This Women's Sea Kayaking Expedition is offered by Lofoten Kajakk in Kabelvåg, Norway. Jann Engstad - the owner of Lofoten Aktiv and Kajakk - has always been a good friend of Crossing Latitudes. Lena Conlan - owner of Crossing Latitudes - will be one of the guides on the trip.
THE ITINERARY BELOW IS AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT THE TRIP MIGHT BE LKE. THE REAL ITINERARY WILL COME LATER IN THE FALL OF 2011.
Dates: July 3-8, 2012
Starting & Ending Place: Svolvaer, Norway
Price: TBA
Latitude: Svolvaer 68°N
Day 1: Welcome to Scandinavia and Svolvaer, Norway! Our trip starts 6:00 p.m. at Svinøya Rorbus (light evening meal provided this evening), we will meet you in the lobby or in our “Rorbu” (cabin). You are welcome to check in earlier. Please contact us if you need assistance or your travel schedule does not get you into town until later this evening. Tonight we are all staying at the Svinøya Rorbus. These traditional fishermen huts were originally built to give early seafarers shelter from the storms. Many have been renovated into lodging for modern day travelers.
After introductions and an evening snack we will make sure everyone has all the necessary equipment for the expedition. This will be our last chance to purchase quality outdoor gear. Please read through the Equipment List for recommended clothing. We will also pull out the charts and take a look at our route.
Tonight we will pack up our personal gear in water tight bags. The weather in this region can be warm and sunny, but rain and wind are not uncommon. We should expect the best, yet be prepared for the worst. Luggage you don’t need on the trip can be stored at the Svinøya Rorbus.
Svinøya Rorbuer Gunnar Bergs Vei 2, PO Box 74, N-8300 Svolvaer, Norway
Phone: +47-76 07 08 80 Fax: +47-76 07 21 11 Email: svinoya.rorbuer@svinoya.no
Day 2: Following a hearty breakfast we will drive an hour along the fjords to where our kayaks are waiting. This trip does not require previous paddling experience, though we recommend that you have an interest in the great outdoors and a an adventurous spirit. Our female leaders will demonstrate some basic sea kayaking techniques including a capsize and assisted rescue so everyone is familiar with our basic rescue procedures. During our first day we will take our time to ensure that each participant demonstrates safe and proper paddling techniques.
While loading our kayaks we will double check all food, camping and sea kayaking equipment. We'll take a final look at the nautical charts prior to leaving and confirm our destination for the day. The weather and the group’s paddling ability will help us determine our speed of travel.
From this point on most of our meals will be cooked on our camping stoves and our nights will be spent sleeping in tents. We also have our "lavu" (a teepee look a like tent) where we gather for meals and to socialize. This tent is great if it is drizzling or windy.
Day 3 to Day 5: During our trip we encourage your input while making decisions on where to camp, how far to paddle and what areas to explore. Working together and making new friends is what makes a Crossing Latitudes trip unique.
If weather allows we hope to paddle to the Trollfjord where the famous battle over cod fishing rights took place in 1890. This spectacular fjord cuts deep into the mountains. Here we can collect blue mussels for dinner. There is a sandy beach near Trollfjord that makes for an excellent campsite. Here you can sleep soundly and dream about Norwegian Trolls.
The archipelago of Svellingen protects the fjords from storms in the more open Vestfjord. After circumnavigating the Island of Arstein we will paddle through this unique archipelago. We have been told about a Viking chieftain’s treasure hidden in a cave on a small island. Maybe we will have time to search for it!
The northeastern part of the Lofoten Islands is wild, but not a wilderness. During our paddle we will encounter a few fishing villages and small towns. We will make stops to purchase fresh produce and sea food or to simply enjoy the atmosphere. We might spend more than one night in the same camp to allow for visiting and exploring the neighboring islands. At times the weather may dictate these decisions.
There will be areas with extremely rocky cliffs offering few landings and also some stretches with sandy beaches. There are some agricultural areas where we might have to share camp with grazing cows or sheep. We will pass a few fish farms where the Norwegians raise Atlantic salmon.
You can count on paddling between 4-6 hours each day. Though our staff are flexible and if you want to spend more time in the kayaks we'll gladly go out again and again and again… Expect impressive mountains, waterfalls and lots of laughter!
Day 6: Today we will get picked up and taken back to Svolvaer. Here we will check into our cabins at Svinøya Rorbus again. After cleaning up gear and loading kayaks on the trailer your well deserved shower awaits you.
Tonight we will celebrate our expedition by a good dinner at a local restaurant.
Day 7: This will be our last breakfast together. Please do not schedule your travel back home until this afternoon.
General Information: Travel Insurance: We recommend that you protect yourself from unforeseen circumstances while traveling. The Travel Guard "Protect Assist" insurance plan protects you in the event that you have to cancel your trip for a variety of reasons. It covers you for everything from your cancellation to Trip Interruption, Travel Delay, Lost, Stolen or Damaged Luggage, Baggage Delay, Medical Expenses, Emergency Medical Transportation and more. This plan is ideally suited for adventure travel.
Pre- and post-trip accommodations:
Weather: The coastal weather of Arctic Norway can bring strong winds and rain. Count on clouds and drizzle for at least half the time. Sunny days will be a welcome exception. Here the average temperatures range between the low 50's to 70’s. The coastal weather of Sweden is usually warmer and sunnier than Norway, but be prepared for some strong winds or heavy rain. Summer temperatures in Sweden can reach into the 80's. At times, the elements can prohibit us from paddling or hiking but not from enjoying these spectacular places. Good rain gear and footwear will also enable us to explore the mountains, forests, coast and villages by foot. The weather in the mountains is variable like in most mountains. One day can be warm and sunny with the next being windy and drizzly, it’s even possible to see some snowfall.
Currency: Each Scandinavian country has its own currency. Exchanges can be made at banks, airports, train stations and most hotels. Scandinavian currency is not interchangeable between countries as each has a different exchange rate value. Major credit cards are widely accepted throughout Scandinavia. Sweden and Denmark are part of the European Union but have chosen not to use the Euro. Norway is not part of the EU. Travel checks are not used in Scandinavia. The banks will charge a stiff fee if you want travel checks cashed.
Language: English is Scandinavia's second language and is almost spoken fluently throughout. We encourage you to take advantage of the opportunity to speak the native tongue. Phrase books and dictionaries are a great help. All our staff are bilingual and speak English as well as Norwegian or Swedish.
Last minute assistance: If you need assistance shortly before departure or while traveling to Scandinavia, you may call the following number for Crossing Latitudes in Sweden: 070-670 11 53 (within Sweden) or 46-70-670 11 53 (from outside Sweden). Please leave your name, a message and a number where we can reach you.
We are looking forward to our adventure together!
Lofoten Aktiv / Kajakk
Lofoten Aktiv AS Postboks 136
N-8309 Kabelvåg, Norway
Email: post@lofoten-aktiv.no
Phone: (+47) 7607 3000 Mobile : (+47) 9923 1100420
Crossing Latitudes, Inc.
West Koch Street, Bozeman MT 59715, USA
USA:1-406-585-5356 Europe: (+46) 70-670 1153
Email: info@crossinglatitudes.com
|
