Exciting projects in Helgeland

Here are some of the most exciting development projects in Helgeland worth keeping an eye on.

Mo i Rana Airport, Fagerlia

Mo i Rana Airport, Fagerlia, is a new regional airport currently under construction near Mo i Rana. It will make travel to Helgeland significantly easier for tourists. With larger direct flights to cities like Oslo, Trondheim, and key hubs in Europe, flying to Mo i Rana will be simpler, more affordable, and more environmentally friendly. This gives visitors more time and flexibility to explore the region.

The new airport will have a major impact not just on tourism, but also on business and industry across Helgeland. Construction in Fagerlia is well underway, and the airport is expected to open in spring 2027.

Read more on Avinor.no

Exciting Projects in Helgeland

Træna 365 is an ambitious tourism development that aims to make Træna an attractive year‑round destination while strengthening local community development. The project includes a new hotel, Ytri, with a restaurant, cultural venue, small boat harbour, sauna or spa facilities, business premises and outdoor activity options like fishing, kayaking and hiking.

Træna is already a popular destination on the Helgeland coast, and Træna 365 will create many more opportunities for year‑round experiences for both visitors and locals, reinforcing Træna’s appeal as both a destination and a place to live.

Ytri opens in spring 2026 and is already taking bookings.

Read more on Ytri’s website
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Arven – national centre for energy tourism

Arven will bring together tourism, business and research communities in a shared effort to show how energy, nature and society connect. Energy tourism focuses on using what we already have in smarter ways to create new value.

Located beside the remarkable Øvre Forsland power station, Arven offers a unique chance to showcase renewable energy up close. Visitors will see energy production in action and learn how different energy sources fit into today’s energy system.

Arven is designed as an architectural landmark integrated into Helgeland’s rugged natural landscape. With its innovative design, it will be both a centre for learning about renewable energy and a distinctive destination for visitors from around the world.

What Arven will offer Helgeland tourism:
The centre will help put Helgeland on the map as one of Norway’s leading renewable energy hubs and highlight connections between energy, industry and community. Renewable energy will be presented as part of local culture, stories, people, jobs and a greener future.

Arven aims to be a world‑class tourist attraction that supports year‑round tourism, including in winter and the shoulder seasons. It will work with tourism partners to develop new products, experiences and transport options.

For the local community, Arven will be a meeting place and a venue for experiences that boost quality of life.

Read more on kraftarven.no

Hemnesberget – a new destination in Helgeland

The charming fjord village of Hemnesberget has great potential to become a new and attractive destination in Helgeland. The village has a rich cultural history as a church and trade centre, dramatic wartime stories, active boat‑building traditions and a lively cultural scene — all offering diverse experiences.

Hemnesberget sits on a peninsula in a sheltered side‑fjord of the Ranfjord, surrounded by fjords, forests and varied mountains that offer great hiking in summer and winter. This landscape makes it ideal for a wide range of nature‑based activities. All of this gives Hemnesberget a strong foundation for developing offerings aimed at key tourist segments like “Nature and Culture” and “Active Outdoors.”

Hemnesberget is also centrally located in Helgeland, with short travel to the new major airport in Rana and many nearby tourism attractions. There are solid conditions for success, and Hemnes municipality is actively working to support this. The goal is to build on Hemnesberget’s existing strengths while creating growth and new opportunities for the fjord village. The ambition is to develop an exciting destination where tourism contributes to a thriving local community.

More information on the website for Okstindan Natur- og kulturpark (in Norwegian)

Laksvollen – business area and visitor information point

In 2025 a new section of the E6 highway will open south of the Trofors centre in Grane municipality, and at Laksvollen a 18‑decare business area will be developed along this important route.

Laksvollen is planned as an inviting information point where visitors can learn about local history, scenic nature and cultural heritage. Here they can experience the character of the community, county and region, and learn about protected areas nearby. The vision includes a welcoming restaurant, fuel and EV charging stations, and a visitor centre with tourist information. Outdoor spaces will be designed as attractive meeting places, with riverside paths and features that create a vibrant environment for both visitors and locals.

This project marks a new era for the region where local development, business and nature come together in an inspiring whole.

Read more here (in Norwegian)

Helgeland Bike Park – Sandnessjøen

Helgeland Bike Park is a major cycling project in Åsen, just outside Sandnessjøen. The park will feature 7–8 kilometres of flow trails and forest paths, plus a pump track and a skills park covering around 5 decares. Developed by Sandnessjøen and Omegn Cycleklub (SOCK), it aims to support youth cycling while offering new opportunities for outdoor life, public health and city development. The project builds on a master plan by Velosolutions, and the first phase includes a UCI‑approved pump track, a skills area and the first flow trails. The ambition is a safe, free and accessible facility for everyday use and events.

Funding for the planning phase comes partly from Equinor, Nordenfjelske Bykreditt and Nordland Sports Federation, along with the club’s own funds. The project is now working with landowners and Alstahaug municipality, with construction expected to start in 2026 and continued development phase by phase. Once complete, this will be a major boost for mountain biking tourism in the region.

Peacepainting Center

The Peacepainting Center will be a place for equality and peace, built on a quiet, scenic peninsula in Bindal in southern Helgeland. It will be the headquarters and base for the Peacepainting Foundation. With its unique location and inspiring architecture, the centre will work for equality and international peace through art.

In addition to hosting the foundation’s activities, the centre will be a destination for visitors seeking meaningful experiences. In season, it will offer accommodation, courses and experiences in themes like art, culture, sustainability, equality and peace. In this way, the Peacepainting Center will be a place for contemplation, calm and harmony amid the beautiful nature of southern Helgeland.

Read more on Peacepaintingcenter.org

Sjonfjellet rest area and viewpoint – Helgeland Coast National Tourist Route

The Norwegian Public Roads Administration is building a new rest area and viewpoint at Sjonfjellet, between Mo i Rana and Nesna. The rest stop will include an accessible toilet, parking for eight cars and three motorhomes, and a bus stop with space for buses. A trail will lead to a secured viewpoint where travellers can enjoy views of the Nesna islands, Lovund and Træna. The rest area is expected to be completed in July 2026.

Find it with Google Maps

Nord Gondol – aerial tram (cable car) from riverbank to mountain top in Mosjøen

Nord Gondol will be a spectacular new attraction in Mosjøen, carrying visitors from the town up to Øyfjellvarden on a unique aerial tram (cable car).

With a station in town that will include a new museum about Helgeland, the gondola will offer visitors a memorable journey to the mountain station at Øyfjellet. There guests can enjoy dining, accommodation and scenic experiences. The modern mountain station will house equipment rental, shops and a restaurant — and unique overnight rooms.

Nord Gondol is now in the final phase of bringing this gondola line to life in Mosjøen’s centre.

Read more on NordGondol.no (in Norwegian)

Högfjällshyllan – Hemavan

Hemavan is set for exciting development that will strengthen the destination as an international mountain favourite. Linked with the new airport in Mo i Rana and growing charter tourism, a major upgrade is planned for the high‑mountain hotel and surrounding area. The project includes around 300 new apartments, a new hotel building and modernisation of existing facilities — including upgrades to the landmark Guldbollen, restaurants and a new sky bar.

The initiative is led by Pite Havsbad Group, northern Sweden’s largest hotel and conference operator, with experience from successful charter operations attracting thousands of winter guests. The goal is a comprehensive hotel area that combines mountain experiences, modern infrastructure and high international standards. This will support more guest nights, year‑round operation and local value creation.

Högfjällshyllan is more than a construction project — it’s a strategic investment in Hemavan’s identity as a modern mountain destination with strong brand and international reach.

Hålogalandsruta – extended Nordland trail (additional 220 km)

Nordland will gain a spectacular hiking route stretching 220 kilometres from Harstad to Narvik, connecting to the already established Nordlandsruta that starts in Helgeland. The routes link mountains, fjords and cultural history into a continuous, world‑class hiking experience designed to attract both Norwegian and international hikers.

For Helgeland, this offers a chance to strengthen its position as a leading nature and experience destination by being the starting point for one of Europe’s longest continuous nature‑based trails. Along the route are iconic landscapes, vibrant local communities and a wide range of activities that can help grow year‑round tourism. The project encourages cooperation among tourism providers, accommodation services and local producers, creating space for new products and packages. With growing demand for sustainable nature experiences, this hiking route could become a key driver of value creation in the region.

Read more on the Nordland County Council website (in Norwegian)

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