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Northern Norway Coastal Adventure

Activity

Culture

Overview

Journey by boat, kayak, and bike through the northern coast of Norway with expert adventure guides

Discover the pristine beauty of Helgeland in northern Norway, joining expert adventurers who know these wild coasts, islands, and traditional communities first-hand. Beginning in the old trading island of Støtt, we witness the beauty from every angle: crossing the waves by RIB boat, sea kayaking through sheltered channels, cycling between islands, and hiking beneath glorious peaks. By the end of the adventure, the people and landscapes of Helgeland will be in your heart and soul.

Key Information

Trip Code: AXN
Ways to Travel: Guided Group
Countries: Norway
Carbon Footprint: 36.5kg CO2e per person per day

What's Included

All breakfasts, three lunches, three dinners
All accommodation
All transport and listed activities
Tour leader throughout and local guides
Group arrival and departure transfers available

Highlights

Hike the wild coast and discover the crystalline waters of Helgeland with true adventure experts
Stay at an old trading post in Støtt, renovated with comfortable rooms and gastronomic dining
Experience the thrill of a RIB boat excursion and hike to Norway's second-largest glacier
Kayak around sheltered islets and skerries for a perfect combination of beautiful scenery and rich wildlife
Go island hopping by bike through one of the most scenic archipelagos in Norway
Meet the local people whose lives are shaped by nature and support family-run businesses in welcoming villages

Itinerary

First Destination: Støtt
Next Destination: Bodø

Meals included:Dinner

Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch

Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch

Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch

Meals included:Breakfast

Meals included:Breakfast

First Destination: Støtt
Next Destination: Bodø

Begin your adventure in Støtt, a tiny island community once known for its strategic trading post on the Helgeland coast. To get there, we take the afternoon express boat (4.15pm-5.25pm) from Bodø.

On arrival at the hotel, we’re welcomed by our hosts and shown to the old trading post museum, which gives a vivid sense of the island’s history and the rise of the Norwegian fishing industry.

Around 6pm, we head to the gastronomic restaurant for our welcome briefing and group dinner, when we get to know one another and hear more about the journey ahead.

Want more time in Støtt or Bodø? Secure pre-tour hotel nights through your sales representative.

Accommodation: Støtt – Top of Helgeland (or similar)

Meals included:Dinner

Travel by RIB across the Helgeland coast (one hour) to Svartisen, the second-largest glacier on mainland Norway. Sitting just north of the Arctic Circle, its bright blue crevasses and surrounding mountains show the force of the ice that shaped this region over millennia.

After docking below the glacier, we follow a 30-minute trail to the lakeside café before continuing on foot for 30-45 minutes up towards the glacier’s edge. Along the way, our local tour leader explains how the ice formed, how it sculpted the valley, and how its retreat reflects wider climate trends in northern Norway. Packed lunches from Støtt keep us fuelled during the excursion.

We return to Støtt the same way, skimming across the waves by RIB. After time to relax, we regroup for a three-course dinner at the hotel restaurant.

Accommodation: Støtt – Top of Helgeland (or similar)

Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Spend the morning learning sea-kayaking techniques with an experienced local guide. After gearing up (9am-9.30am), we move the kayaks to the water and spend around 2hr-2hr 30min paddling through sheltered channels between the islands.

These quiet waters are frequented by seabirds and seals, and the guide shares their knowledge of local wildlife and how people have navigated this archipelago for generations.

Back on shore, we enjoy a hearty lunch and there’s time for a warm shower. Rooms are available until 2pm, giving us time to pack before the afternoon ferry.

The rest of the day is free to enjoy the stillness of Støtt at your own pace, before collecting a packed dinner for the journey: an express boat to Sandnessjøen (5.25pm-9.20pm).

Accommodation: Scandic Syv Søstre (or similar)

Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Begin at Visit Helgeland’s Tourist Information Centre to collect our bikes (8.30am), then take the 15-minute ferry to Dønna at 9am. Our cycle route traces the quiet island roads of Dønna (one of the largest islands in Helgeland) and the Herøy archipelago, an area known for its fishing heritage, wooden churches, and shoreline communities.

The first section to Seløy in the Herøy archipelago takes just under two hours, cycling through the scenic coastal landscape. At the old-schoolhouse café, Skolo, we pause for lunch and a coffee, with time to enjoy the panoramic view of the Seven Sisters mountains.

After, we visit Etcetera Botanical Extravaganza, an imaginative flower shop filled with sculptural arrangements and art installations, which also sells local specialties, such as licorice chocolate and ornaments.

The ride then continues through the archipelago, with sweeping sea views and the Vega archipelago, Træna, and Lovund on the horizon.

We finish at Flostad pier in time for the 5pm express boat back to Sandnessjøen.

Accommodation: Scandic Syv Søstre (or similar)

Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch

Join our tour leader for a leisurely three-hour hike along the ridge above Sandnessjøen, a protected green corridor offering expansive views of the Seven Sisters—a striking chain of peaks tied to local legend, which tells of seven daughters of a troll king turned to stone. The horizon is framed by the silhouettes of the islands of Dønna and Herøy, the wider Helgeland archipelago, and the Atlantic Ocean. You can also see the mountain Dønnamannen, believed to have played a role in the events leading to the sisters’ transformation. This walk offers insight into how Norway’s dramatic landscape has shaped local folklore.

For those who prefer to stay in town, Sandnessjøen has a self-guided art and sculpture walk featuring works by Skule Waksvik, plus murals along the harbour. Alternatively, the nearby Viking chieftain’s farm Høvdingsetet offers demonstrations, storytelling and traditional activities, while Alstahaug Church and the Petter Dass Museum provide insight into one of Norway’s most influential poets (both a 20-minute taxi ride from the hotel).

After time for lunch, catch the express boat to Bodø (1.45pm-6.30pm), which includes 15 stops so you can see the many small coastal communities along the way. Upon arrival, there’s a short walk to the hotel; after settling in, you could head to the 17^th floor, where a bar offers panoramic views of the harbour and surrounding islands.

Accommodation: Scandic Havet (or similar)

Meals included:Breakfast

You’ve travelled by express boat along the Helgeland coast, paddled through sheltered island channels, cycled an archipelago, and stood at the edge of one of Norway’s great glaciers, but now it’s time to begin your journey home.

Alternatively, if you’d like to extend your adventure, speak to your sales representative to discuss our range of extension options.

Meals included:Breakfast

Dates & Prices

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Call us on 0203 733 5948

Your Group, Your Adventure

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Accommodation

Selection of Norwegian hotels

We aim to secure locally owned accommodation that is well located, offers good value for money, and plenty of comfort. To help you find your ideal adventure, each trip is given a Comfort Level rating, which indicates the overall standard of accommodation. For more on our ratings, see our Comfort Level guidelines.

Worth knowing

Tailor your trip: Extend your adventure by securing extra hotel nights before or after the main itinerary. Speak to your sales representative to book.
Private rooms: Like most tour operators, we room solo passengers together. If you’d prefer to have a private room, it’s normally possible to do this for a supplement. Speak to your sales representative to book.

Essential Information

This trip is graded Activity Level 4 (Moderate & Challenging). For more information on our trip gradings, visit the Activity Level Guidelines page. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip, please contact us.

Suitability: As this is a multi-activity adventure, you should read the itinerary carefully and make sure you are comfortable taking part in all the activities listed. For some guidance, here is what you can expect.

Walking: The Day 2 hike requires a good level of fitness. We hike for approximately 1.5mi (2.5km) on a steady, steep uphill. The route follows paths and gravel road, sometimes with rugged terrain.
Cycling: Suitable for all fitness and skill levels. Helmets and bikes are always provided.
Kayaking: Guidance is provided on how to paddle, so it’s suitable for all skill levels. This activity takes place on the sea, with possible waves. Please let us know your level of kayaking experience before departure, so our guide can bring the appropriate equipment.

Key information

Start hotel: Støtt – Top of Helgeland, Støttveien 10, 8159 Støtt, Norway
Phone: +47 40 02 12 12
Recommended arrival time: There is a welcome briefing at 6pm, followed by a group dinner
Airport: Bodø Airport (BOO)

Getting to the start hotel

The ferry pier (Bodø sentrumsterminalen) to get to the start hotel is approximately 10 minutes from Bodø airport. To get there, you can use public transport or a taxi. You then take a ferry from Bodø to Støtt island to reach the start hotel (around 1hr 10min). There is only one ferry per day, so it’s essential you catch the boat!

Catching your return flight

We walk five minutes to the bus stop to take a local bus (10 minutes) to Bodø Airport.

Norway

Travellers from the UK, US and EU normally do not need a visa to enter Norway. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.

Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

In Sandnessjøen and Bodø, allow €15-€30 for lunch without drinks. For dinner, expect to pay €25- €45+ without drinks.

Climate: Summer in Helgeland is generally mild and highly variable, with average temperatures of approximately 13C-16C (55F-60F) and highs up to 25C (77F), with periods of both sunshine and rain. While days are long and often bright, temperatures can change quickly, so layering clothing is essential.

Daylight: Helgeland is just south of the Arctic Circle, so while you won’t experience the true midnight sun, there is no darkness at night during midsummer (June-July), with daylight around the clock.

Precipitation: Rainfall varies by location. Outer islands and coastal areas tend to have less annual rainfall than the wet coastal mountains.

As a certified B Corp, we’re on a mission to improve our social and environmental impact across all our adventures.

We do this through our innovative Thriving Nature, Thriving People plan.

This ‘nature positive’ approach is designed to help nature and communities thrive in harmony through practical solutions, such as reducing carbon and waste on our trips, supporting conservation projects through the Exodus Adventure Travels Foundation, and rewilding 100 square metres for every Exodus traveller.