Kayak Mini Expedition

This mini expedition is a fantastic opportunity to experience nature and wildlife up close. From the kayak, you’ll be immersed in the serenity, occasionally interrupted by birdsong or calls. A “Våttkort” certificate is the minimum requirement to join, but you don’t need prior expedition experience. There are no trees at our campsites, so a hammock is not recommended. Additionally, there is no freshwater on the islands, so we all need to bring enough water for two days!

The trip starts at Nesna, where we meet the evening before departure. This gives us the chance to get to know each other, check the equipment, and supplement anything we might be missing. We will review the daily itinerary and adjust the route based on the weather and wind. The Helgeland coast is a paddler’s paradise, with its thousands of islands, white beaches, legendary mountains, and rich wildlife. We’ll paddle through stunning landscapes, with chances to spot both eagles and the rarer eagle owl. Most of our paddling will be in sheltered waters, passing lonely islets and through old fishing villages, both inhabited and deserted.

The journey itself is the goal! There is no difference between night and day during this time of year, with the midnight sun shining from June 12th to July 2nd. While we can’t guarantee a good night’s sleep, we encourage you to embrace the stillness and watch the sun move across the sky.

The Helgeland coast is also fragile, so we always prioritize minimizing our impact on wildlife and leaving as little trace as possible. The only thing you can take away from here is the experience and memories. Everything else we leave behind on Helgeland – for the enjoyment of those who come after us.

Afternoon Before Departure – Meeting at Nesna
18:00: We meet at Nesna (Havblikk Camping) for distribution of clothing and kayaks, followed by a briefing on the expedition.

Day 1: Nesna to Tomma

We pack the kayaks and make final adjustments to our gear before starting the trip. We launch the kayaks from the beach at Havblikk Camping. Paddling towards the nearest islands, we first round the northern tip of Hugla, where we can go ashore to stretch our legs and make any necessary adjustments before crossing over to the paradise island of Tomma.

Once on Tomma, we take a long lunch break. If the weather is clear, we’ll have views of “The Seven Sisters” and “Dønnamannen” to the south. When we’re ready, we continue around the southern tip of Tomma, with distant views of Lovund and Træna. After paddling through islets and skerries with crystal-clear waters, we reach our campsite for the night. We go ashore on a small beach and set up our tents on the grassy area above the shore, before preparing dinner and enjoying the rest of the summer evening. With views towards Lovund, Træna, and hopefully a sunset, it will be a beautiful evening.

Distance: Approximately 18 km.

Day 2: Tomma to Kiløya (Sandværet)

The route takes us along the northwestern side of Tomma, paddling close to shore between small islands and islets. Eventually, we reach “Finnvikdalen,” a popular outdoor area on Tomma. Here, we refill our water supply from the river, as there is no freshwater available on the islets where we will spend the next few days. After stocking up on water, we have lunch before continuing to paddle along some of Tomma’s finest beaches, where there will be opportunities for a refreshing swim.

As we approach the northern islets of Tomma, we let the weather determine where we set up camp for the night. We may either stay on Tomma or head west towards Sandværet.

Distance: 10-15 km.

Day 3: Kiløya (Sandværet) to Solværøyan

We break camp and continue our journey, heading towards the Solvær Islands (Sleneset), which consist of hundreds of small and large islands. For those interested in navigation practice, this challenging landscape offers an excellent opportunity. After passing the initial maze of islands, we reach the inhabited part of Sleneset, where we find a nice spot for lunch before paddling on. There may be time to hike up Ulvøyhågen (36m above sea level) for a great view of the area we are paddling in. We’ll assess the weather before finding a nice campsite for our last overnight stay.

From Sleneset, we have views of Lovund and Træna to the west, Lurøyfjellet, Hestmann, and Rødøyløva to the north, the Aldersund Alps, Tomma, and inland mountains to the east, and Dønnamannen and the Seven Sisters to the south. After three days in the kayak, we’ll enjoy a good night’s sleep, even though it’s daylight all day. We might be lulled to sleep by the sound of the eagle owl, as Sleneset has one of Norway’s densest populations of this majestic bird.

Distance: 10-15 km.

Day 4: Sleneset to Nesna
The final day of paddling takes place entirely within the Solvær Islands (Sleneset), where there are hundreds of islands and skerries to explore. We paddle, take breaks, and enjoy lunch before landing the kayaks in the late afternoon. We’ll have dinner and catch the express boat at 19:30 for our return to Nesna.

Distance: 5-15 km.

Weather and Other Considerations
As always at sea, weather and wind will dictate both route selection and time management. All campsites and daily distances are approximate. This is not a difficult trip in good weather, but basic paddling experience (Våttkort) and some hours in a kayak beforehand are required. We paddle between 5-15 km per day, mostly in sheltered waters.

Packing/Storage
Sleeping bags and all clothing must be packed in waterproof dry bags.
There is an option to park and store belongings at Nesna during the trip.

Getting to and from Nesna
We start from Nesna on the Helgeland coast. You can get here in various ways:

• Fly round-trip to Bodø and take a fast ferry to and from Nesna.
• Fly round-trip to Sandnessjøen and take a fast ferry to and from Nesna.
• Train to Mo i Rana, then a bus to Nesna.
• Drive along the coastal route from the north or south to Nesna. From the E6 at Mo i Rana, head west to Nesna. Alternatively, drive to Mosjøen, continue to Levang, and take a ferry to Nesna. The Hurtigruten coastal ship also calls at Nesna.

Insurance
We recommend purchasing standard cancellation and travel insurance in case of an accident. This is something most people should already have, and an annual policy is often much cheaper than buying insurance for each trip. We provide liability insurance and travel guarantees for all our guests who book through Hi North.

Included in the Price

• 4-day guided kayaking tour with 3 nights camping. We keep small groups on our trips, with a minimum of 6 and a maximum of 10 participants, and always have 2 guides on each tour.
• Sea kayak, life jacket, spray skirt, and paddle.
  Clothing: drysuit/two-piece drysuit (paddle anorak/paddle pants), paddling shoes, and gloves.
• Safety equipment for the trip: VHF, tow rope, extra paddles, sea charts, compass, GPS, and first aid kit.
• Meals on the trip: 3x breakfast, 4x lunch, 4x dinner.
• Cooking equipment (camp stove, pots, and frying pan).
• Local guide.

Not Included

• Personal clothing, sleeping bag, sleeping mat.
• Drinks and snacks during the trip.
• Transportation to and from Nesna, and the fast ferry from Sleneset to Nesna after the trip.
• We can help arrange the loan/rental of tents.

Accommodation
We are happy to help you book accommodation in Mosjøen, Mo i Rana, or Nesna before and after the kayak trip. Contact us for a great deal!

• Toiletries
• Sleeping bag, sleeping mat, and tent
• Cap and sunglasses (don’t forget a strap for the glasses)
• Extra change of clothes (dress for the weather)
• Warm sweater (wool/fleece/down jacket)
• Shell jacket and pants
• Shorts/t-shirt (swimwear)
• Sunscreen
• Hiking boots
• Waterproof dry bags (many small ones, not one large)
• Water bottles/bladders that hold enough for 2 days (approx. 5 liters)
• Hydration bladder for the life vest (highly recommended)
• Snacks
• Basic first aid kit, pain relievers (e.g., paracetamol), and personal medications
• Map and compass
• Chargers/extra power banks
• Camera, batteries, memory cards