Crossing the Arctic Circle
The Arctic Circle at latitude 66 degrees north is the gateway to Arctic Norway and the realm of the midnight sun. If you are travelling along the E6 motorway, the Arctic Circle crosses Saltfjellet Mountain, and is a good starting point for wonderful hikes in the Saltfjellet-Svartisen National Park.
The Arctic Circle Centre is located in the middle of the Saltfjellet Mountains by the E6 and has a souvenir shop, cinema and restaurant. The invisible boundary for the midnight sun is made visible here with the aid of a marble line and several memorial monuments.
Hiking
Experience the wilderness hiking in Helgeland. You can follow marked trails or make your own route through the Norwegian wilderness. The Seven Sisters range, Saltfjellet/Svartisen National Park, Børgefjell National Park, Lomsdal/Visten National Park, the Oksskolten and Heilhornet summits are just some of the most famous mountains in Helgeland, every one of them offering a fantastic experience of the great outdoors.
For more information see Hiking in Helgeland.
Caves
Join a professional guide on an adventurous underground experience. There are some 200 caves in the area around Mo i Rana - two of these offer several guided tours daily in the summer season.
Grønligrotta Cave is one of the largest and most visited caves in the Nordic region. This is also the only Nordic cave with electric lighting. A guided tour takes visitors several hundred metres into the mountain and lasts around 45 minutes.
More adventurous travellers meanwhile can take the two-hour guided tour of the Setergrotta Cave, where large giant’s kettles, gigantic chambers, ice and limestone formations, narrow marble passages and an underground river await.
Glaciers
Explore ice blue glaciers surrounded by outstanding natural beauty. In inner parts of Helgeland there are two glaciers well worth a visit, whether you want to enjoy the view from the foot of the glacier, or join a guided glacier walk.
Norway's second largest glacier, Svartisen, stretches over 370 square kilometres and boasts as many as 60 arms. One of those, Austerdalsisen, can be reached by a boat trip across Lake Svartisvatnet. The 20-minute boat trip operates daily during the summer season. A three-kilometre-long path then leads to the ice.
The Okstind Glacier is situated in the Okstindan mountain area and the walk there is well worth the effort. There is a marked path from the Leirskardalen Valley and up to the glacial apron at 1,200 metres above sea level.
Rana Spesialsport arranges glacier tours on request on both glaciers. Those must be booked three days in advance. Phone: +47 90 95 11 08.
Boat cruise and RIB
Join a boat trip and explore the beautiful Helgeland coastline, where you will find thousands of islands, plentiful wildlife and unique mountain formations.
Cruise on Helgeland: Are you tempted by a boat cruise in beautiful surroundings and a maritime atmosphere in a local passenger boat from the 1960s? Take a trip on the MS Gamle Helgeland and experience some of Nordland's maritime cultural history on board this floating museum. For more information, visit helgelandscruise.com or call +47 48 27 94 01.
RIB trips: Seløy Kystferie arrange trips by rigid inflatable boat (RIB) on request. Experience the open sea, feel the wind and have fun. They also offer adventures tours in the archipelago, photo safaris and deep-sea fishing trips.
Sea kayaking
Experience the paddling paradise of the Helgeland Coast. With thousands of islands, islets, skerries and sheltered bays, this is regarded as one of Norway's best areas for sea kayaking. The narrow fjords, majestic mountains and thousands of islands provide great variations and exciting adventures. Find your very own beach, stay in the traditional rorbu (fishermen's cottage) and experience the local culinary traditions as a part of your paddling tour.
For more detailed routes and suggestions see Paddling in Helgeland.
For kayaking courses, guiding, hire of kayaks and kayaking equipment, please contact one of Helgeland's many kayak specialists:
Island hopping by bicycle
The coast of Helgeland is well-suited to island hopping for cyclists due to its moderate car traffic and relatively flat roads. Cycle from Brønnøysund to Sandnessjøen and visit several of the beautiful islands there on the way, like Vega, for instance, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Tips and recommended tours are available from the tourist information centre. The centre also has bicycles for hire.