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.

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Vevelstad Bygdetun – A folk museum
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An evening wilderness adventure with a taste of Sámi culture
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Restaurant Ellen
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Seil Norge – Sailing adventures on the Helgeland coast
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Fru Haugans Hotel in Mosjøen
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Inderdalen Gård – Charming Farm Stay with Rich History
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Kulturverkstedet Mosjøen – A cultural workshop
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Kvarøy Sjøhus – A holiday stay in rorbu cabin
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Aloha Cafe on Træna
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Hildurs Urterarium – Accommodation
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Sure Hotel by Best Western Ole Tobias
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Restauranthuset Tipperary
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Winter dream at Støtt
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Park 22 – Food and culture in the heart of Mo i Rana
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Sømna Bygdetun – An open-air museum
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Bakarstuo – Year-round guesthouse by Trofors
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Tjøtta Gjestegård – Accommodation and dining in historical surroundings
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KRED Pub & Café in Brønnøysund
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Herøy Bygdesamling – A rural museum
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Hattfjelldal Museum
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The Romantic House on Herøy
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Dønnes Gård – Accommodation in historical surroundings
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3 Kalver – Hearty dining at a farm restaurant
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Augustbryggo – Accommodation and dining in Herøy
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Hildurs Urterarium – Culinary adventures
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Halibudskole Vandve – A holiday home with boat rental and a nearby glasblowers workshop
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Restaurant Gammelbutikken – authentic local seafood
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Sæterstad Gård
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Raus Brewery
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Blomsterbua Food & Wine in Mosjøen
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Corner Bar and Outdoor (Hjørnet Bar)
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Træna overnatting (Accommodation)
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Storli Camping and Aernie – Accommodation and a sámi experience
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Sijti Jarnge – Center for sami language and culture
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Villa Våg – historic accommodation at Tjøtta
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Forvik Old Trading Post
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Rana Museum, Stenneset open-air Museum and Bredek Mountain Farm
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A stay at Straumen Farm
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Galleri Stokland in Mosjøen
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Bindal Museum and the old croft at Vassås
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Fiskebruket Restaurant – A dining adventure at Myken
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Torghatten Camping – Fishing, dining and much more
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Nordland Theatre – Magical Moments
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A guided ice fishing trip with Hi North 
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Plahtes Eiendommer – Fishing, hunting and wilderness adventures
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Falch Old Trading Post, Rødøy
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The Zahl building and the old sexton´s residence in Nesna
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Charming coffee bar in Træna
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Vega World Heritage Center
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Støtt in Meløy – Top of Helgeland
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Grønsvik coastal fortress, Lurøy
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Jacobsenbrygga and the folk museum in Mosjøen
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Norwegian Aquaculture Centre – A salmon success story
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Hotel Scandic Seven Sisters – Accomodation Sandnessjøen
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Myken Seng & Suppe (Myken Bed & Soup)
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Savory farm food from Vega
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Christmas weekend in Mosjøen 
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Lyngvågen Café on Gjerdøya in Rødøy
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Nordvika Old Trading Post, on Dønna
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Grane Museum
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Velfjordferie – A holiday stay for guests who love fishing!
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Heidis Sjokoladedrøm – Divine handmade chocolate
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Torghatten Strandrestaurant – A dining close to the ingredients
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Eider ducks, luxurious down and the bird guardians of Lånan
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Oscarbrygga – Accommodation and dining
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Hattfjelldal Hotell – GoExtreme
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To Elise from Marius – From farm to table
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Laksforsen – Generations of tratidional food
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Accommodation at Glomfjord Overnatting
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Helgeland Kolonial – café and restaurant in Sandnessjøen
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Træna museum
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Helgeland Opplevelser – Exciting adventures in Herøy
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Himmelblå Brygge: Dining and accommodation at Ylvingen
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The Petter Dass Museum at Alstahaug
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Velfjord-Brønnøy Museum
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Svang Restaurant & Wine Bar – In the heart of Brønnøysund
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Dønna Rorbuer Bøteriet – A charming restaurant and accommodation
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Gilles Café & Music
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Guest Houses in the historic area in Mosjøen
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Hunting the Northern Lights at Støtt
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Tour package: Rabothytta with travel, food, and accommodation
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Træna Arctic Fishing
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Vevelstad Gjestegård and Rorbuer
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Bolga Brygge – Sleep to the soothing sound of waves
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Hemnes open-air museum
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Dønnesfjellstua – Dining on a mountain top overlooking the Helgeland coast!
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Offersøy Camping – Accommodation with boat and bike rental

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?

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!

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Savory farm food from Vega
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Støtt in Meløy – Top of Helgeland
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Dønna Rorbuer Bøteriet – A charming restaurant and accommodation
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Gilles Café & Music
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Storli Camping and Aernie – Accommodation and a sámi experience
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Nordvika Old Trading Post, on Dønna
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Laksforsen – Generations of tratidional food
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3 Kalver – Hearty dining at a farm restaurant
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Lyngvågen Café on Gjerdøya in Rødøy
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Dønnesfjellstua – Dining on a mountain top overlooking the Helgeland coast!
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Blomsterbua Food & Wine in Mosjøen
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Dønnes Gård – Accommodation in historical surroundings
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Kulturverkstedet Mosjøen – A cultural workshop
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Charming coffee bar in Træna
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Restaurant Ellen
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Helgeland Kolonial – café and restaurant in Sandnessjøen
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Aloha Cafe on Træna
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Svang Restaurant & Wine Bar – In the heart of Brønnøysund
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Park 22 – Food and culture in the heart of Mo i Rana
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Fru Haugans Hotel in Mosjøen
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Fiskebruket Restaurant – A dining adventure at Myken
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Tjøtta Gjestegård – Accommodation and dining in historical surroundings
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Corner Bar and Outdoor (Hjørnet Bar)
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Torghatten Camping – Fishing, dining and much more
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To Elise from Marius – From farm to table
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Heidis Sjokoladedrøm – Divine handmade chocolate
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Forvik Old Trading Post
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Himmelblå Brygge: Dining and accommodation at Ylvingen
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Torghatten Strandrestaurant – A dining close to the ingredients
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Hildurs Urterarium – Culinary adventures
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Oscarbrygga – Accommodation and dining
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Restaurant Gammelbutikken – authentic local seafood
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KRED Pub & Café in Brønnøysund
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Vega World Heritage Center
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Restauranthuset Tipperary
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Hotel Scandic Seven Sisters – Accomodation Sandnessjøen

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.

A ski trek in the Børgefjell National Park

Put on your skis and join us for a truly challenging wilderness adventure. We invite you on a very special cross-country ski expedition in the Børgefjell National Park!

A guided ice fishing trip with Hi North 

Hi North knows where you’ll find the lakes that offer the best fishing in Helgeland. All you have to bring is warm winter clothes, patience and a positive attitude; combined with our expert guide’s detailed local knowledge, a good catch is almost guaranteed!

A weekend of high adventure on the lofty peaks!

The picturesque Meløy Alps offers some of the wildest off-piste skiing in Northern Norway!

Kayaking courses, guided kayaking trips and kayak rentals in Mo i Rana

You can join a guided kayaking excursion on the beautiful lake of Langvatnet. Helgeland Kajakk also offers kayak rental and courses designed to help you master good techniques and enjoy safe kayaking adventures

A glacier trek on Svartisen

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.

Guided RIB sea-rafting trips with Seløy Kystferie

You are invited to join a memorable RIB trip sea-rafting adventure amongst the islands and islets of Helgeland. Feel the powerful forces of the open sea, visit picturesque fishing villages, listen to stories about the tough life of the fisherman-farmer families, and gain fascinating insights into the colourful coastal culture and heritage.

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.

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