Ski & Sail Norway

General information

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE AND LEVEL OF DIFICULTY (SAILING)

No previous sailing experience is required. If you're a beginner, we want to turn you into a sailor as quickly as possible. If you are experienced you'll get challenges and responsibilities that match your level. We want you to take part in the routines on board the sailboat, whether it is sailing, docking, navigating, looking for whales, washing up, cooking, cleaning the boat, or contribute in other ways when required. Although sailing is not difficult, crews must be prepared for occasional sailing in strong winds and in more severe conditions. On longer passages crews are also expected to cooperate actively in the management of the sailboat, communicativeness and a certain amount of mental and physical resistance are required. With regard to the date of the event (spring), those interested must expect to sail in cooler weather (temperatures around 10 - 15°C). 

 
The difficulty of this voyage is rated 2 on our five-point difficulty scale as listed HERE. Some of the optional accompanying activities in the form of a waterfall or glacier excursions involve a long uphill walk. However, normal physical fitness is sufficient.

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE AND DIFFICULTY (SKI TOURING)

Ports and ski hikes will be selected taking into account the prevailing snow and weather conditions, your experience, wishes and stamina. Although it is possible to have ski trips that can be done by complete beginners, the prerequisite is at least basic ski mountaineering technique and the participants should be able to easily manage the slopes corresponding to the red difficulty marking in the Czech mountains. We recommend not to overestimate your abilities and equipment. Basic skills of orientation in snowy terrain, or working with a map or mobile navigation are also necessary.

All hikes are at the participants' own risk. The captain is responsible only for the sailing part of the trip.

If you have no experience with mountain skiing yet, we highly recommend taking one of the mountain ski courses before departure. In the Czech Republic, we can arrange such a course upon interest in our partner organization. We can also provide a discount for this course after signing up for the cruise.

The trips will be full-day trips with long downhill skiing. Reasonable physical fitness, allowing you to cover around 900 - 1400m of elevation gain in one day, is a must.

FOR WHOM THE CRUISE IS INTENDED

The cruise will be enjoyed by all ski mountaineering enthusiasts. From beginners (in the case of a cruise with a booked guide) to experienced who enjoy powder riding and are looking for freeride or difficult ascents using climbing equipment followed by downhill skiing in rocky terrain through long couloirs.

Friends of ski mountaineers, who have no experience with skiing, will also find their place. Before the skiers return, we can offer a rich program of snowshoe hikes (we will advise you how to do it), fishing, sightseeing of local beauty or a well-deserved rest on board a sailing ship with the telling of sea stories smelling of distances.

NUMBER OF BERTHS

Sail trip is open for individuals and groups up to the maximum capacity of the sailboat, which is set for this type of expedition at 5 people plus a skipper and a guide. The minimum capacity is 4 crew members. In case of lower interest,  we will try to arrange another date.

PLACE OF EMBARKATION AND DISEMBARKATION

The Norwegian city of Bergen or Norheimsund (aprox. 1 hour by bus from Bergen) The exact location of (dis)embarkation in the cities will be specified by mutual agreement before sailing, taking into account the requirements of the crew and the current weather conditions.

HOW TO GET (FROM) THERE

The city of Bergen has an airport. You can also fly cheaply to/from Oslo. From Bergen to Oslo you can get environmentally friendly by rail or bus. From Bergen to Norheimsund is a direct bus connection

Transport to/from the place of departure/arrival takes place individually or in a group, according to crew decision. If not stated otherwise, travel expenses (except by our sailboat) are not included in the price.

FOOD AND COOKING

On our sailing trips, everyone contributes to the operation of the boat. And cooking is not an exception. Every crew member takes his turn in the galley, and we are happy to learn beginners to some cooking skills and basic recipes.

In advance of the sailing trip, the menu, concerning allergies and diets of participants, is set up by the crew. The daily menu usually consists of 3 meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) with small snacks. The hot meal takes place at least once, but more often twice a day.

The crew makes provisions shopping on the day of embarkation. If the whole crew agrees, we can make the provisions shopping for a trip for a fee before your embarkation. For more information on catering see FAQ.

During the trip, we also often sail by a good restaurant or two where we stop and eat.

For more information, visit the FAQ section.

ACCOMODATION

EQUIPMENT (SAILING)

No special equipment, except focus on water- and windproofnes of clothes and shoes, is needed. As a rule, you can do with standard equipment for a summer holiday in the mountains. The list of mandatory and compulsory equipment will be sent after sail trip enrolment. Waterproof clothing for sailing can be rented.

EQUIPMENT (SKI TOURING)

 
If you wish to participate in ski trips during the cruise, it is necessary to bring your own ski equipment (skis, boots, poles, avalanche equipment, etc.) and appropriate clothing. If you do not have your own, it can be purchased or rented from the Namche Climbing Centre (link HERE). Alternatively, contact us directly. After signing up for the cruise there is a possibility of a discount on some equipment. 

TRAVEL DOCUMENTS

If EU citizen, you only need your ID card for traveling to Norway. If not EU citizen or not sure, in your interest check with the embassy if you need a visa or other entry permit.

ENVIRONMENT and SUSTAINABILITY

Both sailing and backcountry trips are environmentally friendly activities and we sail as much as we can and use the engine as little as possible. We encourage crew and participants to travel as environmentally friendly as possible, and we use local ingredients and resources as far as possible. We also motivate crew members to collect litter and clean ocean trash from beaches.

We believe that sailing is an exercise in sustainability; we move with the wind and we have limitations on things like water, diesel, electricity, and food. In order to run sustainably - knowledge, patience, agility, and hard work are required. The same can be said about many other things that one tries to do in a sustainable way.

MORE INFORMATION

For more information, please visit the FAQ section or do not hesitate to contact us using our contact form.