sortland, the main town of the Vesterålen archipelago.

If the weather permits, we can also set course for Stø, on the edge of the Norwegian Sea. From Stø, you can take the Dronningruta (Queen's Route), a fantastic (but challenging) hike along the ocean coast, where you'll have breathtaking views of the wild sea from 400-meter-high mountain peaks. Bird lovers will be thrilled here, as the cliffs around Stø are popular with fulmars, puffins, sea eagles, and razorbills.

But we could also take a trip through the Gullesfjord, on the east side of Møysalen National Park, with its high mountain peaks and glacial lakes. Depending on where we end up, you can visit a museum, go for a (mountain) hike, or enjoy a sauna session.

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We cast off again and sail into the wide waters of the Andfjorden. To port lies the mountainous island of Andoya, and to starboard appear the islands of Grytøya and Bjarkøya. This was once the seat of the Viking chieftain Tore Hunn in the 11th century. We'll drop anchor or dock at one of the islands before continuing south.

We sail along the beautiful fjord coast and arrive in Harstad at the end of the day. This is the second-largest city in the region after Tromsø. The city was founded over 100 years ago, but traces of settlement from the Bronze Age have been found. Harstad is still a lively place where it's pleasant to stay.

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This last day of your trip begins with a delicious breakfast, and then it's time to pack your bags and say goodbye to your fellow travelers. Perhaps you'll stay an extra day in Harstad to learn more about the city's history (tip: visit the church and the fort on the Trondenes peninsula). In any case, we hope you enjoyed sailing among the many islands and through the mighty fjords of the Lofoten and Vesterålen.