Salten Coast Paddling Expedition Itinerary,
Arctic Norway
|
This is a Custom Trip for 2008
Day 1: Welcome to Scandinavia and Narvik, Norway! In the evening at 7 p.m. we will meet in the lobby of Breidablikk Guest House in Narvik (dinner is not provided this evening). Lodging is included in the price and you are welcome to check in earlier.
After introductions and an evening snack your leaders will show you their personal equipment so you can organize your own gear. Narvik is the last place for purchasing quality outdoor gear so we need to make sure everyone has the necessary equipment for a successful trip. Please read through the Personal Equipment List for recommended clothing. Tonight everyone will pack up their personal gear in water tight bags and be ready for a great adventure!
Please contact us if you need assistance or your travel schedule does not get you into town until later this evening. Extra luggage can be stored at Breidablikk Guest House.
Day 2: After an early breakfast we board a bus and ride a couple hours to Tysfjord. The scenery is fantastic and when the bus drives onboard the ferry to cross Tysfjord we can get out and stretch our legs.
Our fleet of sea kayaks will be waiting on the beach. This trip does not require previous paddling or camping experience. Today we will help you become familiar with the kayaks and our equipment. Our staff will cover the basics of comfortable and fun sea kayaking. This includes kayak anatomy, getting in and out, basic paddling strokes, wet-exits, basic rescue techniques, injury prevention etc. Your leaders will also demonstrate a capsize and assisted rescue so everyone is familiar with our procedures. During our first day we will take it slow to ensure each participant demonstrates safe and proper paddling techniques.
Weather depending we might load our kayaks and paddle away or we might just enjoy a day trip in the area around Tysfjord and camp right at our put-in. From this point on, most of our meals will be cooked on our camping stoves and our nights will be spent sleeping in tents.
Our staff will teach you how to pitch the tents, and our lavu’ (the large teepee-like tent we have along for rainy days). You’ll learn how to load the kayaks and get comfortable in the outdoors. During the trip weather conditions and our group’s paddling ability will help us determine our speed of travel. 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.
Day 3 - Day 9: During this expedition we encourage your input while making decisions on where to camp, how far to paddle and what areas to explore. This is what makes a Crossing Latitudes expedition unique, active participation and making new friends. We may choose to paddle on the protected side of the larger islands or venture out along the more exposed coast. We might paddle into the fjords and visit Hamarøy where Knut Hamsun the Norwegian Nobel Prize winner grew up.
A night over at the 100 year old Tranøy Lighthouse in the caretakers guesthouse and a dinner will be a welcome break from camping. From Tranøy Light House we might take a walk into the nearby community to buy fresh food and just take in the atmosphere of a small fishing community.
The fishing is excellent in this region. There are trout in the mountain lakes and cod, haddock, saithe and redfish in the ocean. Bring your own fishing equipment if you’re an enthusiast. Crossing Latitudes provides hand lines for fishing from the kayaks.
Salten, although wild, is not a wilderness. As we head south we will encounter a few inviting fishing villages. We might spend more than one night in the same camp due to weather conditions or because we like the area and want to get to know it better. We can expect areas with extremely rocky cliffs offering few landings, but also some long stretches with sandy beaches.
Day 10: If the weather and sea-conditions are in our favor we hope to paddle to the village of Skutvik. After loading the kayaks on our trailer and cleaning up our gear we will return to Narvik and the Breidablikk Guest house. Tonight we'll celebrate with a well deserved dinner in a local 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 do not make reservations for your return prior to this morning.
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
|
|
