Sørøya island

We are inviting you the a rarely paddled stretch of Finnmark, the wild west coast of Sørøya island. On this expedition we will spend 8 days exploring the island with a focus on the exposed west coast.

Experience required:

The west coast of Sørøya island is remote and isolated, so our participants need to meet certain standards. There are very few roads or and very few populated areas. The phone/radio coverage is mostly 2G. Some areas have 4G but other areas has no coverage at all.. The weather will decide if we go for plan A or plan B. Safety comes first and the weather is always the deciding factor.

We require that you have passed a 3 star sea kayak course (ISKGA Fundamentals III, teknikkurs from NPF, 3 star Paddle UK or equivalent). Alternatively you must have sufficient experience to paddle in 3 star conditions (1,25 meter waves, 8 m/s wind). Furthermore you must know how to land a sea kayak in surf so some surfing experience will be essential. There may be surf conditions on our landing beaches and surf zones are relatively high risk areas.

We also ask that you are a contributing member of the group. We need all the members of the group to contribute where they can, whether at sea or on land. We will be isolated and it’s therefore important that everyone assist each other whenever possible.

Lastly, the conditions can be rough on the west coast. If we deem the conditions too demanding we will go for our plan B. You must however be prepared and able to paddle and camp under rough conditions; high winds and big waves.

Plan A:

Our plan A includes some of the best spots on the island, including the largest beach in Finnmark, Sørsandfjord. The typical distance paddled per day is around 20 km. Some days are longer and some are shorter.

Along our route we will pass mulitple seal and bird colonoies. 

We will end our expedition in the village of Hasvik. On the last day we will take the morning ferry back to Hammerfest.

Medical / health issues:
If you have any health issues affecting yourself or the group, please let us know in advance. You are responsible for qualifying yourself fit and healthy enough to participate.

Equipment required:
Dry suit
Paddle
Spray deck
Paddle west
Helmet
Warm clothing, waterproof jacket
Hiking shoes or boots
Tow rope for sea kayaking
Camping equipment (tent, sleeping mat, sleeping bag, a stove to cook food, gas)
Food for 8 days of camping (7 dinners, 7 breakfast, 7 lunches, minimum)
First aid kit
Sunscreen
A hat to protect yourself from the sun 

Helmet for surf landings, caves and rocks
Whatever else you require to be comfortable for 5 days in the wild

Recommended equipment:
Neoprene gloves or mittens
Neoprene hood
A map of Sørøya island (https://www.kartbutikken.no/soroya-norge-serien-turkart)

The average temperature is 12 degrees celsius in July. Bring an appropriate sleeping bag and clothes.

Environmental considerations:
We like the term “leave nothing but footprints, take nothing but photographs”. We will bring out all garbage with us. Campfires will be made on a bed of rocks to leave no trace. We will bring a small shovel to to dig small holes and cover any human waste.

Insurance:
Travel insurance is always recommended. You are responsible for having the appropriate accident and travel insurance for sea kayaking on a remote coastline for several days. Call your insurance agency if in doubt. We recommend booking a return flight from Lofoten which includes cancellation insurance.

Getting there:

Flying to Alta and taking a bus to Hammerfest is possible. Flying to Hammerfest is another option.

GALLERY: