Dates: July 3-13, 2008
Starting Place: Svinøya Rorbus, Svolvaer
Days: 9 paddling days
Airport: Svolvaer
Price: $2,900.00 per person
Latitude Svolvaer 68°N

Day 1: Welcome to Scandinavia and Svolvaer, Norway! Our trip starts 7:00 p.m. at Svinøya Rorbus (dinner is not provided this evening), we will meet you in the lobby or in “Rorbu” (cabin) number 18. 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 outdoor living experience, stamina and endurance. Your 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.

Day 3 to Day 9: 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 is what makes a Crossing Latitudes trip unique.

We plan to paddle into Øksfjord, which cuts into Hinnøy Island in a northeasterly direction for approximately 12 nautical miles. There are no villages or roads in Øksfjord, only a few old settlements clinging to the steep mountain sides. At the very end is a spectacular site for our camp. The views of the mountains are fantastic with an enticing trail leading up onto the glaciated and highest peaks of the Lofoten region. We will explore this remote wilderness by foot for a day and then time our departure with the outgoing tide.

The archipelago of Svellingen protects the fjords from storms in the more open Vestfjord. On our way back towards Svolvaer 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!

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 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.

Day 10: If the weather and sea conditions are in our favor we’ll paddle into Svolvaer this morning. Our overall distance is approximately 75 nautical miles.

In the late afternoon we’ll check back into the Svinøya Rorbus where our luggage, a bed and hot showers await us. Tonight we'll celebrate with a well deserved dinner at Spiseriet, Svinøya’s own very highly regarded restaurant. Tonight's' lodging and dinner are included in the expedition price.

Day 11: Breakfast and a final group photo will mark the official ending of our expedition. Please don’t plan to leave Svolvaer until the morning of the 22nd.

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: We recommend EDMONDS TRAVEL outside Seattle. They specialize in travel to Scandinavia. “KJ” is our primary contact person, she will help you book tickets. Call: 1-800-261-3868. Email: kj@edmondstravel.com

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!

Crossing Latitudes, Inc.
420 West Koch Street, Bozeman MT 59715, USA
USA:1-800-572-8747 Europe: +46-70-670 1153 www.crossinglatitudes.com