6-day boat trip along the Helgeland coast

Brønnøysund – Forvik – Lovund

Lovund hotell

Departure from Brønnøysund pier (guest pier in the city center) at 4:30 PM.

We arrive at the Trading Post Forvik after about 45 minutes. The over 200-year-old trading post is fully operational with accommodation, food service, and an exciting coffee roastery. Here we will be served the specialty boknafisk. Boknafisk is a traditional Norwegian dried fish, typically made from cod. The fish is partially dried and then air-cured, resulting in a distinct texture and flavor. Unlike fully dried stockfish, boknafisk retains some moisture, which gives it a softer texture.

Then we set course for Lovund and enjoy a beautiful sail through the stunning archipelago of the Helgeland coast. We pass, among other places, Rosøya, which was the site of the Rigel disaster during World War II. To the east, we see De Syv Søstre (The mountains the seven sisters), and to the northwest, Lovund awaits. The boat trip from Forvik to Lovund takes about two hours. In the evening, we will be served a tasty afternoon meal at Lovund Hotel.

Lovund Hotel is our base for the next few days. Here we stay comfortably and enjoy exquisite dinners in the evenings.

Staying at Lovund

Lovund hotell

Lovund stands out in several ways. Not only is it recognized as a pioneer in modern aquaculture, but the island is also famous for its impressive colony of puffins. Despite its modest size, the island has a population of almost 500 people. Here, there is no unemployment, but rather significant prosperity and minimal emigration. The remarkable thing is that the average age on Lovund is around 30 years, and this can be attributed to the aquaculture industry, which has created a favorable and attractive community environment.

After breakfast, we will have a small tour of the island with a local guide who will tell us about life on Lovund and the salmon adventure.

Mountain hike and puffins

Afterwards, you have the rest of the day to yourself. You can choose to take it easy with some short hikes to get to know the island. Or you can go on longer hikes, which are well suited for on Lovund. If you're looking to gain altitude, you can hike up Lovund Mountain (628 meters above sea level). This is a slightly demanding hike that takes 2-3 hours each way. A trip up to Lundeura to see the Puffins is also recommended. Feel free to take this trip in the evening, when the puffins return from the sea.

Lovund - Træna - Lovund

Lovund hotell

We are heading out to sea! There are many vibrant island communities along the Helgeland coast, and Træna is definitely one of them. Træna is an independent municipality and recognized among Norway's oldest fishing villages. The majority of the population lives in Hustad, which will be our first stop on this voyage of discovery.

Træna-Hawaii

We start with a visit to the Træna Museum, where we experience the exhibition "Træna – Hawaii." It tells a poignant story about a brother who emigrated to America and a sister who remained in Træna – and about a camera that arrived in the mail. After the museum visit, we take a leisurely 20-minute walk to the Petter Dass Chapel, where we can admire the spectacular view towards Sanna.

We have lunch at the local restaurant Havfolket before boarding the boat and setting course for Sanna.

Dark caves and romantic paths

Kjærlighetsstien (the love trail) is a beautiful hiking trail that goes around the entire Sanna. Or you can hike up to Kirkhelleren, a 45-meter deep and 20-meter wide cave. Kirkhelleren is reached after a short walk in relatively easy terrain. The Gompen/NATO station is a 300-meter long tunnel. Gompen is the highest peak you can reach without climbing equipment. We take our time to explore this exceptionally beautiful island.

The sail from Lovund to Træna takes about 45 minutes. The boat trip between Husøy (where most people on Træna live) and Sanna is no more than eight minutes.

Lovund - Myken - Lovund

Lovund hotell

On this day, we sail northward and further out to sea towards our next destination: Myken. Although only 14-15 people usually reside here, the island transforms into a bustling place in the summer. Here, we find our own shop, an impressive restaurant, and, notably, the world's first Arctic whisky distillery!

Arctic whisky distillery

The visit to Myken distillery is one of the highlights, where we have the chance to taste their sought-after products. Production has reached a point where the products can be purchased at Vinmonopolet. As an exciting addition, they have now also introduced the "Myken Cathedral," a storage facility for 10 years of whisky production. Read more and watch a video about Myken and the distillery.

After a fulfilling day on Myken, we return to Lovund in the evening.

The sail between Lovund and Myken takes 1 hour and 15 minutes each way.

Lovund - Dønna - Vega - Torghatten

Torghatten Camping

The journey back to Brønnøysund, or more precisely Torghatten, will be a wonderful trip with several stops along the way.

In Dønna, we have the pleasure of visiting Sjokoladebrygga. At this idyllic location, organic chocolate is handcrafted, named after the mountains of Helgeland. Here, we will take the time to enjoy a cup of coffee and, of course, have the opportunity to taste the chocolate.

Farewell Dinner at Strandrestauranten

Upon arrival at Torghatten, there will be opportunities for a selfie with the Torghatten hole in the background before we dock at Strandrestauranten. Here, we conclude the trip with a feast!

Accommodation on this final evening will be here at Torghatten in apartments/cabins with hotel standards.

Torghatten - Brønnøysund

After breakfast, there will be an opportunity to take a walk up to Torghatten before we are transported back to the center of Brønnøysund. At the traffic terminal, there are options to store your luggage if you want to stroll around Brønnøysund before departure. Arrival in Brønnøysund at 12:00 PM.