Date(s) Jun, 2024 Jul, 2024 Aug, 2024
Number of people
Take your family to Western Norway and discover islands, villages, fjords, and other geographical wonders as you sail and participate in various activities. Learn about Norway’s history and culture and let your guides show your kids they don’t need technology to have fun; instad they’ll learn about Vikings and polar explorers, watch wildlife, go for swims, and more! Get some alone time with your partner, strengthen the bonds with your family, and come home fully recharged.
Outdoor adventuring makes us fall in love with our planet, which is why we should be more aware of our impact on nature. Reducing our individual carbon footprints when traveling seems difficult, but luckily, there are many ways to make your trips more sustainable and eco-friendly.
Jolly Good Times Sailing is a highly sustainable guiding company. As you travel the calm waters of Norway, your boat will be powered by the wind most of the time, reducing the emission of carbon dioxide. You’ll fish and catch your own food from the sea and use locally sourced ingredients for cooking, making your adventure a bit greener!
Kick things off by arriving in Ålesund where you’ll meet your guides on board their sailing boat, unpack your stuff, and get to know everyone over a delicious meal. The excitement continues as you sail down a passage to a small fishing village close to Ålesund. Here you’ll spend your first night.
Upon waking up, you and your guide will start working on some plans so that you can get to Runde, also known as the Treasure Island. The island got its nickname thanks to the gold that was found in the wreck of a ship which sank here. The gold has been retrieved and can be seen inside an environmental house in the area. It takes around 3-4 hours to get to this island and you’ll be able to revel in views of seals and eagles along the way. The island is home to over 250 different bird species and there is a luxury gourmet restaurant on a nearby islet where parents can have delectable meals.
Your guides will assess the weather conditions and decide whether you’ll take the ocean or the inside route. Today is all about the history of the Vikings since you’ll visit and see Viking burial grounds, have lunch at a Hanseatic trade station, and anchor in a strait which was once a stake out place used by human smugglers during WWII.
After sailing further south to a nearby island, you’ll get to a huge cave which you’ll get to explore. On your way, you’ll go through Norway’s fishing history and spot eagles and domesticated wild goats. Parents can get a taste of the old style countryside cuisine at a fisherman’s home and in this way get to know the regional Norwegian culture.
After hoisting the sails, you’ll head towards a beautiful fjord and anchor in a remote area. Your guide will go into a hunting mode to see if it’s possible to catch today’s dinner and, if you’re lucky, you’ll have delicious scallops on the menu. Weather permitting, you’ll make a nice bonfire and enjoy the rest of your day.
After going for a refreshing swim in the morning, you’ll set sail towards a farm where you’ll see goats and learn about the local history since the same family has been living here for around 500 years. The kids can play around the farm while the parents can go on a panoramic hike in the backyard. You’ll also be able to taste home-made meals on this farm steeped in history.
Norway is known for its huge exploration history—Norwegians are the ones who were always striving to discover new places. Most of them were brave enough to take their primitive wooden boats up north and head into icy regions. A lot of these fearless explorers came from a village named Brandal. This will be your final stop—you’ll visit a museum where you can learn more about their explorations and how they acquired and preserved the knowledge of navigating through these remote and icy parts of the world.
What you get on this adventure:
What’s not included:
This adventure is for people with moderate fitness levels. You need to be able to hike for 10 km and know how to swim. This adventure is also suitable for those who are beginners when it comes to sailing, but they need to be ready to accept the constraints of community life on a boat.
Here’s a list of the equipment you need to bring:
Dress comfortably and for the weather in clothes you can move in. We suggest bringing clothing appropriate for the season. Layers are best and don’t wear jeans.
Group sizes and prices:
Family sailing trips in Western Norway can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.
Min. age requirements:
If your group has minors under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
For regular dates, a $750 deposit to secure your place is due upon booking. The remaining amount is paid 3 months (90 days) prior to departure. Once the trip is confirmed by the guide, the cancellation policy stated below applies.
To get to Ålesund, your meeting point, most people fly Ålesund Airport, Vigra (AES) 20 minutes away from Ålesund. From there, you can rent a car or take a taxi or bus.
Once you and your guide agree on the details of your itinerary, you will meet your guide in Ålesund, where your sailing boat Jolly will be waiting for you. The guide will choose the appropriate terrain dependent on conditions and the ability of the group.
57hours is committed to providing safe outdoor adventure experiences. We require all guides using our platform to have a COVID-19 safety plan and to make the details of that plan accessible to travelers. In most cases, group sizes will be reduced, guides will avoid overcrowded locations, and other safety measures will be met depending on the location and activity.
We also expect clients to respect local regulations and take measures to protect themselves, guides and the communities they’re traveling to. For more information on COVID-19 measures in Western Norway, please refer to the Norway’s Government website, the Visit Norway website, and Helse Norge Travel Advice.
Please contact us if you have any questions or require further information. We are happy to provide you with the most up-to-date information!
