Northern Norway Coastal Adventure

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.

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.

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).

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.

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 17th floor, where a bar offers panoramic views of the harbour and surrounding islands.

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.