--- title: "Sail & Trek Northern Norway — Hiking by Sailing Yacht" description: "Anchor below the ridgeline and walk from the shore. Whole-boat hiking and sailing weeks in Lofoten, Senja and the fjords around Tromsø with Boreal Yachting." lang: en json-ld: | [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://boreal-yachting.com/#organization", "name": "Boreal Yachting", "url": "https://boreal-yachting.com", "logo": "https://boreal-yachting.com/logo.png", "image": "https://boreal-yachting.com/logo.png", "description": "Premium Arctic sailing in Northern Norway and Svalbard. 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The yacht anchors below the day's route, you walk from the shoreline to the ridge and back, and the boat moves on. Peaks in Lofoten, Senja and around Tromsø are reached without a single road.", "url": "https://boreal-yachting.com/experiences/sail-and-trek", "image": "https://boreal-yachting.com/assets/expedition-sailtrekking-hero-CsMqyuWx.jpg", "touristType": [ "Small private groups", "Experienced travellers" ], "provider": { "@id": "https://boreal-yachting.com/#organization" }, "duration": "6 or 7 nights", "itinerary": { "@type": "ItemList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "item": { "@type": "Place", "name": "Tromsø, 69.6°N" } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "item": { "@type": "Place", "name": "Lyngen Alps" } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "item": { "@type": "Place", "name": "Lofoten" } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "item": { "@type": "Place", "name": "Senja" } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 5, "item": { "@type": "Place", "name": "Vesterålen" } } ] } }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [ { "@type": "Question", "name": "Do I need a guide?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Not for the standard routes, which the skipper knows well. For higher or more exposed ground we bring a certified guide, and we will say when that is needed." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "How hard are the walks?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Most are three to seven hours with 500 to 900 metres of ascent, on rough ground. Easier options exist every day." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Can the group split up?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Yes. On many days some people walk high while others take a shore route or stay on board." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Where do we walk?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "It depends on the week you book: the islands and fjords around Tromsø, Senja, or further out towards Lofoten with more days available." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Is there mobile coverage?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Usually along the coast, patchily in the fjords, and rarely on the far side of a ridge. The boat carries proper communications." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "What if the weather is poor all week?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "We sail more and walk lower. A whole week without a good walking day is unusual, but the itinerary is built to absorb it." } } ] } ] --- [Skip to content](#main-content) [Boreal Yachting ](/) [Experiences](/experiences) [Destinations](/destinations) [Our Fleet](/fleet) [About Us](/about) [Journal](/journal) [For Partners](/partners) [Plan your journey](/plan-your-journey) 1. [Home](/) 2. / [Experiences](/experiences) 3. / Sail & Trek Experience # Sail & Trek Sail & Trek is a whole-boat summer week that combines sailing with hiking in Northern Norway. The yacht anchors below the day's route, you walk from the shoreline to the ridge and back, and the boat moves on. Peaks in Lofoten, Senja and around Tromsø are reached without a single road. ![Hikers on a ridge above a fjord with a yacht anchored far below](/generated-images/expedition-sailtrekking-hero-1920.webp) A ridge walk above the anchorage. Most routes start and finish within sight of the boat. ## At a glance Season Mid May to September Duration 6 or 7 nights Base Tromsø, 69.6°N Group size Up to eight guests, whole boat Sold as Whole boat — private and group charter Level Walks of three to seven hours, 500 to 900 metres of ascent Crew Skipper, plus hiking guide on request ## Why can only a boat reach these trailheads? Only a boat can reach these trailheads because Northern Norway is a coast of islands and peninsulas, and its best walking often has no road behind it. From the water, the trailhead is wherever the tender can land. That opens ridgelines and summits that see a handful of people a season. A typical day gains 500 to 900 metres over three to seven hours. The ground is rough — heather, boulder field, occasional snow patches into July — and there are few marked paths outside the popular Lofoten routes. Because the boat moves, no walk is repeated and nothing has to be an out-and-back. You can climb a ridge, drop down the far side, and be collected from a different bay. ## How does the week adapt to the weather? The week adapts to the weather because the Arctic summer is variable rather than harsh. Some days give still air and clear tops; others give cloud on the ridge and a walk along the shore instead. The skipper and group decide each morning. There is always an alternative. Fishing, a sheltered anchorage, a village to visit, or simply a long passage under sail while the rain passes over. This is one of the more sociable weeks we run. Groups of friends and walking clubs take the whole boat and set their own pace, and the crew fits around it. ## A typical week The route is decided by weather and the people on board. This is what a good week tends to look like. ### Day 1 — Tromsø Board in the afternoon, safety briefing, and a short evening sail out of the city. First anchorage within a couple of hours of town. ### Days 2 to 6 — walking and sailing Ashore by tender after breakfast for a walk of three to seven hours. Back on board for a swim, a shower and dinner while the yacht sails to the next anchorage. Route for the following day agreed over the chart in the evening. ### Final day — back to Tromsø A short walk close to town if the weather holds, then the sail in. Alongside around midday in Tromsø. ## What is included ### Included - — Whole-boat charter for your group - — Skipper and crew - — All meals on board, including packed lunches ashore - — Tender transfers to and from the trailhead - — On-board linen and towels - — Fuel and harbour fees ### Not included - — Flights to and from Tromsø - — Hotel nights before and after - — Travel insurance - — Certified hiking guide, available on request - — Boots and personal walking equipment - — Alcoholic drinks and crew gratuities ![Walkers descending towards a bay where a sailing yacht lies at anchor](/generated-images/sail-trekking-card-1279.webp) ## The boat Sail & Trek weeks work well on our catamarans, which give space to dry gear and a large cockpit for eight people at dinner. Monohulls are available for groups who care more about the sailing. [See the fleet](/fleet) ## Who this is for - Regular hill walkers who are comfortable on rough, unmarked ground. - Groups of friends or walking clubs taking the whole boat. - Guests who want a mix of days: a hard walk, then an easy one. - People with no sailing experience. This is not a gentle sightseeing cruise with an optional stroll. If nobody in the group wants to climb a ridge, a Midnight Sun Sailing week is the better fit. ## Practical ### What fitness and experience do I need? You need to be able to walk for five hours over uneven ground and manage 700 metres of ascent without difficulty. Scrambling experience is useful for the higher routes but not required. ### What should I bring? You should bring broken-in walking boots with ankle support, waterproofs, a day pack, walking poles and layers. Midges appear on still evenings; repellent helps. ### What is the weather like? The weather from June to September gives 8 to 18°C at sea level and less on the tops. Snow patches can linger into July, and cloud on the ridge is common. ### How do I get to Tromsø? You reach Tromsø on direct flights from Oslo and several European cities. The harbour is 15 minutes from the airport. [Read the full Arctic sailing packing list](/arctic-sailing-packing-list) ## Questions guests ask Do I need a guide? Not for the standard routes, which the skipper knows well. For higher or more exposed ground we bring a certified guide, and we will say when that is needed. How hard are the walks? Most are three to seven hours with 500 to 900 metres of ascent, on rough ground. Easier options exist every day. Can the group split up? Yes. On many days some people walk high while others take a shore route or stay on board. Where do we walk? It depends on the week you book: the islands and fjords around Tromsø, Senja, or further out towards Lofoten with more days available. Is there mobile coverage? Usually along the coast, patchily in the fjords, and rarely on the far side of a ridge. The boat carries proper communications. What if the weather is poor all week? We sail more and walk lower. A whole week without a good walking day is unusual, but the itinerary is built to absorb it. ## Where this sails [ Destination ### Lyngen Alps Peaks that rise straight out of salt water, an hour of sailing from Tromsø. The home ground of Ski & Sail. ](/destinations/lyngen-alps)[ Destination ### Lofoten Sharp granite islands, fishing villages and open Atlantic water. ](/destinations/lofoten)[ Destination ### Senja Norway's second largest island, with steep outer coast and quiet anchorages. ](/destinations/senja)[ Destination ### Vesterålen Whale grounds, wide fjords and fewer boats than Lofoten. ](/destinations/vesteralen) ## Related reading [ Itineraries ### One week sailing and trekking in Lofoten ](/journal/sailing-trekking-lofoten)[ Itineraries ### One week sailing and trekking on Senja ](/journal/sailing-trekking-senja)[ Experience ### Midnight Sun Sailing ](/experiences/midnight-sun-sailing)[ Compare ### Whole-boat charter vs joining a group departure ](/whole-boat-charter-vs-group-departure)[ Compare ### What an Arctic-adapted boat actually means ](/what-is-an-arctic-adapted-boat) ## Enquire about Sail & Trek. Tell us what you have in mind. We will come back to you within two working days with a considered answer — not a template. [Plan your journey](/plan-your-journey?experience=sail-and-trek)[Speak to us directly](/contact) Boreal Yachting Premium Arctic sailing in Northern Norway and Svalbard. Sailing these waters since 2003. [![AECO member — Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators](/assets/aeco-member-Crcpxqbv.svg)](https://www.aeco.no)[![Eco-Lighthouse certified — Miljøfyrtårn programme](/assets/eco-lighthouse-CNcwtWaN.png)](https://www.miljofyrtarn.no/en/) ## Experiences - [Ski & Sail Norway](/experiences/ski-and-sail-norway) - [Ski & Sail Svalbard](/experiences/ski-and-sail-svalbard) - [Svalbard Expeditions](/experiences/svalbard-expeditions) - [Private charter](/experiences/private-charter) - [Group charter](/experiences/group-charter) - [Bareboat charter](/experiences/bareboat-charter) ## Destinations - [Tromsø](/destinations/tromso) - [Lyngen Alps](/destinations/lyngen-alps) - [Lofoten](/destinations/lofoten) - [Svalbard](/destinations/svalbard) - [Senja](/destinations/senja) - [Vesterålen](/destinations/vesteralen) ## Company - [About us](/about) - [Our crew](/about/crew) - [Safety](/about/safety) - [Sustainability](/about/sustainability) - [Company facts](/about/facts) - [Journal](/journal) - [For partners](/partners) - [Contact](/contact) Boreal Yachting AS · Tromsø, Norway · [post@boreal-yachting.com](mailto:post@boreal-yachting.com) · [+47 77 72 92 00](tel:+4777729200) - [Facebook](https://facebook.com/borealyachting) - [YouTube](https://youtube.com/@borealyachting) - [Instagram](https://instagram.com/borealyachting) © 2026 Boreal Yachting AS - [Privacy](/privacy) - [Terms](/terms) - [Booking conditions](/booking-conditions) Cookies on this site We use essential cookies to run the site. 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