Tired of beach holidays and chasing the sun? Try a sailing adventure you’ll never forget!

Norwegian version here

Sunscreen, sand in your shoes, and the daily battle for the best spot on the beach. Are you (also) done with the typical summer holiday — the one that revolves around chasing weather, warm temperatures, and the nearest ice cream stand?

Then I’ve got a completely different suggestion: A sailing holiday with SeilNorge! A vacation filled with wind in your hair, midnight sun in your eyes, salt on your skin — and a bunch of strangers you’ll end up calling friends.

“But… I’m not the kind of person who shares a cabin with strangers!”

No, I didn’t think I was either. I’m approaching 60 and quite fond of my own company, my own pillow, and coffee made exactly the way I like it. But guess what? I was wrong. For the third time. This time, during an 8-day sailing trip along the Helgeland coast in the summer of 2023.

And it was magical.

The journey there is part of the experience

Even the train ride up to Bodø was worth the trip on its own — via Trondheim, then the beautiful Nordland Line. After that, a ferry took us through the archipelago and island landscapes out to Træna. The beginning of the trip, and the beginning of an adventure. Remember, this is the time of the midnight sun, so it never gets dark - so you have barely time to sleep, in case you could miss something!

Sailing, hiking and the midnight sun

The journey started at Sanna, beneath the iconic Trænstaven — right in the middle of the midnight sun. We got to know each other on a late-night walk and deck conversations before turning in for the night. Early the next morning we headed to Kirkehelleren, a powerful natural cave where one of the crew suddenly broke into opera (!), filling the cavern with such resonance that it gave us all goosebumps.

From there we climbed to Gompen, a sweaty summit hike rewarded with panoramic views of both mountain and sea.

On the way down? A tunnel carved through the mountain, lit only by the flashlights on our phones.

And after that? A dip at a chalk-white beach and lunch in the open air.

A sailing school, mountain adventure and unique camaraderie

The sailing trip moves from island to island. We learned to sail, set the course, and trim the sails. And we did it together. No other vacation has taught me more—or made me laugh as much.

Every evening brought a new view. Every morning, a new adventure. Like summiting Hestmannen, paddling around Bolga, or sailing under full sail with salty braids whipping in the wind.

Highlight: Orcas

Right in the middle of a sailing maneuver, someone shouted from the deck. We looked up. There—right next to the boat—seven orcas glided silently past. We sat completely still, watching them move through the water for over an hour. I later spoke to a local who had lived there all his life and had never seen anything like it.

We all felt truly blessed.

Varied, active, and free

A sailing trip with SeilNorge is not about following the herd. You choose what to take part in. Some went glacier hiking. Others read books on deck. Some climbed peaks, others picked cloudberries. But one thing we all did: we lived. Fully, with everything body and nature have to offer.

Laughter, hygge and quiz night

On Bolga, we got weather-bound for an extra night — and it turned out to be one of the best evenings of the trip. We had a quiz, fits of laughter, and things that simply can’t be mentioned — what happened on Bolga, stays on Bolga 🤭

Oh, and travel solo. It’s the best way to truly connect with others. Our boat had ten people who had never met before, men and women of different ages. We’ve met up again several times since — and we keep in touch.

Eight days. A lifetime of memories.

Sea, mountains, sun and connection. Eagles, puffins and orcas. Morning swims and midnight light.

I’ve been longing to go back ever since.

💡 Thinking about it? Here’s what you should know:

• No sailing experience needed—just a sense of adventure

• You’ll learn, laugh and live up close—but with freedom

• You’ll return home with new friends, stronger legs, and deeper respect for nature (and yourself).

📍 Check out SeilNorge.no — maybe we’ll see each other out on the waves?

This trip took place between Træna and Bodø and is called the Sea & Mountain Sports Week, but they offer several other trips along the Helgeland coast, as well as in Lofoten, Lyngen, Vesterålen, Senja, Finnmark, Svalbard, Greenland, Iceland, Scotland, the Faroe Islands, Shetland – and one that ends at the Træna Festival.