Here are some tips for you who want a taste of the life of a native Helgelander. That does, of course, mean getting close to the land and the sea, but it also means getting to know the people who have adapted to life here, their culture and their heritage.
Live amongst the Helgelanders
The best way to get a flavour of the life here is to find a place where you can actually live amongst the locals and see what their daily life is like. Here are some suggested accommodation options where you can do just that.
Ketil Born / Helgeland Museum
Støtt
Kristoffer Møllevik / Visit Helgeland
Kristoffer Møllevik / Visit Helgeland
Ketil Born / Helgeland Museum
Emilie Solbakken / Visit Helgeland
Vevelstad gjestegård
Ketil Born / Helgeland Museum
Restauranthuset Tipperary
Oleksii Virych / The Coast Coffee
Kristoffer Møllevik / Visit Helgeland
Andreas Vang Olsen – Vispro / Dønna Rorbuer Bøteriet
Visit Helgeland
Olav Breen / 3 Kalver
Scandic Syv Søstre / Geir Edvardsen
Kristoffer Møllevik / Visit Helgeland
Midttun / Monsen
Fiona Hulbert / Dønnes Skolestua
Velfjordferie
Merethe Kvandal / Hi North
Svang Restaurant Og Vinbar / Don’t Be Negative Photo
Elfi Leinan
Ketil Born / Helgeland Museum
Julie Luneborg
Ketil Born / Helgeland Museum
Din Tur / dintur.no
Ketil Born / Helgeland Museum
Kristoffer Møllevik / Visit Helgeland
Hans Petter Sørensen
Kathrine Sørgård / Myken Seng og Suppe
Verket Musikkfestival
Sæterstad Gård
STØTT
Kathrine Sørgård/nordnorge.com
Kristoffer Møllevik / Visit Helgeland
Ketil Born/Helgeland museum
Sarah Aakerøy
Ketil Born / Helgeland Museum
Mads Utstrand/Aernie
Kristine Kleven / Tjøtta Gjestegård
Emilie Solbakken / Visit Helgeland
Cyril Ruoso
Hans Petter Sørensen / faroutfocus.no
Espen Mills / Visit Helgeland
Julie Luneborg
Kathrine Sørgård
Thon Hotels
Galleri Stokland
Ketil Born / Helgeland Museum
Janita Zenteno
Gilles Cafe
Tore Nyheim
Kristoffer Møllevik / Visit Helgeland
Bjørn Leirvik
Ketil Born / Helgeland Museum
Halibutskole Vandve
Simon Fosseim / Visit Helgeland
Kristoffer Møllevik / Visit Okstindan
Anne Berit Tilrem
Myken Handel
Elisabeth Kulseng / Visit Helgeland
Sofie Haraldsen
Myrvoll Kulturgård
Andres Duran
Emilie Solbakken / Visit Helgeland
Offersøy Camping
Kathy
Stavseng Gård, Dønna
Simon Almås
Skolo
Jon Fogra
Helgeland Museum
Kristoffer Møllevik / Visit Helgeland
Johanne Tysnes / Kulturbadet
Fru Haugans Hotel
Mats Grimsæth
Kristoffer Møllevik / Visit Helgeland
Terje Rakke, NordicLife / Visit Helgeland
Lars Westwig
Emilie Solbakken / Visit Helgeland
Kristoffer Møllevik / Visit Helgeland
Kitt Grønningsæter / Visit Helgeland
Bjørg Helene A. Sollihøgda / Helgeland Museum avdeling Vevelstad
Moa Bjornson
Augustbryggo
Handelsstedet Forvik
Synnøve Breivik
Ida Knutsen
Broadstone
Margrethe Jønsson
Hilde Johansen
Træna Lodge
Stig Neraas / Det Romantiske Huset
Lena Knutli
Fotoriet
Kristoffer Møllevik
Kred Pub&Cafè
Ketil Born / Helgeland Museum
Ida Selvær
Ethel Fjellbakk Wright
Ketil Born / Helgeland Museum
Kristoffer Møllevik / Visit Helgeland
HEV
Kathrine Sørgård
Augustbryggo
OscarBrygga
Laksforsen
Mats Grimsæth/Seil Norge
Paul Egil Henriksen
Ketil Born / Helgeland Museum
Kathrine Sørgård
Blomsterbua mat & vin
Ketil Born / Helgeland Museum
Hildurs Urterarium
Carl Johan Utsi
Fabrice Milochau
Kristoffer Møllevik / Visit Helgeland
Thea Markussen / Visit Helgeland
Torghatten Camping
Simon Fossheim-Visithelgeland
Ketil Born / Helgeland Museum
Kristoffer Møllevik / Visit Helgeland
Learn our heritage
The natives of Helgeland and the lives they lead are shaped by nature. We come from a long line of fishermen-farmers, who tilled patches of fertile land, kept hardy livestock, rowed out onto the sea to catch fish, and were caretakers of the eider ducks that come to nest each year. Their heritage includes the Sámi reindeer herders who followed their migrating flocks as they roamed the mountains. Our ancestors were boat-builders and iron-workers, sailors and merchants – and some of us still are.
We have seen many summer nights lit by the midnight sun, but also cold dark winter days when the sun scarcely rose up to the horizon. Use your imagination; how do you think this has shaped life in Helgeland? How did we live in centuries past? And how are our lives and identities formed today?
Ketil Born / Helgeland Museum
Bjørg Helene A. Sollihøgda / Helgeland Museum avdeling Vevelstad
Ketil Born / Helgeland Museum
Kathrine Sørgård
Ketil Born / Helgeland Museum
Ketil Born / Helgeland Museum
Helgeland Museum
Synnøve Breivik
Ketil Born / Helgeland Museum
Ketil Born / Helgeland Museum
Ketil Born / Helgeland Museum
Ketil Born / Helgeland Museum
Ketil Born / Helgeland Museum
Ketil Born/Helgeland museum
Ketil Born / Helgeland Museum
Simon Fosseim / Visit Helgeland
Ketil Born / Helgeland Museum
Ketil Born / Helgeland Museum
Ketil Born / Helgeland Museum
Dine with the Helgelanders
One of the best ways to know the locals is to eat with them and take part in the conversation that flows naturally over a hearty meal. Listen to the music of our dialects, and how they might be subtly different from those of the neighbouring table, people who might be from another village, the next valley over, or perhaps a different island. In Helgeland there are many vibrant local communities, each of them distinct. To share a meal with us is to taste the local culture!
Handelsstedet Forvik
Laksforsen
Espen Mills / Visit Helgeland
Kristoffer Møllevik / Visit Helgeland
Elfi Leinan
Andres Duran
Andreas Vang Olsen – Vispro / Dønna Rorbuer Bøteriet
Emilie Solbakken / Visit Helgeland
Svang Restaurant Og Vinbar / Don’t Be Negative Photo
Myrvoll Kulturgård
Oleksii Virych / The Coast Coffee
Janita Zenteno
OscarBrygga
Kristoffer Møllevik / Visit Helgeland
Skolo
Ketil Born / Helgeland Museum
Kristoffer Møllevik / Visit Helgeland
Kitt Grønningsæter / Visit Helgeland
Kathrine Sørgård
Kristoffer Møllevik / Visit Helgeland
Kred Pub&Cafè
Kathrine Sørgård
Scandic Syv Søstre / Geir Edvardsen
Olav Breen / 3 Kalver
Gilles Cafe
Mats Grimsæth
Torghatten Camping
Augustbryggo
Kristine Kleven / Tjøtta Gjestegård
Hans Petter Sørensen / faroutfocus.no
Kristoffer Møllevik / Visit Helgeland
Restauranthuset Tipperary
Blomsterbua mat & vin
Kathy
Fru Haugans Hotel
Simon Fossheim-Visithelgeland
Fotoriet
Terje Rakke, NordicLife / Visit Helgeland
Mads Utstrand/Aernie
Midttun / Monsen
Kristoffer Møllevik
Kristoffer Møllevik / Visit Helgeland
Join the locals on an excursion
You are, of course, free to explore Helgeland on your own. But a knowledgeable local guide can greatly enrich the voyage. They can teach you about the history and heritage of the places you visit, give you good advice and, if you are lucky, show you some hidden gems.
RIB Adventure to Himmelblå from Brønnøysund
Feel the thrill of the open sea, discover hidden gems, and get close to incredible wildlife on one of our RIB adventures to Himmelblå and Ylvingen.
Kayaking Around Sandnessjøen and Herøy – Courses and Guided Tours
Explore stunning nature and vibrant coastal culture with Tømmervika Opplevelsessenter around Sandnessjøen, Tjøtta, and Offersøya. Join family-friendly day trips or exciting multi-day tours in Herøy and the Vega islands—and wrap it up with a fun game of football golf.
A weekend of high adventure on the lofty peaks!
The picturesque Meløy Alps offers some of the wildest off-piste skiing in Northern Norway!
A glacier trek on Svartisen with Meløy Adventure
Join us for an exotic adventure: a guided glacier trek on Engabreen. The experienced guides from Meløy Adventure will ensure that this is a safe and unforgettable adventure.
RIB sea rafting trips with Meløy Adventure
You are invited to join Meløy Adventure on a RIB sea-rafting adventure to the island of Rødøya and Rødøyløva (443 m). Other great options include a sea-rafting safari to explore the scenic Nordfjord, the spectacular island of Træna, or a visit to the remote island of Myken with a tour of its whisky distillery. These excursions start from Ørnes in Meløy municipality – but for your convenience you can request to be picked up elsewhere en route.
Kayaking the waters around Ylvingen
Based on the island of Ylvingen, Himmelblå Brygge offers introductory and more advanced kayaking courses, kayak rentals, and guided kayaking trips on the nearby waters. Their beautiful island is situated just south of Vega.
Sailing trips to Vega, Lånan and Torghatten
You are invited on an unforgettable sailing trip to the UNESCO World Heritage Area of the islands of Vega and the eider duck nesting site, Lånan, that for many generations has been protected by the islanders. Or choose a voyage to the legendary mountain with a hole through it, Torghatten.
Tailored boat trips with Sea Adventure Helgeland
How would you like a cruise along the Helgeland coast, designed to show you and your friends the very best the scenic region has to offer? Or how about a shuttle boat that quickly takes you where you want, exactly when you want? Sea Adventure Helgeland offers you boat trips tailored to your needs and wishes.
An exciting half-day rafting adventure at Trofors with RiverNorth
RiverNorth’s most popular excursion is the Half-Day Rafting Adventure. You get to challenge big waves – and see if you’re brave enough to dive from a cliff!
Visit the recreated Viking chiefdom seat in Sandnessjøen
You are invited to an authentic Viking experience! Bring your family or friends and see the clothes and customs, partake in activities, and enjoy a Viking banquet.
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