Sea Kayaking Norway – Ålesund and the Norwegian Fjords Sea Kayak Adventure

Norwegian Fjords Sea Kayak Adventure is a 6-day magical journey that takes you on a close and personal discovery of a historical fjord culture. We will paddle sea kayaks a 100 km down the wild fjords, averaging 5-6 hours on the water each day. Here, the history and culture of a rugged mountain people and the waterways that connected them come alive as we camp on the banks of Arctic fjords.

Ålesund, Norway’s Art Nouveau City, otherwise describe as Norway’s cutest city is a great starting point for the Norwegian Fjords Sea Kayak Journey. The backdrop for our launching site is Ålesund’s southern harbour, which is speckled with green grassy parks, mountainous islands, a skyline of art nouveau interspersed with modern architecture, lazy marinas with pleasure-craft bobbing on glistening waters. Exiting Ålesund’s harbour, a secluded sound leads us out to a unique string of islands running north-east of the city. This intricate archipelago stretches the length of Ellingsøy Fjord and with the sun at your back we aim our kayaks north-east island-hopping our way down Ålesund’s northern fjord. Gliding stealthily around islands laid out like a string of pearls dotted with abandoned farms, quaint cottages, secret meadows, and beacons bearing a real maritime heritage.

Navigating the bridges of Skodje County and Solnor Canal takes us to the entrance of the Grand Fjord which has cut its path through the granite and gneiss mountains of the Sunnmøre Alps, creating a surreal landscape that is both awe-inspiring and breathtaking. Formed like canyons with steep granite walls that begin 400 meters below the sea’s surface and reach 1500 meters above, the fjords of western Norway make us feel infinitesimal in our sea kayaks as we paddle down fjords wrapped in raw natural beauty, snow capped mountains, towering granite walls, thundering waterfalls, mountain ledge farms, flowering fruit trees, and quaint villages tucked into small protective bays.

Rounding the point at Matvik, marks the entrance to the world’s most photographed fjord, Geiranger Fjord. The rugged beauty is astounding as we glide through the jade green waters, feeling small under the towering granite walls that stretch 1500 m above, we paddle towards the end of the fjord past rushing waterfalls and historic mountain ledge farms perched precariously high; making the final turn, the hamlet of Geiranger rises in front of us marking our journeys end.

Norway’s most experienced sea kayak guide is Jonathan Bendiksen. And, every year he guides a few trips for Kayak More Tomorrow! Book early to secure Jonathan as your trip’s guide!

Jonathan Bendiksen is no ordinary waterman. He is Norway’s most accomplished sea kayak guide with 3300 guiding days on class 1-4 seas along Norway’s fjord indented coastline. He is a certified IFSKGIA/NHKGIF Senior Guide & Instructor plus an accredited IFSKGIA/NHKGIF examiner. A pioneer of commercial sea kayaking, legendary trip designer and lead guide who has designed and guided sea kayaks trips from the Norway’s Arctic down through the western fjords as far south as Kristiansand.