Fjords of Northern Norway

Helmets are not mandatory but are strongly recommended.

Tipping is always optional of course. Here are some tipping suggestions:

• Ship’s crew: Consider 10 EUR (100 NOK) per day for a job well done. Please bring cash for this.
• Guiding staff: Consider 5% of your trip fee for a job well done, and 10% if we significantly exceeded your expectations, provided you with repairs or rental gear at no cost, made a special effort to accommodate you, etc. Cash is preferred (CAD, USD, EUR or NOK) but you can also send money electronically via our payment portal, pay.sawback.com (it’s your choice, credit card or transfer. However, credit cards incur a 2.7% fee whereas bank transfers ensure all the cash arrives in our bank account with no fees!)
• Restaurants: there is no tipping culture in Norway, and tipping is not expected. However, 5+% is a nice gesture for excellent service.

There is no laundry available on the boat so bring lots of extra socks and underwear. There are sinks and showers you could use in a pinch.

While rare, it does happen to one or two guests each season. Here’s a couple of tips to reduce the chances your bags will be delayed:

1. Skis are most likely to arrive on time if they are packed in smaller sized ski bags without additional items. Additional items with your skis increases the chances of the bag getting searched and delayed.
2. Smaller, soft sided baggage (e.g. duffels) seems to be more likely to make it on time.

And here are a few tips to help minimize the consequences of lost baggage:

1. Bring your boots as carry-on. Seriously, one day you will be very glad you did. Rental boots are no substitute for your own boots.
2. Bring your daypack filled with your ski clothing and beacon. Your shovel and probe can go in your checked baggage as this is stuff that’s easy enough to rent in Norway.
3. Make sure you have travel insurance that will cover the cost of additional rentals and clothing purchases in the event of delayed or lost baggage.

If you do end up in Tromsø without one or more of your bags, you’ll obviously need to come up with replacements. There are a few rental shops in /Tromsø with a decent selection of excellent rental touring skis. And there are many shops that sell high quality outdoor clothing.

In March Norway still has long, dark nights and yes, it is indeed likely we we see the Northern Lights during this trip!

Our excursions all set off from the sea and reach the peaks of a spectacular landscape of fjords and islands with the taste of the North, often with excellent snow cover.

A typical ski mountaineering excursion sets off in the morning from the sail boat, landing by Zodiac dinghy. We usually cover altitude differences of 800-1200m (3-5 hours in ascent) and normally descend along a different route, sometimes even crossing to a different return point.

The peaks we may climb have names that recall the Vikings: Trolltinden, Arnoyhogda, Stoltindn, Øksfordjøkelen, Nordmannsfjellet and more.

The elevation gain corresponds exactly to the height of the summit, as we always set off from sea level!

Ski and Sail trips of course feature fantastic skiing accessible only by boat. But our Fjords of Northern Norway trip also offers an opportunity to experience Norwegian culture and traditions -- which really sets this trip apart from our other sail-based trips like Svalbard and Antarctica. Unlike Svalbard, which had no indigenous population or for that matter no history at all until the whaling expeditions a few hundred years ago, Northern Norway has been home to the Norse and indigenous Samí people for thousands of years. Archaeological records indicate that Tromsø has been inhabited for over 9,000 years! And whereas Svalbard is home to less than 3,000 inhabitants, Northern Norway has a population of close to 500,000. Most of the population lives in major towns such as Tromsø (capital of Troms County), Bodø (the capital of Nordland) and Vadsø (the capital of Finnmark), but there are many other small towns and villages especially along the coastline.

Many guests choose to rent skis or other equipment from us. Particularly skis can be a hassle to travel with, and often get delayed due to their bulk on flights operating at capacity. Please check out our rental list here: rental.sawback.com. Let us know what you need to rent and we'll take care of it!

There is no better way to experience the rich wildlife of Northern Norway than by sailboat. We’ll keep a sharp eye out for puffins, sea eagles, walrus, arctic foxes, and even muskoxen. And it’s not uncommon to share a ski run with a herd of galloping miniature reindeer!

We will not, however, encounter polar bears. Our itinerary is far from the polar bear’s classic habitat, which is on the pack ice far to the north, e.g. Svalbard. No polar bears exist in Norway mainland.

Do you have suggestions for travel logistics and things to do in Oslo, Harstad, Alta and Tromsø?

Absolutely. Most guests choose to spend at least a night or two in Norway before or after the trip, both to help manage jetlag and to provide some buffer for weather, baggage, or travel delays. Oslo, Harstad, Tromsø, and Alta all offer worthwhile experiences and are very different from one another.

Oslo

Oslo is a compact, modern, and surprisingly relaxed capital city with excellent restaurants, museums, saunas, and easy access to nature. If possible, I strongly recommend arriving at least a day early before continuing north.

Some highlights include:

• The Fram Museum and Kon-Tiki Museum
• Oslo Opera House and waterfront district
• Vigeland Sculpture Park
• Harbourfront saunas and fjord swimming
• Excellent Nordic restaurants and bakeries
• Holmenkollen Ski Jump and museum

For airport hotels near OSL, the Radisson Hotel & Conference Centre Oslo Airport is my preferred option for convenience and breakfast quality. If spending a few days in the city, consider taking the train downtown and travelling with only a light overnight bag.

Harstad

Harstad is a pleasant and practical Arctic coastal town and an excellent gateway to the islands and fjords of southern Troms, Vesterålen, and Lofoten. It is smaller and quieter than Tromsø but has a very authentic northern Norway feel.

If arriving early or staying afterward, worthwhile options include:

• Exploring the harbourfront and local cafés
• Short hikes or ski tours directly from town
• Visiting nearby islands such as Grytøya or Andørja
• Renting a car for a scenic drive toward Vesterålen or Lofoten
• Northern lights viewing during clear evenings in late February and early March

Harstad/Narvik Airport (EVE) is located at Evenes, roughly 45 minutes south of Harstad by shuttle or rental car.

Tromsø

Tromsø is often referred to as the “Arctic Capital” and is one of the world’s great winter adventure towns. It has an energetic atmosphere with excellent restaurants, pubs, outdoor shops, and surprisingly good nightlife for its size.

Things worth checking out include:

• Fjellheisen cable car for panoramic views
• The Polar Museum and Polaria
• Arctic Cathedral
• Waterfront saunas and cold plunges
• Excellent seafood and Arctic cuisine
• Northern lights viewing in March
• Ski touring directly from the outskirts of town

Tromsø is also generally the easiest logistics hub in northern Norway, with frequent domestic flights and a compact, walkable downtown.

Alta

Alta is smaller and more spread out than Tromsø but offers a quieter and more distinctly Arctic atmosphere. It is the gateway to West Finnmark and often has very good spring skiing conditions later in the season.

Things to do around Alta include:

• Alta Museum and the UNESCO rock carvings
• Northern Lights Cathedral
• Sámi cultural experiences and reindeer operations
• Dog sledding and snowmobiling
• Fjord walks and northern lights viewing
• Excellent seafood and reindeer-focused cuisine

Alta is also one of the better places in northern Norway for seeing the aurora due to its relatively dry inland climate compared with the coast.

Saeftinghe is perfect for those wanting a more intimate experience or private charter. With a group size of up to 10 guests she is a gorgeous, classic sailing boat with lots of space, character, and crew that gets top reviews.

No there is no internet access available on the boat. However, Norwegians are big fans of cellular coverage and you will get a strong enough cell signal to check your messages regularly.

There are plenty of charging outlets. Just be aware it’s Euro-plug 220V which works with just a plug adapter for USB chargers, phones, heated socks but not your hair dryers or wax irons 😉

Yes you can use a credit card to pay for misc items on board. Cash is always preferred for tipping.

Yes!

• I seldom have issues with skis getting delayed but in the hundreds of clients we deal with each year it does happen occasionally and it's one of the reasons I try to travel with 2 extra pairs of touring skis whenever I travel (165 + 178 cm usually).

• I would definitely carry on your ski boots -- no question there. If those go missing you'll be sorry.

• I find boots fit surprisingly well into a ski bag. Or just carry them as your "personal item" -- yes they're oversized but I've never been called on it. If they say they're too big you could always wear them after all!

• Tell the check-in agent that one of your bags is "ski equipment" and the other bag is "skis". They will often allow you to check an extra bag that accompanies ski equipment for free. Remind them if they aren't familiar with this policy and they'll look it up.

• I wouldn't bother carrying on the probe and shovel, these are easily rented and could cause problems.

Ice axe and boot crampon use is not part of our regular program. If you are coming with a group that is motivated to do steeper lines then boot crampons and an ice axe is an idea. But I don’t want to tell you to bring them and have you disappointed if we don’t use them. I have never had the need (and don’t list them on the equipment list), but once or twice I’ve had to modify our route where boot crampons would have made a difference. You can discuss this with your group — we will have a great week of skiing without the spiky things, but they could potentially open up possibilities. Feel free to contact us if your group is in this category.

There is room for storing extra stuff in a hold on the boat. Cabins are double occupancy and are also quite small for storing extra gear. Bring small soft-sided duffels (40-50L) to make sure they fit under the bunks.

Towels are provided. There’s plenty of hot water and shower facilities (four showers in total). There will also be an opportunity for a polar dip if you’re so inclined!

We cannot provide equipment rentals on this trip. If you need rental gear we strongly recommend you do a trip starting in Tromsø.

Tromsø Outdoor AS https://www.tromsooutdoor.no/

• Located at Fredrik Langes gate 14.
• Offers Dynafit and G3 touring skis (models like Beast 98, Speedfit 84, Seekr 100W).
• Rentals include skis, boots, skins, crampons, and poles.
• Avalanche safety gear (beacon, shovel, probe) also available.
• Highly rated (4.7/5 with 492 reviews).
• Best choice for serious ski touring.

Currently there are no restrictions for traveling due to Covid. Sawback does, however, have a Sickness Policy. Please be sure to read it carefully.

Please bring a mask with you on the plane and consider using it for your air travel — especially if you are seated next to someone who’s hacking and coughing. You really don’t want to arrive sick for this trip.

There is plenty of heating on board and there are numerous radiators and places where you can dry your gear. The engine room is also occasionally made available if we have an especially wet day. We also recommend you bring along a piece of thin (2-3 mm) cord to fashion a drying rack in your room.

In fact we’ve never needed them. The guides might get their feet wet pulling/pushing the Zodiac onto/off shore but everyone else uses a little wooden step to keep dry.

If you want to avoid roaming charges but still have cell data or make phone calls, it is very difficult to simply pick up a SIM card in Norway. We recommend getting an eSIM from Airalo with the Norway “Local eSIM” plan. This will let you check email and do messaging and internet calls with services like WhatsApp, Messenger, iMessenger, etc. Do this before you leave home (best done with Wi-Fi available) so that it’s ready to go when you arrive. Setup can be a bit tricky but Airalo has decent how-tos.

Be sure to turn off your regular SIM before you enter the roaming space so you don’t pick up roaming charges. If you want to make and receive phone calls then we recommend the Hushed App, which gives you a virtual phone number (Canadian, UK and US numbers are available) at affordable rates.

The ship will offer a small variety of snacks, but we recommend to bringing your own!