Z10-27: Sailing voyage Norway – Islandhopping & Hjørundfjord & Runde

This sailing voyage begins in Ålesund, one of Norway’s most distinctive and beautiful towns. After a devastating fire destroyed much of the town in 1904, Ålesund was rebuilt in the elegant Art Nouveau style that makes it unique today. For spectacular views of the town, surrounding islands and mountains, a walk up to the Aksla viewpoint is highly recommended. The town centre is also a great place to browse for traditional Norwegian wool sweaters and local products.

From Ålesund, we sail into the Hjørundfjord, regarded by many as one of Norway’s most beautiful fjords. Unlike the nearby and much busier Geirangerfjord, Hjørundfjord remains remarkably peaceful. Large cruise ships cannot enter due to the power lines crossing the fjord, helping the area retain its unspoilt and authentic character. The fjord winds deep inland between steep mountain walls and snow-capped peaks, while small villages such as Sæbø lie hidden among the greenery. The scenery is dramatic, rugged and breathtakingly beautiful.

One of the most enjoyable highlights of this voyage is a visit to a remote wood-fired sauna. From the sauna, we look out across the fjord, the mountains and, of course, the Cherokee, which may well provide the finest view of all. For sauna enthusiasts, there is only one logical next step: a refreshing swim in the crystal-clear waters of the fjord. A truly unforgettable Norwegian experience.

Leaving the fjords behind, we head towards the coast and enter the island world of Norway’s west coast. This contrast between deep fjords, sheltered waterways and open coastal sailing makes the voyage exceptionally varied. We weave our way between countless islands, narrow passages and scenic coastal waters on our way to Runde.

Runde is one of Norway’s most famous bird islands and home to large colonies of puffins, northern gannets, guillemots and white-tailed eagles. We spend a day here, allowing plenty of time for a walk around the island and its spectacular viewpoints. The island is particularly renowned for its seabird colonies and stunning coastal scenery.

Along the way we round the iconic Cape Stad, one of Norway’s most notorious stretches of coastline. Exposed to the full force of the North Atlantic, the cape has earned a legendary reputation among Norwegian sailors. It promises a memorable day of sailing along dramatic coastal landscapes before we return to the shelter of the islands for the evening.

Depending on weather and conditions, we may also visit islands such as Sandsøya and Silda. We sail through the sheltered waters beneath Hornelen, Europe’s highest sea cliff at 860 metres. Rising almost vertically from the sea, this impressive landmark was already known to Viking sailors and is mentioned in the Norse sagas.

The daily distances have been carefully planned to allow plenty of time for hiking, exploring ashore and enjoying the relaxed pace of a Norwegian sailing holiday.

Our voyage ends in Florø, Norway’s westernmost town and a charming coastal community with excellent transport connections to Bergen. After a beautiful final day under sail, we traditionally celebrate the end of the voyage with pizza and a drink by the harbour.

This sailing voyage combines spectacular fjords, remote islands, abundant wildlife and relaxed daily passages into one of Norway’s most varied sailing holidays. The combination of the magnificent Hjørundfjord, remote fjord saunas, the birdlife of Runde, Cape Stad and island hopping along Norway’s rugged west coast makes this one of the skipper’s personal favourite voyages.

Daily sailing distances range from approximately 10 to 30 nautical miles.

Read more about our Sailing holidays in Norway.

Information about this sailing holiday

Participants of this sailing holiday

Sailing holidays Prices 

The price is the rental cost for the ship with crew, including food and drinks on board, hence full board. The price mentioned is per person.

Included in the price:

– Food and drinks on board.
– Fuel, water, shore power, harbour fees and tourist tax.
– 1 towel set and bedding incl. duvet and, of course, a life jacket.
– For after sailing there is also wine and beer on board, based on average use. Should we run out, then you can purchase more yourself.

Not included:

– Your transfer, meaning your journey to and from the ship
– Sailing clothes and boots, you can rent these from us if you would like.
– Possible shore excursions such as renting a van, or visiting a museum etc.
– Food and drinks ashore, the last evening we will go out for dinner and this will be at your own expense. ( Should you wish to treat the crew as a thank you for a lovely sailing holiday, it would of course be greatly appreciated!)
– Optional tips. These are, of course, entirely voluntary, but always appreciated. Any tips are shared between the skipper and crew, because the skipper is just as much a part of the team that makes the voyage possible. Contrary to what many guests assume, the Bosun/cook on board Cherokee is actually the highest-paid member of the crew.

Duration & Time on Board

The listed trip duration refers to full calendar days. Since you embark on the first evening and disembark on the final morning, your actual time on board is on average about 1.5 days shorter. We use this format to keep our trips comparable with other providers – but we like to be transparent about the real time you’ll spend on board.

Sailing holidays discount

Customer Discount:
If you book a second sailing holiday with us within a year, you’ll get 2.5% off the ‘board price’.

Sailing holidays group discount:
If you book a sailing holiday as a group (more than 3 passengers), you will receive 2.5% discount per person on the ‘board price’.

Sailing holidays youth Discount:
If you are under 29 years old, you will get 5% discount on the ‘board price’.

Sailing holidays discounts can not be combined with each other.

Bonus Discount:
€25 extra discount when you choose a vegetarian menu on board.

Private charter

You can also rent the ship and crew for a privat charter. Then multiply the price with 7. For a private charter, you can choose one of the offered sailing holidays, provided there are no other bookings for that sailing journey. If you would like more information on private charter, please contact us.

Sailing holidays with your own private cabin

If you are a solo traveler and would like the comfort of a private cabin (room), you can reserve it for 1.6 times the price (for crossings, it will be 1.9x).

Extend your sailing holidays with an extra day B&B

On some of our sailing holidays, it is possible to book an extra overnight stay on board based on Bed & Breakfast (B&B, so without dinner) for € 125 per person. This automatically applies when booking multiple trips in a row.

Sailing holiday categories

Category A:
Offshore crossings, includes also sailing throughout the nights. Passengers will also be grouped in the watch system.

Category B:
Offshore sailing holidays, there will be no sailing throughout the nights, but occasionally a late arrival at the harbour (or an early departure), depending on the weather.

Category C:
Relaxed sailing holidays with shorter sailing distances, including more time for sightseeing and sometimes a nice land excursion.

Category D:
Sailing holiday specials, from ‘Sailing holidays with Yoga’ up to expedition sailing. Not every season available.

Category E:
Sailing holiday’s with extra sailtraining.